"Snow Sculptures living within My Narnia"...Blizzard of January 27th 2011 (15 MORE inches)

My Sons Sean & Justin would NEVER let a year go by without their snow sculptures... This was Life BEFORE Our Land of Blog when we could show off our creative fun... As I said before, we don't get much snow here in Connecticut so my boys would have to work hard to cart enough snow to activate their imaginations... AND they did! There was ALWAYS something Lurking outside in the dark...AND let me tell you, "They were GOOD AT IT"... I never fully appreciated it because they were always there and unfortunately "This guy is just about the only proof" I have of their talents"...

Dino was quite handsome and in his prime here... This was winter of 2000... and it was a warm one... As this fellow melted his neck gave way and the guys would keep rebuilding him until he only had a short neck... He was Still cute as EVER and we had Lots and Lots of Laughs watching him morph... "Oh My, do I miss those precious moments"!!!

This is Sean with Dino... Sean is about 6'4 and Dino is standing about 2 feet taller than he is(you really can't see that in this photo)... It's hard to see just how giant he is BUT he was already starting to melt... We were under construction here(you can see Sean has his work clothes on. He looks as though he may have been staining something)...

The Blizzard of January 27th 2011 left us with more than 15 more inches of white... As you can see my home is now half buried... AND there's MORE SNOW COMING!!!

I'm Peeking out of the stone foyer at my front door looking toward my library...The shadow on the right is firewood to keep us cozy...

This has GOT TO GO!!! My view from the guest room is "Almost Gone"! This is the ONLY part of my roof that doesn't avalanche SO "Off with it's head"!!! It's going to be Roof Rake today!!!

Only one teeny tiny spot left to grab a few photos from the guest room before the guys Roof Rake... It sure is pretty though!

This is also taken from the guest room and this is my front door foyer roof... AND that sky and those clouds are the culprits in our situation of "White on White on White... and so on and so on"!!!

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My landscape "Glows in the Dark... All Night Long"...

Well what do you think??? Believe me, "It's WORSE than it looks in these pictures"!!! I'm seriously wondering how the little snowdrops are going to EVER make it out of there!

"UGH"!!! BUT... the following picture is what's sleeping "Right behind that iron chair"!!!

"Sleep Tight my beautiful little Babies"... We'll get you out of there Sooner or Later!!!

Hard to believe there is a pond and a waterfall SOMEWHERE in there! This scene will erupt into the next picture if we EVER get to see the soil again!

Ahhhh! Isn't the COLOR soothing to your eyes after being snow blinded for SO LONG?

This is Papillion Pass WHICH is now being known as "Papillion UNpassable"!!! What I wouldn't give for some SNOW SHOES... It's definitely been added to the TOP of my WISHLIST!!! and Murphy's Law guarantees that IF I buy them, the snow will stop coming...

Hmmm, I wonder if I sold snow cones at the road, if anyone would buy them??? Probably NOT seeing as they have so much of the VERY Same ingredients at their own homes! hehe...

So Pretty is the smile of My Tree Peony and a Much Warmer shade of  "White"...

 There is a Solitude to a Winter Garden that Whispers to it's keeper... I Love to Listen as it naps...

I'm linking to...
http://fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/2011/02/white-wednesday-85.html 

http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/2011/01/eataly.html

"Apple Pie & Bears"...

"Ah! There is Nothing quiet so heavenly as the aroma of apple pie baking in the oven"!!! You are WONDERING what my connection IS with My Pies&Bears? WELL... there IS a Very Close Connection! I have the most beautiful apple trees AND my land is blessed with wild Blueberries and Blackberries, ETC... Do You THINK I get "Any of them"??? No I don't!!! AND the culprit is "Our Neighboring Bears"...They don't EVEN let me have enough for "One Apple Pie"... Or perhaps enough berries to make a Buckle or Tart...NOT Even do they leave me enough to sprinkle my cereal!!! Do I mind you ask??? "No I Don't"... I'm the one that moved into Their land AND although the apple trees "I Planted"... we are living in harmony here SO I'll buy my apples and berries from the farm in town and let my critters feast on my bounty...

Apple Pie seems to be a Man Magnet... I have read that there ARE men that will not marry a women that cannot bake Apple Pie...Hmmm! LUCKY ME... I inherited the "Pie Gene" from BOTH sides of my parents family... My Mom was "THE BEST"!!! She made pies that would make men swoon... She came from a farm family in Northern Maine and My Grandmother was a Queen in Pie Kingdom. To visit her on Sunday was like a Living Heaven with pots of homemade goodies simmering on her wood stove and Kettles whistling for tea and the sideboard COVERED with about 4 different kinds of pies... She never skimped on quantity, she always had enough for sampling and EVERYONE was treated to taking one home... My uncle was the Lemon Meringue KING, No One got to touch HIS PIES, he claimed them the minute he passed through her door...

Baker Bear comes Out of Hibernation the minute the smell of peeled apples fills the kitchen...BUT bring out the fresh ground cinnamon and nutmeg and He's put his apron&baking hat on...

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Can you read his mind???

Pies don't last long in my house... There are Bigger Bears Lurking behind me and my camera... Bigger Bears holding Large spatulas and holding Large Soup Plates so they Don't Miss a crumb... It's a bit "SCARY"... and at ANY Moment the pies are going to disappear from the scene!!!

Little Baloo has his Apple Pie Smile on and has tied a cute little bib under his chin... He followed me home from a Disney Teddy Bear Convention one year... He was born in Germany and His Family is Steiff...

When Bears are attending a Tea Party you can never use flowers... Proper etiquette for Bears is ALWAYS use Pinecones(Which ARE flowers! They are the State Flower of Maine)... This Basket and Milk Jug are Fabulous Finds from the early 70s when I found them on a Christmas Clearance table for a few dollars apiece... They are actually one of My Favorite Things...

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I Always  Love using My Syracuse Brittany Cottage when serving pie... The colors of all our favorite pies are in these sweet dishes... The combo I LOVE most is Blueberry pie on the Brittany Cottage plate... The little blue shaded trees seem to POP Out at you with it's coordinating Berry...

OK Ladies... The Pies are Missing in Action... BUT I do know their whereabouts... Although they've been carried off, out of sight, in an out of control environment of "MEN with Pie on the brains"(not a good thing)!!!

"One Last Thought"... Do we peel more apples for more pies OR go Back to our Long Winters Nap???  Oh yes I must add that bears DO NOT clean up after themselves... So NOW I'm off to wash all those Pretty Dirty Dishes...My Baker Bear is a handmade creation of 30 from "Georgette Zlomke" in 1994... Hubby bought him for me in Palm Springs that year at the best little Doll and Bear Shop called "Dollsville Dolls & Bearsville Bears"... their link is http://www.dollsville.com/ 
I am Sure I don't need to introduce you to my tea cups&saucers... which are 1940s and first produced in the orchard rich valleys of California... The Franciscan Apple Pattern took dinnerware collectors by storm... AND it's one of my staple everyday dishes that I truly LOVE!!!

I'M Linking To

"MEMORY LANE MONDAY@Brynwood Needleworks"
"Teddy Bear Picnic@The House on the Side of the Hill"
http://thehouseonthesideofthehill.blogspot.com/2011/03/teddy-bears-picnic.html 

http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/2011/01/tarnished-silver-feathered-nest-friday.html 

http://iloveprettylittlethings.blogspot.com/2011/01/friday-pretties-happy-things.html 

 http://romantichome.blogspot.com/2011/01/show-and-tell-friday_27.html

http://whistlestopcooking.blogspot.com/2011/01/fridays-favorites-eggplant-parmigiano.html 

http://froufroudecor.blogspot.com/2011/01/fabulous-friday-finds-party.html 

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2011/01/valentines-day-breakfast-tablescape.html 

http://coloradolady.blogspot.com/2011/01/vintage-thingie-thursday-vintage-doggie.html 

http://suelovescherries.blogspot.com/2011/01/rednesday_25.html 

http://www.marthasfavorites.com/ 

http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/2011/01/day-spent-with-grandson-and-little-red.html 

http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/2011/01/49th-table-top-tuesday.html 

http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com/2011/01/tea-time-tuesday-is-one-year-old.html 

http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/2011/01/ruby-tuesday_24.html 

http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/2011/01/welcome-to-masterpiece-monday-4.html 

http://jojos-joys.blogspot.com/2011/01/national-pie-day.html 

"The Wind in the Willows gives such a Thrill to the Hunt"...

"The Treasure Hunt was a success this past week"... I don't know if it had anything to do with the "Ladies Winter Purging" BUT I'll give you a guided tour into "What Followed me Home"!!! First...Look at this Sweet Royal Daulton 3 Little Kittens Mug! They "Don't" have to worry about loosing any mittens in MY House...  Do you see Ms Potts taking care of them too... She'll keep them feeling warm and fuzzy inside!!!

This square bowl is made in Italy and looks and feels like a Real Daisy...I have never seen such a delicate textured piece of this size... It looks as though the artist used REAL PETALS... I think it will be a Perfect Valentine flower because it reminds me of a"He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not" Daisy!!!

Even the little "Limoges Bumble Bee" thinks it's a real flower...

"LOVE this little milk mug"...It's from the 40s and looks as though it was never used... It says, "WHISTLE FOR YOUR MILK"... AND the best part of it is, The little bird that's perched on the handle "IS A WHISTLE"... Hubby was playing with it a while ago and The little birdie has GREAT Lungs!!! Hubby also wanted to know if he could use it for his "Coffee"... "Sorry HunnyBun" this one is off limits to Hot Drinks AND "The deadly Microwave"!!!

You all remember my Lil' Bronze Frog that is SUCH a workaholic? WELL today he is Ms Potts Taxi... He can even warm her bum if she were to serve tea, BUT not today! Today she only has "farm fresh milk"... Mr Lil' Bronze Frog can also be seen working Ever So Hard @ http://conghailecottage.blogspot.com/2010/08/ancient-trees-terrafirma.html

NOW let me introduce you to "My Prize of the day"... "The Best of the Best"... I found this 1959 edition of "The Wind in the Willows" with Full Page Illustrations by Ernest H. Shepard... The book looks like no one has EVER even opened it... The dust cover has a few little rips but not to ruin any of the pictures or writing... The Many full page illustrations inside are on heavy paper with NO printing on the back so "If one wished" they could frame them all... I personally "DO NOT" dismantle books "EVER"!!! and this one is in PERFECT condition "AND" I bought(stole) it for $1... Did you all hear me giggling with delight as I brought my new treasures home??? Oh, I did get MORE than this... BUT I'll save them for another day...

 I believe my Mr Toad (that lives on my Moss Hill) is a Great Descendant of  Our Mr Toad of the Willows... He perked up ever so brilliantly when I told him of my "Treasure Find"... and squeaked with joy in remembrance of stories told to him as a "Tad Lad"!

Sweet Gail @ http://faithfulnessfarm.blogspot.com/
reminded me of One our VERY FAVORITE Quotes-
"Come along inside... We'll see if tea and buns can make the world a better place."
~The Wind in the Willows~
 (thank you Gail!!!)
Shall we peek inside and see what delightful things are going on???

Oh My... I DO Love his china hutch... OH Do be EVER so careful Guys, I don't want you to break anything!!! I want to Personally Thank Mr Ernest H Shepard for giving us the images and bringing to life the characters we hold So Dear... Like that of Christopher Robin, Pooh, Mole, Rat, and Badger along with So Many Others!!! 

I enjoyed reading this book again... As an adult you get lost in an enchantment that can bring you back years to your youth... It's a wonderful read for a cold winter day and Guaranteed to "Put a little Spring in your Step"... Now let me pour some Milk in my New Whistle Mug and nibble on some warm ginger snaps from the oven...

Homer Laughlin ProductionVideo from the 1930s

I'm going to link this incredible Video&Post today to;
"Tea Cup Tuesday"
http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/2011/01/tea-cup-tuesday.html
"Beverly @Pink Saturday"
http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/01/pink-saturday-january-22-2011.html
"Debra @Common Ground"
http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/2011/01/vintage-inspiration-friday-21-legendary.html
"Susan @ Tablescape Thusday"
http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2011/01/buying-china-at-auction-welcome-to.html
"ColoradoLady Vintage Thingie Thursday"
http://coloradolady.blogspot.com/2011/01/welcome-everyone-to-vintage-thingies.html
"Marty @ TableTop Tuesday" 
http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/2011/01/48th-table-top-tuesday.html
"TeaPot and Tea Thingy Tuesday"
http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com/2011/01/38th-teapot-and-tea-things-tuesday.html 




"

This video(YOU MUST WATCH !!!) is an original production video from the 1930's  of Our Loved "Homer Laughlin Company" and a peek into them making our "Treasures"!!! Doesn't watching this make your Heart Beat Faster???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DiUK0m-aGM&feature=player_embedded 

This is a GORGEOUS set of 80 pieces (with little "PINK" leaves)made in 1947 that  I saw on  ETSY while browsing this morning and I HAD to share them with you... Aren't they Incredible??? 
http://www.etsy.com/listing/65780364/set-vintage-homer-laughlin-maple-leaf?ref=mt 

Keetha Broyles brought out a great point that these LOOK like Haviland!!! AND I DO Agree... We are now wondering WHAT the connection is??? Don't forget Our American Limoges too. I see some patterns mimicking each other...