It's so nice I'm posting it twice

My post on Monday about the quilt barns got such a great response I decided to post it again for outdoor Wednesday.

Please see these great barns here. The go to a Southern Day Dreamer to see more from outdoor Wednesday.

Blue and White Tabletop

While at the booth recently, I setup this blue and white table top display.

I like the blue hydrangeas with the blue and white dishes.

I love this blue and white hydrangea pillow. It's embroidered in ribbon.

I have several Victorian chocolates out for Easter.

These two matching windmill urns are calling for tulips aren't they!

Today I'm linking to tabletop Tuesday over at a stroll thru life.

Kentucky Quilt Trails

On our recent trip to western Kentucky I spotted this barn (Flying Geese Quilt Block) and several others with colorful quilts adorned on them. On our way out of town I took these shots of one of the barns I had seen along the state highway that led to the Lake Barkley Lodge.

I knew that the Kentucky Arts Council had begun a project to document the heritage of Kentucky quilting on the side of barns and other buildings. I was eager to come home and learn more about this project.

"Crown of Thorns" photo by Gwenda Lynn Huff, Lawrence County

I found great information about the history of this project at the Kentucky Arts Council website

"The Quilt Trail project began in Adams County, Ohio, when Donna Sue Groves, a field representative for the Ohio Arts Council, decided that she wanted a quilt square painted on her barn to honor her mother, a lifelong quilter. Donna Sue shared her idea with friends in the community, who offered their help. They decided that if they were going to paint one quilt square on a barn, they might as well paint twenty and create a driving tour to attract tourists to their rural community. The project was such a success that word of it traveled quickly, and soon other communities were contacting Donna Sue asking if they could join in the project. Donna Sue offered her enthusiastic support. The Quilt Trail project has taken deep root in Kentucky and spread quickly. The first square in Kentucky was painted and hung in Carter County by local volunteers with support from the Gateway Resource Conservation and Development Council. The project has spread as a grassroots movement with each community introducing its own twist, painting quilt squares not only on barns, but also on floodwalls, craft shops and restaurants. Volunteer leaders and painters include extension agents, teachers, school children, senior citizens, homemaking clubs and tourism committees. The local utility company often provides a bucket truck and workers, who hang the quilts on barns, delighted to be part of this heartwarming community project. "

"Dresden Plate"Photo by Ralph Tyree, Visual Arts at the Market ArtistClark County Quilt Trail
"54’ 40” Or Fight"Photo by Patricia Brock, Visual Arts at the Market ArtistGrayson County Clothesline of Quilts"Star Variation"Photo by Jaap van der Oort, Visual Arts at the Market ArtistBuffalo Gals Quilt Trail, Scott County
"Log Cabin Variation"Photo by David Toczko, Visual Arts at the Market Artist Breckenridge County Quilt Trail

I think that the transformation of these barns and buildings into works of art is a wonderful way to document history and honor the tradition of agriculture and quilting in the community.

I'm joining Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday. Hope you'll jump over there to catch more great posts. Have a great week!

Windows on the Water

As I mentioned before, we went over to Lake Barkley resort a few weekends ago. From there website here is a description of the lodge:

"World-class Lake Barkley lodge, designed by Edward Durrell Stone, seems to have just emerged naturally from the wooded shoreline that surrounds it. Using a post-and-beam wood construction of Western Cedar, Douglas fir, and three-and one-half acres of glass, the recently renovated Barkley Lodge complex provides a lake view from the private balconies of most of the 120 rooms and four suites."

And a description of the restaurant, Windows on the Water:

"This glass walled 331 seat restaurant allows guests to have panoramic and scenic views from any seat in the house. With Chef Hattie Cheatham’s specialty of good old country cooking like meatloaf, fried chicken, catfish & hushpuppies, with real mashed potatoes, the restaurant has earned a long-time and well-deserved reputation for the best home cooking in western Kentucky. As a supporter of Kentucky Proud program we utilize locally grown meats and produce when available."

They offer a full buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner or you may choose selections from their menu.

My favorite (or one of my favorites) is the country ham. I adore country ham. If you have never had true country ham, you have to try it if you're ever in Kentucky. It's too salty for some people, but I love it as a special treat!

My other favorite is catfish. Served here with lemon butter and seasonings, homemade tartar sauce and hush puppies! Yummy!

This is a shot from the lobby of the lodge down to the restaurant on the second floor.

And this is from the 2nd floor up to the lobby (sorry for the blurriness).

The restaurant has this huge fireplace in the center. They had it decorated for Easter. When I was a little girl and my family would come here for summer vacation, they would have an organ in front of this fireplace and the organist would play during dinner.
Today I'm joining Foodie Friday over at Designs by Gollum. Happy Weekend!

Here Comes Peter . . .

Today I'm joining Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday. I am tickled pink over this tablescape. You know how you have a tablescape idea in your mind, and then it all comes together just as your mind's eye sees it? Come on I know you tablescapper's out there know what I'm talking about - well, this one did!

I laid out the burlap remnant as the base cloth. Then I added purple placemats. Next I layered rattan ceramic dinner plates as the base and the piece du resistance was these adorable bunny plates.

Aren't these plates great! I love the pink raspberries with the purple violets and the brown bunny.

I used purple and green plaid napkins in the carrot napkin rings, layered in a green beaded garland and black and white sheep salt and pepper shakers.

Finally in the center I placed this to die for wreath that actually sits up too and these cute grapevine baskets with silk tulips. Yes, Peter Cottontail it is satisfying to put together something you're pleased with!

More for Pattis 1880s

Before we ate at Patti's recently, we walked the property to view the gardens and peek into some of the shops. Keep in mind it was a cold, rainy day in March, but come late spring and summertime, these gardens are beautiful. Patti's does a wonderful job of planting (and maintaining) lots of plants and flowers.
Above you see some of the garden sculpture in the flower beds.

Here's a long shot of the same bed where you can see the beginnings of the spring bulbs peeking up.

Patti's also has a great playground to keep the little one's busy before and after dinner.

Also dotted around the property are these adorable butterfly chair/benches. These make for great picture places during the summer time.

In the center of the property is a gazebo, which has been the site of many weddings and celebrations. I was here last summer when it was setup for an outdoor wedding and it was draped in white flowers and tulle. It was stunning.

A small stream runs through the property. Here I've taken a picture of it while standing on a small bridge that allows you to cross over it.

Here's a close up of the daffodils just about to burst open.

Adjacent to the restaurant is this huge working water wheel.

Today I am joining Outdoor Wednesday over at a southern day dreamer. Be sure to jump over there and visit more great outdoor posts.

Easter Stuffings

This tablescape is full of ideas to use for Easter stuffing. I love this brightly colored egg shape totes. They would be great for an Easter egg hunt.

Here you see some long eared rabbits lined up for duty along with white felt rabbit sucker covers.

Mr. EB has his note pads ready for all the Easter "to do's".

Aren't these felt purses cute with the flower embellishments?

I think my favorite are these ducks. They are in the shape of rabbits, lambs and chicks. So cute! What are planning on stuffing in your Easter baskets this year?

Today I'm joining Tabletop Tuesday at a stroll thru life. Go over and see Marty's great blue and white post, plus all the friends that have joined her.

Victorian Easter Bunnies

I had a great day on Saturday working up at the booth. I was able to get the last of the Easter items priced and displayed. See the narrow table above with the blue and white on it? I changed it out to a Victorian Easter theme.

Here you can see I placed a runner of lemon leaves as the base, then added in a big white chocolate bunny, two medium sized chocolate bunnies and several pastel and dark chocolate mini bunnies.

I place two large white bunnies made from bleached grass and then sparkled with fairy dust on the table. This guy has a grape vine back pack of eggs.

Here's a side view of him with his back pack ready for deliveries. I love these two guys they are really cute! I think they would look great on some one's mantel.

Here's long shot of the table. You can see both of the grass bunnies together. In between the various bunnies I placed Victorian shaker boxes in pastel colors with Easter scenes on top.

I'm joining Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday. Please visit her blog for more great transformations!

Pink Welcome to Spring

I picked up these pink ranunculus from Whole Foods this week.

They screamed spring to me

I thought they looked particularly nice in my blue and white vase.

Just yesterday they started to open - ahh - spring starts tomorrow - we made it ya'll! Have a great weekend!

I planned to join pink Saturday for the first time but as usual I did not read the directions and failed to email my blog in time, however- jump over to visit at How Sweet the Sound.