I Am A Camera

I had a camera, and, sadly, it has decided to no longer work.


So I am making do with Howard's large and lumbering Nikon D3000,
which is way more camera than I am used to using.

I have to admit, he takes a nice picture, that Nikon fella.

It's just hard to be discreet, you know?

Like on Friday when I was trying to photograph the hermit's place on top of the hill

with the "Savage Dog" sign on the gate . . . well, that's a tale for another time.

Today's tale is a re-run, from last winter, when my little Canon went walkabout in the bush

for several weeks until I found it hiding in the bottom of an unused handbag.

In those weeks, I made playground friends with the Nikon, and posted about it.

****************************************

(From February 15, 2011)

My camera is still A.W.O.L.

Luckily Howard has a camera, and although it is big and scary,
and weighs a ton, this morning he kindly showed me how to use it . . . 

Here is the result.

*********************************************** 

 (Fanfare and flourish.)

I hereby declare this a day for Pretty Things.

Among the prettiest: the roses Howard sent me for Valentine's Day.

They are the most gorgeous true red, and not fully opened yet so they'll last a good many days.

How beautiful; nothing we fashion can touch Nature's style.

But we'll give it a shot.

Let's move those roses out of the kitchen -- we'll lop off their skinny legs and plop them

into my favorite rose bowl -- and then we'll decide what to do with them.

  Out of the kitchen you go!

 As long as today is Pretty Things Day. . .

what could be prettier than things that cost only a dollar?

 I always think that being cheap inexpensive just makes something more attractive.

Ladies, do not tell this to my husband.  Or yours.

Or, come to think of it, your unmarried daughters.

If there weren't already a Dollar Tree around the corner from That Old House, I'd have to invent one.

Look at what hopped into my cart on my last visit a few weeks ago:

Mirror-and-ruby-glass votive holders.

I mean, really!

Eureka!

Red and shiny.

I wanted to take their glamour shots last night, in the dark,

but I didn't know how to use the camera then.  Still don't, if I'm honest.

Red Valentine's roses pair perfectly with shiny candleholders from Dollar Tree, right?

But we knew that all along, now, didn't we?

Let's put the roses where they can be enjoyed.  By me.

Ah . . . now this is bliss.

 A pot of good black coffee, some pretty, shiny things, several new decorating books I treated myself
to before Christmas, and the time to enjoy it and let the tension headaches of the past two weeks fade away.

 That's a vintage Wedgwood Patrician mold cup and saucer, in the Bognor design.
Embossed and hand painted.

 Howard's Mom gave me the white coffee pot.
And you already know where the votive holder came from!

 Books to dream over, and the pillow my sister Peg made for me last winter.  Perfect.

I'll share the bliss with the Snowman family inhabiting the mantel.

I like to hold over holiday reds and wintry snowmen until the end of February.

 They brighten bleak winter days.

 And snowmen just look so darn silly that I can't resist them.

I'll be back.  After I have my coffee.

I'm afraid I've only set out a cup for one today.

 Go get your own!  You know where the kitchen is. -- Cass

Link Parties!
The Tablescaper hosts Seasonal Sundays every, well, Sunday.  Click here!
At Happy To Design, it's Sunday Favorites.  Re-runs of favorite posts.  Click here!
Visit and enjoy.  :-)

Check with me on Monday; I've got a Giveaway that -- if you love dishes -- you will want to win.
I guarantee.  Hint:  Big book.  China.  Lots of china!

Trees And Teas on Tuesday

In case you have been following the
Tale Of The Giant Oak
and wondering if it can be saved, I have good news.

In brief, there is a large, very old oak tree at the far corner of our property.

You can read my Friday post about its near-death experience here.

The tree in question is right in the middle of this picture, taken
from our dining room.  He is the big husky fellow with the wide arching canopy.

Our neighbors believe the tree is dying; it's what their tree surgeon told them and they contracted with him to take it down.

We see no telltale signs of tree distress, but we're not tree mavens.  So we hired an arborist to give us an unbiased opinion.

He came today, and gave us good news.

The tree, he said, is very old, but is in good health and is solid.

Now we negotiate with the neighbors.  We'll give them a copy of the arborist's report.

We aren't letting this old tree go without trying our best to stay the execution;

we'll call the governor for clemency if we have to.  :-) 

*****************************************************

Good Things Come In Packages That Are Left on Your Front Porch.
Yes, they do!
Yesterday, the postman brought a box of goodies to That Old House, from
Kathy, who blogs at A Tiny Cottage On Grand.


Because I won Kathy's 100-followers Giveaway!
Join me as I rummage through this box of wonders.
Just be warned -- I'm gonna take a load of pictures.

OK -- dig in!

First out -- two feedsack bags, printed, tied,
and full of lovely tea bags!

Look at the dried rose in the ribbon ties.  Beautiful!

Maybe not beautiful, but fun; a spider
and some bat confetti sprinkles, tied in a bag
with what looks for all the world like mummy wrappings!
This girl can wrap!

Twelve beautiful notecards by Tracy Porter.
Gorgeous, and also beautifully presented.

Now what's all this?

A couple of saucers, wrapped in tissue, tied with ribbon.

Methinks this package may be related to the saucers.

 Yes!  Two cups!

I adore flower-painted tea cups, but especially
when there are flowers on the inside.  That is so special.

The pile is getting bigger, and we're not done yet!

Filet crochet lace.
Be still my heart.

There is enough of this handmade filet crochet lace to edge a pillow sham,
or to edge a small curtain in, say, someone's kitchen.  Like, mine?

 Oh come to Mama!
 It's a big gorgeous white ironstone platter!

Seriously, this is a fabulous vintage Homer Laughlin platter.
Isn't white ironstone just so pure and beautiful?  It is perfect form and function.

 A vintage book!

It's a beauty; soft green and wonderful gilt.
There's nothing like the mystique of old books.

So many things!  But don't go yet; we aren't done!

 As the old Ginsu knife commercials used to say,
"But wait!  There's more!"

 Beautiful white napkins, with Battenburg lace trim.
And so charmingly presented, with ribbon and flowers.

A big gorgeous lavender soap from France.

I love lavender soap in our upstairs bath,
and am in need of a new one!  Serendipity.

How cute is this little guy?
He's a pear candle.

 Wow . . . growing still!

Vintage sheet music, nicely foxed.

A lovely old crystal drop.  Love the arrow-y shape.

Wow.  I am overwhelmed.
Kathy told me she was gathering things she thought I would like,
but I never expected so many wonderful gifts.
And all wrapped and presented with such care and grace, too.

 Did I tell you that the box smelled deliciously of lavender?


**********************************************

 Tell you what -- let's have tea, you and I.

We'll use my new vintage cups, because they are simply beautiful!

 Go ahead, choose your tea from amongst the delicious ones Kathy sent in those feedsack bags:

Whoops!  Not that one; the raspberry tea is for me.

 Oh dear!  Mr. Spider is butting in on our tea party.
But it's okay; he seems to be ignoring my raspberry tea,
and instead is heading for one of yours.
I'm good with that.

If you are curious -- and who among us isn't? -- the tea cups and saucers were made by Lamberton, in the USA.
The pattern is "Linda Lee," in the company's Ivory China.  They are pre-1952, as that's when the company stopped production.

Interestingly, the part of America where Lamberton China was made was Trenton, New Jersey.
Does that Ivory China color remind you of any other American china maker?
Trenton is also the ancestral home of Lenox China.

So thank you, Kathy!  Who knows where these cups and saucers have been in their lifetimes,
but just this week they traveled from your home on Alabama's Gulf Coast, all the way back to New Jersey.
Where they were born.
Go visit Kathy at A Tiny Cottage On Grand; her blog is lovely!

Tuesday Link Parties:
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life hosts Tabletop Tuesday.  Click here!

The Plumed Pen and A Breath Of Fresh Air host Tuesday Tea For Two
and Teapots And Tea Things.  Click here!

 It's Tea Time Tuesday with Katherine, at Lady Katherine's Tea Parlor.  Click here!

 Martha of Martha's Favorites is our hostess for Tea Cup Tuesday.

  Click here!

 

 Martha and Terri of Artful Affirmations share the hosting duties for this fun meme.  Click here!

 At Rose Chintz Cottage, it's Tea Time Tuesday.  Click here!

Whew!  Tea is the Tuesday drink of choice, methinks.

And methinks I'm going to go put the kettle on, and brew up that raspberry tea.

While I listen to the jack hammering continue in the cellar.  Story tomorrow!  -- Cass