Pink Saturday/ Stella's Pink Flowers

It's time again for Pink Saturday! Can you believe that it has already been one year since Pink Saturday was begun by Beverly at How Sweet the Sound?

Though any time is good for pink, I think spring is an especially good time for all things pink. Look at this beautiful rose I found outside my front windows!


When I saw the rose bush in early spring, I didn't know if it was dead or not. I began to see green thorny stems growing, then today noticed the first rose!


I'm so glad I got to share in this Pink Saturday First Anniversary with my special guest Stella! To read more about her, click on her picture in the sidebar. She is native to England, and has been on many adventures while in the United States and has visited several different households!

Stella and I visited the house on Bonnie Lane, which we still have possession of. Long story. Anyhow, she found peonies growing in the back yard. She couldn't resist a sniff.


They have been pink before, but this is the first year I have noticed that they have become variegated with two shades of pink. I think this is even prettier!

I just love peonies. I think they grow even prettier as they get older and the blooms are even more open.


They're even pretty closed.

These peonies were in the side yard getting ready to bloom. They are a deeper pink.

Stella said she thought these buds looked like Mother Nature's lipstick.

She even crept up to the bud and kissed it. I didn't notice any difference, but Stella swears her lips are more pink.


Stella also found these little pink flowers in the back.


Okay, this isn't pink, but I thought this purple iris was pretty. Do you see the little orange poppy in the background?


This next picture has absolutely nothing to do with Pink Saturday, but I thought this picture of my son Sean with the neighbor dog Harley was just too sweet. I swear, Harley is just about the prettiest dog I have ever seen. He is really shy, but Sean was patient with him and now they are best buddies. When I saw them in the yard, Harley was leaning his head on Sean's legs and looked so loving! All dogs and small children love Sean.


I'm tickled pink today because I was able to get my van window fixed and insurance paid everything! There wasn't even a deductible! If I had to pay it on my own, it would have cost $275, and since it would have been a while for me to come up with the money, I would have been driving around with my very ghetto looking black garbage bag covering it up. I was so happy to get a real window, and they came right to my house to fix it!


I'm also tickled pink to have my first new pair of glasses in 10 years (courtesy of the state). I finally had to make my first concession to being 50 and admit I needed bifocals. Wow, they really work! I had been having such a hard time seeing the really fine print, like in our phone books, but now it is clear as a bell! I was also having trouble reading because my eyes would tire quickly and the words would become blurred. No more! My dilated eye exam turned out just fine too.

Anyhoo, have a great Pink Saturday, and don't forget to visit Beverly to see a list of other participants who you can visit!

Tablescape Thursday/ Lilac Dishes

I had so much fun with this week's tablescape! Since the lilacs first bloomed at the beginning of May, I had wanted to do a tablescape with lilacs using a spectrum of purple shades and greens. Here is what I came up with! (This will be a Stella-free post today. She'll be back in a day or two!)





Sadly, I was not able to gather all the elements together before the lilacs died off, but the idea was still in my head. I go to the local Goodwill frequently, and by that, I mean at least twice per week. The good stuff gets snatched up fast! I swear, my heart skipped a beat when I laid eyes on these beautiful plates with lilacs! I thought I was going to pee my pants. These were perfect and EXACTLY what I needed for my table! Not only were there plates, there were accessories! I found the dinner plates, salad plates, cups and saucers, butter pats, and an oval dish. Grand total for 4 place settings...$14!

A couple days ago I found the placemats, a set of four for $2, and the light green napkins, $1 for a set of 4. They had not been there the day before, and were again, exactly what would be just right for the table!

Aren't these lilacs gorgeous? The plates are by Home Arts China. I wish I could tell you more about the plates, but I couldn't find out anything about the pattern.


I added some green depression glass sherbert cups that I inherited from my mother. The pink glasses were Goodwill finds for $.35 each that I featured in an earlier tablescape.


You may wonder why I only show three settings. Well, with my boys and I, that's only three of us, and the table is against a wall, so I think its more fun to decorate that end. To hide the wall, I added a floral fan in shades of lilac, green, and pinks. I've had it for years. The table is covered by a floral fabric that I have had for about 14 years. Then I added some items I had around the house in greens and purples.





It's funny, but purple has never been one of my favorite colors. I LOVE the combination of purples and greens here though!

I found this green box at a cute shop last summer for half price, and featured it in a blog post last August.


I've had the birdhouses for some time. The one on the right sits on one of the cheeseboards that I painted.


The cigar boxes are also some antique shop finds that I've found. I couldn't resist the purple!


This green plate was a recent Goodwill find at only a dollar! I snatched it up without hesitation.


I took the dome from the cheeseboard and covered it. The little purple eggs look distorted by the glass! I'm thinking that something else would look better under the glass, but this was all I could think of.


As you saw in one of last week's posts, I finally have my Target birdies! They fade away on this white table cover though.


These white vases were only a couple dollars each at Goodwill. I think they will be very versatile for future tablescapes. I had hoped to fill them with fresh lilacs! You know, I couldn't even find faux lilacs anywhere, so I used some candlerings that I have had.


I have had the white table cover for so long, I don't even remember where I got it. I love the detail on it!




Let me tell you, this tablescape stuff is addictive! I am having so much fun with it, but might not be able to continue with many more posts. Even thrifting, things can start to add up. However, I do have a lot of single painted porcelain plates, so you may see something featuring them, or even some single place settings.

To check out more Tablescape Thurday posts, please visit our gracious hostess Susan at Between Naps on the Porch.

Happy Tablescape Thursday everyone!

Daredevil Stella!

Stella had been behaving so well! Except for dying herself blue. I was really starting to think that I didn't need to worry about her. Seems like I should have been paying more attention!

My son Jared, with whom Stella is quite impressed, asked if he and Stella could go to the libary. I certainly could think of no reason why not, and it seemed like a nice outing for her.

Here is our beautiful library. I think it is so beautiful and it even has some stained glass windows! It is in a lovely location on the banks of the Maumee River. Unfortunately, the close proximity to the river means that it sometimes floods the downstairs!


The library is on the list of historical sights.


I think this knight's arm holding a light is very cool. I am not sure of the significance of this.


My son decided to take Stella to see the park in which the libary sits.


Here was her first look at the Maumee River.




Here is the confluence of the Maumee and Auglaize rivers where the Auglaize flows into the Maumee. These are pretty good sized rivers!


The park is the site of the old Fort Defiance where men fought during the Indian Wars during the Revolutionary War, I believe. Maybe it was even before that time.


Stella took a picture of Jared near another monument marking the site. He is such a cutie. I can see why Stella likes him so much!


The only things remaining of the fort are these cannons. This cannon overlooks the Maumee River.


And this one overlooks the Auglaize. I used to live about a half mile downriver from here on the opposite bank.


Stella was very impressed by the cannons.


She wanted to take a peek inside the cannon.


Then she wanted to crawl inside! Little did I know that some mischievous thoughts were beginning to tumble in her little head.


She had a daring plan in mind. My son, being only 16 and a bit ornery himself, was only too willing to help. He found a tiny crash helmet for her. He even added her name, and made sure that it was a pink helmet! You know how our Stella loves pink.


Stella climbed inside the cannon again.


Then Jared fired the cannon. Oh my goodness!!!


Success!


Was she going to make it safely to the other side of the river?


At least they had the presence of mind to have rescue vehicles waiting on the other side just in case they needed help. You will have to click to enlarge the pic to see them.


It was just about that time that I heard of their misguided plans. I hurried to the park on the other bank of the river. Can you see the cannon to the left of the steps and flagpole? If you click the picture, you can see them.


Frantically, I searched for our Stella. Oh, where could she be! I hope she didn't end up in the river? Can she even swim? Oh dear!

It wasn't long before I was hearing faint cries of "Yahooo! Wheeee!" I quickly ran toward the sound, and here is where I found Stella, her pink parachute caught in the tree. Of course, I rescued her right away!


Our silly Stella! Just look at that goofy excited expression on her face. She said it was such a thrill to be shot out of the cannon. Never mind that my heart nearly stopped at the thought of her doing such a stunt!


Once I got her back home, she was sternly scolded, though it broke my heart to do so. My son? He was banished to his bedroom for the rest of his natural life.


You know Stella though and that you just can't stay mad at her for too long. It wasn't long before we hugged and all was well again.


I sure hope she doesn't try anything else like this while she visits!