Mom's Love of Bone China Tea Cups

Perhaps on the eve of the Royal Wedding, 

bringing out one of my favorite tea cups from my mom's collection 

would be appropriate.

Royal Albert Bone China England "True Love"

Friends and relatives would go on trips,

and they always knew what to buy mom from their adventures,

bone china tea cups.

She had them from all over.......

and I'm so sorry we didn't keep track of what she got and from whom.

Now that history is gone forever.

I would love to know where this set came from, and WHO gave it to her?

definitely MY favorite.

                             For kicks, I checked to see if this pattern was listed on eBay.

Well, yes there is....... one........same pattern in brown....listed at $70.

 Mom was very proud of her collection........and they weren't just for show.  

She actually used them, regularly.

Long before it was fashionable, she mixed and matched her dishes,

had luncheon parties, had dinner parties,

and had the prettiest set tables, even for our holiday dinners when it was just family.  

Funny (or sad I guess) how I didn't appreciate it at the time.

What I did learn, was to make do with what you have.

She really didn't have a proper cabinet to display her collection.

When I moved home in the mid-80's after a difficult break up,

I brought the piece below with me.

She "borrowed" it and was thrilled to have it. 

 I always thought we would get her something proper, but we never did.  

The miniature white dishes below with gold trim are the dishes she had when she was a child. 

Gosh, I wish I knew the story behind each of these pieces. 

This last June, my mom's niece from Florida was visiting.

I had already planned an evening of fun, but somehow the night took a different turn.

She started talking about how mom influenced her in so many ways, cooking, entertaining, flower arranging, setting a beautiful table.  

I thought it was only appropriate that we go back to the farm so she could select a couple of tea cups to take back to Florida with her as a remembrance of my mom, and her Aunt Lueva.

The tears started flowing.  She was so grateful. 

AND it just so happens one of the sets she picked out, a white cup with red toile borders,

was one of mom's favorites. 

 It was a God moment.

Thanks Marsha from HopeChest & All Things Tea 

http://marshashopechest.blogspot.com/

for giving me the inspiration from your blog to write about my mom's love of tea cups.

My Dad's Feet

During the winter, my feet get no attention.  

Socks and shoes, mixed with boots is the norm in the midwest.

Come spring, the sandals come out.

Urgh!

I'm reminded of my feet,

and how they don't really look like girl's feet.

They look like my dad's feet.

Sorry, no picture of unpainted toes.

So, a pedicure should do the trick, don't you think?

Here they are (I know - subfloor is waiting for a new face too.)

Hmmm, still looks like my dad's feet but with polish.

Perhaps if I stage them on a pretty quilt?

Hmmmm, not so much. 

Maybe a pretty backdrop?

Hmmmm, not so much. 

Let's face it.  I'm stuck with my dad's feet.

I'm sure the abuse I put them through when I was a teenager probably didn't help matters.

........like baling hay in bare feet, mowing lawn in bare feet,

 walking through manure in bare feet because feet were easier to clean off with a hose than boots (never NEVER would I do that now - what was I thinking?),

........running on our gravel driveway in bare feet (guess that is why I never remember having young and soft feet),

and as a result, I stepped on many nails.......multiple tetanus shots were part of my medical history, and planter's warts had to be cut out of my sole.

But I wouldn't have changed those memories of growing up on the farm for anything, so I guess having my dad's feet isn't such a bad thing.

Some of my favorite things ~ outdoors

Some of my favorite things ~

like my distressed Pottery Barn Flag

my oversized rusty star, 

my beloved gray & white cat...... Lil Man.....

may he rest in peace,

 

container planting is best in our very clay soil filled with plethora of rocks ~ great shade plants

This pot below was one of my favorite, but cracked during the winter.  Now it will become a permanent planter staying in this spot.  I think I can get a few more seasons out of it.

Old Coca Cola cooler makes a great planter ~  

See the little rusty cast iron star below it?

Our soil is so bad that most of this front is a rock garden and I LOVE my green rocks.

Giraffe bird bath  ~  shallow for a bird bath but I love it nonetheless.....

Garden art from The Stray Cat in Galesburg, IL. 

I discovered her work at Klehms Arboretum Garden Show in Rockford, IL

and I buy a piece each year.

Always the first weekend in June ~ check it out.

This wishing well was going to be thrown out ~ 

imagine that......

LOVE my lamp that sits at the front door ~

made out of an old egg carton ......

notice the old radio below,

and you have to love Isabel Bloom angels!

Perfect little quote in my little garden ~

Awww, one of my favorite pieces ~ everyone needs a cast iron stove.

SO cool.

Close up of my planter ~

never fear Pepsi lovers, I have a Pepsi cooler too 

which I trade off depending on my color scheme.

Tin rabbit hiding in my ornamental grass ~

That's what I'm talking about ~

doesn't it look inviting?

One of my mother's favorite flowers that came from her garden ~

she was an avid gardener & I can't hold a candle to her talent,

but I try ~

here's to you Lueva

1919-2009 

Our back yard ~ very peaceful

Hope you enjoyed some of my favorite things ~

The Heat

The Heat - and I don't mean Miami Heat.  It was hot on Saturday.......upper 80's....just before the tornadoes moved in.  I tried to do spring yard work but I had to keep taking breaks because I was so hot.  What is up with that when the calendar reads April 9th in the midwest? So I had to remind myself of a Wednesday just two months prior............

when I looked out at the driveway and it was one big snowdrift right across the road.  The plows hadn't even made it out our way, BUT, once they did, around 1:00 in the afternoon, my husband made his first pass.  I scurried out to take pictures, using the one person pathway, (I had to run fast out to the road) and I felt free!

    

This is what I saw.  Every once in awhile I would see a pick up truck with a plow go by and I wanted to stop him to request just one small favor - because at this rate with our snow blower, it may take all afternoon.  Our International 300 skid loader that we used on the farm would have had this done in no time at all.

So glad that the steel mill closed down for the day.  Even this farm girl knew my 4-wheel drive 4-Runner would not get out of the driveway without getting stuck.

     Pretty drift formations.  I was almost sad to see them go.  

So, the next time it is hot.........I will remember this day.

Simple Dinner of stuffed chicken breast

Simple you say, huh?

Last night was one of those nights when we were both exhausted......too tired to cook or to even pick up carry out.  We decided on stuffed chicken breast.

Barber Foods has a great variety of stuffed chicken breasts made in Portland, Maine.   Two frozen breasts, throw them in the oven for 32 minutes, microwave baked potato and corn off the cob.  Delicious, quick and easy.  They are available at Wal-Mart in the frozen food section.  They keep ours in those open freezers on the floor.  Last night's flavor was Broccoli, Cheese & Ham and only 320 calories.  Very filling.

See?  Simple.

Patches

I took a 1/2 day vacation today to work at home on the computer; had some wonton soup, started some laundry, prepared dinner so all I had to do is pop it in for my husband's birthday after work, sat down at the computer with a candle burning, background music, and a glass of wine.  Barely got started when I discovered my Patches had some kind of abscess on her mouth that was bloody red and black.  She was in pain.  Didn't even call the vet, I put her in a carrier and left. Three miles down the road I remembered the burning candle.  Turned around, blew it out, and started off again.  The vet wanted to keep her for the night.  I know she is getting old but I'm just not ready to let her go.  We have had her for at least 11 years and I'm not sure how old she was when she was determined to hang around under our deck that cold winter season many years ago.  She captured our hearts and even though we are constantly telling her she is a pain in the ass........well, what can I say.  We love her!

Ezekiel - change my heart.

Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.


Pray for the desire to change your heart.

A great day

This is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.  My mom's favorite Bible verse.  Very appropriate for my very first entry on my blog; such a beautiful sunny day.....kinda warm.  Cleaning house, watching the mama eagle feed her one baby, listening to KLOVE radio, playing with my indoor cats, brushing my one outdoor cat, doing laundry.......clean sheets tonight(!), stop at a mini home show in Dixon and ventured off to my newest favorite antique shop..........bought some beautifully done cards........sent a happy birthday to my nephew's wife Katie........such a sweet heart but going through some very bad times and heart ache.  I pray God will watch over her and keep her in the palm of her hand at all times.  Husband Charlie is out planting a tree he bought in the fall.  God......the tree is going to need some help too.  Looking forward to dinner tonight at Angelo's with Charlie's son who is coming to town to treat us for his dad's birthday.  At the moment, life is good.