Little Spring Changes

Greetings friends! It was a longer hiatus for me than expected, but I find that I am lately more letting each day unfold as it comes. I am more than ready to embrace these warmer, if variable, early days of spring however! The season can be a long and protracted one. A frigid morning with a dusting of snow seems as much a surprise as the unseasonable warm day we had just before it here in Albuquerque.  

Home life unfolds quietly for me as the seasons pass. I find I gather up and put away objects much as the wind and weather does: gradually, and in not much of a hurry. On the other hand, like many of you, I am often a step ahead of things. With those crazy very warm days that tease us, I start looking for gardeny things for a long time before it's practical. 

And I am lured by the muted colors of a lingering winter as it unfolds into a gradual green. New Mexico stays brown for such a long time after everything warms up you might think that I want something more vivid, but the soft tones seduce me more in this transition of time. Indoors, at least. 

More garden pots and vases appear on the shelves. Bits of green.

It was so fun to find natural boxwood topiaries in a pair at the fleamarket! I covered their shiny metal buckets in scraps of Jeanne d'Arc Living paper for interest. The sheep have lingered untroubled on my top ledge pasture since December.

My Oxalis has lately kept blooming in such a friendly manner! So easy to have around for so many years now.

Recently my son brought in a goldfinch nest that had blown down into the garden. You can see where it broke away from its branch. I find nothing at all so charming as that wee bit of string woven in! A tiny nest is the sweetest little greeting for the coming of spring.

Not all of my pots need a plant to make good cheer either. Mine are souvenirs of a happy time at the pottery.

My little barnyard friends make me happy in spring too. But they have spent many seasons right where they are.

A few metal ceiling tiles strewn about make a nice posting board for an easy change up. Easy enough to lean against a wall for a new scene.

I love a bunny anytime, but he gets a nice feature this time of year too.

One of my recent thrills was finding this old metal step stool in the softest faded sage green. It felt like a sign!

So sweet that you came by!

Wishing you a lovely gathering up to Spring!

Jacqueline

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Finding Comfort in Collections

I just made the smallest shift in the arrangement on top of my dining room display shelf. For we compulsive arrangers it can be the best kind of therapy. But in truth, there is no stopping it anyway! We can't keep our hands off of things. And if we aren't arranging things physically, we are doing it in our heads.

Some people listen to music to soothe themselves. The shapes and patterns of my china and linens, and the rythm of my collections does it for me.

And entering the light-filled spaces of my rooms first thing in the morning just starts the day right! 

This little McCoy pottery hand tray is new to the rotation. Her reason for being is simply to look pretty while holding things; pins, earrings, coins. My mother had these little dishes all over the place full of the most unlikely stray objects that never seemed to find a proper place of their own. It drove me to distraction! Today she holds stray tallow berries.

I am also a creature of habit and tend to use the same favorite tablecloths over and over, so I went hunting for something different that I haven't put to use in a while. I can't seem to part with these gorgeous white on white embroidery cloths that are less practical for daily use. But just having them in a stack to admire for a change gives me a lift too.

A little lace peeking out can soften a day. . . .

And I will soon have a few white garden roses to add to this still-life!

This is the cloth I finally chose for the table. So perfect for spring with the lily pads and dragonflies. What a joy it must have been to make!

 I always layer smaller pieces over larger and plainer ones. I use these cotton drop cloths for millions of things.

I have admired this English ironstone creamer and sugar set by Meakin for years until I found a set of my own last year. Such a pretty little design.

Having a bit of Stafforshire here and there adds to the story.

The little berry creamer hasn't a maker's mark, but is probably English as well.

Finally, this sweet little tophy cup adds a little contrast to the group. It reads: "Best Hound, Cape County Fair Dog Show, 1925." Found for cheap at some long forgotton thrift store ages ago.

So that's the lineup for today!

How's your week going?

I hope you are surrounding yourself with a few happy things. . . .

So glad you stopped by!

'Til next time,

Jacqueline

Making Room For Romantic Style

I am looking forward to spring, and indulging the more romantic side of cottage style lately. I tend to swing between a mix of styles on a regular basis anyway. 

I also went sort of off script and bought this whimsical gardeny themed wall art that I saw on Amazon. I don't do much large scale whimsy in my decorating, but it is so cheery and has every garden fantasy I possess in one image. 

As usual I have been trying things out in the nursery/guestroom. This room has the most sunny window in the morning and so a lot of plants get revived for a spell in here now and then. I sometimes put on the spa music and pore over my books and magazines for a moment or two of reviving myself! 

I forage fleamarkets for anything garden this time of year too, and just found this darling little plant stand. A few McCoy vases show for now, but I love using a garden stand on a table to serve from or for displays. A shame to cover it up with too many plants! Haha!

These are the latest bits of linen and laces! I just love the creamy color, and the crochet trim on things.

Nothing more romantic than lace! The one in front is an especially old shawl. 

I also found a couple of old wooden hotel hangers for two bucks each. I have even visited San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara! These are full of old romance with the perfect patina. 

This space may be very small, but it has held many big dreams. . . .

Happy days ahead!

Jacqueline

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