Visiting with Granddaughter and Family

First of all a word about Google getting rid of Google Friend Connect on March 1, 2012.

This will not affect Blogger accounts. It will affect your blog if you're doing Wordpress. Wordpress and maybe even Typepad but I'm not absolutely positive about it. Right now it looks like Typepad will not be affected but don't quote me on that. Wordpress, at least, will no longer be given the codes to allow GFC to work on their blogs. Those of you who have Google Friend Connect on your Blogger blog have no need to worry about it; it will still work on your blogs. While some prefer to keep their Wordpress, I'm sure there is a way to bring it over to Blogger if you prefer to use Blogger to keep the GFC. If you prefer to not use Blogger and stay with your current blog, you can get other applications if you'd like: a Facebook page just for your blog or Networked Blogs. Personally, I've always preferred Blogger. It's much easier and user-friendly. I've always used the Old Editor as the New Editor is much glitchier. I can usually tell immediately which editor a blogger is using.
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Welcome once again. I hope you've enjoyed the last few posts. I'm in Washington visiting my granddaughter and her family. Miss Caroline will be featured on posts shortly. Our great granddaughter is growing so fast I can't believe it.

There is no rhyme or reason as to how I post the photos. As I've said, there are over 1,100 of them to show you. I mean I have really and truly scouted the internet the last several days looking for photos to lift your spirits. So don't expect a post on gardens or rooms or flowers or weddings or food; just look, dream, get ideas, relax and enjoy. I've done all the hard work for you! But it has truly been my pleasure. I didn't even load all the ones I've seen, just being very selective as to what I like and thought you'd enjoy it also. If not this blog, then wait for the next ones. I think I can promise you that you'll enjoy them. I'll feature a variety each time. I have photos of roses, fruits, homes, gardens, European streets, vignettes, walkways, kitchens, food, bedrooms, yards, rustic, elegance, just anything and everything. My imagination ran wild.

A vine covered outdoor room.

This looks like a sun room. I cannot tell if it's outdoors or indoors but with the vines growing I'm guessing it is outdoors with a cover over it. Quaint though.

Can we say a gypsy or bohemian bathroom? That's what it looks like to me, but I'm loving the lace-covered walls.

I threw this in for all you lovers of rustic.

I threw this one in because I love warm, crusty butter-slathered french bread and red and white ruffled chair covers!

This little tent absolutely stole my heart. I'm not ambitious enough to make one but what a joy it would be to have this on a camp out. This couldn't possibly be a doghouse, could it?! Ooooh, I hope not. Just too danged cute.

Look at that scalloped blue table and those stone walls. Are you lusting yet?

Now, go and smell some beautiful roses.
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A Little Change, a Tote and Cupcakes

I saw these on a blog of the winner of one of my aprons and just loved the fanciness of these. Are they not among the prettiest, fanciest and yummiest cupcakes you've ever seen? They're from Henri Bendel in NYC. Just thought you'd love to see them.
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I cut some hydrangeas from one of our plants in the front porch garden area and brought them in. They were pretty dry but still had color so I had hubs pull down from the plant shelf in the living room the urn with the arrangement I made last year with all the things bloggers and my eBay group had given me so I could put the 4 branches of the hydrangeas into it. Snapped some photos to show you. I like how it turned out. A bit of green in there. Maybe I'll get some artificial ones for it.

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Blogging gives me 2 pleasures: writing and photography. I'm not very good at either one, but it allows me to keep my grammar skills up and to practice photographing things. Some are bad shots and some are better than I anticipate, but it's all practice. So hang in there all you bloggers who are like me and trying to perfect those skills. These photos will attest to that!

So with that being said, I'm giving away this tote. After all I did to make it, it just didn't work for me. I'll make another one with a zipper since I'm very concerned—okay, so I'm OCD—about safety and not losing my phone or iPod. So simply leave a comment here and you are entered for the giveaway. I don't make it hard for you at all.

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Now, I've told you hubs and I are silly sometimes. So we're sitting around talking and I wondered out loud if they stitch your mouth together when you die and are put in a casket. He looks at me and said, "With $8,000 worth of dental work for the past few months I'd better see a smile on your face showing those gorgeous teeth." He's such a card. ;-)
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I Love Ruffles

I'm participating in Cielo's Ruffle Love in Show Off Your Cottage Monday so visit with all the participants.
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I decided I wanted some ruffles on something. Can you guess what it is? First, I ripped 4" strips from 3 yards of fabric. That gave me a lot to gather with the ruffler. I ended up with over 16 yards of ruffles.

Just before ruffling.

After ruffling. LOTS of ruffles.

I have more than enough for this project and several yards left for crafting or other projects.

Just pinned on here to start sewing. Surely you've guessed by now.

If you guessed they were for the new curtains I made, you're correct. I love the white polka dots on white; plus the ruffle truly does add to the overall effect of the curtains.

Now if I can just wait for the new white slipcover!

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Cottages and Roses Paintings #4 for Pink Saturday

This is the 4th time I've edited this post!! I keep thinking of things I want to tell ya chicks or tips I want to share.
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I've been thinking on what I wanted to do with a corner behind me to the left of the desk in my office. I just couldn't come up with anything, but actually I hadn't given it too much thought as I've been super busy trying to find space for my sheets and towels.........here I go—getting off track!

Anyway, I was reading a blog the other day and she had a corner and "BOOOOOING", it hit me like a ton of bricks!! I don't know why because I've done this in my house in other places, but it just didn't hit me until I saw her picture. Donna "snapped a rubber band" at my head with the picture over on her blog today.......hmmmm, seems like yesterday though. Oh well............ I simply put a little lamp that has been sitting on the floor until I could find out what to do with it. This is the corner where my cable modem and wireless router sit and it looks just "blah" there. I've been thinking but it didn't sink in until her blog picture. I am going to cover the little tv tray it is sitting on. My office can't be configured many ways because of all the electronics I have hooked up to my computer so this is IT, chicks. It fills that corner AND gives me some light. But it was so short that I added the books to it for a bit of elevation. Works very well. DUH!!!

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I've had these millinery roses for years and years and they've kind of "settled or flattened" from being in a drawer for so many years.

Then I came across a tip from Heather several days ago—can't really remember when— and tonight I decided to test it out as I had nothing to do. Riiiiiight!!!! Hah. Anyway, I thought I'd share this tip/trick with all of you. It actually worked well as you can see in the pictures below of the before and after. They're actually very perky and pretty now.

The tip is to hold them upside down over a steaming kettle or pot. I used a pot with boiling water and held it over for a minute or so and voilà! They are back in shape.

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Okay, I got to thinkin' today, chicks. I wanna do a swap with only one person! Just me and someone else. I want to do a crown swap. Anyone wanna accept the challenge to do it with me??? Hmmmm??? Just email me today and let me know. I'm only going to do one person. I want to get to know one of you very well. By 5 pm tonight. I'll pick the name out of a hat and announce it after 5 pm TONIGHT. This is gonna be fun!!!

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I saw this darling prom gown and had to share. While certainly more modest than some I've seen, most of the teenagers I know wouldn't wear something without a sleeve. However, this dress is adorable with its net ruffles and being pink so I had to share.

I love hand bags like these below—all pink, satin and froufrou-y.

I guess men design these shoes. Women who actually wear them wouldn't design something so high you look like an elephant walking down the street. Just watch the women in these HIGH heels walking. They CAN'T! Why can't they design these in a shorter heel style so we don't ruin out feet later in life. Trust me on this ONE!!!! They are adorable though.

This looks like something designed by a man who hated women! Like maybe the Marquis de S*de!

You certainly won't break a heel in this one; you'll break your FOOT! Silly.

Seriously, chicks, can you REALLY see someone actually buying, wearing and walking in such a shoe??? This designer must REEEEALLLLY hate women! Idiot!
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How I love this magnificent huge rose bouquet!

Spending a summer afternoon watching sail boats drifting by while reading your favorite book and having a picnic lunch with someone special.

Spending some time at the sea shore watching the ocean ebb and flow in your solitude with the birds drifting overhead and a blue bouquet at your window. Feel the sand on your toes as you dig them into the sand.

A bouquet of roses freshly picked from the garden and tossed onto a side table until they can be arranged into a vase. She reminds me of Paul de Longpre and his luscious painting of roses in this one.

Another exuberant bouquet of picks from the garden on a summer morn with fresh berries and other fruit for a tête-a-tête.

Last of these paintings by Barbara Mock.
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