Saturday, February 26, 2011

Now

Shabby pink wildflower roses sheets, down pillows, a cup of tea and a good book on this snowy day. How are you spending your Saturday afternoon?
Be Peaceful. Float Away. Have a most beautiful weekend my sweet friends!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Imagining Spring

This year, winter has been endless and relentless in its fury. I am trapped—trapped in a winter wonderland that I just don’t like, or wish to be in. So what is one to do in days like this? Dream away!

And so, on a particularly super cold day in the middle of winter (and with more snow is the forecast), I start to fantasize about warm and sunny days and al fresco dining... so although it is cold—bitterly cold, I grab a favorite vintage tablecloth and other sweet lovelies, and out I go to the garden...

No body is around to join me; not even the birds (they’re probably laughing about me from their cozy little places), but setting up this little table gives me enough resources (for now) to bear yet another winter storm...

I adore my garden. I love embellishing it with all sorts of pretty and whimsical things and often get so prickly with thoughts of spring around this time of year. You can imagine how thrilled I was when this company "here" contacted me and offered to design a garden sign for the house in the roses... Perfect timing I say! They told me they would make a sign that would fit the personality of my garden perfectly, but I never ever imagined being this pretty... or this magical!
BuildASign is a company in Texas that makes beautiful enamel signs. You can choose a house number sign or a name sign or whatever you want. How fun is that? Oh, and don’t forget to tell them I sent you! Who knows... they might offer you a great deal too!
Can't wait for the climbers to fill in over our fence and walls this summer

with tons of pink New Dawn Roses...

I'm joining Susan and her Tablescape Thursday!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Long Weekend joy!

To all my readers here in the states, did you all have a lovely long weekend? Oh I did! Aren’t long weekends marvelous? My Monday was perfect! Breakfast with dear friends at our favorite coffee house in our lovely downtown, a beautiful sun filled day (although cold-cold) and a little bit of shopping delight. Then I finished the day with tidying our nest. I so enjoy arranging and rearranging things around my home. That’s one of my favorite thing to do ever! ;)
I dream of decorating our smaller guestroom in something like this picture below. Do you love turquoise? I love turquoise! This color has the power to almost always remind me of a delicious icing-trimmed cake...
and then there are whites as fluffy meringue cakes, and heavenly rooms and furnishings kissed with cotton candy pink!
Lovely rooms being loved in wonderful homes around the world. And don’t they just look extra gorgeous!
The first picture comes straight from our very own The house in the roses, the second from City Cottage, the third one from A beach cottage, the fourth from My shabby streamside studio and the rests from all over the Internet! Thank you for being an inspiration!
Such beautiful style too!

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Show Off Your Cottage Monday

Welcome to "SHOW OFF YOUR COTTAGE MONDAY", a blog party I host at the beginning of each week to celebrate the things we love about our homes and how we live.
The House in the Roses
Today I have a surprise I know you all are going to love... Theresa, from Time Worm Interiors has kindly opened the doors of her amazing studio to us--a beautiful inspirational space to create and just be. So, are you ready for the tour? I know you are. Come in, and stay a while, but be aware... you could get lost in there for hours! ;) Enjoy!
I know you all have something worth of celebrating this week, and perhaps there is more than just one blessing to celebrate about. So would you mind taking us to your lovely cottage and show us? You’re welcome to link, but please be kind and don’t forget to respect blog etiquette by linking back to the house in the roses ;) Thank you

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Bewitched

Have you ever felt so attracted to something (or someone) in a photograph that you almost feel foolish? Yes, I have experienced that kind of attraction. Ever since I discovered this photograph on the Internet of this house, located in Winedale, Texas, I haven’t been totally myself. I’ve been bewitched!
I dream with this house day and night, I see myself standing there in the middle of that yard out-looking the gardens and orchard twinkling with fruit. I can feel sunshine caressing my shoulders, a warm breeze in my face and hair. I turn around to face the house, and I see my children sitting in white rocking chairs in the balcony, engaged in happy conversation. I hear laughter, the laughter of children and grandchildren and I see my husband tending the old picket fence... I want to paint it white, but then again it looks just perfect in its imperfect way, and my heart is beaming with joy and family and sunshine and imperfect perfect picket fences in a imperfect, perfect life. Source: Garden Antics Vintage- click pic twice to enlarge to screen size)

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Just another day...

Winter... again.
Again this chilly whiteness against the skin, and the old soul recoiling with thoughts of sunshine and sun beams. Sunshine thrive sunshine imbibe... but it is still winter, and we must abide.

It’s hard to believe that only Saturday our valley hit record high temperature. But things can change rather quickly. Late yesterday afternoon an intense snow storm blew through our little world leaving a blanket of shining stars under my feet. Hail-like “graupel,” or snow pellets, fell, accumulating frozen crystals on the valley floor. Though it didn’t stick, temperatures dropped down considerable, and it was very cold (and still is).

As I walked this frozen wonderland of mine I was thinking how much our lives resemble the capriciousness of Nature. I thought about the natural cycle of things and how there are ups and downs, peaks and valleys in Nature as well as in our everyday lives. The world is moving so fast that we can't predict what our reality will be like from one day to the next.

We should live our lives one day at a time. There are always two choices in everything... and when it snow, you can shovel or make snow angels! That’s how it is with life.

I wanted to make a snow angel, but there was not enough snow. So I walked the gardens with eyes full of wonder... frozen toes red nose pure glee.

It was nice getting back after a while to the warmth of the house... A mellow late sunshine filled the kitchen. Sweet peace reigned, and the gentle stillness that moved about the house imbued my soul with joy and thankfulness.

I put on some soothing music; the same you hear here on my blog—“This Universe”, by Singh Kaur, got the kettle out and make me a wonderfully sweet steaming cup of Peppermint tea. It was pure magic; perfect peace within and without. The latest issue of Country Living had just arrived, and so I sat by the window, out-looking this frozen world of mine—teacup warming hands magazine warming mind, soul filled with thankfulness.

"Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness." Psalm 107:8-9