Since the weather outside isn't cooperating, I thought I'd share a little bit of the inside of Lemon Lane Cottage.
The last house we lived in had much more of a mediterranean feel to it and when we moved in here I placed the large Italian countryside oil painting from our old place above the fireplace. As a result I saw the fireplace and mantel as kind of whimpy.
I knew I wanted to lighten it up a bit, so I started collecting little vintage (thriftstore) oil paintings and mirrors. I painted the frames of the oil paintings this pretty aqua blue and distressed them a bit and went with a cottage white for the small mirrors.
Then I started gathering white pitchers from around the house.
Instant cottage. Now the fireplace and mantel really fit our little house, dont you think?
I'm joining these lovely linkies...
House in the roses for Show off Your Cottage Monday
Dittle Dattle for Amaze Me Monday
Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphis Monday
I gathered a few of my favorite blooms from the garden to share with you today.
Roses, daisies, scabiosa and salvia to name a few.
I’ve placed them on our latest old house discovery. Beautiful oak hardwood floors.
When we purchased this house with its white wall to wall carpeting a few years ago, we had no idea that there was such a treasure lurking in the stairway and the two bedrooms upstairs.
Some of my husband’s favorite childhood memories are of running up and down the old, creaky stairs on his grandmother’s farm. How wonderful to be able to pass those same memories to our grandkids.
It’s going to be a slow process but with just the first two steps and the landing uncovered, I know it will be worth the wait.
My favorite part about avocados is definitely turning them into guacamole. Actually, I’m not really fond of avocados but I love, love, love guacamole.
Until they're mashed up with salsa, garlic and onion I can really do without them. Give me a sunny day, a bowl of tortilla chips and guacamole, throw in a margarita (no salt, please), a pair of flip flops and some Beach Boy music and we have the makings of a perfect afternoon.
Here's my cheater version of guacamole...
As many soft avocados as you can eat in one sitting because it's not so pretty if you try and store it. (Yes, I know you can add lemon juice or lemon lime soda to help it keep but I still don't think it looks very appetizing after few hours. That's not to say I'm not above stirring it and just dealing with the brownish color because it still tastes yummy.)
A jar of your favorite salsa
finely chopped onion
one crushed clove of garlic or a pinch of garlic powder
salt
Smash the avocados with a potato masher, add a couple of spoonfuls of salsa and re mash. Keep adding salsa until you reach the consistency you desire. Add in onions and garlic. Salt to taste. Refrigerate for 10 - 15 minutes or as long as your family will let you before they start digging in.
Now go pour yourself something cold to drink, crank up the music and come join me.
I look forward to participating in Photo Friday over at A Rosy Note every week. She always challenges us with something fun to capture.
This week our inspiration is “White”.
For this color loving girl this really was something of a challenge.
My garden, silly girl…my garden.
I'm also joining I love pretty little things for Friday Pretties.
This week our inspiration is “White”.
For this color loving girl this really was something of a challenge.
As usual, I first turned to the garden as a starting point. I cut this beautiful spray of soft pink and yellow roses and immediately knew they would look lovely on the fireplace in one of my hodgepodge of white pitchers.
I always know when something turns out as I envisioned if my family asks me where I got it. A case in point are these roses…
My youngest daughter, who never notices anything, (I tease her that if a man dressed as Santa robbed a bank she couldn’t pick him out of a police line-up) commented on the vase of pretty flowers asking where they came from.
I'm also joining I love pretty little things for Friday Pretties.
I was out working in the garden the other day and my neighbor stopped by with these beautiful avocados from his tree. I placed them on my wicker footstool as I went about my gardening business not noticing how the texture and color of the avocado skin and the whiteness and worn wicker texture of my footstool created such a beautiful picture worthy moment.
After cleaning up I went to retrieve the forgotten fruit and immediately knew I needed to grab my camera.
That’s one thing photography has taught me…
After cleaning up I went to retrieve the forgotten fruit and immediately knew I needed to grab my camera.
slow down and look for beauty in the everydayness of life. You never know where you might find it.
I'm linking up for Simple Pleasures at A Collection of this and that.
Just a quick post to say thank you for welcoming Lemon Lane Cottage to the blogging world and to wish everyone a Happy Mother's Day.
I hope the day provides you with plenty of time to stop and smell the roses.
I hope the day provides you with plenty of time to stop and smell the roses.
I’ve been busy moving things around here at Lemon Lane Cottage. This antique sideboard was a gift from my husband on my 40th birthday. We placed it in the living room when we first moved here three years ago. I finally convinced him to move it into the dining room under the window this weekend. Convinced is a kind way of saying I nagged and nagged until he finally gave in.
It always amazes me how different the same piece of furniture can look from room to room. I don’t know about you but I get tired of looking at the same arrangements in a room fairly often. Usually just purchasing a new, trendy pillow or lamp shade can help give a room a fresh look but every once in a while I know some furniture is going to need to be moved in order to satisfy my need for change.
One of my favorite bloggers just posted on the subject of color trends in decorating. Right now its burlap and neutral grey, in the 70’s it was avocado and gold, I remember the peach and blue of the 80’s and how sage green was the “it” color in the 90’s.
One of the nice things about getting older is finding a sense of self that doesn’t require you to drop a bundle changing everything just because everyone else is doing it. Most of us have colors that bring us instant stress relief or uncontained joy. There is no right or wrong, no in or out, when we are true to ourselves. If you love earth tones, go for it, if red makes your heart sing, splash it everywhere, if you really love the white shabby chic look, don’t feel the need change it when it is no longer all the rage.
That’s not to say you shouldn’t experiment with a few new accessories, decorating ruts are no fun either. Just embrace what pleases you and your family, if the latest trend is wrong for how you live, you’ll soon tire of it and go back to the style and colors that make your house feel like home…to you.
Now…if I can just convince my husband to let me paint that sideboard (yes, I know the thought of this is probably making some of you cringe)…let the nagging convincing begin!
I'm joining Kim for Wow Us Wednesday...
Colorado lady for Vintage Thingie Thursday...
My Cottage Charm for Treasures and Trinkets Thursday...
I'm joining Kim for Wow Us Wednesday...
Colorado lady for Vintage Thingie Thursday...
My Cottage Charm for Treasures and Trinkets Thursday...
This little white thrift store table was gifted to me years ago and has found a home in most every room here at Lemon Lane Cottage. I was getting ready to move it out to the front porch when it dawned on me how pretty it would look in the back garden for a spring time photo shoot.
This love of photography is a new passion for me and setting the stage for an impromptu picture session is so much fun. It doesn’t take much to get my imagination going. The gardens are always inspiring and finding the right accessories is never a problem.
This is one of the first quilts I ever made and it is still one of my favorites. The large pink and red cabbage rose fabric speaks to the very heart of this romantic soul.
I’ve been collecting tea cups for years and this pretty floral one sitting next to my lttle pink tool box planter fits in with my spring setting perfectly.
The hand embroidered towel was a gift from my sister in law. I happen to know she spent many hours lovingly gathering vintage goodies to tuck in a beautiful gift basket just for me.
Sometimes I wonder why I hold onto so much stuff but I love the memories my special treasures hold. Each item found, made, or gifted recalls with it a specific time in my life.
I try to pass on the stories that go along with my pretties to my gandkids so that when they are older and they hold a delicate teacup or wrap themselves in a warm quilt they will appreciate the emotional value handed down objects hold.
I was given a few of my grandmother's things when she passed away. How I wish I could have sat on her lap and heard some of her stories. That's the true treasure. Don't you agree?
I'm joining in with these fun linky parties...
I'm joining in with these fun linky parties...
Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphis Monday
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