French Limoges, Venetian Lace & The Lady in my Garden

With all the new "E-reading", the "inventory of "Real Hardcover Books" is endless... I have a growing pile next to my bed, of stories to explore before I drift off into slumberland... This new book, "The Forgotten Garden"  is a novel of outer and inner journeys and a homage to the power of storytelling. It's filled with unforgettable characters who weave their way through its spell binding plot to astounding effect. 
It's a serious book that must have your complete attention and devotion or you'll get lost. 
Did I like it... YES!!! Do I recommend it... YES!!! but ONLY if you can give your total concentration to your reading ... If you plan to SKIM through the almost 550 pages of enchantment, then this is NOT your book... You MUST PAY attention to all you read...

This French Limoges tureen almost got away! One fine day I began my treasure hunt at Goodwill...This "Gorgeous & Flawless" piece sat there "Smiling So Pretty at me"!!! I began "The Exam"(I know my priceless treasure was holding it's breath) . The inspection was a success, not a single blemish. "I could tell "Mr Limoges Tureen" was SO EXCITED to be going home with me!  He never dreamed his "Centuries Old Antique Heritage", could end up HERE on a dusty shelf, side by side with MASS PRODUCTION!!!

It wasn't a happy ending "YET"!!! This tureen had ONE PROBLEM! "WHAT you ask"??? Well... The color tag on it would be HALF PRICE the very next day...Hmmm, what to do!!! YES you guessed right...I ACTUALLY put Mr Limoges Tureen, in an out of sight spot on a bottom shelf(OKAY I confess, I piled a few tall bowls, that looked like NO ONE would ever look at them,in front of him)...Bid Him Farewell and promised I would be back "FIRST THING" in the morning...  I did not get a wink of sleep that night, sneaking a minute by minute glance at the SLOW MOVING hands on my alarm clock... Was all this worth the half price sticker?  I stared at the ceiling all night long, "wondering" just how much did I really save "considering" the price of gas(to&Fro)... Hmmm

At the break of dawn, I was "On My Way"!!!As you can see Mr Limoges Tureen now lives at Conghaile Cottage!!! Were you worried??? He was a terrific bargain at $6...
Of Course he got my special bubble bath before entering into "Our Land of Blog"...

Vera Bradley Majolica plates(the same pale Wedgwood blue that Mr Limoges Tureen is wearing on his flowery lapels) will be perfect to serve my guest of honor today... She's waiting in my garden... She's so cute, I peeked out and saw her pulling a few weeds for me...

It's SO NICE to have little helpers... even if they are as Bashful as this guy is

There are no markings on this charming little  basket ,vase... Does anyone recognize it??? Maybe Hull , Shawnee, Royal Copley??? 

The music provided today is a robust "Treefrog Serenade"... My special guest is enjoying him, I can see her tapping her foot as he sings...

The aroma from the kitchen has taken over... My guest just peeked in and told me "It's time to serve"!!! She's an expert and her word is gold...NOW for you to meet her...

Isn't she TOO CUTE sitting there waiting for "MOI"... In case you haven't had the pleasure of meeting her... "Julia Child, I would like to introduce you to all my very special friends here in our Land of Blog"... AND... "All my very special friends here in our Land of Blog, I would like you to meet Julia Child"...
"AND for Tea Cup Tuesday Julia is SHOWING OFF her own personal favorite cup"... 

Please ladle yourself a bowl of Julia's famous "Boeuf Bourguignon"... I'll slice you a wedge of my crusty french bread to sop up all the juices...

This is France's Le Perche... It is where some of "my" french ancestors came from... I have followed my maternal Grandmothers family back to here in the 1600s... It is such a beautiful place!!! 
You can read a little about it HERE ... 


I hope you enjoyed your visit today... Till our next visit
"bon appetit"!!!

The cups & saucers you saw are  "CROWN DUCAL " England... They are demitasse... If you noticed Ms Child had a large cup...She insisted on using her OWN favorite mug... 

I'm Linking this week to
"Blue Monday@Smiling Sally" 
"Nifty Thrifty Tuesday@Coastal Charm" 
"Tea Time Tuesday@Rose Chintz Cottage" 
"Table Top Tuesday@A Stroll Thru Life" 
"Tea Cup Tuesday@Artful Affirmations" 
"A Return to Lovliness@A Delightsome Life" 
"Home and Garden Thursday@A Delightsome Life" 
"Vintage Thingie Thursday@Coloradolady" 
"Let's Dish@Cuisine Kathleen" 
"Cottage Garden Party@Fishtail Cottage" 
"Tablescape Thursday@Between Naps on the Porch" 
"Vintage Inspiration Friday@Common Ground" 
"Simple&Sweet Fridays@Rooted in Thyme" 
"Home Sweet Home Friday@The Charm of Home" 
"Seasonal Sundays@The Tablescaper" 

"LET THE YARD SALES BEGIN"!!!Jean Shepherd - "Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss"

If you loved "Christmas Story", you MUST watch EVERY MOVIE Jean Shepherd did...They all possess the magic and fun "WE who grew up in that ERA" remember so well...This is one of my favorites, and the scene I posted from YouTube is only a part of the fun you will have watching the whole movie...

I'm joining these parties this week, PLEASE drop by and see all the fun...

Vintage Thingie Thursday @ Colorado Lady"

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY PINK SATURDAY"&"Julie Marie,Tea, & Me"

"HAPPY PINK SATURDAY BIRTHDAY"!!! 

We MUST have PINK CUPCAKES for Beverly today! These "CUPCAKES are coming to us today from CLOUD NINE CUPCAKES in the UK"(to see more temptations click their link)... " These delicious delights are strawberry swirls"

"Lucky Me to have won these exquisite gifts from Our Julie Marie @ Idyllhours"... Being part of Our Land of Blog is like living Christmas Every Day!!! Please SCOOT OVER to Julie's to read ALL ABOUT where she hand picked each and every item SPECIAL for the Lucky Winner "Who Is MOI"!!! This silk zipper purse is PERFECT for a book I am reading. It slips right into it like a glove... AND this sweet little journal is going to keep pressed flowers near and dear to me...

The Lightkeeper's Daughter looks JUST LIKE Julie Marie(don't you all agree)...Author Colleen Coble created this story... about... Addie Sullivan leading a quiet life in a northern California lighthouse. She mourns the death of her father and endures her mother's bitterness, until the night a storm brings an injured stranger and a dark secret to her home. The man insists she is not who she thinks she is, but rather "Julia Eaton", the child long lost and feared dead by her wealthy family. Seizing the chance to be reunited with the Eatons, Addie leaves her lighthouse home but decides to keep her true identity a secret until they can unravel the mystery...

The pleasure of a hand beaded necklace sparkling into  vintage Heisey cups...

It's 4 O'clock and time for Julie Marie & Me to have tea!!! I'm serving it on an "American Limoges Briar Rose" Platter... 
If you would LOVE to own German Rose Silver Spoons like these "You MUST visit Our Johanna @ Siber Rosen"...

I found this lonely little CAPODIMONTE sitting on a high shelf at GW. It reached down a gentle temptation of $1 that made it immediately a member of Conghaile Cottage...It is simple perfection for a my special tea. I KNOW Julie loves roses, so what could be better than some from Italy...

Strawberry Scones are in the oven and will be severed on this "Frilly Vintage Rose Plate"!!! I'll post the recipe below...Right NOW I must tend to my Sweet Guest Julie and get our scones from the oven, Can you smell them calling???

The rose scarf was a 10cent purchase years ago at a tag sale... My Heisey Cups are in the "Empress" pattern in Flamingo Pink, made from 1930-1938... I found a set of 6 at GW for 50cents each... I didn't recognize them at first... When I began to examine them I "Saw the trademark "H" inside a diamond on the bottom of each cup"...The glass is crystal thin YET it has a durability to it! It's one of the most beautiful little cups I have ever seen...
"Can you hear Julie & I giggling about all the things we Love and have in common"??? "The atmosphere here is bubbling with FUN"!!!

Thank you "SO MUCH" Julie for all my new treasures... This book of Sharon's is "Such a fun" read... I LOVE all her books and her way of thinking... Her stories, illustrations, and ideas of life, bring joy with lots of smiles from cover to cover.

Some of the "Smiling Faces from Conghaile Cottage Gardens"     Varigated wiegela & Clematis...

Beautiful Julie Marie @ Idyllhours

The Double Strawberry Scones PICTURE & RECIPE  belong to  "Hana Trafford @ Mama Knows"  ... Click on her highlighted link and "She'll teach you the magic of this recipe"!!!  WOW is it Yummy!!! "Thank you SO MUCH Hana"!!!!!!!!

Roses from Julie Marie's Gardens... Please take time to visit Julie@Idyllhours, She is one of our cherished flowers that bloom in Our Land of Blog... 

I'm Linking To 
these highlighted parties this week
"Share your Cup Thursday@Have a daily cup of Mrs.Olsen" 
"Home and Garden Thursday@A Delightsome Life" 
"Let's Dish@Cuisine Kathleen" 
"Vintage Thingie Thursday@Coloradolady" 
"Cottage Garden Party@Fishtail Cottage" 
"Time Travel Thursday@The Brambleberry Cottage" 
"Open House Party Thursday@No Minimalist Here" 
"Tablescape Thursday@Between Naps on the Porch" 
"Vintage Inspiration@Common Ground" 
 "Feathered Nest FRIDAY@French Country Cottage"
"THRIFTY THINGS FRIDAY@The Thrifty Groove" 
"
"Home Sweet Home Friday@The Charm of Home"
"PINK SATURDAY@How Sweet The Sound"
"Seasonal Sundays@The Tablescaper"
"Blue Monday@Smiling Sally"  
"Nifty Thrifty Tuesday@Coastal Charm" 
"Tea Time Tuesday@Rose Chintz Cottage" 
"A Return to Loveliness@A Delightsome Life" 
"Table Top Tuesday@A Stroll Thru Life" 
"Tea Cup Tuesday@Artful Affirmations" 
"Tea Cup Tuesday@Martha's Favorites"
"Wow Us Wednesday@Savvy Southern Style" 
 

"Our Land of Blog"...

Our Land of Blog is such a magical place where we all come to find solace in familiar faces... Computer issues have brought me to a halt "BUT" Mr Cottage is working on a cure... I thought I'd post a few smiling faces from my gardens just to let you all know "I MISS YOU SO"!!!
...Virginia Bluebells...

As I spend some time in my gardens I bring "You perched upon my wide rimed hat" for advice along my path... We stop often to "Smell the Flowers", and "Sip Tea on a little stone bench"...
...Azalea...

My Sweet little Lady is upset... At First she was Dancing amongst the flowers SO HAPPY because we have won so many "Wonderful Giveaways"...But then the computer issues have silenced us almost completely "SO" I'm "HOPING This little POST will POST"... It's a THANK YOU POST to "Julie Marie @ Idylhours" ... "Marilou @ Lulus Lovlies"... and "Kathy@ A Delightsome Life"... You are all such very "Special Ladies here in Our Land of Blog"... I will be "Showing off my Giveaway Goodies" soon in special posts... Love & Hugs to you All!

"Oh, my Sweet Little Lady is ALSO bothered by that leaf sitting there in her garden"...She keeps reminding me I have "Work to Do"!!!

"HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY"... "My Mom's Cookie Jar"

"Happy Mother's Day to My Sweet Mom"... AND "Happy Mother's Day to all of Our Very Special Ladies in The Land of Blog"...Whether you have one child, three or 4, no children, or a WHOLE SHOE FULL, those of you who make our lives "Sweet as Sugar and are always there for us" are Loved on Mother's Day and held in the heart of so many...All You who nurture and comfort us all in our times of need and beyond..."I Love you all and Big Squishy Hugs to you today and Always"!!!

"Peek a Boo" was always filled with Mom's homemade cookies...Her little Bunny Belly was ALWAYS full...Did you notice her Sweet little bunny ears Look Like a Heart? I only display her for the month of February..."She is my Special Valentine"..."Peek A Boo" is a rare cookie jar designed by Ruth Van Tellingen back in the 1940s...

LOVE all my Friends here in the Land of Blog! "Sherry from Back 2 Vintage" has come to my rescue with the name and manufacturer of my Crystal cup & saucer...This beauty is "Indiana Glass" in the "Pretzel" pattern or as they refer to it "no.622". Sherry found it in her "Gene Florence Glassware Book" and this PRETZEL pattern was made between the 30s-80s... "Giant Squishy Hugs" Sherry to you for coming to my rescue!!! You can visit Sweet Sherry here 

A GW treasure that followed me home... I have tried to identify this beautiful cup&saucer with no luck until Sherry helped me out(Love you Sherry for all your help)...  This pattern is gorgeous, and I would LOVE to own a small set... OR "at least" one more cup&saucer...The pattern name "Pretzel" fits it perfectly!!! This Cup&Saucer was made in the 1930s. It blends with just about every vignette... adding sparkle without overwhelming the scene...

"Oh My Goodness", it was such a treat to have a sniffle in the 50s and the luxury of patting your nose with a delicate hankie... My Mom always made sure I never left home without a "Crisply ironed Floral Bouquet" tucked in my pocket... "It's hard to imagine how these little treasures survived the endless attention they received"...

"What little girl hasn't sung this sweet song and acted out her own interpretation of being a Little Teapot"... Is there Anyone who doesn't know this tune???

Ms Potts was there the Moment I mentioned the title of her "Favorite Song"... Some days I can hear her humming the tune from her high shelf in my kitchen...

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Did you know that this song "Also" had a dance??? It's called "The Teapot Tip"... and on the back page of the sheet music there is a full page dedicated to teaching you "Just the right steps and gestures"...How adorable is This???

"Somehow I just can't imagine the men doing this"... although I just may check out YouTube to see if there is PROOF they did, hehe... I'm a Little Teapot was printed on Broadway, New York City in MCMXLI(1941)

This "IS" my Mom's song!!! I knew the lyrics to Mairzy Doats before I could read... My Mom would be bobbing around the kitchen in the 50s, baking cookies for Peek A Boo and humming a happy tune... Sounds like a Disney Movie, but that's what my life was like with my Mom... "A Happily Ever After Life"...

Mom grew up on a Huge Farm in northern Maine and was part of an Old Fashioned Farm Family... If they didn't grow it or raise it, it wasn't part of their meal or life... She actually went to school by "A Horse Team drawn Sleigh"... She said the sleigh was SO BIG they had a contained fire on it to keep them warm... I love to listen to all her life stories and she is was always so generous with telling them... "Wouldn't you have LOVED to go to school by a Horse drawn Sleigh"???

Mairzy Doats (1943)

Can you hear Mom humming??? It's a beautiful world when she sings...

I "Love" this photo of her in Maine... I'm not sure how old she is (maybe 16)... She is the Most Beautiful Lady I know...

I LOVE this picture... Maybe Mom is about 10 to 12 here... Look at her smile with her puppy... "So Precious"!!!

Royal Doulton made this teacup&saucer with Cinderella's little friends Jaq&Gus... I wish they had made some without the little guys in the cup because it would be SO nice to have tea with them... Hmmm...Having tea with them swimming in your cup is Just Not Convenient... Their little tails kept "Tickling my nose"!!!

See Moms tea cloth embroidery... She "LOVED" doing this and I LOVE having them to treasure... She was always making something... Sometimes when I woke up in the morning, My Tammy Doll Case would be open on my nightstand... Mom had made her a beautiful new outfit... and  Tammy would be standing there, modeling it to surprise me!!!

One of Mom's favorite books and movies was "The Egg and I"... I have seen the movie so many times and what's NOT to love about a Women following her Hubby's dream(before you even START you must THROW Woman's Lib OUT the window)!!! Recently I found the book which was a "MUST HAVE"! A true delight, Cover to Cover!!!  Of Course "The Egg and I" Movie ALSO introduced us to "Ma & Pa Kettle", and we MUST say Thank you for that alone! You can watch the movie trailer from 1947 "The Egg and I" on YouTube or TCM...One of my favorite parts is HER STOVE(which had a personality all it's own!!!

"My Mom will be 88 on May 28th"



I'm Linking To 
the highlighted parties this week
"Seasonal Sundays@The Tablescaper"
"Blue Monday@Smiling Sally"  
"Nifty Thrifty Tuesday@Coastal Charm" 
"Tea Time Tuesday@Rose Chintz Cottage" 
"A Return to Loveliness@A Delightsome Life" 
"Table Top Tuesday@A Stroll Thru Life" 
"Tea Cup Tuesday@Artful Affirmations" 
"Wow Us Wednesday@Savvy Southern Style" 
"Share your Cup Thursday@Have a daily cup of Mrs.Olsen" 
"Home and Garden Thursday@A Delightsome Life" 
"Let's Dish@Cuisine Kathleen" 
"Vintage Thingie Thursday@Coloradolady" 
"Cottage Garden Party@Fishtail Cottage" 
"Time Travel Thursday@The Brambleberry Cottage" 
"Open House Party Thursday@No Minimalist Here" 
"Tablescape Thursday@Between Naps on the Porch" 
"Vintage Inspiration@Common Ground" 
 "Feathered Nest FRIDAY@French Country Cottage"
"THRIFTY THINGS FRIDAY@The Thrifty Groove" 

"Home Sweet Home Friday@The Charm of Home"