Supper in the Kitchen

 

I am joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday. There are many of us who just love to set the table and play with dishes. (In real life---Jack and I very often use paper plates!) However, the table always looks inviting. So many of the dishes that I use are not suitable for the dishwasher.

Tonight we are going to eat in the kitchen. It has been a long day and I am going to make 1905 Salad. You can read about it here.

The counter tops are cherry so I did not use placemats. A clear glass plate serves as a charger. On top is a plate with a fruit design. The china is made by the Edwin M. Knowles China Company and, although I can find the dishes on eBay, I cannot find the name of the pattern. The plate on top is banded glassware. I was fortunate enough to buy a lot of this glassware. I love the look of the colors with Fiesta dishes, too.

I could not get rid of that glare…..I am not allowed to climb yet!

The dishes are well worn. I bought the set when I first started staying at the cabin and Jack has decided that they really belong at his house.

The flatware was purchased at the Dansk outlet several years ago. The Fiesta pitcher is a reproduction and the zinnias are from the garden.

Thanks for stopping by. If you have a  minute, I love comments!

Mosaics for Monday

 

I am joining Mary at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday. This is a fun event for those of us who love to play with pictures and the various photo editing programs that are out there. I have a tendency to stick with Photoscape because I find it so user friendly. I have Photoshop and several books but I cannot seem to do what I would like to do with the program. I will keep trying and perhaps there will be a class I could take.

My friend Jackie in the UK made the most outstanding mosaics this past week. You should stop by and see what she has done. I thought I would play a bit over the weekend. The results follow. As a background for some of the mosaics, I used a photograph of rusted bedsprings.  We stop in at Deb’s Flowerbed Farm in Bridgton, ME to look for good ”stuff”. This old bed frame was outside surrounded by flowers in various settings.

I love the texture and design. I played with effects and filters and lighting.

 

 

Have a wonderful week. Be sure to visit the other mosaic makers and stop in to see Jackie in the UK!

Just Reflecting.....A little Pink on Saturday

I am joining Beverly of How Sweet the Sound for another Pink Saturday. Please be sure and visit.

It is another beautiful day here in Maine in the cabin on the  lake. This summer has been delightful. The last couple of years have been very rainy, cold and damp. Those are not great conditions for arthritis.....This summer I have a new hip and life is good. Each day I get stronger and I am able to wander a little further from the cabin. I keep my eyes peeled for acorns because I do not care to fall.

The flowers are starting to go by and there is a crispness in the air. It might be hot when you go to sleep but by morning a quilt or two feels pretty good.

We have loons on the lake and this year the pair that hang around our area have a chick. This is the first chick in 3 years that is learning to dive and fish in our cove. You can read about loons here. Scroll down to bottom of the article to listen to sounds they make. The have several calls depending on what is going on on the lake. Their cries are haunting and carry from one end of the lake to the other. We love them and we love having a chick to watch.

I have permission to drive and I can get in my car now. So we are off to go have "lobstah" rolls for lunch.

 Happy Pink Saturday!!!

Pansies in the garden…..

 

“If flowers could smile, they'd all be pansies.”

unknown

I have always loved pansies, violas, johnny jump ups and violets. Sweet little faces and just a hint of fragrance. The flowers are edible and taste like grapes and mint.

I am joining Mary today at Little Red House for this weekly event.

Those who follow me know how I like to manipulate photos and how I love to make collages and mosaics.

 

Have a wonderful week and be sure to stop in at Mary’s and see the other wonderful mosaics.

A Pink Mystery for Pink Saturday

 

 

I am joining Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday. Please stop by and see all the Pinks when you are finished here! I love comments so don’t be shy.

 

We have rented this cabin on a lake in the woods for several years. In the bedroom thumb tacked to the wall is a picture of a lovely lady. No one knows who she is. The photograph was taken by Purdy Studios in Boston and in very faint ink is written Phoebe ‘26.

So I thought it would be very fitting to photograph her with another mystery. I bought this unmarked pink “McCoy” type vase. I just liked the shape of it. I am trying very hard to know the sources of what I buy but sometimes it is just impossible.

 

The flowers are from my garden. I am not sure what the little white flower is but the pink ones are snapdragons.

 

 

Maybe Phoebe crocheted the runner for the dresser……

Happy Pink Saturday!

a table for two with a view…..

 

I am joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday. Visit her blog for a wonderful treat. I borrowed an old teapot from my neighbors at the lake and the table just grew from there.

The teapot was made by Royal Doulton and the name of the pattern is Indian.

The view is the lake. The screens on the porch made it hard to get a good picture.

Because we are at the cabin for the summer, I don’t have a lot of “stuff” to play tablescaping but I found some dishes and some silver-plate flatware and just scrounged around for more. I made the quilt a few years back from feed sack squares.  The candlesticks are a recent purchase.

The china is Booth’s Old Staffordshire which I bought a couple of years ago. The flatware is Harmony House Maytime by Wallace. I was able to find the names of these patterns and was thrilled. So often I am unable to identify what I have bought.

Have a great weekend!

Pink Saturday

 

 

I am joining Beverly at How Sweet the Song for another Pink Saturday. I am reposting from last August. I was unable to get where I needed to go for the “Pink” pictures I wanted to feature so as I was scrolling through I found this one and the recipe for Gram Potter’s brownies. Yum. I will be very glad when I can drive again! The hip is super but the cabin is getting very small…..

Be sure and follow Beverly’s link and see what is going on with the other “Pinks”.

 

I have always loved geraniums which technically should be called pelargonium The true geranium or cranesbill is a less dramatic flower although still quite lovely. Scented geraniums are another favorite and this year I have rose, lemon and apple scented in my garden. Their flowers are less showy but just touch the leaves and the scent is wonderful. Mosquitoes don't like the smell of geranium so some insect repellents use their oil which smells much better than pure citronella.

Years ago I had quite a collection of scented geraniums. I would layer a leaf or two from the rose scented one in some sugar and then make a pound cake. The cake would be subtly flavored.

These lovely "geraniums" were photographed in Bridgton, Maine at Craftworks which is a gift and clothing store with out of the ordinary items.

I think I will bake tomorrow. Brownies sound good to me and maybe something with lemon. I will have to go through my recipes. Gram Potter made delicious brownies. The recipe is below.

Gram Potter’s Brownies

2 eggs, well beaten

½ cup butter

1 cup sugar

½ cup flour

½ cup nuts (walnuts)

2 squares unsweetened chocolate

½ teaspoon salt1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Melt the chocolate and add to the butter. Cream in the sugar. Add eggs, flour and salt. Mix in chopped nuts and add vanilla. Grease an 8 x 8 pan and line with wax paper. Bake in 300 degree oven for one hour - check after 50 minutes.

My mother would make these for our Uncle George. He did not like the edges (silly man) so my sister and I would hang around for the trimmings.

 

Happy Pink Saturday!