Valentine Birdies, a Photo Bomb, and a Winner

For me, Valentines Day signals the end of winter and the start of all things Spring in my decorating. Even though the weather sometimes doesn't agree, I put away all my evergreens and snowy winter-y things and concentrate on bringing in a few flowering faux branches, some lighter colors, and start thinking garden and seeds.

It's the little things that make Christmas memories...

Wishing you all Happiness and Joy

 this Christmas!

xoxo,

A "New" French Mirror for the Dining Room

As I was taking pics for the upcoming

  Christmas Open House Blog Hop

that will be starting on Wednesday, I realized that I haven't shown much of my Dining Room, and hadn't shared my buffet and "new" antique mirror at all. what's wrong with me? My big boy white turkey had been here on the buffet at Thanksgiving, but I never got around to letting him strut his stuff. So now it's Christmas and I finally finished the upstairs decorating, so here goes...

I'm just going to give you a little tease, 

since I'll be showing much more at the Blog Hop on Thursday.

I tried to keep things a little more subdued in here, 

so I thought I'd just use one of my ironstone tureens 

with some vintage Shiney Brites.

I'd been looking for a new antique mirror for the buffet for quite awhile.

When I saw the French plume design on top, I knew this was the one.

I'll be sharing a few more snippets this week,

so hope you'll come back.

All my birdies say "come see us Thursday"!

Joining in with these wonderful Christmas Parties:

The Scoop at Stonegable

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

Mod Mix Monday at Mod Vintage Life

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

xoxo,

Daisy Botanical in the Entry

Just checking in to say Hello, as this may possibly be my last post for awhile. We leave early next week for my appointment with my new cardiologist. After all this waiting, I'm starting to feel a little anxious about it all. I've spent all week checking to make sure all my records have been transferred from three different sources, and it doesn't help the situation for calm when one of them keeps giving me the run around and putting me off... not surprised, it's their usual.

Getting the house listed and all the little details have about done me in. We've been trying to finish up, but now that Summer is here the garage has turned into an oven. My poor hubby tries to do things after work, but it's still too hot. Honestly, we're too old for this...word to the wise, downsize and get your junk dealt with before you are too sick or tired to mess with it. You AND your kids will be thankful. Do I sound tired and grumpy?

Time for a change in the Entry this week. I had a couple of raw canvases that I'd brought home with me from the other house. I love their natural oatmeal-y linen look with tattered edges and nails. I thought a botanical of daisies looked perfect attached to the front. 

Speaking of daisies, I had planted Becky Shasta Daisies and Black Eyed Susans several years ago and have babied and babied them, but they've been slow to get growing...until now. Now there is a profusion of them, just getting ready to bloom. Hope I can enjoy them just a little.

Google Images

We've had quite a few house lookers, so hope good news will be soon.

We're ready to move on to the next chapter in life.

Feels like we've been stuck in this one for a little too long.

My little heart topiary needs to be trimmed up,

 but I'm enjoying the wild look.

Little birdie is back on his bookstack.

 Yep, definitely needs a trim.

That's some good ol natural patina there on this clay pot.

just can't replicate that.

I'll try to check back in next week and let you all know what's going on. This has been a hard week, as I'm having some fun new heart related symptoms that have kept me in bed most of the week. I know this is just a "season" that God is allowing me to walk through, but it's hard nonetheless. I've missed the last year of my life feeling like doggy doo, (see...I still have a sense of humor) and I'm ready for whatever it takes to get well and get this behind me. 

Thank God for a husband that is my best friend.

He has a lot on his plate right now.

Almost forgot...this week is my 5 year blogging anniversary.

Here's my first post.

Keep up the good thoughts and prayers, I wish I could get back with each of you individually, and give you a big hug and squeeze. You all mean so much to me, and I'm super grateful for you all being there. I've been trying to keep up with your blogs, even though I haven't left comments...I've still been there. OK, this is sounding pretty pitiful, so I'll say...love you guys, talk soon.

Vintage Bird Prints in a Spring Cupboard

I have several sets of vintage Bird Prints, but I love that there are four in this set, and they have plain, chippy black frames which make them perfect for a grouping in any room. I wanted to use them in my kitchen cupboard, but they didn't photograph well, so I temporarily hung them from the metal inserts on the front.

I hate to say it, but my "Holiday Cupboard" that I had downstairs at the other house had to be sold. It was part of a lot of my chippy whites that I knew I just wouldn't have room for in our next home. Surprisingly, this cupboard that I had been using in my studio at the other house (now in the kitchen sitting area) has stepped up to the plate to do double duty as an Ironstone and Transferware Cupboard and becoming a "seasonal" spot for display.

I wanted some Springtime goodies to be displayed, so they are joining some of the Ironstone pieces, an old box with seed print graphics, bird nests, and my bovine beauties.

My two Staffordshire cow figurines and a figural jam pot lovely.

I permanently have stolen, stole, confiscated  borrowed these English crocks from my hubby, for this cupboard. I think he knows they are in there...hmmmm...he may come hunting for them later.

Lamby milkglass butter dish.

You can see that the bird prints are pretty well hidden in here, I may try to find a way to give them a little more height. And I have some vintage wallpaper that I'm itching to cover the backs of the cabinet in. soon I hope...

So this is the best of both worlds; a combined "Holiday Cupboard" AND a Transferware/Ironstone Cupboard. You know the old Certs Mints commercial... "two, two, two cupboards in one!"

I know...I'm crazy...

If you haven't been by The Marketplace lately 

then just CLICK HERE for some shopping fun.

joining in on these parties:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Swing into Spring at DIY By Design

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings

The Scoop at Stone Gable

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Knick of Time Tuesday

Coastal Charm

xoxo,

Today's Sponsor

20 North Ora

Studio Vignettes

When we moved over here to the smaller lease house I was really selective about what came with us. All my studio/office furniture came with me except for my big reading chair and ottoman, and my work desk. This "bedroom", is quite a bit smaller, and only necessary items made the cut. But I did need some fun decor to make it feel like home.

I've had several neutral suitcases strewn about the other house, so most of them landed in here. This is just one stack that's sitting on the old punched tin cupboard. My moss covered "O" that used to be on the Entry Hall mirror didn't work here at the new place so it's propped here against these old cases.

The bottom two cases are just a heavy cardboard with a celluloid handle, but their color is wonderful. I doubt that this kind of luggage lasted long back then. The gorilla from the old American Tourister luggage commercial would have destroyed it in one sitting. You have to be over 50 to remember this one...te he.

I still love this commercial after all these years, just brilliant.

Instead of the work table, my little Italianate desk from the Living Room is here. Just big enough for my birdcage, a plant and a few birdie books. We don't see many birdies, but I do hear a mourning dove "couple" each morning early. This room faces north so it has wonderful morning light.

So far, the kitty girls haven't realized there are delicious plants right here, 

I imagine it's just a matter of time.

I just recently found a new pair of wonderful chunky wooden lamps,

I'll share those soon.

This is the top of the tv armoire. More edible cat snacks up here, but it's kinda high, so they're too lazy to try to find a way up here.

I stashed my camera lens and books in the make-up case. I love these old "train cases", and have collected a few, this one has it's owner's initials in gold, "V.M.B."

Do you make up names for mysterious monogrammed items?

Victoria Mae Billingsly...

Veronica Marie Barnes...

Violet Mabel Barker...

Velma Martha Burgess...

I'll show you the rest of the room when it's presentable. Right now since I'm short on space, my ironing board is in here. Nothing like an ironing board to ruin a wonderful vintage sanctuary. 

I hate to iron...about as much as I hate to dust.

It's warm today, but back in the '40's tomorrow,

brrr...

sincerely,

Virginia Martinia Benedict

aka

joining in for these great parties:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Inspiration Exchange at City Farmhoue

Share Your Cup with Mrs. Olson

Fabulously Creative Friday at Jennifer Rizzo

Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Sweet and Simple Friday at Rooted in Thyme

Shabbilicious Friday at Shabby Art Boutique

Mod Mix Monday at Mod Vintage Life

The Scoop at Stone Gable

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life