Happy Mother's Day!!!

Mr. Bird Nest put a new window in the garage this morning before my head even left the pillow.  I agreed to go with him to the landfill to put the old one in a dumpster and after that he took me to Lowe's.  I've never planted Lavender in my yard, so I bought myself some for Mother's Day, along with a pot of Rosemary.  Now if it would just warm up a bit, I can plant it.

When I took the picture of the Lavender I couldn't resist showing you the size of my Zinnia's.  Can you believe how big they are since I showed you a picture last week?

I received this beautiful Berta Hummel plate in the mail this week from my newest BBFF (Best Blogging Friend Forever) Diana from Nana Diana Takes A Break.  Is she just the sweetest thing ever or what?  Thank you Diana for one of the most thoughtful gifts I've ever gotten for Mother's Day.  I thought I was entering a giveaway when I gave her my two sons years of birth.  As luck would have it for me, she sent me this plate and felt bad the other was already gone.  Since she lives in Wisconsin, I wonder if she's a "cheesehead" (that's a Green Bay Packer Fan for those of you who don't follow football)? Don't tell her I've been a diehard Pittsburgh Steeler fan for 50 years or she might want her plate back.  Shhhh.  

My wish for all of you new Mom's out there is a morning of breakfast in bed and runny eggs, cold "hot" tea and dry toast.  We Nana's have all been there and it's the best breakfast you'll ever have.  Just don't think about what the kitchen looks like.

For you Mom's with teenagers, I wish you a morning when your kids came home on time last night and they get up early enough to bring you some flowers, even if they are from a neighbor's yard.

For you Mom's with 20 and 30 somethings, I wish that if your kids have moved back home, you wanted them to.  And if they haven't given you grandchildren yet, handle them with care, you need to keep that good relationship going so they'll share your grandchildren with you someday. 

Especially for you Nana's (like me), Grammy's, Grammies, Grandma's or whatever your grandchildren call you.....I wish you a day filled with lots of hugs and kisses from your grandchildren and take time to thank your sons and daughters for giving you the best days of you life by blessing you with grandchildren.

Hugs and air kisses from me too.....Gretchen

Guests Arriving...

My cousin and his girlfriend are arriving today to spend a night with us.  They are on their way home to Sanibel Island, FL and have been in PA for about a month.  I love having them visit but there is one small thing I always worry about.  They are vegetarians.  That is fine with me because I rarely eat meat.

I've told you before we live in a small cottage with three bedrooms.  One of those is the master and one is our den/library/office.  Our guest room is also my sewing room and where I iron.  The room has twin beds and a TV.  Looking at this picture makes me think I need to get rid of some furniture.  Oh well, to late now.

This was my china hutch but in here it serves to hold quilts, old copies of The English Home and books. 

This little dresser was my paternal grandmother's and the pictures are of Bill's family and mine.

The bedding was all washed yesterday and I ironed everything because it just feels nicer to me to have it all smooth.

I put these roses in the room.  I wish they were from my garden but they are not.  The only thing I have blooming right now are my Magnolias.

Since they are vegetarians, I added bottles of water to this tray and a package of unsalted almonds.

I have two luggage racks but I only put this large one in the room.

The guest bath has been scoured from top to bottom and has a stack of fresh towels and new soaps at the ready.

I've got my favorite hand wash and hand lotion on the vanity.  Along with that, I put a single white rose in this milk bottle from Bill's and my grandfather's Dairy.

I've got fresh juice, fruit  and whole wheat muffins for breakfast tomorrow.   I also bought McCann's steel cut oatmeal and fresh blueberries, which I know is one of their favorites.  

I'm going to take them to Trattoria Giorgio in Greenville for dinner tonight.  They have fresh pasta, seafood and I think it will be a good choice for them.  It's my favorite restaurant and I really hope they will like it.  Mr. Bird Nest has to work tomorrow, so he will be dining on leftover meatloaf and scalloped cheese potatoes.  Life is tough for the working man. 

What do you do for your guests to make them feel special?

Gretchen

Decorating Your Outside Table...

Recently, I went to lunch at a store in Greenville that also has a restaurant (more of a tearoom) called Twigs.  We had lunch and then saw displays about how to create a summer table. Dumb me forgot her camera.  I bought a few things but tried to copy the rest at a discount.

They had very tall slim crystal containers that were at least $120. each.  You notice you don't see any on my table.  I went to Michaels to get containers and used candle sticks I already had.

What I did buy were the little cups with the crystals hanging from them.  You could put a candle in them but I used little birds like they did.  I also bought 3 tiny lights on batteries to put inside the vases with the crystals that came from Hobby Lobby.  Since I took these photos during the day, you can't see the lights. 

What I liked about this table centerpiece was that you can see through it. Unlike flowers, it gives you the opportunity to see who is across from you.  I also got a teeny tiny string of lights that operates on a battery that you can wrap around the container.  Again, it was daylight, so I didn't use them.

I think they are sort of pretty and I love anything that has a "Bird Nest".  I'm sure you could find something very similar.

Hope you enjoy this idea.

Gretchen

Don't You Just Love a Bargain?...

Once a month, women from my church get together for a "Women's Fellowship Lunch" and I attended today.  They are an incredible group of women, mostly retired, who were teachers, business women, one was even an Anesthesiologist.  I really enjoy this group and although I don't get to church every Sunday, I would really hate to miss this fun group of women.  We go to a different restaurant every time we meet and today was the Trade Street Cafe in Greer, SC.

On my way home, I stopped at a Tony's Fabric Outlet not too far from my house.  They were having a big sale since they are relocating to a new location in Greer, SC.  Here's what I bought. 

I got this entire roll of this tan and beige checked fabric (it had been 6.99 a yard) for..............drumroll please ......................$5.27.  Can you believe it?   That was for the entire roll that had more than 5 yards on it.

I got 4+ yards of this fabric for $12.99.  That was it.

Yep, I know.  My total for all this fabric was $19.32.  What an incredible deal!  I may go back tomorrow for more.  Shh...don't tell Mr. Bird Nest. 

What am I going to use this for?  Well I'm not really crazy about the fabric on my banquet at my dining table and this will look great with the drapes in our living/dining/kitchen.

Here are what my curtains in the living room look like.  I got them at Ballard's and they weren't $5.27.  I think the check fabric looks a lot like them.

This was my banquet when my son Rick first built it.

I actually have a different cushion on it now but I was thinking of putting the check on the bottom cushion and the flowered fabric on the back cushions.  What do you think?  Or do you think I should put the check on everything? 

I love getting all your opinions on projects like this, so feel free to let me know.  In the meantime, I'll be thinking and rethinking which I like.

Gretchen

10 Things You Don't Know About Me...

Your could read my blog every day for as long as I have it and you would never know these things about me, if we haven't met.

1.    One of my guilty pleasures is eating cake-like brownies with milk. My other guilty pleasure is watching the Real Housewives of New York, Orange County or Beverly Hills.

2.    I don't drink or smoke.

3.    My Daddy bought us our first pony when I was about 5 or 6 years old. At one time, we had about 75 horses and ponies on our dairy farm in PA. I would have a horse now if I could.

4.    I'm a middle child. That means I'm shy, quiet, 

easygoing, a mediator, kind of a rebel and always avoid conflict.

5.    I've traveled to 48 states but have not been to Alaska or Hawaii.

6.    I'll always be a work in progress. I'm continually trying   to better myself, whether it's physically, emotionally or       spiritually.

7.    I've always considered my two younger brothers my        best friends. Sadly, I lost my baby brother to Melanoma when he was just 54.  Almost every day, I  wear a silver necklace I designed with his name on  one side and his birth and death dates on the other. It also has a small horse and a turkey on it because he was a great rider and he was an avid, avid turkey hunter.  He was handsome too and no matter how long or short his hair was, he almost always had a handlebar mustache.  He was a bricklayer by trade but a cowboy at heart and looked very much like Sam Elliott the actor.

8.    I will never, never, ever have enough purses. My dream purse would be a Berkin handbag.

9.    I don't go anywhere without my Chanel No. 5.

 

10.  I believe there is always, always, always something

to be thankful for.

I hope you've enjoyed kind of getting into my head.  Now when you read my blog, you'll know where I'm coming from.

British Country Living...

My first copy of British Country Living arrived on Friday and after church today, I plan to spend the afternoon browsing and reading.  I peeked and the "Garden Special" is amazing. 

Have a relaxed and peaceful Sunday.

Gretchen