April Cornell is In The House

     Recently the April Cornell website had a half-off sale.  I stocked up with table runners, placemats and napkins.  But the buying spree did not stop there.  I discovered that Tuesday Morning carries quite a bit of April Cornell products, so I ventured out to several of the Tuesday Morning stores in the St. Louis area.  I've got a lot of new linens to play with.

I had no visitors this weekend, but decided to do a tablescape anyhow.  I can use it next weekend.

But first, I brought in a new/old piece of furniture to the house, an old 1960's maple buffet.  I had it painted and the glass doors removed.  Check it out.  I LOVE IT.

     Once I got the hutch put together and the dishes in it, I decided to do a tablescape, even though no guests for the weekend. 

View from the loft.

White plates are Gibson, Flowered plates are Home Goods find, and the small flower plates and bowls are Cindy Crawford for JCP.

Napkins from Kohls.  Table Runner April Cornell.  Lantern antique a friend gave me.

The table was bought when I first married, in 1986.  It is a heavy wood, and it was stained cherry.  Over time my taste has changed and no longer like the cherry wood stain.  I got up the nerve to paint it navy blue.  I sanded down the table to try and get the gloss off and then stained and rubbed it down.  It's given it an updated look.  And I love blue.

This weekend was quite boring, compared to most.  The neighbor dog, whom I call "Daisy" came by to visit our three dogs.  She's lab and has such energy and happiness, runs and leaps in the air and is always looking for someone to play with her.  I laughed so hard when she grabbed this big stick and wanted to play fetch.  And she loves to lay in the creek.

Rick was working on a parking area for the Ozark Trail users down the road from my house, so I ran by to bring him some sausage, rolls and coffee.  I threw a few logs around.  I guess a little help is better than no help.

If you are a trail biker, hiker, or equestrian, please visit the Ozark Trail in Missouri.  It has a fabulous website to guide you and is maintained by volunteers. 

 am linking this tablescape to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch, Tablescape Thursday http://betweennapsontheporch.net/your-beautiful-summertime-tablescapes-the-205th-tablescape-thursday/








Linda

Porch Play

I am linking this tablescape to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch, Tablescape Thursday http://betweennapsontheporch.net/your-beautiful-summertime-tablescapes-the-205th-tablescape-thursday/

Last evening I threw together a quick simple table on the screen porch.  I mixed my Polish Pottery with rooster plates and added a little red and black to the table.  There is not a lot going on in the table but just enough to make it useable and darling.  Viewing this pictures has got me thinking I need something hanging on that brick wall.

French coffe sounds good right about now. 

A friend gave me this rooster and he has made his rounds about the house.  The potted geraniums on the porch are suffering from neglect. 

Red bamboo place mats.  From the huge basket of napkins I own, not one set of white napkins.  This setting screams for white.  Yellow will have to do.  On the upside, they do match the chair coverings.

I covet this Polish pottery plate.  I only have four.   I buy them at TJMaxx and Marshall and Home Goods, but have only found plates twice.  I should have bought them all when I had the opportunity. 

This table would be a nice setting for an appetizer, glass of wine, dessert and French coffee.

Splash of color in the corner with the flowers.

I love the sound of windchimes.  After viewing pictures of porches with the blue ceiling, I'm pondering the idea for my porch.

I read and appreciate all comments.  Thanks for popping in.

Linda

 

Pack Drive Ride

     A few weeks ago I decided to chronicle the procees I go through some days to ride my Horse Dolly, which is stabled most of the time at a friend's home, which is about three miles from my house.  My family's weekend home and her family's home are located in the Mark Twain Forest in Stelleville, Mo.
 
     I like to take the scenic route, which is the trail behind my house, down the forest service road, down the blacktop a short way, down the gravel road two miles to her gate, River Oaks Ranch.

     So here goes "The Process".    One needs plenty of hydration during a hot ride.  Sometimes we have a little dehydration before the rehydration.

     Go through the tack room and try hard to not forget anything and load it into the Kawasaki Mule.

     This Mule is a BEAST!  It will take me anywhere I need to go.

     Drive past my house.

       Pass the old barn/cabin.

     Cross the creek over the old wooden bridge.

     Onto the trail.  My trail signs are named after horses we've owned and loved.  A good friend's daughter made them for me.

     Pass the Wagon Trail.  An old wagon trail runs through my property. 

     Down the Forest Service Road.  No problem.  I can get around that log.

     Now a short trip down the blacktop road. 

     Turn at the gravel road, Lower Narrows, to River Oaks Ranch.

     Fetch Dolly.  Yes, she's looking good.  See those Amber eyes?

Finally, I'm on the horse.

     Hooked up with riding buddies and we rode back to my house, via Ozark Trail. 

      Now, it's nap time.

Linda

Lunch at My Place

     After lunching downtown last week, I made my regular stroll into one of my favorite stores downtown Edwardsville, Beyond Timbuktu.  Near the entrance were several "bed spreads" made in India.  They are made of a very thin cotton and work well as a light tablecloth.  So . . . please enjoy my latest tablescape with the star of the table the cloth.

     I like the pattern of the dinner plate with this cloth.  This is one busy table.  I like the Lenox salad dishes with this look.  Never did I imagine purple water glasses and red wine glasses would look so pretty together.  This tablecloth seems to pull them together.

     The water pitcher was given to me by a friend who knows of my love of dishes. 

     These plates have an Italian flare but are made in China.  The wood chargers are the only chargers I own and they seem to work well with every setting.

     I bought this dining set along with other pieces of furniture that existed when purchasing this home.  It's a nice heavy French set.

     Next week my work friends and I will speed to my house (only five min. from work) and throw together a nice salad for lunch.  We all chip in and help prepare, eat fast, do a quick clean up and rush back.  We have an hour lunch and are able to get it done.  It's rushed, but we enjoy it.  I love serving my friends. 

     It's been a while since I've blogged but ready to jump back in.

     I am joining Tablescape Thursday with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch. 
                                                             http://betweennapsontheporch.net//
Linda

Recuperation - Mind and Body

      It will be three weeks today since my surgery.  I've been instructed to "take it easy", don't lift over 10-15 pounds, and avoid steps.  Sounds easy but not so, not when you work full time and usually don't have time to get the things on the "to-do" list done.  But this has been my perfect opportunity to just laze around without guilt.  Guilt-free napping, sometimes twice a day.  Sleeping in late.  Not lifting heavy items.  Not feeling anxiety every time I see the Eliptical or drive past the YMCA, which is right down the street from my house.
     Yesterday I took some pictures of what I've been doing while spending time at my weekend getaway, the Cabin.
     I've placed this hammock under the sycamore tree where I get dappled shade and nap, usually with at least one dog surrounding me.

     This is the view looking up.

Below is the view looking out into friend Melissa's pasture.  I could sit for hours and watch the horses.

Now it's time to SIT at Courtois Creek.  Once we settled in with our chairs at the creek, hardly a word was spoken for almost an hour.  Melissa, her mother, who is now 87 and sharp as a tack, and I, just SAT and listened to sounds of nature.

 

This "Bird Head" rock was next to my chair.

When I moved my chair, I found this "Unhappy Ghost" rock.

There is a double recuperation going on here at the cabin this week.  A stray lab mix found me.  The vet visit yesterday revealed an eye infection, infection in the mouth from a laceration, and of course, malnourishment.  But NO HEARTWORM.  He's being treated with antiboitics.  At the moment, there are four labs here, my two, Carl and Hershey, the neighbor's yellow lab, and our stray Frank.  It's crazy at feeding time.

Here is a picture of Frank.  I've already found him a home, which he'll go to after his health improves.

He fits right in.

I'm not the only one lazing around this week.

My mind is finally slowing down and feeling peaceful.  No schedule besides doctor appointments.  No rushing. 

While sitting quietly in nature I noticed events I'd never notice in my typical hurried life, such as while sitting outside on the deck several crows came swooping in squacking and circling my house.  It was then I noticed all the dragonflies that they were hunting and eating.  It's those "little" things I find interesting.

So while physically recuperating, I'm certainly mentally recuperating.  Didn't realize how strung out I really was.  This has been a good lesson for me.

AND FRIENDS.  I've got great friends calling me, dining me, feeding me cookies an pies and casseroles.  I've got some great friends.

It's been a happy recuperation.

Linda

 

The Art of Sitting

     Recently I read a little article referencing "The Art of Sitting".  Being an anxious, easily bored and distracted person, I have always found it difficult to "just sit" and relax and enjoy my surroundings.  My endeavor is now to learn to "just sit" and enjoy the act of just sitting.

     To feel relaxed while sitting, I, like most people, like to prop my feet up on something, or else I'm not comfortable.  Sadly, though, this table is rough on the ankles.  I am on the lookout for an x-large ottoman, preferrably in cows hide.

     The weekend at the Cabin gave me the opportunity to perfect the art of sitting.  It was my goal to sit and enjoy the act of sitting.

     My good friend, Mary, accepted my invitation to sit with me this weekend at the cabin.  She was all over that idea after working a 12-hour shift at Children's Hospital in the NICU, plus driving an hour and a half to the Cabin.  As soon as she came in she hit the shower, put on her new PJ's, and sat in the big brown chair.  I had a frosty glass of cold beer ready for her.  She seemed to enjoy sitting and drinking it and winding down.

Sometimes a sit turns into a laydown, if you're not careful.

While chatting on the phone, I like to sit in the chair next to the phone.

 

Here I am sitting the the most uncomfortabel chair that I own.  But it's cool, isn't it?

All this sitting is wearing me out.   It's time to go to bed.  I have a day full of sitting to look forward to.

The next morning, we decided to sit and drink coffee at the barn, enjoying the morning and the view and the birds and woodsy noises.    It was so relaxing and joyful that we sat till 11:30 a.m.

Then I had this great idea, hey, let's go sit somewhere else.  We finally got dressed and took a drive to the Meramac Springs State Park in Missouri.  We found a great place to sit.

"Sitting Pretty"

My hat looks fab on you, Mary.

Sitting Friday evening and all morning and afternoon Saturday left me with a relaxed, peaceful feeling.  I needed the time to just sit and enjoy my surroundings, the sites and the sounds and the calmness that I so rarely feel.  Thanks Mary, for the weekend of sitting.