RAINY SUMMER DAYS

I know that the rest of the world is having a really hot and humid summer, but here in my corner of the world in the north-west part of Germany we have nothing but rain, rain, and then more rain.  It is cold out there like the worst autumn day, and summer seems to have eluded us some how. I am not sure which is the lesser of the two evils, much too hot and humid, or our cold and damp.

But this picture just might say it all.  Even our chickens don't like being out in this awful "summer" weather and sat at the windows hoping we would let them in.  The rooster crowed loud and clear, hoping I would notice them a bit sooner.  I would like to know just what it was that he was trying to tell me!

What ever your weather is today, I hope you are enjoying a lovely Saturday.  Hard to believe that July is almost over! 

PORCELAIN MENAGERIE

I found this vintage porcelain keepsake box at a pretty little antique shop in Brugge, Belgium. I fell in love with the dog and its pretty pink rose design, (my all time favorite color) and the fact that it dates back to the 1940's.  The price was right and I felt as if it was sitting there in the window of that little shop just waiting for me to take it home that day, which it did in the blink of an eye!  It fits in so nicely with a little collection of bone china ornaments and figurines that I have been collecting for about a year now.  I wanted to share a few with you and tell you a bit about their creator, Pamela.

I found Pamela's shop of ornaments on Etsy by chance one day while surfing through newly listed items, one of those fateful little clicks on the computer keys!

This is one of the first things that I had bought, a sweet little Westie terrier with roses, sitting atop a tiny trinket box.  I was hooked!

Pamela hand sculpts each and every one of her beguiling and adorable creations, no molds are used, so each creation is a one-of-a-kind.  She loves animals and her creations reflect that.

She does every known breed of dog there is. And she does felines too!  I love both, so have added quite a few of both her dogs and cats to my ever growing collection.

 Pamela has a special affection for the Christmas season, so most of her creations are sculpted into ornaments to hang on the Christmas tree. Who could resist decorating for the holidays with these little cuties?

This little Cavalier King Charles spaniel is still available for adoption in Pamela's shop -

www.themagicsleigh.etsy.com 

She even makes custom orders, send her a photo of your pet and she will make an ornament or figurine from that. What a delightful way to capture your beloved pet forever in 3D.

And, that is not all!  She also makes dragons and unicorns.  I could not resist these two.  The unicorn sits on my dresser, while the pink dragon has found its way into my daughter's room since she is such a fan of dragons and fantasy creations. 

 Pamela also sells over Art Fire and here is her address for that shop too -

www.themagicsleigh.artfire.com

I think Pamela chose a wonderful name for her shop, she really does have a sleigh full of magic with her wonderful handmade creations.  I hope you will all stop by her shops to take a peek, and check out her blog, where you can see step by step photos of how she creates.
www.themagicsleigh.blogspot.com 

What a talented artist Pamela is, and her little works of art give me much joy.

 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

And my kids often tell me that I am having a bad hair day!  
I think our little Silkie, Ellie has one that tops any that I have ever had!  :-)

Ellie Dear, you will have to learn not to stick your whole face and fuzzy top-knot into your wet mash!

We sure did have a good laugh over this here in the family.

Wishing everyone a lovely Tuesday!

Sunday breakfast at the B&B

Sunday morning, and I just finished a cup of hot steaming coffee, but wish I could go back to Brugge Belgium for the kind of breakfast we had at the Bed & Breakfast.  Hot coffee served in a pretty vintage pot plus a selection of fresh delicious rolls...

 Fresh squeezed orange juice and a plate of yummy cheeses, and tiny cherry tomatoes stuffed with cream cheese...

Melon slices wrapped in smoked ham, crackers with salmon, and slices of cucumbers with a savory cream on top.  Everything was so lovingly and prettily prepared, I almost hated to eat any of it.

After the savory we had a bit of  sweet, teeny glasses of chocolate pudding plus fresh made fruit salad  (my favorite!). How nice it was to be served such a delicious and typcial European breakfast.  

Below is what we had on day 2.  Just as pretty, and just as yummy.

Wishing you all a wonderful Sunday, and perhaps a breakfast that is as yummy as these were!

SILKIES

With an animal loving daughter, my house and yard are bound to fill up with all sorts of furred and feathered friends. These pure breed Silkie hens came into our lives last fall. Tiny and thin upon arrival, we wondered if they would ever look like the photos that the breeder's internet site showed.  In time they filled out, and became fluffier and fluffier.

Sweet natured, quiet, always willing to be cuddled, and very soft to the touch, we are enjoying our little girls....

Pepper...

Emma...

and Ellie.

Corn fields and childhood memories

Such a simple thing, summer corn growing in fields under blue skies.  But for me it means so much more... the growing corn elicits wonderful childhood memories.

My father was from Illinois, was the only boy among a family of 6 sisters.  Wonderful weeks of summer vacations were spent visiting my father's parents and his sisters there when I was young.

Many of my aunts lived out in the country, their homes nestled between one vast cornfield and the other.  Potluck dinners were often, and always delicious. 

There was always fresh sweet corn at every meal.  These cobs are still young and too small to pick, but I love to walk along the edge of the field, smelling the sweet corn scent, letting it take me back to childhood days and the fun of being with my father's family.  They were a large boistrous and loud family, laughter filled every corner of every room in their homes.  And I loved being a part of all that.

It has been more years then I care to think of since I was in IL.  Many of my cousins have moved to different states, but some have remained close to where they grew up, and 3 of my father's sister still remain there.  My oldest sister is in IL right now visiting with my brother, and she had the chance to visit with my aunts, and got to see a few cousins along the way.  I wish I could be there with her.  She said it was like stepping back into our past, the years melting away, the IL accents filling her senses, and the loving hugs of our aunts making her once again feel that wonderful sense of belonging to the bigger picture of family! 

I think I will walk along the corn field again today with Cody.  If I can not be in IL, I can at least make believe!

Inspiration, where ever one can find it.

Inspiration for my garter creations sometimes comes from very unexpected places.  This room's color combination...............

................inspired the idea for this new garter set in my Etsy shop.

I am now working on some garters using the same vintage chocolate brown satin ribbon, but combined with pastel pink, pale blue and buttercream yellow.  Absolutely yummy color combinations!

"Rosalie's Rising Sun"

I couldn't help sharing these photos of the sweetest new addition at the stables near us where my daughters ride.  I will let the photos say it all, so enjoy "Rosalie".

I hope you are all enjoying a leisurely Sunday, just like Rosalie in the grass.

Brugge in Belgium

I recently spent a magical few days in Brugge, Belgium with my husband to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary.  Now all I can do is long to go back to this wonderful old town.

This is the Bed & Breakfast we stayed at on the outskirts of town.  We just hopped on the bus in the mornings and then

 spent our days sight-seeing in town, doing all the things that tourists do.

Like going on the boat ride....

And taking a ride in one of the many horse drawn carriages.

We at nibbled on chocolates bought at one of the dozens of shops offering fresh made and delicious Beligan Chocolates.

We fell in love with the many bridges, which is where the town gets its name.

And we were awed by the architecture and history of the town, with many of the buildings dating back to the 13th century.

Oh yes, I am definitely longing to go back again!  I fell in love with Brugge.