My Version of British Country Living

I fell in love with a particular cover of British Country Living. You can look back in my older posts in March and see the adorable cover! This is my version. I arranged some sweet treasures on my fireplace mantle. I was determined to not purchase anything for this mantle. I would look through my stashes and replicate my version of this bird-themed vignette! The bird's nest in the terracotta pot is real. It was abandoned by my house finches last year. Enjoy!

My Etsy Assistant

This is my kitty Peach. Wherever I am working on a project, she is there "supervising". She is quite nosy and loves to be in the middle of whatever is going on. She also "talks". She will carry on a "conversation" back and forth with you. I thought you might like to see her in action. She is so sweet and soft. She is four years old. When she grows up she wants to be me!

Rachel Ashwell Inspirations

http://www.amazon.com/Rachel-Ashwells-Shabby-Chic-Inspirations/dp/1907563598

Cannot wait to see Rachel's newest book coming soon!

Cabbage and Roses Giveaway

Carol Spinksi is hosting a give-away on her blog. A beautiful Cabbage and Roses tablecloth! It's absolutely lovely and looks like a gorgeous antique find from a Paris flea market!

Shabby Chic Garden

Today was a perfect day for working on my Shabby Chic garden! I love how these sweet pansies came in a paper bag....peeking out at me!

Some friends dropped in to observe! They are a little nosy...but very friendly! They offered quite a bit of "advice". They stayed long enough for a photo shoot and then fluttered off.









I love the wind chimes that my dear father made for me last year. He fashioned them from antique silverware. I had asked him to make me some because he is so talented and then he presented them to me last summer! They sound lovely and melodic!

I hope you love the sweet little china saucer border that I put around my flower "box". When the flowers grow there will be double holly-hocks, black seed sunflowers and lavender creeping phlox. It's a work in progress but I love it so far!

Dead Horse Bay

Now for the news of the weird and curious! http://newyorkdailyphoto.blogspot.com/2010/06/explorin-part-2-dead-horse-bay.html

My Poppy Seed Dressing

Since the first of this year, my husband and I have been on a mission to get healthy. We eat large amounts of lettuce salads. This homemade salad dressing is my absolute favorite. My husband loves it too! I hope you will try it and let me know what you think. I actually CRAVE salads with this dressing on it. I think about salads while I am on the treadmill. I come home from my fitness center and make up a plate of delicious salad. I mix this dressing in my Tupperware Quick Shake container and store it in the door of the fridge. Yummy!
Recipe for Poppy Seed Dressing
1/2 cup of water
3/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
2 TB poppy seeds
3 TSP dried minced onion
1 TSP worcestershire sauce
1/2 TSP dried paprika
Shake vigorously in your Quick Shake and chill for at least one hour.
(You can adjust the amounts of the ingredients to suit your tastes)