Summer Porch Reading

One of my favorite things to do is read out on the back porch in these white wicker chairs. We've had these chairs since we bought our first house over 18 years ago and they have served us well. Marbles enjoys sitting up high on the porch bird watching.

Recently I was able to catch up on a few of my magazines along with two of my favorite Starbucks items - black iced tea unsweetened and lemon pound cake.

This white wicker table was in our daughters nursery as a side table to the rocking chair - 22 years ago!

You can't beat sipping iced tea on a summer day :)

I'm joining Outdoor Wednesday; White Wednesday ; Show and Tell Friday & My Favorite Things.

Feathering Your Nest

Here's a few items to feather your nest in the dull drums of winter.
I love the winter white candle opera with the eggs as
the pre-note to spring!

Linen cocktail napkins, a mosaic hummingbird feeder and drip

wear bowls make a nice combination.

I love these light blue salad plates.

They have a hint of chocolate brown in the background.

I thought all these items complimented the

nest and blue jay towels.

A blue toile tote and garden gate ornaments combine

with metal spheres and an antique hook.
I'm joining Tabletop Tuesday; White Wednesday; and Tablescape Thursday.

Spectator Spectacular

Ever since I opened the store, I've used black and white

as a color template for some sort of display.


It just seems to be season less and neutral.

I love these seafood forks I just got in - not for seafood,

but rather to serve appetizers, olives and other "bits" on platters.

This cookie jar would make a great

business card holder

for your desk.
Also, see the napkin ring at the bottom left of the picture?

These are new and are adorable kitties!

A black and white fabric lined basket filled with flowers.

Even your day to day correspondence can add a flair

with these black and white pens.

This wine rack seemed open and empty so

I filled it with small black & white gift bags.

And miniature teapot place card holders from Crane.

I added a few serving pieces in basket weave,

which would make great "go to" pieces for your next buffet.

I'm joining Tabletop Tuesday & White Wednesday

and hope you will visit them too!

Coffee Table Ideas from Mary Carol Garrity

A Coffee Table Redo

Recently I read Ms. Garrity's blog about coffee table ideas and decided yes, my coffee table does need a redo.

So I started with this beautiful linen embroidered
towel my mother gave me as a base.

Then I layered in some of my Star of David collection - a cake plate, coasters and a candy dish.

Finally I added candle sticks and Ms. Bunny Williams

classic An Affair with a House.

I love the scalloped detail on the base of this cake plate. It's a bit hard to see by picture, but the glassware showed nicely against the dark wood table.

Miss Madison would like you to visit these lovely ladies parties to see other great ideas. She would also like her mother to get her to the beauty salon for a trim :)

Metamorphosis Monday, Table Top Tuesday, Three or More Tuesday, and White Wednesday.

A Stroll Thru the Yard

Won't you grab a glass of iced tea and join me today as we take a stroll thru the yard to see what's happening?

This bush out by the back patio was another inheritance from the

previous owners. It blooms only for a few weeks each June.

I think it's very unusual looking. Any ideas?

In some of my containers this year I planted this

mini-daisy looking trailer.

It's doing a great job of spreading around the pots

and climbing down.

I like it with the yellow marigolds since it has

a yellow center.

Today I'm joining White Wednesday and Outdoor Wednesday.

Spring Blooms Around the Yard

Today I'm joining White Wednesday and Outdoor Wednesday to share some of my spring blooms.

Madison wants you to join us on this hot and sunny Kentucky day

to tour the yard and see what's blooming!

Last Mother's Day we spent the weekend landscaping our front and side yard and it has really begun to pay off.

We planted these gorgeous peonies.

And some digitalis. Yes, I realize these are really lavender, but the outside is white and I think they are to stunning to not share with you.

We are adding in some more perennials this year.

When we moved here there were two huge old Magnolia trees in the side yard. One has since died off but one remains.

I have been anxiously awaiting these blooms for a few weeks. They are high up towards the top of the tree so I'll never get to touch them, but they are great to admire from afar.

Also in the side yard next to my "I think it's a lilac" is this white tree/bush.

Any ideas on what you think it is? Thanks for coming by to visit!

Napkin Rings

When looking through some photos on my computer, I noticed I've gotten quite the collection going of white napkin rings.

They all seem to be animals too - which is odd- I've gotten them in two's and four's here and there.

And they are randomly placed around my booth space.

I think I like the poodle and boxer puppies the best!

I'm joining Three or More Tuesday and White Wednesday.