A few new items added to my etsy.com site

I have added 2 more pairs of earrings and a really special necklace to my etsy site this morning. I love the necklace especially. I haven't made any necklaces like this one and I think I'm going to make a few more because I loved making them. This necklace has been named the waterfall necklace, because the green agate oval stones look like water in a pool in the mountains that cascades to form waterfalls. I mixed in some moss agate stones, coin pearls, regular pearls and some green opals round beads. Check it out:

The great birthday cake Jenny made for me!

Yesterday as you all know from my previous post was my birthday. Jenny, my youngest daughter was spending the day with me today! She arrived at 10 a.m. just like she said she would and she presented me with this really cute knitting birthday cake she made for me!! Love you Jen-what a wonderful job you did-I love it!!





We had alot of fun today. We stayed in Charlotte but did we get around. We first went to a store uptown called The Beadlush (great name!). We then proceeded to a bead store called On a String. After we left there we drove just down the road a little bit and we met John for lunch at a place called Fenwick's on Providence Road. John headed on home after lunch to do his thing. Jenny and I continued on our merry way! We went to an antique mall called the Sleepy Poet! What a wonderful place!! So many antiques and vintage style items. We were half way through there when Megan (my oldest daughter) sent us an e-mail that at 3:00 we were suppose to meet her for pedicures! We raced to the other side of Charlotte and went into Union County to the town where Megan lives, which is Indian Trail. The pedicure was heaven-thanks Megan for such a wonderful gift. I had my toenails painted with OPI's Your Villa or Mine! It is a really pretty pearlescent coral color-wonderful for summer! Then Jenny and I left the spa, said goodbye to Megan and drove to my house. I made Jenny 2 pairs or earrings and a bracelet before she had to leave and go home. We had a spectacular day!! Here's 2 pictures of Jenny before we left on our wonderful day!




I love birthdays!! Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!!

Happy Birthday to Me!!

Today is my 51st birthday! I have heard from so many people already today and it is only 8:45 a.m.!! My parents called last night because they knew I would be going out tonight! John is taking me for a lobster dinner which includes of course, the lobster, steamed red new potatoes, corn on the cob and drawn butter! He says he is buying me a cake too! I told him after the lobster dinner I didn't need cake, but he said everyone should have a birthday cake. He is such a sweetie! The girls will be pampering me tomorrow. Jenny and I start out by going to 2 bead shops in Charlotte, then lunch (the guys will be having lunch with us too), the knitting store I go to, and then at 3:00 we are meeting up with Megan and having manis and pedis! Perfect way to end the day-our feet will be tired and we'll need that pedi!

Last night's dinner at DelFrisco's with my Mystery Bookclub friends was wonderful! The meal was just awesome and the service was impeccable! I had the house salad, filet mignon, garlic smashed potatoes and strawberry cheesecake for dessert. I was so full but it was soooooo gooooood!! The company was great too!

Everyone have a wonderful day and weekend!

Tonight should be fun!

3 of my mystery book club friends and I are going to DelFrisco's Restaurant here in Charlotte. It is Charlotte Restaurant Week. That means for $30.00 you get an appetizer, meal and dessert (beverages are extra). People usually love restaurant week because you can go to all the restaurants that are so expensive normally for $30.00. The steaks and lobster are to die for I hear-can't wait to sample the steak myself! This should be a really fun time!

Victorian Tea

I am a huge tea drinker (not so much lately with all the hot weather we have been having!). I love victorian or vintage tea pots, strainers, silver spoons, plates, tea cups, tea cozies and just about anything tea related. Sometimes our lives are so hectic it would just be nice if we could take more time to enjoy the lovely pass time of "taking tea". Vanilla tea is an all time favorite of mine. When I lived in northwestern NJ there used to be a shop that sold loose tea (along with other lovely things) and they had a vanilla tea from a supplier in Maine that I just loved! There is a tea shop in Fredon, NJ called The Tea Hive and they have a lovely assortment of teas also. There is one that is a spice tea and it is so good, I brought some home to NC with me the last time I went there. Not only is tea a wonderful thing but you have all the goodies that go along with it like scones, tea sandwiches, little petit fours, etc. So the next time you need to de-stress, relax just pour yourself some tea and enjoy!


Isn't this a beautiful tea set!


These are cream scones-I'll take one of those!


Here is a Victorian Silver tea strainer. I have 2 strainers, one is similar in style to this one (I received this in a swap from my dear swap partner, Angie at Just Simply Live-thanks again Angie!!)and the other I bought in New England in an antique shop. Just wonderful items!


I love the handle on this silver teapot-such beautiful art!


This little tea cup has a tussie mussie in it-how cute is that!


I love linens and tea linens are gorgeous! I've collected some real beauties over the years. I love my tea cozy I bought when I was in Ireland, it is linen with a toile scene on it.


What would a tea party be without a beautiful tea party hat! Isn't this a beauty!

Take time to enjoy life-I think I'll go an make my favorite cup of tea right now!

Mourning Doves and a Little Iron Twin Bed

For the last few days we have had two pairs of mourning doves walking down our garage roof, hopping onto the gutter on the garage and swooping into the courtyard bird feeder. We never really saw them here until the other day. They are such graceful birds and they always seem so polite! Here are some pictures of them making the garage roof decent:







Yesterday I told you John and I moved the lateral filing cabinet out of the second floor guest bedroom (which was formerly his office) and down to the garage it went. We then brought up the iron twin bed we had in the garage up to the guest room and set that up. Well I left out that this was Megan (our oldest daughters) bed for most of her little girl life. I bought it at an antique store for $25.00. I brought it home gave it a coat of white paint and then stenciled the headboard and footboard with the stencil I used in her room. Just having it back in the house reminds me of when she was little. Megan is now 29 and all grown up but she will remain a little girl sometimes in our mind, especially when we look at her little girl bed!



Here is the iron twin bed we put in the Guest Room.


Stenciling on the headboard.


Stenciling on the Footboard


I put this country pine nightstand up against the wall at the head of the bed. I'm not done decorating the nightstand but I thought I would include it anyway for now.

Saturday Adventures and a Wonderful Dinner!

Hi Everyone! John and I were busy all day-whew am I tired! First we ran errands after breakfast. Then we came home and moved a really heavy lateral filing cabinet down to the garage from the second floor. That was no small fete! Then we brought up the iron twin bed, mattress and boxspring that was stored in the garage. We put it together. I cleaned up my stained glass table, glass, equipment, etc. That wasn't easy either! I cleaned up and reorganized my jewelry creating table. Moved some chairs around upstairs. Then I went downstairs and marinated some beef cubes so I could make kebabs! They were marvelous!! I mixed yellow squash, zucchini, red and green peppers, onions, mushrooms and tomatoes with the beef cubes. I also steamed corn on the cob, which was just the best yet this summer! I love butter and sugar corn, it is my favorite. We also had some crusty bread from Trader Joes (that was were we got the corn too). It was all right, not much flavor. Now that is my perfect summer dinner! Here are some pictures of the kebabs, corn and while the kebabs were cooking on the grill I snapped some pictures of things growing in my garden in the courtyard. Everyone have a fantastic weekend!



Here are the beef kebabs cooking on the grill! They were so good and I have 4 more left for tomorrow too! Yummy!


This is butter and sugar corn, which my all time favorite corn on the cob! We bought this fresh this a.m. at Trader Joe's.


Here is the crusty bread we bought at Trader Joe's. It was good but not outstanding! Not much flavor.


Snapdragons always make me smile! These cheerful little plants are just so cute by my back door.


One of my all time favorite plants is Heliotrope! The scent they give off is heavenly. I have two pots of this lovely plant and I wish I had room for more!


More of my fav plant!


I couldn't resist taking this picture of the hosta blossom. I have another hosta getting ready to bloom too. These hostas this year have gorgeous, slightly scented blossoms. Just so graceful and beautiful.


This year I got a deep, rich red hanging geranium plant. I had John put up a hanger on the fence in the courtyard. The red coloring of the blossoms have attracted my little hummingbird friends.


Our one neighbor has trumpet vine growing up on his side of the fence. It started to bloom a week or so ago, but none were blooming on our side of the fence. Today one is in full bloom. Doesn't it look pretty!


Here are some trumpet vine buds that slipped through the fence. I thought this would be a good picture.

Hope you enjoyed all the pics and everyone have a wonderful weeekend! Enjoy!