"Spring Splendor"

"Easter Sunday opened full bloom in my Gardens"... "Can you see Him there smiling down on us"!!!

This is my Weeping Cherry Tree in full bloom! It's buzzing with excitement as the little busy characters swoop in acrobatics around my head as I snap these pictures!!! The bees are ecstatic with spring fever...

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"Just in Case" you forgot what my winter was like I thought I'd remind you what my home looked like a few months ago!!! You can view More of "My Winter Snow HERE"... AND Even MORE... "winter storm here"

I always knew that all that snow was going to bring an explosion of excitement to spring!

The skies are the most beautiful Wedgwood Blue today...

The trees in the background will not be fully open till May here in New England... See my iron gazebo peeking through the weeping cherry??? It's just waiting to serve Afternoon Tea for "You and Me"...

"I'm linking to"
"Metamorphosis Monday@Between naps on the Porch"
"PINK SATURDAY@How Sweet the Sound"
"Friday Pretties@I Love Pretty Little Things"
"PHOTO FEATURE FRIDAY@A Rosy Note"
"SHOW AND TELL FRIDAY@My Romantic Home"
"HOME SWEET HOME@The Charm of Home"
"OPEN HOUSE THURSDAY@No Minimalist Here"
"COTTAGE FLORA THURSDAY@Fishtail Cottage"
"SIMPLE PLEASURES THURSDAY@A Collection of this and that"
"WOW US WEDNESDAY@Savvy Southern Style"
"OUTDOOR WEDNESDAY@ A Southern Daydreamer" 

"Have a Blessed and Happy Easter Everyone"

"It's a ritual in our home to watch this delightful movie every Easter"... Jimmy Stewart was always capable of making us smile... So as traditions go, we watch him at Christmas in "It's a Wonderful Life"... and we watch him at Easter with his 6foot Rabbit "Harvey"!!! If you Click "Harvey" it will take you to YOU TUBE to watch a clip of him...

"HARVEY" a Big White Rabbit to celebrate Easter with Us!

Remembering my Blessings at Easter

Easter and Spring brings LOTS of "Bunnies, Eggs, Chocolate and Very Sweet Memories" to mind...

Lots and Lots of the Cutest Faces in their Easter Bonnets!

A Coffee and Crumpet will be "Ever So Much" Better in my "Hareloom Pottery"...Oh and How I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE German paper mache eggs! Is it possible to have too many of them? "NO, I think not"!!!  Have I told you before how much I LOVE "Crackle and Crazing"???

I have 2 antique carved lunch pails from Finland... They are the perfect size for holding biscuits... The bunnies are hanging out in hopes of "crumbs"...They saw me baking them and had the idea BECAUSE the cookies were shaped like carrots they would taste like carrots(WRONG, they are almond shortbread)... OK, I'm sure they will be munching on the apples, that are dotting the table, as soon as I leave the room...

This lunch pail is still stained it's original blue... My antique/vintage chocolate molds have followed me home for "Years"... I love everything about them and they seem to all have personalities all their own... If you choose to visit me at Conghaile Cottage often, you will see these sweet silver celebrities "Showing Off" in the oddest of places... There is never a dull moment here...

Now for my "Happy Dancing Surprise"... Donna@ "Brynwood Needleworks" hosts a memorable party on the last Monday of each month called "Memories Monday"...Donna and I have found we have LOTS in common right down to "We were both born the same year" AND although I came from a family of only 4, when Hubby and I got married we had 3 boys SO "There were Five in the Family!!! This book "Five in the Family" was a gift from Donna's giveaway at "Brynwood Needleworks" 

This is one of my FAVORITE Hankies from my Trunk of Bounty... It was very well loved and I so enjoy picturing all the tears and sniffles it may have cured in it's day... Clocks being one of my Very Favorite things combined with a vintage hankie "HAS to be Priceless"!  These vintage linens have endued so much in their lifetime. My Mom used to wash clothes with an old "Maytag Wringer Washer"... I cannot look at old linens without thinking of Mom doing her wash and then hanging it out to dry. My Job was to hand her cloths pins... I don't really know if it helped her or slowed her down because I would have them ALL CLIPPED together in one long stick thingy. Our dogs job was to lay on top of the laundry piles on the kitchen floor and keep them toasty warm till Mom was ready for that pile. It must have been a VERY IMPORTANT job because I used to see her pat him on the head and tell him he was a "Good Boy"...

Oh Donna! Thank you SO MUCH for this book. It brought me back to my childhood and the "Love that surrounded my life"... It is such a cute book of early learning and family bonding... See Donna's beautiful postcard there on the left? She is "SO TALENTED"!!! I love everything she makes, not to mention how inspirational she is! If you haven't met her You Must go visit her and see all her goodies "HERE"... The little "Shoe House" vase I have had for YEARS. It followed me home from a yard sale one day and it's just "So Darn Cute". I seem to think that all those little"Who's that live on the Dust Speck" in Whoville could live quite comfortably in there...

This little Sweetie is one of Hildegard Gunzel's girls with her Brother Bear... She is showing off her new Easter Outfit... Do you remember when you were little, getting a new outfit for Easter??? AND that special spring coat... My very favorite spring coat was a woven yellow one that had big pearl buttons. "I LOVED that coat and felt so grown up and special in it"... Oh and don't forget the gloves! We always wore gloves to Sunday Mass. I had gorgeous stretchy lace ones...

I was going to read to her BUT she insisted that she do the reading...

Brother Bear is learning about "New Shoes" ... The book doesn't tell of all the blisters of new shoes in youth.(at least that's MY Memories of them) "OUCH! I'm more of a barefoot and saddles type gal! "We Hope all our Friends in The Beautiful Land of Blog are having a "Blessed Holy Week"... "Love & Hugs to you All"!!!

"I'm Linking To"
"Memory Lane Monday@Brynwood Needleworks"
"A few of my favorite things@Bargain Hunting"
"Show and Tell Friday@My Romantic Home"
"Home Sweet Home Friday@The Charm of Home"
"Vintage Inspiration EASTER Friday@Common Ground"
"Friday Pretties@I Love Pretty Little Things"
"Thrifty Things Friday@The Thrifty Groove"
" Feathered Nest Friday@French Country Cottage"
"Open House@No Minimalist Here"
"Tablescape Thursday@Between Naps on the porch"
"Treasure Hunt Thursday@Blue Creek Home"
"Teddy Bear Picnic@The House on the Side of the Hill"
"Vintage Thingie Thursday@Colorado Lady"
"WOW US WEDNESDAY@SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE" 
"Easter&Spring@A Holiday Haven" 

Vintage Wine Tablecloth with Blackberry Wine&Tea

I have many vintage tablecloths BUT I think this is my favorite... I find myself ALWAYS favoring the Square ones... I don't like the round because they "JUST Don't FIT", They never make them big enough. I am the type, IF I USE a tablecloth, I Feel it should touch or even puddle on the floor...Therefore... when I buy, even these vintage cloths, I buy square and use them as a topper...

I tend to think of wine when I use this vintage cloth, probably because of it's colors and bounty of grapes... But my "Blackberry Wine Novel" plays a role in this little vignette...Also being a strong influence on accessories to enhance the mood...

I have just started to read "Joanne Harris' BLACKBERRY WINE"... I made Hubby & I Blackberry Tea and We read the first chapter together... I LOVE Ms Harris' books. Like her "Chocolat" she leaves you HUNGERING for more!!!  Although the reading was Sweet, it wasn't as Sweet as snuggling with Tea&My Hunnybun!!!

My cups&saucers were "Made in France" and are "Duralex Rivage Pattern" in Amethyst... They "Sparkle" like brilliant crystal yet have a timeless durability to them... These could easily be a favorite pick at any luncheon, BOTH casual or formal... The rich Amethyst Purple is accommodating in so many tablescapes...LOVE THEM!

Take note here of the 3 different vintage linens used... First is my inspiration of todays post "My 40s tablecloth, then I used tatted German doilies under my teacups, AND lastly the woven black&creamy white napkins... I don't know if you approve, BUT I love the combo...Also if you notice, I DO NOT like things straight. I prefer oblong or crooked, AND as you can see the doily is NOT under the saucer, it is placed to the side, JUST like the napkin is... I "REALLY" do not follow an etiquette book(EVER). I set my table to "Make me Smile"... It is finished when I stand back, Look at it, and it makes me feel like "I'm at home"...

Again I am using one of my antique pewter plates from International Silver of Connecticut, (from my very large set)...I know I promised you all that I would show you my entire set..."AND I shall", I Promise!!! I LOVE the way pewter goes with pinks and purples!!!

My depression class Cream&Sugar are "Jeannette Glass Company", Circa 1929 in the "Cube" pattern...The color is that beautiful pink of the early depression glass...

Buzzzzzzzzzzzzz

The black&white grapevine dishes are Made in Italy for Crate&Barrel...I don't know how old they are because I found them at GW for $1 each(set of 4)... Yes I was "Tickled Pink" and HAD to show them off to you!!!

Once upon a time there was a little girl named Donna that was SO SCARED of bees that...When she grew up "God had a plan for her"...He blessed her with three little boys to teach her to respect ALL of his creatures and with their aid of teaching her ALL About what used to be Creepy Crawly she became a Master Gardener... OK, if you don't know by now, THAT little girl is "MOI"!!! and I truly owe my gardening skills to my youngest son for curing me of all my phobias... I'm still working on the snake thingy BUT I'm better than I used to be...  This little bee is a French Limoges Box...and it was a gift from my youngest son...

"Rabbit is Pushy and decisive. The best speller of all the animals. His life is made up of Important Things. Likes to organize things and take charge of group events, even if nothing gets done. Becomes disoriented very quickly in unfamiliar surroundings"...German Steiff "Rabbit" from Winnie the Pooh...

Do you think it's safe to let "Rabbit" tend the vineyards???

The colors in this vintage tablecloth are vibrant, rich and bright...It's hard to photograph BUT in this photo you can see the colors better than the previous... It is a dark maroon with pinks and greens...

"I'm LINKING To"
"Teacup Tuesday@Martha's Favorites"
"Nifty Thrifty Tuesday@Coastal Charm"
"Show off your Cottage Monday@The House in the Roses"
"Masterpiece Monday@Boogieboard Cottage"
"Seasonal Sundays@The Tablescaper"
"A Few of my Favorite Things@Bargain Hunting(and chatting) with Laurie"
"Pink Saturday@How Sweet The Sound"
"Friday Pretties@I Love Pretty Little Things"
"Thrifty Things Friday@The Thrifty Groove"
"Vintage Inspiration Friday@Common Ground"
"Feathered Nest Friday@French Country Cottage"
"Home Sweet Home@The Charm of Home"
"Pearls and Lace Thursday@Faith, Grace, and Crafts"
"The House on the side of the Hill"
"Vintage Thingie Thursday@Colorado Lady"
"Treasure Hunt Thursday@Blue Creek Home"
"Tablescape Thursday@Between Naps on the Porch"
"Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays@Coastal Charm"
"Table Top Tuesday@A Stroll Thru Life"

Vintage Majolica with Springtime Strawberries...

One of my favorite thrift shops offered me my newest "Favorite Treasure"... A West German Majolica Plate (only $2)! It's 12 inches and makes a PERFECT Cake Plate or Serving Platter... Love it, Love it, Love it AND Had to show it off!!!

A few more GW treasures in my latest hunt are the "Red Strawberry Cruet"(made by Avon back in the 70s and only $1). Its red stopper is "A Strawberry"... "TOO CUTE"!!! The Amber Lido Sherbets(both for $1)... and "LOOK at that Sweet Chocolate Bunny"(only$1)... How do people PART with these???

How beautifully My New German Strawberry Majolica Plate looks beneath a cloche!

Do you see my antique silver Fork&Spoon pair? I found this set at a local shop one day and "Of Course" it followed me home... I LOVE,LOVE,LOVE this set and later found out it was made in my hometown in 1885(the year my Grandmother was born)... The name of the Street it was made on was "Silver Street" and it was the next street over from Our Family Home! "I found the original advertisement for Rodgers&Hamilton Silver" and posted it below. You can see MY "Aldine Pattern" on it...

My Flowers are Parrot "Tulips&Cosmos"... I love the foliage of the cosmos contrasting against the strap leaves of the tulips!!! My Sweet Little Friend is one of Annette Himstedt's German Girls(If you look VERY CAREFULLY behind her you will see "Princess Diana's Memorial Tartan")...  The bunny teapot is quite large. It's the type you definitely need two hands to pick up and pour... It's a Polish Beauty that I have had for years... I also have matching mugs and several other pieces... I will have to go on a treasure hunt in my attic to find them and show them off!!!

 "I LOVE the colors in my "Princess Diana Memorial Cashmere Throw", they pick up ALL the colors in my new German Majolica Platter(see the little stripe of strawberry running through?  I just MAY have to have a picnic with all this when summer finally blooms outside!!! 
"Happy National Tartan Day Everyone"!!!
...April 6th...
 

Can you picture an elaborate 4th of July "Strawberry Shortcake" on this platter? It's a deep dish, so it would collect all the  juicy juices of your delectable delights...I LOVE the fact it has little wild strawberries instead of the big plump hybrids... It's background is the most gorgeous robin's egg blue...

The strawberry sugar&creamer are "Fritz&Floyd"... I have had them For-E-Ver!!! and they seem to be regulars at Lots of Breakfast, Luncheon, and Supper Tables... I've even seen them gleaming at picnics!!!

My Teacups&Saucers are Vintage Syracuse "Dogwood"...

This is what is smelling "Oh So Good" from my Kitchen! Fresh Strawberry Scones!!! To get the recipe visit "Confessions of a Tart"... There's LOTS of yummy confections over there!!!

The Fluttering Butterflies and Dragonfly are gifts from my sons "SO Many Years Ago"...They are from Arthur Court...

The table runner is also German...Click on the photo to enlarge and see the flowers... I think they look JUST Like the little strawberry blossoms, What do you think?

Maybe you can see the flowers better in this photo... The  below photos are a

Strawberry Jar planted with Mara des Bois Strawberries

See My Spoon in "Aldine Pattern"! Isn't it Gorgeous... The Silver Factory had closed before I was born BUT "Silver Street" was the entrance to the park I played in all my growing years. The name of the park was "Hamilton Park"... Hmmm, it must have had a connection to the Silver Co... Antique Silver is still very plentiful in our area here...

"A little treat for you to Take Home"... "Have a Juicy Sweet  Strawberry Day"!!!


"I'm LINKING to"...
"SUNDAY FAVORITES@Happy to Design"
"Seasonal Sundays@The Tablescaper"
"A few of my favorite things@Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie"
"Show and Tell Friday@My Romantic Home"
"Feathered Nest Friday@French Country Cottage"
"Vintage Inspiration Friday@Common Ground"
"Treasure Hunt Thursday@Blue Creek Home"
"Open House Party@No Minimalist Here"
"Home Sweet Home Fridays@The Charm of Home"
"Treasures and Trinkets Thursday@My Cottage Charm"
"Thrifty Thursday@Bloggeritaville"
"Cottage Flora Thursday@Fishtail Cottage"
"Tablescape Thursday@Between Naps on the Porch"
"Vintage Thingie Thursday@Colorado Lady"
"Pearls&Lace Thursday@Faith, Grace, and Crafts"
"Wow Us Wednesday@Savvy Southern Style"
"Easter&Spring Blog Party@A Holiday Haven"
"Martha's Favorites"
"Tea Pot and Tea Thingy Tuesday@The Plumed Pen"
"Tuesday Treasures@The House on the Side of the Hill"
"Tea Time Tuesday@Rose Chintz Cottage"
"Table Top Tuesday@A Stroll Thru Life"
"Masterpiece Monday@Boogieboard Cottage"
"Show off your Cottage Monday@The house in the roses"