Carl Larsson

Do you have a favorite artist? Mine is Carl Larsson, a Swedish artist who painted in the late 1800s and early 1900s. His series of illustrations of his family at home began by chance during one long wet summer which stopped him painting outdoors. He happened to sketch one of his children sitting in the family punishment corner (they had time out's back then too!) His wife, Karin, persuaded him to continue doing a series on the family and it resulted in a series that illustrated an era. He and his wife were a major influence on the style of decor in Sweden during their day. I just love the glimpse into everyday life and decor that his paintings reveal. The paintings of his 7 children are so precious.

So here is a small sample of his work.

Aren't some of the interiors wonderful? If you want to see more of his work, here is a link. Someday I hope to be able to visit his home Little Hyttnas in Sweden.

Do you have a favorite artist?

Rhondi xo

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for so many things today...the rain we had last night, the beautiful flowers in my garden, the sunshine this morning a kind and supportive husband, the world's most adorable grandchildren, 4 fantastic adult children and 2 great daughters in law
good health, a home to live in, enough food to eat, creative projects to keep me busy
I'm thankful for my friends here at home and my blogging friends, like Karen at A Scrapbook of Inspiration who kindly honored me with this award. Thank you so much for thinking of me Karen. It means a lot to me.
The rules for this award are:
1. Put the Logo on your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who awarded it to you.
3. Nominate at least 7 other bloggers.
4. Add links to those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

There are so many wonderful blogs that I enjoy so much it was hard to choose only 7, so I chose 8!
Marie at A Year From Oak Cottage
Mary at Across the Pond
Heidi Ann at Foxgloves Fabric and Folly
Kim at Daisy Cottage
Cynthia at Cynthia's Cottage Design
Cielo at A House in the Roses
Tina at Cherry Hill Cottage
Lallee at Lallee's Cottage

Hope you enjoy today. I am thankful for all of you who visit me and take the time to leave such kind comments. You are all worthy of awards!!
Rhondi xo

Just a Chat and a Cup of Tea

Hi
I got out my favorite tea set for you. Whenever I want to just have a really good chat with a friend I get out my Dainty Blue tea set and almost every time I do I think of my Aunt Lottie who gave me the first piece. She always had time for a visit. I could drop in on her anytime and she'd stop what she was doing and make us a cup of tea. She always seemed to have a fresh batch of the world's best chocolate chip cookies just out of the oven too. We'd sit in her kitchen and talk. I can't remember talking about anything meaningful or her giving me advice or anything, but I just remember enjoying my visits there so much. Perhaps because she was always so happy to see me and stopped what she was doing just for me. So, I am happy that you came for a visit. I've got the tea all ready for you. Do you like Mary Engelbreit? I've always enjoyed her artwork because it's so cheerful and her style of decorating also. I have followed her over the years as each new home she moved to was featured in her magazine, or other magazines before she had her own. This month in Home Companion they have pictures of her latest home and it's all in yellows, oranges and even brown! It was so different from the style and colors she's had for many years, no sign of any cherries or black and white checks, that it seemed weird to me. I'm sure if we had the resources many of us would do something different with our homes, but would you change your entire color scheme?

My daughter in law has saved all of my grandaughter's little dresses and asked me to make a quilt with them. I think that is such a great way of preserving the memories. She found a quilt she liked in this magazine. It was such a coincidence because my friend Mary had just lent me this magazine because there was a quilt in it that she thought was "me". Guess which one it was?
You guessed it! It was the one my DIL had chosen! I'm going to make it bigger than this. It will be 5 blocks rather than 3. It is going to be so cute. If there is enough fabric from the dresses I'm making 2: one for my DIL and one for my grand. Don't expect to see any pictures of them any time soon though because it's going to take awhile.
We took pictures of all the little dresses. They are so cute! I'm going to try to use some of the sweet embroidery onthe dresses in the quilt and the fun buttons too.

My sister has started a blog. No pictures, just words. She has a real gift for writing. I'm sure she'd love it if you'd stop by and say hello.

Our house needs painting inside. We've been here 4 years. When we moved in I did the walls in the living and dining rooms, front hall, our bedroom and the kitchen. The rest of the house was just a cream color and looked okay. All the trim was a creamy white. I love pure white trim and have decided it's time to paint the rooms that we left out and paint all the trim. I hate painting trim and even though I have painted a lot of houses (we have lived in 10 different houses in 39 years of marriage) I am still a terrible painter and get covered with paint every time I do it. There are 13 windows, and they are all the kind that 6 or more panes in each section top and bottom and they take forever. I know I will love the fresh clean look when it's done, so it's just a case of getting started.
Well I've rambled on long enough. Hope I didn't talk your ear off!
Have a wonderful day.
Rhondi xo

The Best Week Ever

Hi
I've just had the best week ever!
I've missed visiting with you and I was going to invite you to stay for a cup of tea today. But since we've had the grandkids here all week if you came today I am afraid I would just be one of those grandma who go on and on and on about their grandkids. So rather than do that, I'll just show you one picture of them in their pajama's. Don't you just love kids in the jammies when they are all bathed and ready for bed? They are clowning around in the 3 little chairs.

A Grandmother's Prayer

Oh Lord, I do not ask for much,

Eternal beauty, or youth, or such.

Just give me a little hand to hold,

And I'll forget that I'm growing old.

I do not ask for cloudless skies,

A life that's free from tears and sighs.

Just give me a little face to kiss,

And anxious moments will turn to bliss.

For what is there, really, that means so much

As little hands that reach and touch,

As little eyes that search and see

Only the best in fragile me?

So let me grow more loving and wise

By looking at life through their wide eyes.

For through these little ones, you have given

This grateful grandmother a glimpse of Heaven.

A. Burrows

Come by for a visit tomorrow after I've a day to relax . I'll have a pot of tea ready and we can have a good long chat. I've missed visiting with you so I'll be popping by to see you soon too.

Rhondi

xo

Happy Canada Day

To all my friends and family in Canada. HAPPY CANADA DAY!! This is a photo of the beautiful Canadian flag flying in front of the parliament buildings in Ottawa, the nation's capital. Canada is a very young country and officially became a nation on July 1,1867.
Hope you enjoy your holiday.

Rhondi
xo

Are They Here Yet?

Good morning. It is such a beautiful morning and I have missed chatting with you. So this morning I thought it would be a good idea to sit out on the deck and enjoy the day before it gets too hot. I've poured a cup of tea.
Everything is so fresh and green after the thunderstorm we had yesterday. We must have a green cup and saucer to match!
I've put the teacup on my favorite little wrought iron table.

Let's sit down and relax .
Enjoy some of the greenery in the planters: sweet woodruff, creeping jenny and a very interesting type of fern whose name I don't know.
The beautiful variation of colors in houttuynia.

As you know I have been getting ready for the grandkids to arrive. I found this cute child's rocker at Goodwill, which is just the right size for litttle grands. It looks identical to the full size rocker that was in our kitchen when I was growing up so it, so I just had to buy it for sentimental reasons! I'd eventually like to paint it, but not before they arrive. I can just picture the grandchildren taking turns rocking in it.

I have this little wicker chair which you've seen on my front porch if you came to the summer porch party. I think our little granddaughter will love it.
And this cute rustic garden chair.
So everyone can join Grandma on the deck!

Right now the chairs are sadly sitting empty as we wait for them to arrive.

I even found this cute table and chairs at a garage sale the other day. It sits empty as we wait...
We've borrowed lots of toys from friends and lots of books from the library and I've bought lots of goodies to eat. We checked out a lot of places that are fun to take kids. We are so excited because the 2 year olds have never been to our house and the 4 year old has only been here once, when she was around 7 months old, so she doesn't remember coming to Grandma's house.

Originally we thought they would be here this weekend and then it was supposed to be Monday, but we just found out last night that our son has an important meeting at work Monday so now they plan to arrive late Tuesday night.

I feel just the kids on a long trip asking, "Are we there yet? Only I keep asking, "Are they here yet?"

Rhondi xo

Taking a Break

I'm taking a little break from blogging. I've got lots to do because our 2 sons and their wives and our 3 wonderful grandkids are coming next week. I may stop by to say hello but I probably won't be writing any posts for little while.
Rhondi xo