The Twice Remembered Cottage

Faux Cupcakes and Signs and Shopping - Oh My!

2011-11-25T23:41:00.011-06:00

It makes my heart so happy to know that I've finally reached my long time goal of opening an online shop of my own - a little place for my creations to temporarily reside until they find a forever home. She Could Fly, my new shop, has been so much fun to work on and care for and I'd like to thank all my new customers for taking the time and interest to stop by and see what I have to offer! I wanted to let those of you who have asked know that I have started stocking my realistic faux desserts and I will continue making various kinds at various price points {cupcakes, cookies, candies} along with my painted signs. You can look for vintage items in the future as well. If you haven't stopped by in a bit, please take a moment to check out She Could Fly, and from now until November 29th, use coupon code SHECOULDFLYSALE1 to receive a 20% discount off everything. Don't worry - you don't have to worry about me always blogging about my new 'baby', but I do know that many of you have shopping in mind for the weekend so I thought this would be a good time to tell you about my sale and show you what I've been working on. If you have any questions, please let me know!

Have a wonderful and safe weekend, everyone! {And can you believe that it is nearly December already?!}

P.S. Look at this cherry pie my daughter made this week! It wasn't yet baked in this photo, but the finished product was delicious! I shy away from pies because the making the crust part scares me, but I found this simple, old-fashioned crust recipe that received very high ratings on AllRecipes.com and it was perfect! It makes enough for two pies or one pie with a top crust. If an eleven year old can do it, I believe I can, too, don't you?!

My Visit with Layla Plus New Wall Color

2011-11-04T09:42:00.007-05:00

Good morning, everyone! I'm sitting here in the dining room looking out the window and while it looks so cold and dreary outside, I've got a toasty fire going, a candle lit, music on, and it just couldn't be more perfect inside. {Well, maybe if my house were clean it could be just a little more perfect...} I'm also enjoying three - three - bouquets of roses that Mr. You Know Who gave me throughout the week. How'd I get to be so blessed? The pink roses above were the first bouquet. They are like little summer stowaways, just tagging along with Fall, refusing to be replaced by mums and marigolds.

As long as we're talking about being blessed, a few weeks ago I had the privilege of having Layla of The Lettered Cottage as a guest here for a couple of days. What a delight she is! I've known Layla for a few years now and we've met in person a few times, but this was the first time she visited Twice Remembered. I was super duper nervous because we live in a fixer and our home is certainly not 'company ready' at this point, but you know, in the grand scheme of things, it's not things but people that matter...so I just got over myself and we both had a blast! The timing could not have been more perfect because hubs was out of town AND the kiddos were visiting a relative for the week....so it was just us girls here to goof off and have fun! {In my excitement, I completely forgot to take photos but Layla wanted a few pics of my signs so we snapped the one below...and she generously let me borrow it for this blog post. Thanks, Layla!}

One thing, among myriads of things, that I appreciate about Layla is that you get what you see with her. If you've read her blog, you can feel just how sweet, compassionate, funny, and down to earth she comes across. And she is exactly the same in person... She didn't give our unfinished projects here a second thought - even though she had to sleep in my daughters' very undecorated and unremodeled shell of a bedroom... and even though I don't have curtains or any kind of window covering in much of the house...and even though it took me forever to get ready whenever we went out because before she got here, I shoved a bunch of clothes into the closet in a massive pile and couldn't find anything...and even though I threw a whole lot of junk into the already junky studio - which she got to see, along with my even junkier garage and upstairs storage space. I think it's not just any person that you could feel comfortable showing your life as it really is - with all the ugly, messy parts included. Yes, I am certainly blessed to know someone like Layla and to have the opportunity to visit with her as I have. I just love her!

When Layla was here, it won't surprise you to know that there was lots of talk about projects and decorating. I had just finished putting a new coat of paint on the walls of the kitchen and living room. If you remember, I had planned on painting Twice Remembered ALL WHITE, with the exception of the red cabinets. Ultimately, though, the rest of the family wanted some color and I decided upon a cheery blue / robin's egg blueish color. Here is a sneak peek of the shade we went with and it is called "Blanket" {CI246 by Valspar found at Lowes}. Let me tell you, this color GLOWS! No kidding! In fact, I was kind of freaking out about it for a few days because it really changes with the light. In most parts of the house I loved it but certain spots at certain times of the day, it translated to more of a minty color. By the time Layla got here, I was thinking that I was just going to have to change it. Layla and I talked and talked about it, and I even tried another similar color sample, but it was much darker than what I had in mind. I wanted BRIGHT and HAPPY! I really did love the glow afterall and now that it has been up a while, I'm so glad I didn't paint over it right away. By the way, the nook you see is by our front door and was once a tiny coat closet. We ripped it out because I wanted a little spot like this for flowers and keys. I can never find my keys, though, so having a spot for flowers at least is lovely. :)

We're still working on painting - the story of our lives - but I can't wait to show you what the blue looks like in the kitchen! Based on what you see in the photos above, what do you think? Not that it is an option anymore with my families campaign against all white walls, but if you had to choose between this color {happy, cheery, and bright} or white {soft, relaxing, subdued}, what would you have chosen?

{I love the random little chalk drawing 'Love' person in the last photo. Not sure which of my kiddos drew it, but it sure makes me smile!}

Enjoy your day...and I hope you find some time to waste today!

Faux Cupcakes and a Word on 'Being Creative'

2011-10-19T09:22:00.009-05:00

Hello, friends! I hope you have been well and are enjoying this delicious fall weather! I'm itching to get a nice, warm fire going in the fireplace and settle in for the season. This is most definitely my favorite time of year!

I have been busy making little things for the shop and have turned out a sweet batch of faux cupcakes. I will be photographing and listing them when they are fully cured, but I thought I'd share with you one of my favorites.

Why is it that I am so fascinated with little mushrooms? ...And little polka dotted mushrooms at that?! Let's not forget tiny pennant flags and unexpected teensy tiny things, like a miniature cupcake, under aforementioned polka dotted mushrooms...

*le sigh* Oh little baby cupcake. How I love you.

This cupcake is sprinkled with German glass glitter for a little sparkle...and I do believe I am addicted to German glass glitter as much as I am cupcakes and mushrooms.

{The mini bakery is slowly coming along. You can see in the background the wallpaper choices I'm considering. Chocolate stripes and tiny French print! The little table that the cupcake sits upon will be painted robin's egg blue.}

Of course, I'm still working on signs as well...

I can't tell you how happy it makes me to get up each day and decide what to make. For me, {and maybe for you, too} there was a long period of time that I felt like so many other things needed to be accomplished first before using my time to create. "When the house is finished", "When the closets are organized", "When the landscaping beds aren't full of weeds"... But the truth is, for me, {and maybe for you, too} I need the energy that only comes from creating to be motivated to work on the more mundane parts of life. Admittedly, there were also a lot of doubts about my abilities and fears of not doing things as well as others. I still have those doubts and fears, but I'm realizing that being truly creative means striving to let go of them, just 'going with it', and being open to imaginative adventure. Whether our interests lie in home projects, crafts, music, writing, painting, culinary arts, sewing, gardening {and so on}, making time to c r e a t e is so important to our health and mental / emotional well-being, and sadly, busy lives can easily snuff out the precious time needed to dedicate to personal creative interests. But if you have a long list of goals and projects right now, whatever they may be, you'll be amazed at how much more enjoyable they will be if "Make Something Daily / Weekly OR Do Something New Daily / Weekly" is near the top of the list. If you don't think you have a creative or adventurous bone in your body, do it anyway because the very fact that you're thinking about the possibility shows that you have it in you. If you don't think you're that 'good', do it anyway because you have to start somewhere and really, who cares! I recently read that 'comparison is the thief of joy' and I truly believe that. So avoid the temptation to compare... If all the artists and musicians and designers, etc., worked to be just like the others, we'd have a world full of the same old stuff, and where's the fun in that?

Before I sign off for now, I found a few interesting creativity quotes to inspire you as they have inspired me. Enjoy - and Happy Creating!

True happiness comes from the joy of deeds well done, the zest of creating things new. -Antoine de Saint-Exupery

I'm always thinking about creating. My future starts when I wake up every morning... Every day I find something creative to do with my life. -Miles Davis

You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. -Maya Angelou
While we have the gift of life, it seems to me that only tragedy is to allow part of us to die - whether it is our spirit, our creativity, or our glorious uniqueness. -Gilda Radner

The first and most important thing an individual can do is to become an individual again, decontrol himself, train himself as to what is going on and win back as much independent ground for himself as possible. -William S. Burroughs

There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age. - Sophia Loren

A creative mess is better than idle tidiness. -Michael J. Fox

The mind is sharper and keener in seclusion and uninterrupted solitude. No big laboratory is needed in which to think. Originality thrives in seclusion free of outside influences beating upon us to cripple the creative mind. Be alone, that is the secret of invention; be alone, that is when ideas are born. That is why many of the earthly miracles have had their genesis in humble surroundings. -Tesla

The creative adult is the child who has survived. -Ursula K. Le Guin

When in doubt, make a fool of yourself. There is a microscopically thin line between being brilliantly creative and acting like the most gigantic idiot on earth. So what the heck, leap. -Cynthia Heimel

Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten. Then when you hit puberty they take the crayons away and replace them with dry, uninspiring books on algebra, history, etc. Being suddenly hit years later with the 'creative bug' is just a wee voice telling you, 'I'd like my crayons back, please. -Hugh MacLeod

So you see, imagination needs moodling -long, inefficient, happy idling, dawdling and puttering. -Brenda Ueland

If you hear a voice within you say, ‘You cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced. -Vincent van Gogh

Creativity is contagious. Pass it on. -Albert Einstein

We will discover the nature of our particular genius when we stop trying to conform to our own and other’s people’s models, learn to be ourselves and allow our natural channel to open. -Shakti Gawain

Creativity can solve almost any problem. The creative act, the defeat of habit by originality, overcomes everything. -George Lois

Questions about The Twice Remembered Cottage?

2011-10-08T11:17:00.004-05:00

Good morning, everyone! I hope everyone is getting their weekend off to a great start! The weather here is absolutely gorgeous!

I know many of you have had lots of questions regarding The Twice Remembered Cottage paint colors, projects, and the like, so I thought it might be a good idea to resurrect the FAQ page that I created quite a while back that may answer some of them. I would like to work on adding even more information to the page but I guess I first need to know what you would like to know! So, send in your questions and I'll answer them for you! Keep in mind that I may post your question on my FAQ page but I'll only use your first initial. So if you have project questions or really, anything that you're curious about, let me know!

{For your convenience, you'll also find a permanent link to the FAQ page right over there in the right hand menu column ------>.}

Have a beautiful day, friends, and we'll talk again soon!

Cupcakes, the Sea, and Emily Post

2011-09-16T23:33:00.010-05:00

A few happy things to share with you today...

Like this little sign I made because I'm obsessed with cupcakes and the sea - and so now I secretly pretend that my kitchen is a seaside cupcakery. {Did I just say that out loud?}

...a trio of {faux} cupcakes. Of course, I had to make a polka dotted one. {My shop - She Could Fly - opens next week! Though the next few days I'm focusing on getting signs listed, you'll start seeing faux treats trickling in here and there. I *almost* decided to just not bother with them anymore...but they are just too fun to make!}

Oh, here's a little something I've been meaning to do for quite a while - lining the kitchen drawers with old book pages! Of all the things to hold me up, it was mainly the fact that I couldn't find just the right book. I finally found a vintage Emily Post Etiquette book that suited this little project perfectly! I used the chapters of the book that related to food and entertaining...

I love all the illustrations that explain how to fold napkins, how to create proper place settings, and the best way to set up buffet tables...

For this project, you simply carefully tear the pages out of the book, apply white glue to the back of each page with a sponge brush or foam roller, and press into place, taking care to press out any bubbles. Let it dry overnight and then seal it with two or three coats of clear non-yellowing latex sealer. {I still have to do that step but it's very important to protect those old pages.}

I think it just adds 'a little something nice' to a usually ignored part of the kitchen. Who knew opening kitchen drawers could be so sweet? Now I kind of wish I didn't have to put anything back in them!

Have a beautiful weekend, everyone!

Cottage Delights

2011-09-13T20:14:00.012-05:00

Friends... they cherish one another's hopes. They are kind to one another's dreams. ― Henry David Thoreau

Isn't that so true? So many of you over the years have cherished my hopes regarding this little fixer upper - and have definitely been very kind to all my cottage dreams, big and small...encouraging me every step of the way, providing helpful advice and ideas, and coming back here to 'visit' and catch up as we make progress on the place. I will always be so thankful to all of my bloggy friends - you inspire me to keep on keeping on no matter how little the time or tiny the budget. Thank you!

While we're on the subject of friends, one of my dearest - Deborah of the charming Fairfield House - recently surprised me in the loveliest of ways. She sent me the most cheerful and amazing gift package I have ever seen! Now, if you know Deborah, you know that she weaves words like magic... her writing and blog posts are always such a joy to read. While I can sit in front of my blank Blogger screen as my eyes glaze over and my brain goes numb trying to think of something remotely interesting to say, Deborah's beautiful, thought-provoking posts just seem to flow from her fingertips {though I know she puts a lot of thought into everything she writes}. Well, after receiving this package {and others from her in the past}, I have had the joy of discovering that she puts a lot of thought and beauty into her gifts as well. I certainly hope she doesn't mind that I share some photos with you... Her packaging details and the gifts themselves were just too pretty to keep to myself. So in the interest of spreading creativity, cheer, and happiness, let me show you the cottage delights that Deborah sent to The Twice Remembered Cottage!

My heart skipped a beat when I opened the box and saw the red with white polka dots. Do you realize just how much I love red and white polka dots? I mean really - it's almost an addiction. I just can't help it... Polka dots are my favorite color! But I digress.

Ah, what a dreamy card...

Kraft paper packaging tied up with twine...This is my favorite way to wrap {and receive} gifts! There's just something so old-fashioned and timeless about it.

Sweet little details like hand stamped tags, a page from an old book, a feather, and a seashell just make my heart smile...

Even though these packages were too pretty to open...

...I eventually did. :)

And what precious cottage goodies were inside! There was a lavender sachet {the whole box smelled of heavenly lavender!}, ribbons - including polka dotted ones, a sweet felt brooch, an embroidered tea towel, and a beautiful white doily...

...and just look at the old red rimmed enamel bowl! Cottage perfect!

Deborah knows that a cottage isn't a cottage without a lot of good books, so she sent me this novel titled 'The Tea Rose'. It is set in the 1880s and is the first of a trilogy - I can't wait to read all three.

As more cottage treasures were unwrapped, I oohed and ahhed over each one, including this little old jam jar. Adorable!

Then there was an address book, gorgeous antique style earrings, stationery items {Love the 'Fly' theme!} and cute magnets...

Ok - I am not even kidding when I say that I gasped when I saw these measuring spoons! Are they not the most exquisite set you've ever seen? I had seen them somewhere before and put them on my mental 'wishlist'. So to actually have these in my kitchen right now thrills me to no end. I will never put them away in a drawer! And how about the red polka dot ceramic trivet? It has inspired me to be on the lookout for me red polka dot ceramics. They just make me happy!

Last year, Deborah sent me these fun pot holders and oven mitt. I must admit, I can only bring myself to use one of the pot holders because I don't want to get them dirty! And speaking of not wanting to get anything dirty, those classic monogrammed linen napkins are a special treasure...

So crisp and clean and beautiful!

I found the perfect spot for this little love token - the neck of a glass bottle that sits on my dining room mantel. :)

I can't express enough how blown away I am with Deborah's generosity and how well she knows the kinds of things I love. Thank you, Deborah, for your kindness and for inspiring us all by your creativity and thoughtfulness!

And thank you for all your kind comments on my last post regarding our beach vacation. We had a wonderful time! I did take photos but I'm afraid editing them for a blog post has taken a back seat to painting, painting... oh, and painting!

Until next time!

~Kim

If You Need Me...

2011-07-23T01:19:00.011-05:00

{image from pinterest}
I'll be here...

... or, more specifically, here - Jekyll Island, Georgia.

I've ooohed and ahhed over vintage style bathing suits all summer...

And though I'll have to wait until next year for the perfect suit {$$$}...

I was able to snag a few good deals this year...such as this sweet beach vintage style umbrella with a wooden handle and beautiful lace trim {oh, how I love it so! } for just $15 from Totes....

...and these $5 sunglasses from Ebay...

Not to mention this Croft and Barrow hat from Khols on clearance for $15.60 {my hat is black and white stripe}...

...and this clearance beach tote from Wal-mart for just $5.00...

Maybe by next year hubs will see that $75 - $100 for a good vintage style bathing suit is well worth the money?

But I don't know... I'm pretty sure it will take a lot of convincing on the romantic beaches of Jekyll Island this year...

Either way... I'll see you when I return! Have a great week!

Decadent Deep Dark Chocolate Cookies

2011-07-21T02:13:00.004-05:00

So what happens when you spend a few evenings watching shows on Food Network? Well, at some silly hour like 11:30 at night, you decide to peruse your Pinterest boards, then you automatically gravitate toward your dessert photos, at which point you hone in on a particular Deep Dark Chocolate Cookie recipe from heaven itself... {I'm pretty sure the recipe is in the Bible somewhere at least.}

And you can't stop thinking about it because it's made without flour or butter... and you wonder - 'How is that even possible?!!' So you dive right in, not even sure if you have all of the ingredients, all the while hoping that the mixer won't wake the children ...because no one is licking the spoons this time but you!

I won't repost the recipe here since Amira at Divine Baking provides such a great photo step by step of the {super easy} process, but I will tell you what I did a little differently since, as I suspected, I really didn't have all the exact ingredients on hand.

*The recipe called for 1 cup of melted bittersweet chocolate chips; I used melted semi-sweet chocolate chips.
*The recipe called for 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar, divided between the dry mix and egg whites; I used 1 cup powdered sugar in the dry mix and 1/2 cup granulated sugar in the egg whites {I was low on the powdered!}
*The recipe called for unsweetened cocoa powder; I used Hershey's Special Dark unsweetened cocoa.
*The recipe called for an additional {unmelted} 1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate chips added to the batter just before forming the cookie balls; I used 1/2 cup of white chocolate chips.
*The recipe said to roll the cookie balls in powdered sugar before baking; I skipped that step.

{Notes: I think that if you use the semi-sweet chocolate chips like I did, you may even be able to get away with even less sugar in the dry mix - try say about 1/2 - 3/4 cup as opposed to an entire cup. Also, if your batter is too runny to scoop into balls, put it in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes. It's a thousand and three degrees here in Tennessee right now and my batter was pretty runny until I let it firm up in the freezer. I baked the cookies as the recipe said - for 10 minutes. They were perfect!}

The result? Very moist and chewy, rich, ~~sinfully~~ decadent cookies that look very much like brownies in cookie form!

They were also very light because of the egg white base - and remember, no flour! Gluten-free girls, that's your happy dance cue!

Please let me know if you try these... and Enjoy!

Fun with Vintage Style

2011-07-18T18:38:00.007-05:00

Just me... experimenting with vintage hair and makeup... and accessories.

I tried liquid eyeliner for the first time in all my 37 years...

I joked with my daughters that this is how I would dress on school registration day. My 12 year old Lula said 'Wow'. My extremely fashion conscience 10 year old Zola was mortified. And Sydda my teen said that I looked like a 'creepy librarian'.

Hubs was quite surprised upon coming home from work and seeing this particular vintage look. After prodding him for an opinion, he at first said my glasses looked 'funny' ... but after a while, he had lots of very, very complimentary things to say about librarians. ;)

Does your love of vintage things go beyond home decor? How much do you get into vintage and vintage inspired fashion? {Hope you all are having a wonderful summer so far... we are off on our beach vacation in just a few days... Jekyll Island, Georgia!}

Do You 'Pinterest'? {An Inspiration Sharing Website}

2011-06-01T13:13:00.005-05:00

"Everything you can imagine is real." -Pablo Picasso

Perhaps it's because I'm usually the last to know...perhaps it's because I don't spend enough time online researching the niftiest sites and resources available to those of us who like nifty sites and resources...or perhaps it's both - but I am just now discovering the beauty of an inspiration sharing site called Pinterest. What is Pinterest? From their FAQ page:

"Think of Pinterest as a virtual pinboard — a place where you can create collections of things you love and "follow" collections created by people with great taste... We know you have great taste in something. Our mission is to make Pinterest the best place for you to share your taste with the world."

Sounds intriguing, yes? I love that you can create your own collections, or "boards" and then "pin" the photos and ideas you love to the appropriate board. For instance, my boards so far are 'Home Decor', 'Home Exterior and Garden','Party Decor', 'Sweets and Such', 'Tutorials', 'Fashion', 'Quotes', 'Humor'...and probably some more that I'm forgetting...and I'm just getting started! When I find photos I like either on Pinterest or other places on the web or on my computer, I can 'pin' them to one of my boards. Then, whenever I pin anything, anyone that is my Pinterest follower will see what I pin - and can have the option to pin the photo to one of their own boards, comment on it, 'like it', or do nothing at all. :) Come to think of it, it's kind of like a visual Facebook or Twitter for photos and ideas! I sure hope all this makes sense...ha!

Months ago, I did stumble upon Pinterest and "requested an invite". I didn't get one {seems maybe they were trying to slowly add members?} and I just kind of forgot about all of it, not really even knowing what it was. But last week, I requested an invite once again and got accepted in a day or so. I *think*, though, that whoever I personally invite to Pinterest gets accepted immediately. It seems that way so far, anyway.

Soooo..... if you have not joined Pinterest but would like a personal invite, email me your email address and I'll send you one! You don't have to have a personal invite to join, of course, but hopefully you'll get to join up faster if you do have one.

If you are already a Pinterest member {or you aren't but you'd still like to see} , check out my boards {so far} at http://pinterest.com/TwiceRemembered/ and if you are interested in following me there, I'd be honored! {I follow back!}

Below are just a few of the photos that I've pinned in the last few days. Really, anything that you can imagine finding in a glossy magazine, you'll find on Pinterest. It's the best of the web {each photo contains a link to it's original source on the web, which I love for additional photos and info, such as for tutorial instructions,etc.} with fresh inspiration added by hundreds or thousands of people daily.

Can you tell I'm hooked? If you are hooked, too, or get hooked, let me know!

P.S. Ruby is getting better. She can walk some on soft surfaces and the grass, but is having a harder time with the hardwood floors. She'll get there! Thank you for your kind words of encouragement and well wishes!

The Cottage Charm Giveaway Winners are.....!

2011-05-29T12:19:00.003-05:00

Can you believe it? The 5th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway has come to a close. What a blast we had! I want to thank ALL of you for participating, especially all the dear giveaway hostesses who offered such beautiful and generous gifts to their visitors. I hope you were able to "meet" lots of new people and discover many new lovely blogs this month, because really, that's a big part of what makes this annual event so special! I'm looking forward to next year already!

Now, just visit my dollhouse kit giveaway and handpainted sign giveaway to see who won... I wish it could have been all of you! {Winners were chosen by Random.org} Congratulations to the winners of all 49 giveaways this year!

49 Cottage Charm Giveaways - A Few Hours Left to Enter to Win!

2011-05-28T13:26:00.008-05:00

Hours are remaining for the 5th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway event! Have you visited the 49 blogs above to enter to win all the charming items being given away this year? If not, click on the banner below while there is time left! {Winners of the giveaways will be announced tomorrow, May 29th, on all the participating blogs.}

This year, I'm giving away a miniature dollhouse kit and a handpainted black and white subway style sign. So be sure to stop in today and sign up!

Have a beautiful Saturday, everyone!

My Cottage Charm Giveaway #2- Handpainted Wooden Sign

2011-05-23T12:26:00.009-05:00

5/29 Update: AND THE WINNER IS....Peggy Crawford! Congratulations, Peggy! You can contact me with your address and I'll get this sign shipped out to you! Thank you to everyone else who participated by entering to win and those who "liked" my new Facebook business page, She Could Fly. Even if you didn't win a sign this time, all She Could Fly Facebook fans will be automatically entered to win future sign giveaways. Thanks so much for all of your support and for visiting Twice Remembered!

Hello everyone! I'm a little late getting my 2nd Cottage Charm giveaway posted but fortunately there is still time left both for me and for you, too, if you want to add a giveaway of your own. My dear little Ruby the Doxie is under the weather with a herniated neck disk that has resulted in partial paralysis of her front legs. It has been very scary and heartbreaking to witness as she has not been able to walk since it happened yesterday. However, the vet feels a total recovery is possible but may take about six weeks of crate rest. It might even be possible to see her walking within a few days thanks to her medication. I'm hoping for the best but try not to leave her side often because she gets agitated and starts to thrash around. She is sleeping peacefully now (sedatives) so that means a few minutes for me to tell you about my second giveaway. (Click here to see the first...)

I thought this giveaway would be a good way to show you what I've been dabbling in lately - sign making! So I'm offering this wooden painted and distressed to perfection 12" x 9" sign as part of my second giveaway. Because I love words and quotes so much, I've been working on a collection of inspiring and interesting signs to offer for sale later in my new Etsy shop and I'm looking forward to sharing more with you. I had a hard time selecting the sign I liked best for this giveaway as I'm very pleased with how they've all turned out so far...but hopefully this Zelda Fitzgerald quote will be a 'winner' in your book.

There are a couple of ways to win this giveaway:

One chance to win- Just enter your name and a way to contact you in the comment section below

Another chance to win- Simply "Like" my new business page, She Could Fly, on Facebook. While my 'grand opening' has to be postponed a bit due to caring for my little Ruby for now, I would still love to be able to share with you what I've been up to with my shop, signs, and other items.

I will announce the winner on May 29th. If you haven't done so already, make sure you check out all the other charming giveaways in the 5th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway event! And remember, you still have time to enter your own giveaway...the more the better and there are alost 50 so far!

Miniature Patisserie Project

2011-05-11T07:46:00.006-05:00

I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all. - Laura Ingalls Wilder

Good morning, everyone. I hope this Wednesday morning finds you happy and healthy. I can't believe I'm saying this, but it's going to be a hot one today. 91!

Hubs and I have been working on caulking and painting beadboard in our spare moments and things are really starting to shape up. I think I've mentioned this before, but white paint {on this beadboard, anyway} is very hard to cover. It's taking about 4 coats,plus the primer coat. A much slower process than I had anticipated but wow - finally my white cottage style beadboard! It really is what seems to be pulling "the look" together.

I thought that since I am giving away a new dollhouse kit for one of my Cottage Charm giveaways this month, I'd share a few photos of the kit I'm working on. It's the Storybook Cottage. I've gotten the main parts all glued together except for one side of the roof - I'm waiting until I install the wood flooring in the attic to glue down that side. I'll be using lightweight spackle on the inside to make the walls nice and smooth and then I'll be ready to add some trim work. I haven't yet decided how to finish the exterior - whether I'll use siding or some kind of sanded stucco or stone - or ...oooh...an aged brick foundation?!... {As if I didn't have enough decisions to make with our real house!} Ah, but this has been so much fun and I've enjoyed working on it here and there when I catch some snippets of down time.

This little house will become a little patisserie. A few months back I made the tiny pennant banner for a cupcake party I had for the girls and used it to decorate the miniature farmhouse kitchen. I couldn't resist {very prematurely} stringing it up in the patisserie for these photos just to get an idea of how sweet it could be.

The little attic space...

The floor has been stained a dark chocolate color. I was thinking about creating a white 1-inch diamond pattern on the floor as well. What do you think?

Oh polka dots! I have such a weakness for you!!!! Especially you red and white ones... *sigh*

I don't know where I'm going to put all these *little* projects that have stolen my heart with their sweetness. Our real house is tiny itself and I'm running out of space!

But I think the patisserie project is just fine right here for now. :)

Have a lovely day, everyone, and until next time, don't forget to keep checking in on the Cottage Charm Giveaway party going on this month. If you want to add a giveaway to the party, that's even better!

My Garden Themed Cupcakes

2011-05-09T20:31:00.008-05:00

If I had a flower for every time I thought of you...I could walk through my garden forever. - Alfred Lord Tennyson

I don't know about you, but I am absolutely smitten with cupcakes. So when a friend recently asked me if I would mind making a few cupcakes for a baby shower she was helping to throw, I jumped on the opportunity to get my hands in some fondant again. When I asked about colors, etc., I was told to just do whatever I liked. I knew that there would be a big cake made by a professional and I did have some fears that whatever I came up with would clash horrifically with it. But I took the plunge and decided to with a garden theme - hoping that all would be fine.

Because last week was so incredibly crazy with school plays, dance recitals, and just about anything else you can imagine, I decided to purchase plain frosted cupcakes from a bakery so that I could just focus on making the "garden" decor for the tops. I'm so glad I did because I just about ran out of time to finish them even without having to bake the cupcakes myself!

My two regrets are that I didn't get to bake them myself {but that just couldn't be helped} and that I put too much frosting under the mushrooms to adhere them to the cupcakes. A dear friend and I were putting those little mushrooms on the cupcakes in the car at the shower.. I was late and moving like a mad woman!

I made all of the little cupcake wrappers and flags using my new Silhoette SD die cut machine. I can use images, templates, and fonts from my own computer - I don't have to buy any cartridges. I just LOVE that machine!!!!

I was so happy to discover that the cupcakes and baby shower cake looked really pretty together. No clash!

I am very pleased with how they turned out and I can't wait to work on another cupcake project again! By the way, this is the recipe I used for the fondant. It was so good! I flavored the fondant with peppermint extract so all the little flower and bug pieces {ummm...} tasted just like those little soft pastel after dinner mints you often see at weddings.

If you haven't already, be sure to check my Cottage Charm giveaway to enter to win a dollhouse kit! And of course, you'll want to check out all the other charming giveaways in this years Cottage Charm giveaway event. Have fun!

My Cottage Charm Giveaway - A Buttercup Cottage Dollhouse Kit

2011-05-08T23:08:00.006-05:00

5/29 Update: AND THE WINNER IS....Jenny Lake! Jenny wrote:

"My heart stopped when I stumbled across this giveaway. I have always dearly wanted a dollhouse but my father never had the patience to build me one as a child. Now it's time for me to do this for myself! Thank you so much for this generous gift.

If I were to win, I would build a little spinner's cottage because that's my other dream--to live on a sheep farm and spin wool into yarn.

Fingers crossed
Jennifer"

Congratulations, Jenny! You can contact me with your address and I'll have this darling dollhouse kit shipped to you. And thanks SO very much to everyone who stopped by Twice Remembered this month to enter to win this giveaway. I wish I could send a kit to all of you! You all had wonderful ideas as to how you would use the dollhouse if you won and if I had to decide who won based on the loveliest idea, I wouldn't have been able to choose, that's for sure! {I used a Random Number Generator instead...} Have a beautiful rest of the weekend and we'll "see" you all again soon!

Well, finally, a week after the 5th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway began, I'm ready to post my own giveaway! As you may {or may not} know, the Cottage Charm giveaway event is an annual month long, multi-blog cottage style themed giveaway party. Bloggers are invited to post giveaways on their blogs and then link back to them here. Winners for all the giveaways will be announced on all participating blogs on May 29th. So much fun! We've had as of the time of this posting 33 bloggers to enter their giveaways for the party - and I think that's just divine! Last year we had 68 giveaways... and wouldn't it be wonderful if we had even more this year? There are plenty of days left in May, so feel free to join us, and of course, make sure you check out all the new cottage themed giveaways added daily to enter to win the ones that strike your fancy!

The giveaway I am posting this year is very close to my heart. It was inspired by one of my new passions - doll house miniatures. I'm having so much fun with the old miniature farmhouse that I'm remodeling and the 'built from the ground up' house/patisserie that I'm working on as well. I've found it to be so relaxing and therapeutic - a great way to break away from full scale real life for a while and just dream in miniature. I've read from your comments that many of you have a desire to have a miniature house or to get into miniatures because you are just as fascinated with the hobby as I am. Buying the first kit can be tough, however. Questions such as "which one?" and "can I really do this?" are enough to scare new ones away... or, for those who are experienced doll house builders, deciding which kit to do next can be just as hard and maybe the old "do I really need to buy another doll house kit" thought haunts you.

So I'm really hoping that whatever the case may be with you personally, my Cottage Charm giveaway this year will help you out, because I'm giving away a Buttercup Cottage dollhouse kit!

Here is a perfect description of what you will get with the Buttercup Cottage Dollhouse Kit:

Delightful, charming, enchanting, adorable. That's the Buttercup - the ideal little house to create any type of shop, cottage, or even just a room setting. The bay window, silk-screened windows, gingerbread trim, and window boxes add to every decor. The Buttercup provides the setting, your imagination will provide the rest!

The all-wood dollhouse goes together with tab and slot construction that requires only glue to complete assembly. Unpainted and unfinished, you can decorate, paint, wallpaper, and furnish this heirloom-to-be with your own personal taste and style.
Features include:

True miniature scale
1 inch = 1 foot
Open-back design
Tab/slot assembly
Unfinished wood

Assembled Dollhouse Dimensions:
17 W x 11” D x 18” H

The photo below is how the little cottage will look complete. Of course, just like a real house, you get to choose all the finishing touches, colors, and decor inside and out...

Here is a Buttercup Cottage finished in Tudor cottage style. You see the front door was changed out, trim and brick work was added, and it looks like what could be a stucco exterior. {It's hard to tell from this photo, but I've seen many dollhouses in this style with stucco exteriors.} Cute!

And I am so impressed at Jen's interpretation of the Buttercup Cottage. She added siding and changed the door as well. I love all the red! {Click here to see more photos in Jen's blog entries on her Buttercup Cottage - I just can't get enough of her sweet little house!}

Oh the sweetness! And oh how a dollhouse can get your imagination cranking! Please don't worry if you've never built a dollhouse from a kit before... if you can read instructions, you can do this!

So if you are up to a new fun and exciting challenge, just leave a comment and a way for me to contact you below to enter to win this Buttercup Dollhouse kit. And while you're waiting for the winner to be announced on May 29th, think about how you would finish out the Buttercup Cottage and just how you would like to use it. Would it be a little house? A bakery? A flower or gift shop? If you'd like, tell me about it down below. Also, check out some great miniature sites like Miniatures.com to whet your appetite. SO many adorable little things - and you can order a free catalog from there as well. {No, this isn't a paid advertisement.... I just really love ordering from this site and wanted to pass along a great resource!} The Greenleaf Dollhouse Community forums have also been an invaluable source of information for me personally - and their member photo gallery is very inspiring to say the least.

Ok, so here we go! But first, a little fine print...

*Please just one entry per person
*Unfortunately, I can only ship this dollhouse kit to those within the United States due to handling fees that are applied to International shipments. However, if you live outside of the US but would really love to have an opportunity to win this dollhouse, I would be more than happy to provide you with a gift certificate from the Miniatures.com website for you to order it yourself if you win. You would be responsible for the shipping costs, unfortunately, but still.... the dollhouse kit would be a gift. Just an option for my dear international readers who would really love an opportunity to win this charming little kit. :)

Have fun, and goodness, I hope you win!

Dining Room Painted Beadboard and Faux Fireplace

2011-05-04T21:49:00.005-05:00

You used to be much more..."muchier." You've lost your muchness.- Lewis Carroll

Don't you just love that Alice in Wonderland quote? For me personally, I couldn't think of anyone I could ever apply it to but myself and my blogging habits! Yes, I use to be much more "muchier" with blog posting, to be sure! Yet despite that fact, here you are. Thank you, dear readers, for visiting and checking in - year after year for some of you- on the progress we're making on our little fixer upper. Your encouragement and kind words are great motivators for us - and I wish you could know just how much!

Today I was snapping a photo of a small item on the fireplace mantle we built in the dining room a few months back. You may remember when I blogged about adding the faux fireplace and beadboard to the dining room and kitchen. Anyway, it occurred to me that I haven't yet shown you what the fireplace and beadboard looks like painted. Yes, it's true... we're just now getting around to painting though all the beadboard in the kitchen, dining, and living room has been primed for a while now. Let me tell you, pure white paint is just as hard to cover as red paint... it's taking us four coats, even with primer! So a slow job, but I'm pleased with the results far.

You will notice that I've carefully cropped these new progress photos. I'm working on a huge project on the dining room table in the center of the room and I'm sure you don't want to see the mess. But hopefully you can get a good idea of the direction we're headed with not only the dining and kitchen, but with the entire house. Only the bedrooms and bathrooms don't yet have beadboard, but they will when we get around to them.

First a before. This is how our dining room looked when we first moved in. Well, after we first moved in and I painted the room a deep red, that is!

You see in the next progress photo that we added a big window and removed a door to the laundry room. There were two entrances to our tiny laundry room {which, incidentally, use to be the kitchen!} We only needed one door to access the laundry, so we walled up one entryway and added the faux fireplace.

Now this is what the dining area looks like currently. White, white, white with beadboard aplenty!

We still need to finish the fireplace inset. Haven't yet decided exactly what to do with it, but there will be something.

If you would like to see a basic tutorial on the beadboard and trim we added to the dining, kitchen, and living room, please check out this past blog entry. Very easy and relatively cheap!

As for the "mess' on the dining room, well, I suppose it's the best kind of mess one can have. I'm working on making fondant flowers for some floral cupcakes. So much fun! I'm sure I'll have photos of them later, so stay tuned. :)

Speaking of "staying tuned", I'll have one of my Cottage Charm Giveaways posted this weekend. {I have TWO, the other to be posted next week!} I really wanted to have it posted this week, but little did I know how crazy things would be! For one thing, one of my daughters has to perform in both a play and a dance recital on Thursday night {tonight, depending on when you're reading this}. And you would know we all had dental appointments for the same day, which I promptly rescheduled. Of course, I would get a cold bug this week as well! Perhaps not with with blogging, but with l.i.f.e, I guess this is as "muchier" as it gets!

The giveaways posted so far by everyone are absolutely stunning! What participation we have in the first four days! I *hope* to have at least as many giveaways as last year {68} but wouldn't we all love to have more? Keep them them coming! For newcomers, please check out the 5th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway event. You'll be glad you did!

5th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway Event - May 1st thru May 29th!

2011-04-30T21:53:00.005-05:00

The 5th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway officially begins May 1st at 8 am Central! This special, annual May event will last until May 29th, 2011. Will you be joining us? Just scroll to the bottom to see the list of giveaways added so far or keep reading for more information on how to join in on the fun!

What is the Cottage Charm Giveaway?: This is a multi-blog, month long event beginning Saturday, May 1st where bloggers give away on their blogs items they feel exhibit "Cottage Charm". Anyone can join at any point in May before the 29th. On May 29th, all participating bloggers will announce their winners and post it to their blogs. An ongoing list of ALL the giveaways and participating bloggers is maintained here at Twice Remembered {down below} during the entire month of May. The list grows and grows the whole month of May as bloggers add their Cottage Charm Giveaway to their blogs.

How do I give away an official "Cottage Charm Giveaway"?: To join, you simply follow four easy steps:

1) at any point in May post on your blog what you are giving away - your "Cottage Charm Giveaway", and also post your own rules for winning the giveaway {for example, the number of entries allowed, how you want your readers to enter your drawing, where you are willing to ship, etc.}. It would be helpful and advantageous to include photos and to mention "Cottage Charm Giveaway" in your post title. You can offer as many Cottage Charm giveaways as you like.

2) include *within your giveaway post* a link back to this post. The more people who know about this event, the better! Here is the link you will need to use:

http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2011/04/annual-cottage-charm-giveaway-event-may.html

3) come back here and add your giveaway post link to the list of giveaways below. Giveaways added below without having the proper "link back" to this post will be deleted, but you can try again after the link has been added.

4) announce the winner of your giveaway on your blog on May 29th. It is helpful to post the winners at the top of your giveaway post. {**If you want to end a giveaway earlier than the 29th, please do not participate in this event.}

Is there a Cottage Charm banner that I can use for my blog and/or giveaway post? Yes, feel free to copy and paste the code below anywhere on your blog. You don't have to use the banner, but some kind of link {text or banner} needs to be included *within your giveaway post*.

<center><a href="http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2011/04/annual-cottage-charm-giveaway-event-may.html"></a></center>

What should I give away? Feel free to use your own definition of "Cottage Charm" for this giveaway- the possibilities are endless! You can give away books, your own crafts, custom goods and clothing, thrift store finds, new items, yummy treats, gift certificates to your shop, vintage goodies...whatever to you represents cottage charm. Don't worry - you don't have to live in a cottage or personally decorate in cottage style. However, if you would like to give away something to those that do, please join in!

Where are all of the giveaways and how do I enter to win them? Down below is the master list of all Cottage Charm giveaways. This list will grow and grow throughout the month of May, so come back daily to check for newly added giveaways. Just click on the links to go to the blog hosting the giveaway and follow their rules for entering.

When I enter to win any {or all} of the giveaways below, how will I know if I won anything? More than likely, the giveaway host will contact you if you won. But during the day or evening on May 29th, just visit the blogs whose giveaway you entered and look for their "winner" announcement. I won't be posting the names of all the winners here at Twice Remembered with the exception of the winner of my own Cottage Charm Giveaway. {I will be posting my giveaway later this week - don't miss it!}

Do I need to have a giveaway to enter to win the other giveaways? No, not at all.

I'm still confused a little bit. Now what? If you have any questions about the 5th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway, please feel free to email me. I'll look forward to hearing from you!

I hope everyone has a blast this month discovering new blogs and entering to win some really special gifts! Now...let the giveaway begin!

2011 5th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway Participants

{To be updated daily until 11:59pm, May 28th. If you haven't already, please read the above information on adding a giveaway to this listbefore doing so. If you have have posted a "Cottage Charm Giveaway" on your blog and have linked back to this post, please enter the link to your giveaway below. }

A Dollhouse Update

2011-04-27T20:22:00.004-05:00

It's the little things that matter, that add up in the end, with the priceless thrilling magic found only in a friend. -Elizabeth Dunphy

I've updated my dollhouse blog... I'd be honored if you'd come take a peek!

Also, don't forget that the 5th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway event is coming up on May 1st! You can read more information about it here ... I hope you can join us!

5th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway Information

2011-04-16T21:13:00.002-05:00

It's that time of year again! It's time for the 5th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway event! Will you be joining this year?

For those that may have never heard of it, this is a multi-blog, month long event beginning Sunday, May 1st where bloggers give away on their blogs items they feel exhibit "Cottage Charm". Anyone can join at any point in May before the 29th. On May 29th, all participating bloggers will announce their winners and post it to their blogs. An ongoing list of ALL the giveaways and participating bloggers is maintained here at Twice Remembered during the entire month of May. {I'll be using MckLinky...so you may already know how easily this works. Participants will simply add their Cottage Charm giveaway link to the list.} The list grows and grows the whole month of May as bloggers add their Cottage Charm Giveaway to their blogs.

To join, you simply:

1) at any point in May post on your blog what you are giving away - your "Cottage Charm Giveaway", and also post your own rules for your giveaway {for example, where you are willing to ship and how you want your readers to enter your drawing}.

2) include in your giveaway post a link back to the Twice Remembered entry containing the master list of all Cottage Charm giveaways {I will post the entry on Sunday, May 1st @ 8 am central time}.

Use your own definition of "Cottage Charm" for this giveaway- the possibilities are endless!

The more people who know about this event, the better! Feel free to use the Cottage Charm banner above as well.

3) come back here and add your link to the list of giveaways {Again, I will have the list available on May 1st @ 8 am central time.} Giveaways added without following step #2 will be deleted}

4) announce the winner of your giveaway on your blog on May 29th. Please no exceptions to this unless you need to end your giveaway a day or two later due to scheduling conflict. {**If you want to end a giveaway earlier than the 29th, please do not participate in this event. If I made an exception for one person, out of fairness I would need to make an exception for all. This would change the dynamics of the Cottage Charm Giveaway completely. I hope you understand.}

Finally, use your own definition of "Cottage Charm" for this giveaway- the possibilities are endless! You can give away books, your own crafts, thrift store finds, new items, yummy treats, gift certificates to your shop, vintage goodies...whatever to you represents cottage charm. Don't worry - you don't have to live in a cottage or personally decorate in cottage style. However, if you would like to give away something to those that do, please join in! Not sure what to include in your giveaway? The sky is the limit, but for some inspiration, check out the links below...

4th Annual {2010 - 68 giveaways}
3rd Annual {2009 - 68 giveaways}
2nd Annual {2008 - 54 giveaways}
1st Annual {2007 - 40 giveaways}

If you have any questions about the 5th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway, please let me know. I'm looking forward to hearing from you!

5th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway Begins May 1st!

2011-04-15T16:46:00.006-05:00

Where thou art, that is home. ~Emily Dickinson

Hello dear ones. How are you? It is finally spring and though we are having our fair share of storms and rain, I am so glad to finally see the season changing in earnest. The grass is so green, it is almost fluorescent!

We've been busy here at our little cottage in the making and boy, do we have a lot of painting ahead of us! I know I've been remiss in making frequent updates, but it seems that for the time being, my time just keeps getting 'smaller and smaller'. {Don't worry - some have asked out of concern if I might be thinking about closing my blog - that will *never* happen!} But I've committed myself to an even fuller month of volunteer community ministry work on top of what I regularly participate in, plus the children are now in art and piano lessons... it seems like I'm zipping back and forth from home frequently throughout the day and my computer time has been minimal! Like I've said before, though... I hope that you'll always view my updates as a letter from an old friend and to expect to hear from me sooner or later! {sometimes sooner - sometimes later!}

I have some exciting news to announce in the next couple of weeks concerning some of what I've been working on lately. But for now, I wanted to let everyone know that the 5th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway is coming up! As you may know, this takes place during the entire month of May ... May 1st - May 29th to be exact. This is a very exciting time both for bloggers who offer Cottage Charm giveaways on their blogs and for those that sign up to win those fabulous giveaways. Tomorrow {Saturday} I will be posting detailed information regarding this annual event, but if you are new to my blog and are curious now, feel free to read about last year's Cottage Charm Giveaway and see all the items that were given away by generous bloggers. We had such a great time and each year just gets better and better! If you are planning on participating by offering a giveaway during this event, you have two weeks to get your giveaway together if you'd like to add your giveaway on May 1st but remember, you can enter a giveaway during any time in May. So I just wanted to give everyone a heads up... and again, I will be posting the details tomorrow. :)

Until then, have a great evening and we'll talk soon!

Cocooned

2011-02-24T08:35:00.005-06:00

For after all, the best thing one can do when it is raining is let it rain. -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

It is such a dark, rainy day here in Middle Tennessee...and it's so delicious. I don't think I slept a wink last night partly due to thunderstorms {and partly due to someone's snoring}, so today I'm going to relax and enjoy the peaceful rhythm of the rain. Maybe at some point I'll get the urge to clean off my dining table {crafts!}... but then again, maybe not. I have to use my 'cocoon' time wisely on days such as this. I don't want to waste a minute!

Hubs has been in recovery after having all four of his wisdom teeth removed so we haven't done any remodeling work lately, but I have a couple of cottage tidbits to share with you. First, I'm so excited to tell you about our new sofa! I really wanted to wait until next year to replace our eleven year old Broyhill...after we finished remodeling the living room. This year we will be putting up our wood plank tongue and groove ceiling like we installed in our kitchen, and I really didn't want to have to work around new furniture. But our old sofa was dead - just dead! It was very uncomfortable to sit on plus it was looking very tired and ratty. So when I found this sofa on Craigslist, we snatched it up! It's very heavy and well built, extremely comfortable, and ten feet long! Hopefully the days of my children complaining about 'nowhere to sit' are long gone now. Now the sofa just needs some pillows, but maybe I *will* wait until we finish up the dirty work in the living room before investing in those.

I was so excited to receive this beautiful painting as a gift from a talented artist friend of mine. Isn't she just dreamy? Oh, I just love her! She's so fairy like and beautiful and I often find myself just staring at her. I'd like to have this painting framed in a distressed, white wooden frame and I know just the wall I want to put her on!

The next photo really is nothing new, but you may find it amusing. Every time we leave the house for a few hours, our Ruby {Doxie Dog} just looks for ways to be naughty. Usually she searches the house for food, but whatever she can find, she brings to this rug by the front door and tears into it. In the past we've found animal crackers, mints, lollipops, and... well, you get the point. Last week, she found the bag of bird seed and I think she broke her record for biggest mess ever!

I hope you all are having a lovely February... spring is just around the corner! Have a wonderful day, especially if you are cocooned inside while the rain falls. I think I'm just going to sit here a while...

...and enjoy it!

She Walks in Beauty

2011-02-01T08:45:00.010-06:00

A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Thank you all *so* much for your sweet anniversary wishes in yesterday's entry...and your comments on the {silly} little love note I wrote when I was practically a baby of 17! It makes us laugh to this day! Hubs will be whisking me away to a quiet little cabin on a pond this weekend where I'm sure we will share many more laughs over those early years!

Oh my... Isn't the lady in the photo on my mantel so beautiful?! She was actress Maude Fealy {1881-1971} and I found her photo here at Graphics Fairy. One of my hobbies is printing out old photos that intrigue me, and when I saw this, I knew I had to have it on display in our home. I had it printed at a photo center in an 8 X 10 size. Later I will find a better frame for her but this is one I happened to have on hand.

I think these two would be lovely framed, too. *sigh* Such dreamy photos! Maude Fealy was born in Memphis, Tn and was a stage and film actress. She first acted in silent films, and then later films with sound.

Her mother was an actress, too, so needless to say, acting became a part of Maude's life at a very early age.

I'm sure she turned a few heads in her time, don't you think?!

Well, there are some fine pictures for you to enjoy, but as Goethe said, you will also need a little music so I would love to share with you my classical music playlist. Some days like today when it's cold and overcast but so snug and comfortable inside, it's nice to be able to 'relax' even while you're up doing chores or working on projects. Though my taste in music is *very* diverse, there is something about classical music that really soothes my soul. The playlist will never be complete but will keep growing. Enjoy!

I hope you all are having a charming week so far. Oh, I hear many of you are in for the biggest winter storm in decades! I worry for you and want you to stay safe and warm. Please keep me posted as to how you are doing. I don't think we here in Tennessee are going to be affected by it, but still, I have an uneasy feeling for everyone else. Take care!

I'll say my good-bye's for now with a poem...{a fine picture, a little music, a little poetry...our day is complete!} Good day, all!

She Walks In Beauty

She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellow'd to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impair'd the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!

- Lord Byron

Love Note from a 17 Year Old Girl - 1991

2011-01-31T09:31:00.004-06:00

A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment. -Jane Austen

I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you Jeff. I do. I do. I do. I love you so much. I love you more. I love you. You are so precious. I need you always. I love you forever. Think about you all the time. Can you read this? Could hug you to death. I love you. I love you. I love you. You I do love. Your gorgeous smile greets me every morning. I love you. I love you. I love you. My favorite person. Love the way you smell. Love the way you look. Love the way you wear your hair. Love the little things you do. Love who you are. Don't change. I love you. I love you. I love every square inch of you. You are the one. I don't want anybody else. I don't want to hold anybody else's hand. Only yours, yours, yours, yours. I'm so happy with you. I love to hear you breathing. I love to hear you laugh. I love to see you smile. I love to see you smile {at me}. I'm addicted to your love. Do you have any idea how much I love you? God's universe is not big enough to hold my love for you. I want to see you every day. I want to be with you every day of my life. I want you. I want to see you every day of my life. I want to run through fields with you. {You may laugh now.} I love your flowers. The flowers are you symbolically. {Except they die and you are indestructible.} I treasure my flowers. I treasure you. My flowers are beautiful. You are beautiful. Our flowers are unique. We are unique. I love you so much. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love your voice. I love you. I love you. I only think of you on two occasions - day and night.{not original} Jeff, Jeff, Jeff, Jeff. Couldn't stand to be without you. How do I love thee. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love your eyes. I love your nose. I love your cold ears. I love your chin. I love your mouth. Yes I do. I know you do but I love to tell you anyway. Jeff, Jeff, Jeff. I love your name. Kimberly Bouldin. I love that name, too. I am so fortunate to be loved by you. I need you forever. Us forever. I hope you can read this. If you can't I'll write it in the sky but it's not big enough. I love you. I love you. I'm crazy over you. Not crazy {mentally} because I know that's what you're probably thinking. I think of you all the time. In fact, in case you don't know yet, I'm thinking of you now. Thinking about how you always make me laugh. Thinking about your hair getting in your face when you play basketball. Thinking about my hamster. {I really don't know why.} I love you. I couldn't share you with anybody else. Forgive me for saying this, but I don't want to share you. I can't help it. That's what you do to me. If I weren't in geometry right now, I'd turn cartwheels. Can I tell you something again? I love you so much. I hope reading this doesn't hurt your precious little eyes. "The kiss that's in your stare haunts me day and night." I read that in a poem. I haven't kissed you yet but I stare at you often. My kiss is in my stare. Remember that. When I look at you, I can't help but think how much I love you. I'll never get tired of telling you that. Never. Never. Never. Never. I can't wait until 1994. 3 years. To me, 2 1/2. I love you. I love you. I'm so happy. Jeff, I love you. I hope you'll always be able to put up with me. I'm going to read this out loud to you at our wedding. {Just kidding.} If you are ever missing me, just pull this little note out and read it. I love you and everybody that loves you and everybody that loves everybody that loves you. Well, most of them anyway. I'm glad I'm almost out of school. I can't wait until next year. I can't wait until the next time I see your glowing face again. I love you forever and ever.

__________________________________________

Jeff did carry this in his wallet for about 18 years. The letter became pretty fragile, though. I have a whole box of letters between us... but I'll spare you! At seventeen, I had no clue about real life and all the things that go along with love and marriage and everything it entails...It was all sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows back then! We were married two years later. :)

{Happy 18th Wedding Anniversay, dear! I love you, I love you, I love you...}

The Perfect Kind of Day

2011-01-18T15:05:00.005-06:00

may my heart always be open to little
birds who are the secrets of living
whatever they sing is better than to know
and if men should not hear them men are old...
— E.E. Cummings

It's wet and dark out today...the perfect kind of day to light some candles, turn on the music, and work on few polymer clay flowers. But if you're a certain little determined bird named Ginger, it's the perfect kind of day to try to get into things you're not suppose to...and then snuggle next to a warm, fuzzy sweater.

Of course, even if you're not a certain little determined bird named Ginger, this is also the perfect kind of day for just about anything!