~MY CONSTANT COMPANION~

She is under my chair as I type this. She is always nearby watching me. I love this little dog. She was a gift from Frank.

She is usually under the bench and I have to be careful not to step on her. She will be five years old this November.


These were snapped on my daughters front lawn yesterday when we went for a visit.


How she loves to run. She barely touches the ground and her fur is so long you cannot see her little legs.


She never goes very far..and never where she can't see me. She is brave and gentle.
She is all the things I would like to be. ~Smile~

Pets..they mean so much to all of us. After Frank died..she was never far from my side. She adored Frank and I used to think she favored him.. and he deserved it.
She was a Christmas gift... Mele means Merry in Hawaiian I think. Mele Kalikimuka is her full name. If ..you are from Hawaii...and I didn't spell it right...forgive me. I tried.
Hugs and have a wonderful Monday..

~THESE LITTLE THINGS~

Perhaps it's just me...but to me it's the little things in life, just those little things, a kind word, a smile, just anything to show love, beauty or understanding. I love to write and when I began this blog, that was pretty much my intent. Then something happened and it made me a protective of my private thoughts and life.

One of the lessons I have learned on here from precious bloggy friends is...that it can be easy to be misunderstood...and when that happens and you cannot fix it...just keep going. Be yourself. I am having a wonderful time. Oh..and that reminds me...
Smart Mouth Broad is going boot me one if I don't get my "8 ball" thing going. I gotta get hot on that.

Introducing...
~Mr. and Mrs. Twee T. Bird~
It was a Spring wedding and really quite lovely! Trailing feathers ..the whole thing...you shoulda been there..or not... ~smile~

I won these little Target birdies from Linda at My Shabby Rose Cottage and I am delighted. I missed out when Target had them for sale..so they must have been really popular. She had a giveaway and I was fortunate enough to win. Thank you Linda!
Please do stop by and see her delightful blog when you get a chance. She is so warm and charming.
Another sweet blog and delightful person is Marcia at Frugalicious Living. She is just precious!! Do pay her a little visit also.
When I first began my blog in December, wonderful bloggers like Swaddle Cottage, Smart Mouth Broad, The Blue Ridge Gal were quick to jump in and give me courage, make me smile and were just there for me. I went on to meet wonderful bj from Sweet Nothings and Sheila from Note Song...and the list goes on and on. You need only look at my side bar to get a sampling of those that were just there with a kind word!
You are in a community of women (and a few wonderful and kind gentlemen bloggers too) like none I have ever seen and I will likely never see again. We share our good days, our bad days, our tragedys and our loves..and I want to say this... MANY of us love our homes and families and that love comes across through our blogs. I don't think any of us expects perfection every day. We are human beings and life is NOT perfect. We write, we craft, we sometimes sell, we show our pretty finds and bargains and we share our talents!!
If you have not found what interests you...just keep looking and you will come across what you are searching for. Someone with the same interests and talents. A good story now and then. Some that make you laugh, some that make you cry and some that just make you scratch your head in puzzlement. ~smile~ Occasionally you won't agree with someones view...but how boring it would be if we all saw life exactly the same way! Blogging. What a great thing to do and what a great place to share.

~Smiles and love...
Mona
P.S. I just want to add (just tryin' to do things right here..)

My birdies are Mr. and Mrs. Twee T. Bird. Let me intoduce them. So...anyhoo...
Mrs. Twee pointed out immediately upon landing and being let out of that very stuffy but safe bubble wrap that she would be waiting for him near the baggage return while he got coffee.
NO ONE flippin' told her it was just my turn table and she was NOT happy and I felt bad. She went nuts looking for her baggage! (it was on the floor!) Oops...

Mr. Twee was not too pleased at seeing THIS kind of sugar for his coffee..but Mrs. Twee pointed out he should not be so picky..and THEN...Suddenly....
.

Sorry this post is so blankyblank long. I was fine..then I remembered I had to do the birdie thing. (oh grief! now it's even longer...sorry!!

Mr. Twee noticed this...and began to yell "OMG..I think we are in Hawaii!!! Linda didn't tell us we were going to Hawaii!!" Naturally, I hurried over to straighten him right out by grabbing my pineapple...when I realized they had FLOWN THE COUPE! I mean MY COOP! I went rushing out to find them..oops! Uh oh...

There was mad barking..a flutter of feathers...and they were GONE! YES! Right out the door!

Needless to say..knowing where they thought they were...I was frightened to death that they would... THEN...shouts of joy...something about a "BLUE LAGOON??" (blue??? I gotta clean that thing!!) and guess where I found them...yep! In my birdie bath..Mr. Twee kept shouting "lookeee..I can float!" OMG!! He was filling with water..the FOOL! I rushed right over and jerked him out..saving his life.
THIS STORY IS REALLY GETTING ME DOWN...AND NO DOUBT YOU!!! So..I marched them right back inside the "coop" and showed them my lovely "Emilie Barnes" book and they...were..in AW and decided perhaps California would be fine...and Hawaii could wait!
The (puff puff!) E N D!!

(Whatta pain in the tail feathers that was!!!) :) Just kiddin'..don't kick me outta blogland!
AND Thanks Valerie for reminding of our wonderful blogger men that help make our blogging days a joy!!! Hi Christer!!! :) Um...was "blogland" politically correct? :)

not! shhhhh..

~JUST PRACTICING, JUST PRACTICING...~

Just a place to curl up awhile with a good book...maybe a nap. The wind blew all day long today..sometimes it seemed the roof would come off. Today is Tablescape Thursday...and Etsy is having a blue day..and though I don't sell anything, I now and then buy some treasure of theirs. So..here is my blue. I never have the nerve to enter on the Tablescape page...and this is not a tablescape. This is a bedtray scape? Ok?


This is my guest room. A quiet little place to hideaway. Today..I was the guest for awhile...


Tea with my favorite creamer..a delicious buttered begal and fresh strawberries and green grapes. Oh...and Mr. Jeremy Fisher for company.

I stayed in my jammies all day long..yes I did. The wind blew and I read my book. It was wonderful.
Later I went shopping on Etsy and broused online bookstores..played the piano..and of course took pictures.

This is my practice tablescape. I thought I would start small...you know? No napkins and no silverware..so this was easy...but...

I didn't forget fresh flowers ...
I just don't think I am into tablescapes. There are just too many to go look at and enjoy. Just this itty bitty one was...well..it took time and I didn't have this..and I didn't have that..and...naw..I'll leave it to others...it's more fun to look. At least for now.

Ok..so..on to Friday...OH NO!!! Can I use this for Foodie Friday too???

Hugs and all that... :)
Mona

~I LOVE EBAY BUT...~

First, just let me say that I enjoy ebay and have had some lovely finds on there. Usually they are from people that do not have a permanent store but just want to sell a few things. I did that for a couple of weeks once. However...now and then...this happens. More than it should but..


Anyway...I spotted this adorable little bunny basket dish...LOVED the color and wanted it for Easter. So..I jumped in the bidding. No..that isn't true. I "lurked" for a bit...and then snapped it up. Anyway...I thought it was so cute!

I was delighted when it finally arrived..late..but it was finally here and when I opened it...box was full of peanuts..and reach down through it all...this is what I found. NO bubble wrap, not even paper..which is bad..but nothing..just peanuts..and it was BROKEN!! Well..sh..I mean shoot!! All this waiting and it is broken..

Now..I know from past experience it is going to cost me to return it..so..I write and tell the seller..it arrived broken..and that he must pack things in bubble wrap and even two boxes if necessary with peanuts on the outside..as the post office beats the holy heck out of things! Within an hour after I informed him that it arrived broken..he had refunded my money. I was so happy, I mean, what a sweetheart. I sent him pictures but I also told him I would keep it and try to repair it, that the piece was there..except for a couple of tiny chips.
Yes..I feel bad..but..it's a dish for heavens sake!!! Sooo...

I glued it. And though not as good as new...

I think he looks sweet and I think I like him even more. Like me...he isn't perfect! ~BIG smile~

Love and hugs..have a wonderful Wednesday..
Mona

~EASTER AFTERMATH....~

I thought I would just gather some of it and put it on the dining room table..then go bring more..

Would you just look at all this stuff...good grief!
AND all of this...I am tired just looking at all of it..now where did I put those Easter bins? Overhead in the garage?? Oh my..I think I need help!!

These little darlings are going to help me get through the job..yes they are! ~smiling here!~

Before she disappears into my tum...I just wanted you to see how super cute these little lambs turned out... daughter Mary made them..my my..that girl is SO talented. I wonder where on earth she gets it! (ahem!)

A few of these..and I won't mind at all! Hic! (I mean burp!)

Have a happy day..
Mona

~BEAUTIFUL ENDING TO A BEAUTIFUL DAY~

Easter is over. I love this holiday and hate to see it go. Such a glorious day. We always gather in a circle and hold hands and say grace. Then anyone can say or add their own thoughts. It always makes me cry tears of joy at just being together.

The candy table. I am happy just looking at it..sorta. Notice a grandson in the background testing a bit! Don't you just love those grandkids?!

I should just apply all this directly to my hips and not bother to..pass go. ~smile~

The desert table..and it doesn't even show the rice pudding or the chocolate bread pudding.

We are such fortunate people to have the life we have. There is lots of work in the preparation but there is lots of love too and it is always worth every minute. All I had to make was the large bowl of macaroni salad you see there..sorry..don't think you can see my eggs..and..of course the baked beans. YUM!

Easter is over for another year..and what a beautiful day it was.

~A BLESSED EASTER TO ALL~

There once was a rabbit...that developed the habit...
Of twitching the end of his nose..

And one little bunny said isn't it funny..
I'll practice it down in the dell...

And one said if he could, then possibly she could
And did it remarkable well!



Now all the world over..where bunnies eat clover...
And wiggle and scratch with their toes..

There isn't a rabbit, who hasn't the habit..
of twitching the end of his nose.

HAPPY EASTER and many blessing to all of you.
Mona

~BECAUSE THIS VOICE IN MY HEAD TOLD ME TO~

So..you see..it isn't my fault. It's a little voice in my head that says "hit those garage sales on Saturday...

These beautiful Easter eggs are handpainted and I have collected them over five years. There are more but these just fit in this little Westmoreland gravy boat.
A long time ago I found this pink bunny plate at a garage sale and snatched it up! Later I learned I had a really nice item and decided to try to find more. This Saturday I found the teapot. It is a tiny bit crazed..but I like that. The creamer...EBAY!! :) CHEAP!! (no..wait..I am supposed to say "inexpensive"..but hey it's Eastertime..so CHEEP!! :)
I found this little house and church at Pier1 Imports. I thought they were SO cute. See the tiny little bunny on the front porch?? The itty baskets were $3.00.
A cherry pillow. It followed me home! What could I do.

~GARAGE SALES AND MOSS... A WEEKEND DO MAKE~

Our garage sale trip this Saturday yielded this adorable little angel. He was just $3.00 and he is SO heavy. Perfect for my front porch!!

I do this sometimes. I find something I like..and well..you know..sort of go nuts with it! This year it was moss! See all the moss stuffed in the basket in the middle of my dining room table? I also did the top of my hutch with sheet moss which I have already posted... yes...this year it is moss!
I have this collection of Westmoreland glass that has been going on for years. I sort of lost interest in them..and then..I met Mary at The Little Red House! Well, anyone who knows her KNOWS she can inspire..so..I began collecting again. I had two of these and this is the smaller of the two. Mary had mentioned something about moss around Christmas...and I loved the idea. So..when Easter decorating came around I did the moss thing and in went the moss and two of my favorite bunnies went right on top! Loved it!


The second I stuck under glass in my cloche.

I FINALLY found the rooster lamp I wanted. It was on ebay and is from the Horchow collection. The lighting is very soft and I really liked the details.

Here is a closer look at the rooster itself. PERFECT!

Love to all,
Mona

~Georgie and I~

This is a very old and a bit discolored picture of Georgie and I. It hangs on my wall and it has since my parents died. Sometimes events happen that are life changing. They often make us who we are. This was one of those events in my life.
I was about four when he was born, January 3rd 1942, I think. It was just after Christmas, and it was during the depression and WWII was going on.
Times were terrible and there was no work. My father walked the streets and took any job he could find as many men did in those times. My mother became pregnant with Georgie during this time and couldn't work. They struggled and when Georgie was two my father went into the service, but Japan surrendered and Daddy didn't have to go to war. When Georgie was born he was brought home to a tiny little motel room. Daddy finally found work and they found a sweet little cottage on a shady street in a quiet neighborhood and life became like a Fairytale for me. We were happy. My parents were beautiful and happy people.


This was my mother. Her name was Lillian.


This was my father. His name was Raymond but everyone called him Ray.

Georgie was about two and a half and I was about 6 years when tradgedy struck our little family. Both of my parents were working in the ship yards in Portland Oregon during this time and my little brother and I stayed with a wonderful neighbor across the street in our neighborhood. One day my mother fell off a scaffolding onto a pile of sheet metal and broke her shoulder, her arm, her ribs. There was even damage to her teeth. They said it was a miracle that she didn't die. She finally left the hospital and we went to pick her up. She was in a body cast. On the way home they stopped and bought groceries, then continued toward home stopping for gas along the way where they had some friends.
When my mother got out of the car, Georgie began to cry. He had gotten into the bag of groceries and was eating a peanut cluster and he began to choke. My father grabbed him, pounded his back and finlly turned Georgie up side down and shook him..beginning to panic as the baby turned blue...and suddenly Georgie began to breath. Today we know not to do that..but in the 40's the Himelick Maneuver was not known. They calmed him...but when he breathed he whistled. They rushed him to nearby doctor. I still remember the Doctor's name. It was Dr. Poacher. He said my brother was fine and not to worry that they were over reacting. I remember while my parents were in the doctors office I entertained myself walking along the top of a short retaining wall trying to balance myself and not fall off. Finally they came out and we went home. I remember they rushed him to the hospital when he fell and couldn't get up..but..it is a vague memory. It was a terrifying time. At the hospital they told my parents that Georgie had a peanut lodged in his little lung and that it would have to be removed surgically. We waited downstair...a long,long time. We were all very quiet.
I remember there were long winding stairs and the floor at the bottom was marble..
Two doctors came walking down the stairs to my parents...my mother was wearing a camel colored coat that tied in the front. Her hair was rolled on the sides and it was glossy and beautiful. As they came near the bottom of the stairs my mother just looked at them..I remember one of them saying something and my mother began to scream "Oh my God Raymond, NO, NO, NO, NO...over and over and over..I don't remember anything after that. They had lost my baby brother on the operating room table.
My next memory is of my father taking me in the car. I'm not sure why but I think they thought it was the thing to do. They took me to see Georgie in his tiny casket. I remember looking at him and turning to say "Daddy, he looks like he is sleeping"...and that is all I remember. My father picked me up and took me out of there. We were both crying. I was six. I am now 72 and I cry as I write this story. I didn't go to school for a long time. I think perhaps it was for lots of reasons. Maybe I was too upset..but I think it was because of my Mother. I think she wanted me near her. I would hear her crying in the night. Deep wracking sobs that shook my very soul.. and I can hear that sound to this day when the memory comes back to me. My parents were never the same. They were never young and carefree again. I no longer came home from school to find my beautiful mother dancing around the kitchen to the radio and the tunes of the 40's. The lilt went out of her laughter. My father became quiet. Sadness was etched in his young face and he was never the same either.

I know this is not the most uplifting post...but...sometimes we have to write what we have to write...and I needed to write about this tonight.
I believe I will see Georgie one day soon. And all of my relatives and friends and that passed over. I believe in life after death. No one can tell me different. It is just something I know deep inside. There are things in my life that have happened so that I know this to be true. It is my belief that Georgie is my guardian angel and he watches over me and mine. As I get older I have many.

G'night..love and hugs,
Mona

~NOW YOU SEE 'EM...NOW YOU DON'T~

Dena of Swaddle Cottage and I both ordered these cute little baking dishes..and...Dena got hers first. Mine just arrived a couple of days ago. But...I am going to show mine anyway.. because...
There...seems to be a difference in the dish Dena and I ordered... and the one we got. I mean, it's alright..I'll keep it..but..it IS a different dish. The one I got has ..what..five polka dots on it..and...the one I ordered has like seventeen or more.
I am ..honestly NOT being picky...still...I think they should have just said something when we ordered it..or..enclosed a note explaining. I like it anyway!
(wonder if Dena has noticed. tee hee!) Have a really wonderful weekend!!
Love,
Mona
P.S. Please, oh please help 47 AND STARTING OVER get her 100 comments! We don't want to be responsible for someone going around the bend over this...now do we? (Besides...isn't it nice to have someone owe you one?!!
Hugs...and of course...smiles~

~EASTER DECORATING...SLOW BUT SURE~

I found this little banner at Cherry Hill Cottage. Mika, Tina's daughter makes them so I snagged one. I added little wooden bunnies at the corners. My little hutch is a wee bit over done...but hey...it EASTER! The more bunnies the better!

Easter decorations are now getting into full swing. I went off to Michaels and bought myself a sheet of ..some very smooth firm board. It isn't foam but something like it. I spray painted it brown and used craft glue to attach sheets of moss. Only and top and edges are painted. I love the way it looks.

I found these four little Lefton chickies on ebay. I won the auction and was so excited. I have always wanted a couple of these and I won four! Well, they arrived.. and were double boxed with peanuts between them and the outside larger box.
Each chick was wrapped in tissue and then in a couple of layers of bubble wrap. I was just starting to unwrap the second little chick and it was just about two inches above the counter. I was being very careful and was about to cut the tape when suddenly it smashed down on the counter and I heard a "CRUNCH!" Howard jumped and turned around and said "Wow..that sounded like something broke! What happened?!" I could not believe it! I had NOT dropped it. It just jerked and banged down on the counter suddenly and I also heard the sound of breakiing glass. I carefully opened it the rest of the way...undid the layers bubble and tissue and...yep. The entire toe was broken off! We just stood there shocked looking at one another.
I have no explanation..other than...LOL Poltergist? A ghostie with a an inclination to scare Mele and smash chickies. :) It mended beautifully and you can't even tell.
Happy decorating!
Mona