My Kitchen Window

In every home we have lived in I have always had a window at the kitchen sink.  Sometimes it has been a lovely view, sometimes just the house next door.  But no matter the view I always make it something pretty to look at and I often change the look. 

These little birds are back in the kitchen again. 

sitting on a tray on the kitchen island

It's spring and so that means daffodils and yellow. I love yellow because it is such a cheerful color.

I like the way the light comes through the kitchen window at various times throughout the day.

Most of the blue glass is put away for now.

Daffodils smile at me.

Some fake daisies fill a yellow vase and brighten the countertop. 

One of my roosters gets a place of honor.

Little chickens find a place to roost beside the hellebores.

In the morning my kitchen is quite dark, until the sun slowly works its way around to that side of the house.

Ruth Bell Graham, Billy Graham's wife had a sign above her kitchen sink that said,

"Divine service performed here three times daily."

I like that.  I am not just washing the dishes and preparing meals I am doing something that pleases God and blesses my family.

I love my kitchen window and I have a saying above my kitchen window too.

Rhondi xo

Tea Party Tuesday

Welcome to my second Tea Party Tuesday.  I am so happy that you could come!

I made some banana bread for you.

I polished my silver tea service.  This precious set was a wedding present that my mom was given when she got married.  My mother always used this teapot for tea and I have many happy memories of sitting and chatting with my mom and my sister as my mother poured tea from it.

I've chosen some very pretty Noritake teacups that I got at Goodwill for 50 cents each.

The table in my studio is set.

I've sliced the banana bread.

It is a beautiful day here in North Carolina so I have the patio door open. I thought that would be a nice treat for all of you who are still in the thick of winter, a reminder that spring is on its way.  It really is!

I've been doing a little bit of puttering, freshening up things around here,blowing out the winter cobwebs and welcoming spring.  After we've had our tea I'll show you what I've done.  I hope you've got lots of time to visit today.

Thanks for coming to my tea party.

Rhondi xo

I am excited to come and have tea at your house too, so if you are joining me and posting for Tea Party Tuesday here is what to do:

Write your post, making sure you  link to my blog and use my Tea PArty Tuesday button. 

Publish your post.

Copy the specific URL for that post .

Come to my blog and sign up using the URL you copied.

I'd appreciate it if you'd also leave a comment telling me you are participating. 

Can't wait to come and visit you!

  

Signs of Spring in North Carolina

I love it when there is finally something blooming in the garden and I can pick some flowers and bring them inside.  One of the places I always like to have fresh flowers is the windowsill in my kitchen.  Here is my flower block filled with hellebores.

I have quite a few little pottery pieces that are perfect for just one bloom and I line them up on the kitchen windowsill too.  Every time I am at the kitchen sink I can enjoy them.

Another hellebore.

and a white one.  The center is so interesting isn't it? 

I like to have fresh flowers on the table in my studio when possible also.

More hellebores

and camellias.

I wandered around our yard today and snapped these pictures.  Oh I love spring in North Carolina!!

 I'm joining our charming hostess Mary at Little Red House as she hosts another Mosiac Monday.  Make sure you visit Mary on Monday (it is still Sunday as I post this) and see many other beautiful collages. 

I hope your week is off to a good start.

Rhondi xo

Thankful Thursday

After what has been a  long and colder than usual winter for us here in North Carolina, I think spring may finally be going to make its appearance and for that I am very thankful.

I picked the first daffodils from the garden.

Beautiful yellow daffodils. 

I am thankful that spring comes early here. 

I am thankful that the previous owner planted lots of spring bulbs.

I am thankful that I can bring some spring sunshine inside.

I am thankful for a mother who taught me to appreciate beauty

 and who painted this pot of daffodils.

gifts # 918-922

What are you thankful for today?

Rhondi xo

If you are joining us for Thankful Thursday with a post of your own, please copy and use the thankful Thursday button, and  link back to me.  After you have published your post, then sign in with Mr Linky.  Thanks for joining us today!

Beauty In Simplicity

"The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely."  Louisa May Alcott 

Just a simple cotton curtain freshly ironed with a bit of lace trim.  Simple and beautiful. 

Since this is white I'm participating in White Wednesday at Faded Charm.

We are having a bit of sunshine here. Hope you are too.

Rhondi xo

Tea Party Tuesday

Welcome to my first Tea Party Tuesday.  I am very excited to have you here and I just know we are going to have a good time. When I was trying to decide which teapot to use  for the first tea party it just seemed right to use my Dainty Blue tea set.

Anyone who knows me in blogland has seen it before and many of you have commented on it, so I knew that is what I wanted to use. I have had this tea set since we were first married and it is one of the few things I own that has any sentimental value.  My aunt gave me a cup and saucer to get me started and by the time I was married I had a whole tea set for 8.  It is English. The manufacturer is Shelley and the pattern is Dainty Blue.  I just love it!  The only places to buy it now are antique shops, Ebay or Replacements China.

I have arranged all the tea things on my wicker tea trolley.

And I made some little cucumber and cream cheese tea sandwiches.  It's important to slice the cucumbers very thin and use the English cucumbers, the ones you don't have to peel.

I have wheeled the tea cart into our living room.

and moved the wing chairs closer together for a cozier setting for us.

Would you like a sandwich?  These look huge in this photo but they are very tiny!

I'll pour you a cup of tea.  milk or lemon?  sugar?   I have a pot of coffee in the kitchen if you'd prefer.

So what's new with you?  I'd love to know what you are up to these days. 

Thank you so much for coming to my first Tea Party Tuesday.  It really means a lot to me to have you here and you have made it a special day!  I am excited to come and visit you too!

Rhondi xo

If you are joining Tea Party Tuesday and have tea ready at your house, here is what to do:

1.Write your post.   Use my tea party button( you can just copy it) and include a link back to me,so that your visitors can go to the other tea parties too.

2.Publish your post.

3.Sign in with mr linky making sure you link to your tea party post .  To do that click on the title of the post.  Then up at the top of your screen it will display the url for that specific post. Copy that url in the space provided by mr linky. 

4. Please leave me a comment to let me know you posted.

Sunday Afternoon WIth A Good Book

Sunday mornings are often very busy for us and some days we are at church as early as 7:45  to volunteer.  So when I have a chance to have a lazy Sunday afternoon I relish it.  All I need is a good reading lamp.

A warm quilt.  Even if it's not a cold day I love to cuddle up under a cozy quilt I made.

A comfy chair to sit in.

and a good book.

I am reading this book and loving it. 

It's a novel but it's written as a series of journal entries and so as you read you forget that it's only a novel and get totally engaged in the life of Sarah, the main character.   This book is the first in a series of three, so I am excited to continue the story of Sarah's life when I finish this book.  Jodi at Pleasant Home recommended it and I am so glad she did!

Writing this blog has enriched my life in so many ways and recommendations of good books is one of them.

I have also made friendships with some amazingly creative and thoughtful people like Karen at A Scrapbook of Inspiration.   Karen has wonderful things for sale in her Etsy Shop too. The other day I received this beautiful card in the mail, specially designed for me!

Karen knows I love to make quilts.  Thank you sweet Karen!

So I'm wondering if you are reading something good right now that we might like to read? 

Don't forget about my first Tea Party Tuesday tomorrow.  Hope you are going to join me. I'll have it up and ready for you to link by 9:00 tonight.  Please copy my tea party button and use it in your post.  Thanks!

See you tomorrow

Rhondi xo