Gone To Pot

What a play house or tree fort is to a child , a potting shed is to a gardener,
Shielded in the leafy embrace of the garden, it is a carefully guarded hideaway.
Alone there, we can dress as we please, act as we please,and play as we please.
No grown-ups allowed......

Photo credit: English Home and Garden

Renaissance

Now is the time of the illuminated woods.......

when every leaf glows like a tiny lamp.

~ John Burroughs

Rest In Peace Dear Dolly Cat

Because most of us in 'blogland' write about things near and dear to our heart, I share a sad event today.

A fellow English countryman and blogger, John Bailey journal of a writing man : whom I have been a dedicated follower of over the past thirteen years; announced today the passing over The Rainbow Bridge of Dolly the mega cat, his no-less than regal Maine Coon cat.

Over the years, John has shared his wonderful and funny stories of Dolly, a cat only in name, a Queen by her own standards.

The household comprised of John, Graham, Harry cat and Dolly, with John the self described author, poet, webmaster, and minder of the cat, sharing everyday stories of their world in Somerset England.

I came to know Dolly through his writings, and loved her no less than if if she had been a member of my own household.

So my dear John and Graham, my heart is heavy, my thoughts are with you; there will always be a special place in my heart with a smile and a sctritchy-scratch for dear Dolly.

Rest in peace my furry friend.

You were indeed a Queen.

Blessings To You This Easter

Easter ......

A special time to share a family meal, enjoy the fun of Easter egg hunting, a time to worship together, a time to rejoice.
Wishing you a blessed Easter.......

Of Cottages And Tea

Some of my most prized possessions are gifts my parents have bought for me throughout the years.

They always put a lot of thought into choosing them, something usually that would remind me of England, and would be a worthy antique to pass along to my daughter.

On one occasion we were enjoying a day out at Beeston Castle ; http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/castles/beeston_castle.htm where they often hold flea-markets and antiques sales.

One of the stalls sold Cottage Ware, and I immediately fell in love with the look of the quaint little country gardens and shapes of cottage teapots with their thatched roofs.

My parents surprised me with the tall coffee/water pot, milk and sugar, and a butter or cheese dish, I have since added the teapot to the collection.

It is mostly displayed in the kitchens of English homes, to inspire culinary glory, with the herbal gardens and flowers surrounding the thatched cottages.

If you are not familiar with Cottage Ware it is the name given to a class of ceramics formed in the shape of, or decorated with English country cottages.

These delightful designs came into their own in the early part of the twentieth century, after WWII there was a building boom, and the style and decoration reflected the pride and joy of young Britons buying their first homes after tenement living.

Price Brothers Pottery of Staffordshire were the most popular in production of the whimsical pieces, but later merged with Kensington, another well-known cottage ware producer.

Sadly the manufacturer closed it's doors in 2003.

Whimsy And Whiskers

In our travels down ' blog highway' we oftentimes run across blogs which are near and dear to our hearts.

You know the ones I'm describing , they literally have a way of drawing us in.

Several weeks ago I was left a lovely comment by a dear lady who had visited my blog, and in return, I paid her a visit.

I am so glad I did....

Her blog is one of the most delightful, and enchanting places, I get completely absorbed in it's whimsy.

It's creator Jeri Landers is an artist, author and illustrator, who also shares a passion for gardening, love of animals, and storytelling.

She paints and brings her characters alive, in the same talented and whimsical style as Beatrix Potter.

"Hopalong Hollow, where the blueberries grow sweet, and the moss feels soft beneath your feet."

Set in the woodland of Hopalong Hollow she tells the tales of Mrs. Whiskerkins, Trudy Webbytoes, Bushky Bushybottom and all the creatures who dwell in the hollow.

Trudy Webbytoes

http://hopalonghollowgazette.blogspot.com/

Home for Jeri is the surrounding lush, green hillsides of rural northeastern Tennessee, she lives in a 120 year old house, named Ochre Moon Manor with her husband and a menagerie of creatures great and small.

http://jerilanders.com/

Stop by and pay her a visit..... you'll be completely enchanted !

© Jeri Landers

Wandering Path

On top of the earth

where green touches the hills ~

in spring, in summer, with daffodils,

with dandelions scattered through untilled fields,

with waterfalls and ferny fronds

companioning winding creeks; and

grassy knolls surrounding sunlit ponds...

That is where my heart thrives ~

among dahlias, lilacs, and rosy thorns

scenting life with fragrant morns,

and gentle nights of rounded moons,

inhaling reminiscent blooms

of many lost, yet, joyful Junes...

Warming seasons created to

make lips smile, hearts leap,

feet dance to earthy song;

and earth's turning, ever-moving
old winter right along...

'Til spring emerges, and summer follows

into every nook, into every hollow,

with greening leaf and budding flower
bestowed by Mother Nature's power..

An overwhelming gift of rarest beauty,

a rejuvenation, a resurrection of life ~

when earth renews, when earth revives...

Yes, that is when my heart truly thrives.

~ Hazelmarie Elliott

Sweet Spring

That God once loved a garden we learn in Holy writ.

And seeing gardens in the Spring I well can credit it.

~Winifred Mary Letts

Their Back !

The Hummingbirds are back!

Most of us can’t wait until April every year to start putting out our Hummingbird feeders.

We love attracting those little birds that are so much fun to watch.

Here in the South near Nashville we get lots of the Ruby Throated Hummingbirds, and welcome their return each year.

Before hanging up your hummingbird feeder, make sure to clean it out really well.

In the glass feeders use a rinse of 10 parts water to 1 part bleach solution. (If you have a plastic feeder, be careful. The bleach may discolor it). Rinse it really well with hot water.

Let the feeder cool before adding your nectar.

Your homemade nectar can be made from 1 part sugar (white/cane sugar) to 4 parts water. The traditional way of making your nectar calls for *boiling to make it easier to dissolve the sugar and to purify the solution so that it will stay fresh longer.

Let the nectar cool before pouring it into your feeder. -Please DO NOT add red food coloring or dye, or honey to the nectar.

You may store any unused nectar in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.*I do not boil my nectar, according to Lanny Chambers, "It's not necessary to boil the water. The microorganisms that cause fermentation don't come from the water; they are transported to the feeder on hummingbird bills.

"Hang your feeder and enjoy!!!

A Visit With The Bunny

Here comes Peter Cottontail,
Hoppin' down the bunny trail.......

ALL I EVER NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT LIFE I LEARNED FROM THE EASTER BUNNY

Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.

Walk softly and carry a big carrot.

Everyone needs a friend who is all ears.

There’s no such thing as too much candy.

All work and no play can make you a basket case.

A cute little tail attracts a lot of attention.

Everyone is entitled to a bad hare day.

Let happy thoughts multiply like rabbits.

Some body parts should be floppy.

Keep your paws off other people’s jellybeans.

Good things come in small sugar-coated packages.

The grass is always greener in someone else’s basket.

An Easter bonnet can tame even the wildest hare.

To show your true colors – you have to come out of your shell.

The best things in life are still sweet and gooey.

~ Author Unknown