My Cozy Corner

~Love Muffins~

2012-02-12T00:22:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,

I hope you are having a great weekend.

We are having beautiful weather today in Northern California.

If you are new to my blog I'm sharing today the dessert Sweetheart and I will be eating after dinner on Valentine's Day to celebrate 52 years of our engagement with our annual Valentine's Day Dinner by the fireplace at
My Cozy Corner
Check out Valentine's Day Dinner
Look below this post!

'Red Velvet Love Muffins'

What a fun dessert to make. My granddaughter gave me a cupcake plunger for Christmas and I used it to core the cupcakes.

I filled the 'LOVE MUFFINS' with cherry pie filling and sprinkled the cupcakes with powdered sugar.

Printable Recipe Here

'Red Velvet Love Muffins'

1 (18-oz) box yellow cake mix

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

3 eggs

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 Tbsp red food coloring

1. Preheat oven to 350*F.

2. Prepare cake mix according to directions, adding cocoa powder,eggs oil, and water specified in recipe. Add food coloring.

3. Bake for 20 minutes or until done.

4. Let cool on a wire rack.

Paper liners or molded pans work great for this dessert. I used tin foil heart molds.

Enjoy!

Celebrate Valentine's Day with a treat that says "be mine"

I do believe these delicious Cherry-filled cupcakes would be perfect for an afternoon tea party...

My 'Yuletide'camellias are still blooming even with the rain a few days ago. I found a few blooms to put into my 'I Love you' vase.

Hugs and Kisses to everyone.

To see celebration #51 in 2011
My Valentine's Day Dinner

Tablescape and the rest of the story.
Go HERE

Thank you for visiting My Cozy Corner for my Valentine's Day

Dessert

We never can have too much chocolate.

I'm Linking to some great parties

Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday

The House in the Roses for Show of Your Cottage Monday

A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday

A Delightsome Life for A Return to Loveliness

and

Rose Chintz Cottage for Tea Time Tuesday

Hugs and Kisses

Betty

Tablescape # 41

2012-02-09T00:41:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,

I joining
Between Naps on the Porch for
Tablescape Thursday in honor of the
Anniversary of My Engagement on
Valentine's Day 1960.
The rest of my story is HERE

This year
Valentine's Day

is all about
"Hugs and Kisses"

From my story last year you know that Sweetheart and I were engaged on Valentine's Day in San Francisco.

We love sea food and for our Valentine's Day dinner celebration we enjoy
Lobster Tail

Steak
Caesar Salad
and
Chocolate for dessert

The salad is served on this darling dish with hugs and kisses surrounded with a heart.

How about a text message?

~Pink and Silver Kisses for Sweetheart~

Mr. and Mrs. Sweetheart

My thrifty find are these adorable plates. Each plate(4)has a different heart design.

Lots of candy kisses for everyone.

Charger-99 cent store

Vintage China-Rhythm

Silver Plate Flatware-Affection

White Plate-Estate Sale

Pink Napkins and Napkin Rings thrift store

Glassware-Tuesday Morning

Tablecloth-Tuesday Morning 70" round

Dinner by the fireplace is so romantic.

A BIG KISS for you!

~Enjoy the moment~

Thank you for visiting My Cozy Corner.

I'm joining

Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday

No Minimalist Here for Open House Thursday

My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday

Bargain Hunting with Laurie for a Valentine Party

French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday

and

Little Red House for Mosaic Monday

Use link to hop back

Betty

Chocolate Kiss Tea!

2012-02-07T00:01:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

I'm inviting you to my Chocolate Kiss Tea.

and

I would like to show you how I like to drink my Tea. While in England this past summer I was introduced to the way the English drink tea.

And now I love to drink my tea the same way.

One bag of Chocolate Kisses will go along way.

I'm sure Sweetheart and the Granddaughters are waiting until this post and my Valentine's Day Dinner post are done so they can enjoy the fruits of my labor.

I personally love chocolate kisses. It's so clever the company wraps the kisses in beautiful pink, red and silver foil paper.

Hugs and Kisses for Valentine's Day

It just doesn't get any better than that.

Well, hello sweet little angel. I'm so happy you joined us for tea.

Angel and Tea

I love my tea with milk and sugar

My Pink Willow was made in England.

I was delighted when I saw the bottom of the tea cup and found there are still some things made in England. I love England...

This photo reminds me of

A Return to Loveliness.

My sister by another mother (my sis-in-law)gave me the angel wings. They are so darling.

I know~I know~

I'm not a purest, but is this handy? or not.

With my instant tea pot, a cup and one tea bag, one sweet and low and a mini moo I'm set for a tea break in an instant.

LOL I think I'm so funny.

I could eat this whole bag of candy in a heartbeat.

I hope you've had a laugh or two and enjoyed our Chocolate Kiss Tea.

Next Tuesday is Valentine's Day and I just wanted to give you a taste of love today.

oxxo

Hugs and Kisses

Betty

I'm joining

A Stroll thru Life for Table Top Tuesday

A Delightsome Life for A Return to Loveliness

Rose Chintz Cottage for Tea Time Tuesday

Sweetologly for Tea Party Tuesday

Bernideen for Friends Sharing Tea on Wednesday

and

How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday

Please link back to the wonderful parties and check out the wonderful posts

My Valentine Love Story ~ 2011

2012-02-05T00:23:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,
I'm joining Happy To Design for Sunday Favorites
for a re-run of 2011 Valentine's Day @ My Cozy Corner
I hope you enjoy!!!
My Valentine Love Story Tablescape

I truly love Valentine's Day because it's the day "My Sweetheart" asked me to marry him.

We met in the Spring of 1959. We both sang in the high school choir and one day I looked up to the row of bass singers and I saw this darling face smiling at me. I was amazed. He was so cute. We dated and fell in love. On February 14th 1960 we drove to San Francisco to have dinner and see a movie to celebrate Valentine's Day. And while we were having dessert "My Sweetheart gave me a my engagement ring and proposed to me. We were married on July 17th 1960.

(CLICK HERE) to see our Wedding Photos.

Now the story about how "My Sweetheart" and I have celebrated Valentine's Day for the last 50 years.
The first 30 years while the children still lived at home we would go out to a wonderful restaurant and have a wonderful dinner.
But, for the last 20 years we have stayed home for dinner.

Dinner for Two in My Cozy Corner
Our Menu
Lobster Tail
Steak
Caesar Salad
Chocolate Dessert
and Dancing

The candy jar is on the table every year.

Mr. and Mrs. Happy Couple

'Red Roses' for our True Love and Lots of Kisses too.

This is 'My Heart'

A Glass of Bubbly

The Heart of Romance

Chocolate is so good for the Heart

And the Best part of the evening is "My Sweetheart" takes me in his arms and we dance to our favorite love songs.
I have added a play list to this post at the bottom of the page
I hope you enjoy our songs!!!!

Thank you so much for visiting My Cozy Corner.
I have enjoyed sharing My Valentine Love Story with you all.

Have a wonderful weekend
and
Happy Valentine's Day
xox
Betty

More Pink and White

2012-02-01T11:04:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,

I'm still blogging away. I wanted to join some more parties this week. I had this post planned for another day but I'm working about 15 hours this week. Sweetheart and I are going to be at a friends this Sunday for Superbowl.

GO FOOTBALL!

ENJOY BEING IN THE PINK

I put my new Pink Willow dishes in the cabinet where we have our kitchen television. I change the cabinet about 4 times a year. But I like this display the best. When I get some time I'm going to clean and arrange all my dishes. Since I have been blogging I have accumulated more dishes and etc... I want a system where everything I use for a Tablescape or a Tea party is in the same place.

I love the shape of this casserole dish. I was thinking this summer I would use it as a vase. You might see it again real soon. Some of the beautiful pink roses would be nice.

The soup tureen is vintage. I have used it on Christmas Eve to serve soup.

Playing with my camera. Glass is a tricky thing to photograph.

I have mixed some white with my pink dishes. The white tea pots were used at my Christmas Tea and the white cup and saucer is Johnson Bros and my granddaughter spotted them while we were thrift shopping this summer. Thanks Beth!

These dishes are going to be all over the place this summer.

Tea outside under the pergola would be nice.

Tea in the patio would be nice.

Tea in the living room would be nice.

Tea in the dinning room would be nice too.

Oh my gosh. I'm so silly~

"That's All Folks"

Thank you so much for visiting My Cozy Corner today.

Please come back soon.

I'm joining:

No Minimalist Here for Open House Thursday

How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday

The House in the Roses for Show off Your Cottage Monday

and

Little Red House for Mosaic Monday

Hugs and Kisses to all

Betty

A Beautiful Home ~ Someone Special

2012-01-30T20:28:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

I have wanted to share my friend's home with you for awhile. I'm only showing some of her beautiful property. Her home is on the Bluffs overlooking the city and she has decorated the interior with a 1930's flair.

This fountain is overlooking the city and at night the fountain is lite with the water flowing over the top. It's amazing.

In 1885, J. A. Bauer (John Andrew "Andy" Bauer) bought out Frank Parham's Paducah Pottery in Paducah, Kentucky, a pottery whose main products were brown-glazed, had-thrown wares including crocks and jugs. J.A. Bauer moved his family to Los Angeles in early 1909, and selected a new site for a pottery. J.A.

Bauer Pottery Company was built at 415-421 West Avenue 33 in Lincoln Heights. an area between Los Angeles and Pasadena, California. Bauer found a demand from the nursery trade and added new products to the pottery's wares including flower pots, garden ware, and planters.

Around 1930, Bauer Pottery introduced California Colored Pottery. By 1933, the company added ruffled or "ring" dishes.

The collection is just amazing. I would love to open the doors and photograph the beautiful dishes and show you more of the collection.

A beautiful home inside and outside.

And a beautiful women inside and outside lives here.

Beautiful rose gardens and different areas of interest.

It's a treat when this wonderful lady invites a group of friends to share the view on the Bluffs to watch the city's 4th of July fireworks display. It's a half hour show around ten in the evening when the sun goes down the temperature can sometimes still be in the 90's.

What a great time we have.

Thank you, dear friend for entertaining us all those years.

I love you.

Betty

I'm joining:

A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday

Delightsome Life for A Return to Loveliness

Coloradolady for Vintage Thingie Thursday

French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

and

At The Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday

Please link back to the wonderful parties and enjoy the moment!

My Back Yard Before and After~2011

2012-01-29T23:21:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

I hope you had a great weekend. I did. I had a spa day on Thursday. You know the Hair, Nails, Feet and some new makeup thing. I've been planning this post for a long time but I had to go back into the old photos and find some photos of our house when we first bought it in 1969. I didn't take as many photos then. And, Yes! in was 43 years ago.

Our house was a Cal Vet Repo... and yes they even did repo's in the 60's. Our house was 800 sq feet. No water or Sewer and black linoleum on the kitchen counters. I know it's the stuff that is suppose to be on the floors. We got a deal. I loved the property and it was in the country then but now we are right in the middle of the city. Go Figure.

There was a water well and thank GOD for that. Because we are still using the well to water our entire yard. We did hook up to the city water and sewer before we moved into the house. The rest of the story about our house remodel is HERE

Before

How it was then

Cute kids and our dog Lady

Our son Tom is 12 and our son Pat is 9. They were wonderful young children. Helping with the yard work and building a fort in the back yard for their entertainment. We also had a chicken coop with 23 hens and the smaller white building is the FORT. We had a very old oak tree right outside our house. Someone thought it might have been a 100 years old. It sure had a lot of leaves. In 1990 the tree came down with some disease and we had to remove it from the center of our planter box. It was so beautiful.

The digger pines are dangerous and our property wasn't usable with so many trees. My sweetheart removed all of them. He sold the lumber to the lumber mill for railroad ties. The tin building is where the garage is now and the pressure tank is inside the garage behind the outside kitchen in the following photos.

My children read my posts and I thought they would love to see their young dad playing on the mini-bike.

I think he is around 28 years old.

After

and how it is now

I'm standing on our patio to photograph the back yard. Our yard is 120' wide by 260' long.

When the pergola area is landscaped this spring our entire yard will be finished. We have an automatic water system for all the flower beds. The vegetable garden is still watered by hand, but that's not my JOB!

We have an outdoor kitchen and the Wolf range is covered for protection against the winter weather. The well pressure tank is just behind the stove. Remember the tin building?

When our children were small the entire yard was in vegetable garden. As the children grew up and left home and I went to work we didn't need a large vegetable garden and sweetheart and I started to develop the flower borders and planted the rest in lawn. My sweetheart mows the lawn every Thursday all summer long on his riding lawn mower. Flowers have always been my passion. Being 1/2 English it feels very natural to play in a garden. I love Roses and Perennials and after visiting England and Scotland where the lush flowers
grow I'm so inspired to have my own English garden at My Cozy Corner.

This is May and the Roses are blooming.

This is in July and the Black-Eyed Susan or Rudbeckia are in bloom. They give a great show for months. And during the hot summer when every other plant is gasping for life the Black-Eyed Susans just bloom and bloom.

This is part of the inside area near the patio and kitchen. I have to protect the tender plants in the patio each winter.

So as I sit here on this cold January evening remembering the wonderful years I've had developing this great space. I know one thing for sure. There is peace and joy as I study the flower beds and plan what I will change in the summer of 2012.
Thanks for visiting My Cozy Corner.
I will be joining:
Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday
The House in the Roses for Show off Your Cottage Monday
Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday
A Delightsome Life for Home and Garden Thursday
and
My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
xo
Betty
P.S. Thanks for your wonderful comments

Dreaming of Spring Planting

2012-01-25T23:36:00.000-08:00

Landscaping the Pergola! I have a new room outside to play in.

I bought some seeds and some bulbs.Now I'm reading gardening books and sitting in My Cozy Corner drinking tea and dreaming up different designs for the flower beds that surround my new pergola See Here

I have some yellow day lilies in my big garden area. But I would love to have a pink and white garden near the pergola. The poppies are red to remind me of the beautiful fields of England. The Moon Flowers will bloom in the evening and in the morning until noon. Lupines are a filler for the back of the Pergola and some dahlia's maybe will be used in pots around the corners. Sweetheart is planning to put electric and water on the pergola.

WOW! I'm so excited.

I have found some wonderful gardening books at Tuesday Morning. The Perennial bed will have some new roses. Maybe PINK...

A Pink tea pot and cup for tea. It's so peaceful looking out my dining room window dreaming of the Spring days ahead.

There's always an angel close by. I pray for good health this year. Someone wanted to know if I have a gardener.

No! I am the gardener. Do I exercise at a gym? No I garden! LOL~

More Pink. I'm so happy I brought this Pink Geranium into the house this winter. I have another geranium planted outside in the garden, but it was hit with the frost. Hopefully it will recover.

I brought the angels in from the harsh weather. They are enjoying the warmth of the sunny window just like me.

This is an example of the look I would love to capture.

Great Resources.I love gardening books. With a home to manage there are so many different kinds of books in my library.

Garden Books

Cook Books

Decorating Books

and

I always have a book in my purse to read while I'm wait for anything...

Thanks for visiting My Cozy Corner. I'm off to work today and now you know what I've been up to this week. Dreaming of Spring...
Have a great weekend and I will be back next week to share more of My Cozy Corner's adventures.
I'm joining:
A Delightsome Life for Home and Garden Thursday
French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
How Sweet the Sound for PINK SATURDAY
The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday
and
Little Red House for Mosaic Monday
Link back to these parties for more inspiration and eye candy.

p.s. Monday morning Sweetheart will be having a small hernia repaired. Please keep him in your prayers.

xo
Betty

Tablescape # 40

2012-01-25T13:32:00.000-08:00

2012 Chinese New Year

The Chinese New Year annually falls on different dates. In 2012 it is January 23, which marks the beginning of the Year of the Dragon.

I love the Chinese New Year's Parade and all the traditions that go into making the 15 day celebration memorable...

Young children receive Red Envelopes with money during the celebration.

I was raised in the San Francisco bay area and the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco was a big deal even back then. The Parade was started in the 1860's by the Chinese in San Francisco as a means to educate the community about their culture, the Parade and Festival have grown to be the largest celebration of Asian culture outside of Asia.

I love Chinese food and I'm fairly good with chop sticks. When I do go out to dinner I always want to eat Chinese food and I bring extra pairs of chop sticks home for my granddaughters.

This tea house tea pot was a gift from a dear friend. She volunteers at the Cancer Society Thrift store and bought it for me. She knows I love tea pots.

~Very Cute~

When I was a girl around 10 years old. (circa 1950) My mother would take my younger sister and I to a little Chinese restaurant in San Jose. We would sit in a little cubicle at a table and the entrance to the cubicle had black curtains covering the doorway. Something like this photo. And the best part was a little Chinese man dressed in a black changshan and wearing a rounded black hat would come in through the curtains and take our order then quickly and quietly leave us to our visiting. As we pretended we were in a China tea house.
That was the day I fell in love with China.
and of course reading the book
'The Good Earth' by Pearl S. Buck made China even more appealing for my bucket list of places to travel.

This is my sign in Chinese Astrology.

I am a snake! A metal snake

Attributes

Firmness, rigidity, persistence, strength and determination. The metal person is controlling, ambitious, forceful and set in their ways as metal is very strong; and they are self-reliant and prefer to handled their problems alone. The metal person is also materialistic, business oriented and good at organization and stability.

Black tea eggs

Yield: 18 eggs

Preparation: 5 minutes

Cook: 9 minutes

Refrigerate:overnight

12 cups water

18 large eggs

1 cup Chinese black loose-leaf tea leaves

1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce

4 cinnamon sticks

* In a large stockpot, bring water to a hard boil over medium-high heat.

Carefully place eggs in pot. Cook for 9 minutes. Remove eggs from water,

and immediately place in an ice bath.

*Add tea leaves, soy sauce, and cinnamon sticks to stockpot. Bring to a hard boil. Remove from heat.

*Using the back of a spoon, crack egg shells. Place eggs in prepared water.

Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Carefully peel eggs before serving.

Noodle dishes, which represent a long life, are appropriate to serve during

the Chinese New Year celebration.

The fish candle holders are a part of my childhood. I remember my mother placing the beautiful green fish in the center of our dinner table. I love these fish.

For More traditions, go to Chinese New Year Post 2011 Here

Resources:

Dinnerware Ralph Lauren Claridge Gold - gift for 50th Wedding Anniversary

Tea cup and saucer -Arita Hand Painted Made in Japan

Red Envelope and Snake charm - World Market

Tea Pot - no markings

Vintage Fish Candle Holders - no markings

Thank you for visiting My Cozy Corner and I hope you enjoyed my Chinese New Year Tablescape.
I'm joining
Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday
Tales from Bloggeritaville for Thrifty Thursday
No Minimialist Here for Open House Here Thursday
My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday
and
At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday

Please link back to the wonderful blogs for more inspiring visions.
Have a great weekend
xo
Betty

Drum Roll~The Pergola is Finished

2012-01-19T23:56:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone

Wow! I'm so happy to share with you the fabulous pergola in our outdoor garden area.
My sweetheart finished the pergola and it's fabulous.

Last week I showed how the posts were set into the ground for this beautiful structure. HERE

The week before I had the plan. I love this photo HERE

I love the details

The arch supports and beams are very sturdy

Some of the beams are in place. It was a beautiful fall day to be working on a project with a labor of love.

The end trim is great and it gives the ends of the beams character and design.

The trees have changed from fall to early winter and the new pergola has a fresh coat of paint.

The paint is to protect the wood from the hot summers and cold winters.

The canvas is bare and I'm willing to work and design a beautiful space for afternoon tea and a restful place to read and relax in the Spring and Summer and Winter and Fall.

MY SECRET GARDEN

Now it's time to share with all my blogging friends and followers The first project for 2012.

I'm joining

My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

At The Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday

French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday

Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday

and

Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday

What a wonderful Metamorphosis. From a dream to an actual piece of heaven.

Thank you dear sweet husband.

and

Thanks to all of my followers new and old.

Betty

A Lenten Rose and Tea Time

2012-01-16T19:39:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends. How's it going with you all? We're doing good at My Cozy Corner. I'm busy trying to put away some of my new Christmas stuff I found on the after Christmas sale shelves and really trying to stay focused on new posts for 2011. My mind is racing with crafty ideas and garden time is going to be here before I know it. Speaking of gardening~I have a beautiful flower to show you today. I love it. On the wintry days when I have something in the garden to show off. This is my Lenten Rose.

The Lavender Tea sets are perfect for an afternoon tea party. I gave a tea party and each lady had a different tea cup, saucer and dessert plate. I thought this set would look lovely with my Lenten Rose bouquet.

Lenten Rose or 'Helleborus' is a wonderful perennial for all zones. Blooms from January - March in our area. This flower has a large flower and many stamens.

A vintage tea napkin in yellow goes so well with the deep purple of the Lenten Rose.

On New Year's Eve one of my daughter's co-workers gave her some scone mix and my daughter asked me to bake the scones for her and the granddaughters. I love baking so this morning I baked the scones and shared a few slices with Sweetheart then took the rest up the street to the girl's house this afternoon. We enjoyed current scones and coffee. I just added 1/2 cup water and 1 egg slightly beaten and baked at 400* for 20 minutes. YUM!!!

For Christmas a friend gave Sweetheart and I a jar of Key Lime Curd. It's just delicious on these current scones.

The vintage spoons are my children's baby spoons. They work very well for curd or jelly and when I touch them I remember my children with their little mouths learning how to eat a little bit of cereal from a very small spoon.

'Willow Tree' Angel of Patience by DEMDACO 2011.

Thank you for visiting My Cozy Corner. To all my blogging friends.

Antique teacups and vintage friends.

Who can live without them?

I'm linking to:

A Stroll thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday

Coastal Charm for Thrifty Tuesday

Rose Chintz Cottage for Tea Time Tuesday

Sweetology 101 for Tea Party Tuesday
and
Bernideen's Tea Time Blog

Thanks again for visiting and please come back real soon.

xoxo

Betty

My Secret Garden-Setting the Posts

2012-01-15T00:28:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,

I hope you are having a good weekend. Remember last week when I showed you the plan for the Pergola. Today I'm going to show you how Sweetheart is preparing the holes for the four posts that will hold the top of the Pergola.

Fancy surveying instrument (Transit) for measuring horizontal angles

All the boxes are in place for the footings to be poured.

My Sweetheart uses the Transit to check the four boxes for accurate level height.

Next we go behind the scenes and discover the very back yard of My Cozy Corner.
Lurking there is a cement mixer and a 1950 Plymouth. We just sold the Plymouth on the 1st of January to a very nice man...

The cement is mixed for the holes Yip-Skip

October 31, 2011 the holes were poured

Go Daddy Go!!!

Adding more water to the batch

The bags of cement

Pouring~Pouring~Pouring

Leveling the top of the footing and waiting until the cement sets awhile

Good Job!!!

'The Trick'
Put a drop of oil on top of the string right where the string crosses~The oil drops down and marks the exact place to put the bolt in the
cement.

Amazing

The bolts and nuts are in the drying cement. Will come back in a few days to put the brackets on for the posts.

November 1, 2011
Removed the wooden forms and placed the post brackets on the dry cement.

I'm so excited for next week when the posts are up and the pergola is finished.
Thanks for joining me on my adventure and hopefully this will inspire you to build something fun in your yard.

I'm visiting some wonderful parties this week to show off my cottage.
The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday
Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday
Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday
and
A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday
Delightfulsome Life for Home and Garden Party Thursday

Thanks again for visiting
x o
Betty

Tablescape # 39 'Snowflakes'

2012-01-12T01:35:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone. When I first saw these plates I knew I wanted to wait until a soft, cloudy, maybe snowy day to set this tablescape.

Well this is the warmest and most sunny January in a very long time.

No Snowflakes in this part of the country!

It's afternoon and this room faces the south. I love this room for the cozy and comfortable style.

The Snowflake plates are from Tuesday Morning.

The centerpiece was inspired by a photo I have on pinterest. I bought the silver vase at a yard sale.

Dinnerware is Style House 'Rhythm' Silverware is 'Affection'

Glassware is 'Venezia' Gold Collection

Gold Beaded napkin rings from Tuesday Morning - Christmas. Handmade napkins.

Silver and Gold Snowflakes for a beautiful January Day is a blessing.

Thank you so much for visiting today and I want to say a BIG HELLO to my newest followers.

and

I want to share my cozy corner with:

Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday

No Minimalist Here for Open House Here Thursday

My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

and

At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday

Please link back.

Betty

~Keeping It Simple Sweetie~

2012-01-09T23:55:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,

I hope your week is going good. I've been having a great time being off work for a few days. All the glitz and glitter from Christmas is almost put away until next year and today I'm transforming the living room into a more simple look for the Old Fogies. After arranging and dusting I stopped and sat down for a cup of tea and cookie. The beautiful 'Yuletide' camellias are about a month late this year, but they are so beautiful I wanted to enjoy them in the house for awhile.

This tea cup, saucer and dessert plate came from a yard sale. It's NASCO

'Roses of Victory' 22 kt. Gold Deco, Made in the U.S. A.

These smaller tables sit in front of the love seat and I have my tea books stored underneath for quick reading.

Behind the love seat is a sofa table with my new faux Amaryllis I bought from my favorite store and a cloche for my new little mercury glass bird.

The black box I used on the coffee table at Christmas is showing off some of my favorite things.
And my pet dog is watching everything that goes on around our house. We don't have a real live dog, but if someone new walks in our front door-they think the dog is real. We love him.

The mantel is simple too. Old books, a photo of the farmland in England and a pair of antlers.

I found the antlers in our garage. My sweetheart is a great Deer and Elk hunter and he has many pairs of large and beautiful antlers hanging in his shop. He gave me this pair because they were broken and he didn't want to hang them up. LUCKY ME. I dusted them off and they were good to go...

So I have had a tea party for one and a living room make over. BUSY DAY!!!

I'm joining

A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday

and

Rose Chintz Cottage for Tea Time Tuesday

Thank you so much for visiting My Cozy Corner.

I love your comments and a BIG HELLO to my new followers.

Betty

A New Angel for the Garden

2012-01-08T21:07:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone
I hope you all are having a great weekend. I have been busy cleaning my craft room. I'm going to try and be more prepared for our church bazaar in December 2012.

I hope to show you some of the items I will be selling and maybe put some of them in my Etsy Store.

As you know from my last post, sweetheart is building a pergola in our side yard. I thought I would love to have a new Angel for the Garden.

I found her!!!

She is about 4 feet tall and I love the way she is posing.

I think this New Angel will be a wonderful addition to

My Secret Garden.

I'm joining

Little Red House for Mosaic Monday

Faded Charm for White Wednesday

and

A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday

Thanks for visiting My Cozy Corner

Betty

My Secret Garden~Making a Plan

2012-01-08T13:49:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,

While everyone was decorating for Halloween and doing Thanksgiving Tablescapes. My Sweetheart was busy building a pergola in our side yard. I'm so happy with the project that in the next few weeks I will be sharing with you the progress as the pergola is turned into

' My Secret Garden'

The size of the Pergola was decided. 14 feet x 14 feet. Sweetheart put the stakes in the ground where the holes are to be dug...

I'm getting excited already.

Each hole is 18 inches deep.

OK!!! One hole is dug... I love this photo.

The four holes are dug and now the area for the pergola is ready for construction.

The string is to mark the center of the hole for the each bolt and post holder after the cement dries a bit, but is not completely set.

The boxes are made and we are

Ready to pour cement.

Check out next Monday for the more photos.

I'm joining:

Between naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday

and

Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday

Thanks for visiting My Cozy Corner

Betty

Winter Gardening Inside

2012-01-07T00:54:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,

Well I went back to my regular work hours today and I'm so excited to get this new year started with some new projects, adventures and beautiful eye candy. I want to start off this year by giving you a view of my winter garden inside the dining room.

The weather has been extremely mild so far this winter and usually in January we have a considerable amount of rainfall in the upper portion of Northern California. But this year it is very unusual. We are having cold mornings and sunny afternoon. During this time of year I'm cooking comfort food, reading, crafting and blogging.

My other frost tender plants are outside covered with burlap and watered everyday with an automatic timer.
They are in the very far corner of our patio where it is the warmest. A few years ago I lost my tree fern and many other tender plants from frost. It wasn't fun replacing the beautiful old plants. I wanted to cry. That's when Sweetheart invented our present system to save the plants from freezing.

I brought my Pink Geranium into the house to enjoy and also it added some additional Pink to my 'Pink and White' Tea Party. Here

My Spider Plant is about 10 years old and has lots of babies.

The angels are usually outside, but I thought it would be lovely to bring them in for the winter.

The chairs sit in the sunny window all winter long. I can sit and look out and see the back yard and enjoy a morning cup of coffee or a cup of tea in the afternoon.

My Peace Lily or 'Spathiphyllum' is a welcome addition to the indoor garden.

Pink~Pink~Pink

I'm joining:

How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday

and

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday

Thank you followers and I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Betty

A Year in Review 2011

2012-01-01T23:21:00.000-08:00

January

Hello Everyone,

Everyday this week I'll will be working all day. Ouch!! We are doing inventory at my favorite store.

Tuesday Morning.

I thought I would share some of my favorite mosaics from each month of 2011...

February

I love my snow!

March

April

May

A garden tour

June

I saw the Queen

July

August

September

October

November

December

2011 was a fabulous year for me. I traveled, photographed, gardened, decorated and blogged about everything...

~Thank you for being here~

and

Thank you for visiting My Cozy Corner

Thanks to all my family, friends and followers from the bottom of my heart.

I am grateful for the blessings of health, happiness and prosperity. (wealth comes in many forms).

This week I will be joining some awesome parties.

The Little Red House for Mosaic Monday

A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday

Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday

No Minimalist Here for Open House Here Thursday

My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

Betty

~HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011~

2011-12-31T20:06:00.000-08:00

WISHING YOU AND YOURS

VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR

FROM

MY COZY CORNER

YOUR COZY CORNER

BETTY

Blogiversary # 2

2011-12-23T22:47:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone!

Yes it's my second year of blogging.

I started on Christmas Day, December 25th. 2009.

I had been lurking around blog land for about six months and decided to jump in the middle of the herd. Ha! Ha!

Now I will be skating into 2012 with more adventures.

Life is good today!

Merry Christmas

and

Best Wishes

for
the
New Year
xo
Betty

I Love Tea Parties~Pink and White Tea

2011-12-23T00:04:00.000-08:00

Welcome

I have a few recipes and some photos to share of My Pink and White Tea.

The table was set all pink and white.

My friends all arrived to enjoy the day.

We started our afternoon enjoying a glass of

Mock Champagne in the living room
and
we moved into the dining room for
Tea

Each lady selected a tea pot and their favorite tea.

Bentley's Peach Tea

Bentley's Green Tea

Bentley's Earl Grey Tea

Twining's Chai Tea

Twining's English Breakfast Tea

and

Twining's Darjeeling Tea

Group Photo
Thank you ladies for coming to my tea party

Menu
Mock Champagne
Tea of choice
Fabulous Scones
Lemon Curd
Whipped Cream
Real Butter
and
Strawberry Jam

Putting on the Ritz Egg Sandwiches
Chive Cream Cheese and Cucumber Tea Sandwiches
Prosciutto Melon Tea Sandwiches
Dove Candy
and
Chocolate cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting and Peppermint candy sprinkles

All printable recipes

I used silver cupcake liners to match my pink, white and silver theme.

Thank you for visiting My Cozy Corner

I'm joining

and

Please link back and enjoy the wonderful inspiration

Have a Merry Holiday

and

A Happy New Year

Betty

Tablescape # 38

2011-12-21T16:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome everyone to

Pink and White Tea.

On Friday December 16th. I invited my dear friends for a Pink and White tea party. I have known these ladies for 43 years and wanted to celebrate our friendship with a small tea party.

Please come along today and tomorrow and I will share with you our very nice day together.

I want to thank my sister-in-law for inspiring me to start collecting pink transfer ware and

I love my NEW Classic PINK WILLOW made in England by Churchill.

I purchased this set from my favorite store

TUESDAY MORNING

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ME!!!

I have 8 toile napkins and a runner for the table. The crackers were fun to open and we read the jokes to each other. Each person had a dove candy and we also read the inspiration out loud.

As in every one's life each one of my guests has been on a life changing journey. With our fellowship we give each other support and love by telephone calls and having get togethers as often as possible.

I love My Wonderful Friends.

The silver charger on the white linen tablecloth was just the right touch. With my First Love silver plate flatware I think it goes well together.

The simple hurricanes and red candles on a Pink Willow salad plate added to my centerpiece.

A silver plated bread basket held the scones.

Crystal sugar and creamer...Vintage glassware for homemade lemon curd and REAL butter and strawberry jam for the scones.

Each lady received a gift. I wrapped a book about tea in red paper with silver thread to add to the festive day.

As the afternoon went on, we enjoyed our dessert of Chocolate Chip cupcakes with White Chocolate, cream cheese frosting and peppermint candy sprinkles.

Another YUM...

I had a great time making the food we ate and the gifts to give.

It is really more fun to give than receive.

Thank you all for coming to my

Pink and White Tea

I will be sharing my tablescape and story with:

Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday

Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday

and

No Minimalist Here for Open House Party.

Please join me on Friday when I share the Menu and the rest of my

Pink and White Tea.

Hello to Stitch a new follower.

Betty

My Christmas Mantel and Vignettes

2011-12-19T22:39:00.000-08:00

Welcome everyone. It's time to show some table tops and a mantel. I know there were parties to show off my mantel and vignettes...but I just couldn't get my DUCKS lined up in time. Now with the holiday season I have been working the late evening hours at Tuesday Morning. I love to work from 4 to 9 pm because I can PLAY all day...This year I bought a lighted wreath at Walmart. I really like the lights next to the mirror. The reflection of the little lights at Christmas is so wonderful and the small nativity I found on clearance.

This year I have two nativity sets on the mantel. Last year I had the angels on the mantel Here. The swag is lit and the stockings are hung for Santa to fill. With the Christmas Tree lights and the lights on the mantel the living room is very Cozy in the evening.

The Old Homco Bisque vintage 9pc Christmas set I bought is the early 70's Here. My children loved to set it up at Christmas time. I was wondering the other day is there a proper place to put Mary and Joesph?

Last year I had this nativity on our Christmas dinner table as the centerpiece Here. I bought the 11 piece nativity at an Estate Sale for $5.00.

We all love ribbon candy!

'Vintage Swedish Chimes'

I was reading a decorating book awhile ago and saw a photo of Christmas decorations in a box on a table. The Copy Cat that I am ~This is my interpretation of the 'Christmas Box'.

The Christmas Tea Cup

Some Sweet Candy

And a special heart

Just a few reminders of the wonderful time of year we are celebrating.

I'm joining:

A Stroll thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday

A Delightsome Life for A Return to Loveliness

and

Rose Chintz Cottage for Tea Time Tuesday

Thank you for visiting My Cozy Corner

Betty

My Christmas Trees!

2011-12-18T18:14:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone.
We are now in the count down mode...Until Christmas Day

Today is Monday and it's Met Monday and I'm happy to say
Happy Holidays to all my friends, family, followers and visitors to
My Cozy Corner

My Cozy Corner in 2010

~Old Tree~

2011 My Cozy Corner

~New Tree~
Now on to my

Christmas Trees Story

I collect Angel Christmas Tree ornaments

and these are a few of my favorites.

This is my story and I'm sticking to it.

In 2010 our Christmas Tree had a few problems with the lights.

I've had my 2010 tree for some years and the lights on the tree were the kind that if one goes out they all go out.

No problem for years.

Last year when I put up the tree the bottom of the tree didn't light up. So I decided I would put a string of lights on for one more year. I just didn't want to go out and buy a new tree last year. Well this year when I started to put the tree together the whole tree wouldn't light up...

Oh My Gosh! I had to buy a tree. Sweetheart and I went to find a tree with the lights that if one goes out the rest stay on.

Yes... We found a tree.

~This one~

OK- I like little trees, but this one was just to small and the idea was to take it back when we found a larger tree... ha ha ha! Yeah right...

Sweetheart and I took off to shop for a larger tree and we found this one. I put the tree on a table and I love it.

Now I have two trees in the living room. LOL!

I hope you have enjoyed the tale of two trees. I started with one tree and now I have two trees + the feather tree. Here

Have a great week and Peace be with you.

I'm joining

Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday

and

The Little Red House for Mosaic Monday

Welcome Shabby Chic Diva

and

Suzann

My newest followers.

Betty

I Love My Angels

2011-12-16T23:56:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays to Everyone.

Just think next Saturday is Christmas Eve.

About 20 years ago I started collecting angels ornaments for my Christmas tree. Then I started to fall in love with large tree top angels. Now I have included some tall and whimsical angels to my collection.

This cutie has a votive candle at the base. I moved the watch collection to the top of the curio cabinet until after Christmas. The Angels are using their space on the bookcase. You will soon see why they were moved.

Most of the angels are purchased at yard sales or on clearance.

I found some lighted garland and decorated my bookcase with a small light from my guest room and some of the tree top angels along with the whimsical ones adorn the top shelf.

I bought my favorite standing angel about ten years ago at the Kraft Library Here.

A myriad of wonderful angels.

This wonderful angel is held with the highest esteem

This is an authentic vintage Swedish Angel Chime. I purchased it when my children were very small. It represents the Advent Wreath and one candle is lit each Sunday before Christmas.

I love this angel!

I'm so happy to have a pair of lovely angels that are twins. Their mother is the Tree Top Angel holding the ribbon and the angels are Christmas tree ornaments

Thank you for joining me as I show you my joyful collection.

I'm joining

How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday

and

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday

Have a great weekend.

Betty

Come to a Church Bazaar!

2011-12-15T14:45:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,

Welcome to the Church Bazaar. I wanted to share with you a few things I made to sell at our Church Bazaar. We are building a new church and the Women of the Anglican Church try to help raise funds for the little extras that go into building a new church.

Yarn by the bag and Potpourri in Martini and Margareta glasses

Pomegranate jelly made with the juice from our tree

It's a big seller

Printable Recipe here

Handmade paper ornaments

Handmade Christmas pins

Handmade greeting cards

My table at the Bazaar

Yard sale item to resale

Cute yard sale felt stockings and potholder

Homemade Banana and Zucchini bread

Busy! Busy! Busy!

I'm joining

Show and Tell Friday

Inspiration Friday

and

Foodie Friday

Thank you for visiting

Betty

Christmas in the Dining Room

2011-12-13T14:31:00.000-08:00

Happy Holiday to all.

12 days to Christmas and we are almost ready at My Cozy Corner.

The dining room is ready for my Christmas Tea on Friday.

I will be sharing photos of the afternoon with you next week.

But now, on to Christmas in the Dining room.

Let's work around clockwise.

The vintage English Dishes I used for my Thanksgiving Tablescape(Here) have found a new home on the top of the china cabinet that holds the glassware and silver pieces.

A little bear represents my Christmas theme.

Now let's move over to the tea cup cabinet. I put my Delft Blue and White dishes on top and I think they have found a new home also. For this Christmas season I decorated them with some small nutcrackers, lights and a bit of greenery.

A cloche with cups and saucers

Sugar and Creamer and my Blue and White tea pot

I moved the buffet over to the window for the winter months.

I have collected a few Nutcrackers and I used my Tartan runner I made from a tablecloth. I think the nutcrackers look very regal and special.

Now let's see

'English Dishes'

'Dutch Dishes'

'German Nutcrackers'

'Scottish Tartan runner'

'Olde English Christmas crackers'

History: Wikipedia~The Oxford English Dictionary records the use of cracker bon-bons and the pulling of crackers from the early 1840's. Tradition tells of how Thomas J. Smith of London invented crackers sometime in the 1840's. He created the crackers as a development of his bon-bon sweets, which he sold in a twist of paper (the origins of the traditional sweet-wrapper). As sales of bon-bons slumped, Smith began to come up with new promotional ideas. His first tactic was to insert mottos into the wrappers of the sweets (cf.fortune cookies), but this had only limited success.

Smith added the "crackle" element when he heard the crackle of a log he had just put on a fire. The size of the paper wrapper had to be increased to incorporate the banger mechanism, and the sweet itself was eventually dropped, to be replaced by a small gift. See more about the cracker Here.

'Mexician Poinsettia'

Our entertainment center in the dining room holds

The Twelve Days of Christmas dishes.

I've had these dishes for years. We would have dinner and the kids would try to find the salad plate with the five golden rings so they could sing the most. What a hoot.

The Twelve Days of Christmas are from Christmas Day until the beginning of Epiphany January 6th; (the 12 days count from December 25th until January 5th). Here for more information.

Around the room to the Feather Tree Here

I was visiting Pat @ Back Porch the other day and saw a darling sleigh decoration.

Pat. I'm a copy cat~ I found this sleigh and put together my version of a Christmas sleigh.

Thank you Pat for your inspiration!

Wow!!!

Well! We have toured the Dining room and I've had a great time sharing with you My Cozy Corner.

I'm joining:

Table Top Tuesday

Wow Us Wednesday

and

No Minimalist Here Thursday

Thanks for visiting and a big hello to

okio B Designs

and

A Lapin Life

my newest followers.

Betty

see you soon

~In the Christmas Spirit~

2011-12-08T12:40:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone and Happy Holidays

2010

This is a photo of my son's house last year.

He and his family have been collecting outdoor Christmas decorations for years.

They add one piece a year.

Good Job Pat and Tori!

2011

The Christmas gifts are the 2011 addition to their collection.

The mail box opens and closes

"very cute"

We enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with our family and just as we were to leave I photographed the outdoor lights for this post.

They moved the train to the side yard. Last year it was in front of the house.

Now a view of My Cozy Corner

2011

This is my wreath on our front porch.
I love Scotland and a Tartan

Ribbon was an absolute necessity

This is our Yellow House with a Gingerbread house look. My sweetheart built the iron fencing around our property, and it's a great place to hang our colored lights

Our mail box has a festive look with a Santa hat on top of the lamp post.

As you can see we are all decked out for the Holiday Season

and

~In the Christmas Spirit~

Thank you for visiting My Cozy Corner

and a

Big Hello to Pat's Pink Apron and Theresa @ Take a Sentimental Journey. They are my newest followers. Thanks ladies.

I'm joining

and

Please link back and see the wonderful holiday ideas

Betty

See you soon

Tablescape # 37

2011-12-05T23:01:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,

How was your weekend? I had a great time.

I was invited to attend a...

Christmas Tea

Please come with me to the Christmas Tea

We are sitting at

Debbie's Table #20

~What an amazing centerpiece~

Pink Depression Glass Dishes,Cups and saucers

(when I arrived the bright lights were on for the decorating committee)

Gold Plated Flatware

( most photos were taken when the lights were dimmed and camera speed was 3200 without a tripod)

Pink Depression Glassware

~Just Beautiful~

~Jeweled Napkin Rings~

~Sparkling Butterflies~

and

Brown Sugar to match the decor!

Beautiful Tea Set

and

A vintage lace table linen

~A Beautiful Hostess~

Oh My Gosh!

~Beautiful Chair Covers~

'Debbie is Perfection'

Dear Debbie

Thank you again for the wonderful afternoon joining you at

'A Christmas Tea'

I'm joining:

Christmas Tea

A Return to Loveliness

A Big Hello to a New Follower

Mom Wald

Thanks for visiting My Cozy Corner
Please come back soon
xo
Betty

A Chirstmas Pin~2010

2011-12-04T00:09:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,
Are you having a great time preparing for a wonderful week of parties?
I wanted to repost this tutorial on
How to make a Christmas Pinfrom puzzle pieces.

How to Make a Christmas Wreath Pin "2010"

Before

Last year I was shopping with my sister at Christmas time and she was wearing a darling wreath pin. A friend had made it for her out of small puzzle pieces. I was amazed and I had to have one. Well, while at a yard sale this year I found two bags of small puzzle pieces for .10 cents. Yes. You guessed it. There was the material for my wreath pin.

I took the puzzle pieces and made a round circle and glued them together with Aleene's Tacky Glue. My granddaughter is making some wreath pins as Christmas gifts for her teachers and friends. So we are doing this project together. I just love the girls to be interested in creative activities. Especially with me.

I found 3/4 inch bar pins at Jo Ann's fabric store and glued one on the back of the wreath .

While making Christmas cards I bought this marvelous glitter. "Stickles" for paper crafting. It's glue and glitter combined. Doesn't fall off. I put 'Star Dust' on my pin.

After

Added embellishments and one Christmas pin finished!!!

My Christmas Wreath Pin

I love it.

I'm planning to make more pins in a couple of days. They are so easy and cute on a jacket. Just a little bit of Christmas!

Thanks Chari for having Sunday Favorites.
It's fun to "re-run" a favorite blog post. Especially at Christmas time when we all need a few new ideas.
I'm also joining the wonderful blog parties of Susan and Mary.

Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday

and

Little Red House for Mosaic Monday

Please link back to the hosts and visit the delightful posts.

Thank you so much for visiting

My Cozy Corner

xo
Betty

Tea Under My Feather Tree...

2011-11-30T15:35:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Tea Under My Feather Tree

Hello Everyone,

The Holiday Season is officially here!

and

I need a cup of tea!

I brought the sofa table in from the living room for the holiday season. The feather tree is decorated with red ornaments. The Tea is ready and a piece of candy or two.

As the blogland parties progress I will be revealing the different themes for each room.

The dining room has a Scottish theme. I'm still dreaming about my wonderful experience in Scotland this summer.

I wish I could explain the feeling I have when I arrange a vignette for a post. It's exciting to see the elements develop a picture. Something sweet and soft. Romantic and delightful.

A story in a tray.

My great grandmother's spoon she brought from England in 1914. A great way to have one cup of tea.

The napkin-handkerchief is from a collection of linens I found at a yard sale.

Red and white napkin was another yard sale purchase. I love yard sales...

The Christmas cup is part of a set of dishes I bought years ago. Soon I will have a tablescape using the complete set.

There is a secret about the Christmas dishes and I don't want to let the cat out of the bag.

Tuesday Morning is my best friend. I found the reindeer ornaments for .27cents each in a clearance box. Can you see how I hung them from my feather tree?

I bought the tea pot drip catchers from a tea shop. They are wonderful and save the good linens.

Don't these look delicious? This little box of candy is a Christmas ornament. Yum...

The sparkly reindeer are so adorable and I think they will soon be meeting up with Santa for their midnight ride.

The red tea pot is the perfect size for one person to have a cup of tea or two.

I would love to have more the same size.

I looked at this photo and noticed the yellow on the top of the candle. Isn't it interesting that it's a different color from the candle. It must be some chemistry thing. And of course the candle is off center a little. As I say "nothing is perfect in my world."

I hope you've had a little rest from your busy day. And I must join the great parties going on in blogland.

Wow Us Wednesday

Tablescape Thursday

Show and Tell Friday
Feathered Nest Friday
Inspiration Friday

Pink Saturday

And

Seasonal Sunday

Have a great weekend and see you at

Table Decor

and

Christmas Tea

next week

xo
Betty

Hello to new followers
Cottage and Broom
Phyllis@aroundrhouse

~Christmas 2010~

2011-11-27T19:36:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,

Some of you are new to my blog, so I thought you would like to see some of My Cozy Corner Christmas from last year.

The Tea and sweets are set by the fire in the living room.

Christmas in the dining room. I love to decorate my feather tree.

I have been working on decorating My Cozy Corner for a few days now and I think I'm almost finished.

Angels everywhere! Our tree is 4' 5'' tall and covered with angels.

After visiting England this summer I have a great appreciation for the Victorian Era. The Dresden ornaments are so stunning and to see the last year's Dresden post go Here

This is what Christmas means to me.

A Christmas cookbook and traditions

Yuletide camellias

A cup of tea and some sweets

and

A beautiful Christmas candle

Well I'm off to finish decorating.

Hope to see you soon.

I'm linking

Mosaic Monday

Table Top Tuesday

A Return to Loveliness

and

Tea Time Tuesday

Please join me!

Betty

My Thanksgiving Wish

2011-11-24T06:00:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,

Time has flown by this year.

The dishes are set for Thanksgiving dinner.

Our friends and family are gathered together.

And we are full of gratitude for the wonderful life we have.

Bless you all

Happy Thanksgiving

Betty @ My Cozy Corner

Off to Grandmother's House We Go!

2011-11-21T13:55:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,
I hope you are having a great week. With all the planning that goes into preparing a large dinner I know you are very busy.
But please take some time and enjoy a Butterscotch Roll and a cup of hot chocolate for a minute or two.
Off to Grandmother's house we go!
Oh!

That's me. I'm the Grandmother and I off to have a Thanksgiving Feast with the children and grandchildren. But before we go I thought I would bake a batch of Butterscotch rolls. Sweetheart and I are going to have a cup of hot chocolate and a sweet butterscotch roll we start to pack the car. Oh! Please don't think I get away without doing something on Thanksgiving Day. I love bringing goodies and a few surprises to my children and grandchildren, since we don't get together very often.
You know how busy young adults are these days. They are both working and my two granddaughters are busy with collage and senior year in high school. They are so adorable.

Now for the Butterscotch Rolls.
(Printable Recipe)

Butterscotch Rolls

No-Knead Refrigerator Rolls

2 pkg. active dry or 2 cakes compressed yeast
2 cups water (use warm water, 110*, with dry yeast , 85*, with compressed yeast)
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp. salt
6 1/2 to 7 cups sifted Gold Medal Flour
1 egg
1/4 cup soft shortening

In mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Add sugar, salt and about half the flour. Beat thoroughly 2 min. Add egg and shortening. Gradually beat in remaining flour until smooth. Cover with damp cloth; place in refrigerator. Punch down occasionally as dough rises in refrigerator. About 2 hr. before baking, cut off amount needed and return to refrigerator. Shape into rolls and place on greased baking sheet. Cover. Let rise until light (1 1/2 to 2hr.). Heat oven to 400* (mod hot). Bake 12 to 15 min. 4 doz. medium rolls.

Cinnamon Rolls
(use recipe above)
Use 1/2 No-Knead Refrigerator Roll Dough.

Take out of Refrigerator and roll dough into oblong, 15x9".

1. Spread with 2 tbsp. softened butter and sprinkle with 1/2 cup sugar and 2 tsp. cinnamon.

2. Roll up tightly, beginning at wide side. Seal well by pinching edges of roll together. Stretch roll slightly to even.

3. Cut roll into 1" slices. Place a little apart in greased 13x9" pan or 18 greased muffin cups.

Cover and let rise until double in bulk(35 to 40 min.). Bake until golden brown. While slightly warm, frost with Quick White Icing.

TEMPERATURE: 375* (quick mod. oven).
TIME: 25 TO 30 min.
AMOUNT: 1 1/2 doz rolls.

BUTTERSCOTCH ROLLS

Make Cinnamon Rolls as above-EXCEPT coat the baking dish with

1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup brown sugar (packed) - sprinkle on melted butter
1 tbsp. corn syrup or water
1/2 cup nuts
Place 1" slices on top of Butterscotch mixture
Bake.

Immediately turn upside down on a large tray. Let pan stay over rolls a minute so butterscotch runs down over them.

Yum!!!

I have moved the buffet table next to the back window for the winter. I hope to take more photos with the natural light that comes into the house from these windows.

Poor St. Patrick is just so beat up from the rainy weather. I found just three blooms.
Exactly what I needed for this Tablescape.

A cup of nice hot chocolate is going to warm us up for the trip. We only travel about 60 miles and the walnut orchards are so beautiful this time of the year.
The white cups are from the thrift store and I only have two.

The little tea pots were a gift from a friend. She knows I love tea and gave me two little pots.
I'm sure my grand girls would love to use them also.

The yellow plates I found a Tues Morning. They were very inexpensive. Perfect plate for butterscotch cinnamon rolls.

The flatware is our everyday and the pottery creamer was a thrifty find.
Napkins are my standard monogrammed white linen and the yellow napkin rings are from the thrift store.

Well, I'm off to visit the children.
and
I'm happy you stopped by to say hello.
A big hello to
Tom Travel and PJ
They are new followers of My Cozy Corner.
~Welcome~

I'm joining:

A Stroll thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday
Coastal Charm for Thrifty Tuesday
Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday
Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday
My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
At The Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday
and
French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

Hope you all have a Wonderful Thanksgiving Day Feast
xo
Betty

Tablescape # 36

2011-11-16T12:23:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,

I know when I do a Thanksgiving Tablescape The year is almost over.

After November 24th 2011

It is January 1st 2012.

December just disappears.

Please join me as I set our Thanksgiving table for November 24, 2011

Last year was my first Thanksgiving in Blogland. I was so overwhelmed with the myriad of wonderful Tablescapes. If blogging was a job! I would say I LOVE THIS JOB~

Candle Stick Holders~Vintage Christmas gift. Define vintage-Anything over 50 years. Well I guess I'm vintage. LOL~

Acorn Plates~Michael's Craft Store this year $1.00 each. Oven, dishwasher and Microwave safe.

I love them. Not just for decoration.

Salad Plate

Staffordshire - England Genuine Hand Engraving by Ridgway

"Antique Rose"

4125

Please note: I had the dessert spoon above the plate, but as you can see the space is limited. In my haste to photograph the tablescape I forgot to put the soup spoon in the correct place.
Senior moment~Please forgive me!

If you need a yellow dish - Go to the Dollar Tree. I did.

Dinner Plate

Amber votives from a Thrift Store - 6 for $2.00

If you are new to my blog I love foul. My Cozy Corner living room has many duck prints and foul related decor.

But this Duck is my pride and joy. Why you ask?

Because

My Son Carved It for Me.

I have different glassware and different shades of brown cloth napkins. I purchased 4 brown napkins for a tablescape for 4 place settings.

With the 6 place setting I needed more brown napkins. But alas I could not find the same ones. So 3 chocolate brown napkins and 3 brown napkins were used on this table. I have read in magazines that it's OK to mix it up a bit.

different shades of colored napkins

The flatware is 'Affection'

The cups and the creamer are ready for coffee and some dessert.

I love the look of the GOLD Chargers

Wooden napkin rings give this tablescape a woodsy feel and I added a lighter brown tone napkin to the brown napkins at each place setting.

The lighting for the photos was from overhead and the time of day was around four in the afternoon. We usually have our Thanksgiving Dinner in the evening. And the table would have this lighting and the gold tablecloth adds more gold tones to the photos.

Thank you for joining me as I set the dinner table for a Thanksgiving feast at My Cozy Corner.

I'm joining some special folks that have made a big difference in my life this year.

I am a Grateful Blogger.

Please visit my friends.

Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday

At The Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday

A Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday
The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday

and

Little Red House for Mosaic Monday

Have a great Thanksgiving Holiday.

Betty

How to Style My Coffee Table

2011-11-14T14:22:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,

A beautiful fall day in Northern California

Remember 'My Cozy Corner's Living Room' Here Where the Old Fogies live!

The other day I was looking in my November issue of Southern Living (page 62) and the designer and Southern style expert Phoebe Howard solved one of my most pressing decorating dilemmas.

A foolproof formula for arranging a coffee table.

I started with

#1 Something Tall - A candle sitting in coffee beans.

#2 One Oddball Object - Two pair of vintage eye glasses.

#3 Something Fresh - A friend of mine gave me a huge amount of succulents and I planted them in this pot.

#4 A Stack of Books - That was the easy part. I have stacks of books on all my tables and under my tables. When I travel I love to read about where I'm going and when I return read about where I've been.

Hopefully I will find a taller Hurricane vase to use for my Christmas Coffee Table vignette.

If you are wondering what's in the box!

It's a vintage 1930's Mah Jong set. It belonged to my Sweetheart's parents. I love to read English decorating magazines and they are right under the coffee table handy for me to pick up any time I need England fix or some inspiration on country living.

I have always been an archivist and I have over 20 photo albums with old photos. My sweet daughter decided to scan all the original photos and place them in this large album with archival holders. Then as a Christmas gift last year she made a DVD of all the photos and gave a copy of the DVD her brothers and to us. The DVD covers 1960 to 1979. She is planning to finish the project after she gets her Master's Degree next year. With school, two young girls and working I can understand there is no time for scanning old history. I'm so grateful to have such a wonderful and caring daughter. Wow... Where did all that come from?

I changed the look of the mantel for a more Thanksgiving look. I love Mr. and Mrs. Pilgrims.

2010

2011 "Fall Mantel'

Close up of the cute couple.

And I love the Red Poppies. They remind me of the beautiful fields of England.

I'm always so happy that you have come to visit My Cozy Corner.

I hopping to some parties. Please come along and have some fun.

A Stroll thru Life for Table Top Tuesday

Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday

and

No Minimalist Here for Open House Thursday

Come back soon

Betty

~My Final Days in England 2011~

2011-11-11T11:29:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,
The final days of my trip

to England are just about over.

Tuesday June 21st our group departed York for Escomb to view a Saxon church.

Escomb Saxon Church

is one of the oldest Anglo-Saxon churches in England, approximately 2.5 km to the west of Bishop Auckland, County Durham. Founded in 670-675, much of the stone came from the nearby Roman Fort at Binchester.

We stopped for lunch at "The Saxon Inn" and had a Ploughman's

( a cold snack originating in the United Kingdom) Here Wikipedia
After lunch we departed for Durham

Durham Cathedral

Arriving at Durham Cathedral we had a grand tour and attended evensong service in the evening.

Harry Potter's Classroom at Hogwarts School

Real Location

The Charter House, which is on the east side of the cloister, became a classroom, complete with oak benches and desks, a high-backed chair for the teacher and a blackboard with occult doodling on it.

Minerva Mc Gonagall's Classroom
at Hogwarts School

The Verger is showing us a Finely embroidered cope.

This ancient closet, containing the copes used in this cathedral church till AD 1759, was repaired in AD 1859 and restored to its original use in AD 1959

This closet sits at the end of the Chapter House.

The shrine of St Cuthbert today. St. Cuthbert's shrine was covered with a richly-embroidered cloth, which was raised on special occasions to expose the lavishly decorated shrine itself. The shrine's gilt cover depicted Christ on a rainbow on one side and Christ as a baby being carried by Mary on the other. At the edges of the cloth were six silver bells, which tingled when the cover was lifted, drawing the attention of the people in the Cathedral. The current cover of the shrine, not of cloth, is inspired by the description of the 16th century shrine covering .

The beautiful embroidered kneelers surround St Cuthbert's Shrine.

On June 22nd. The last day of our official tour our group visited

Chesters Roman Fort at Hadrian's Wall.

Hadrian's Wall has a long history in England. In about A.D. 122, during the reign of Emperor Hadrian, The Romans built this great stone wall. The wall stretches 73 miles coast to coast across the narrowest stretch of northern England it was built and defended by some 20,000 troops.

What a great sight to see.

Standing at the Roman Fort I looked out over the country side and saw the beautiful red poppy field.

The wonderful farm building and sheep in the pasture. This photo is so precious to me. It reminds me of the wonderful calmness and serenity of a simple life.

As I looked at the River Tyne I had an image of the amazing history of this country.

To see more of the beautiful land at Chesters Roman Fort click HERE

Now I must say Good-Bye to my beautiful

heritage. I hope to visit again.

Thank you all for joining me on my journey thru England and Scotland.

I'm joining

Little Red House for Mosaic Monday

and

A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday

A Big Hello to

Susie Lavender

and

Jude Butterfly

new followers of My Cozy Corner

Hugs and Kisses

Betty

~Christmas Preview~

2011-11-10T19:48:00.000-08:00

House of Design

A few of my special friends and I drove to this beautiful building last Friday and experienced some

'Christmas Bliss'

The Kraft Memorial Free Library building is one of the finest examples of Classic Revival Style, also known as Neoclassic architecture. Last year I blogged about this beautiful library. Please check it out Here

The mood for The Fall is still in the air. This table top vignette is wonderful.

I almost bought the pitcher. But, I always pause and remember my thriftiness. LOL. What a bunch of blah~blah~blah that was...

I just love to come here once a year to enjoy the moment. Everything is so beautiful.

This is the first Christmas tree I saw as I walked in the building. Amazing....

A cloche for Marty @ A Stroll Thru Life.

This jolly fellow is at the front entrance. I love the lamp. I walk in and say to myself "I'll take it all" and put it in my car!

Decorations

Santa

Christmas Trees

The Time Piece was on the back of Santa's coat

Angel over the door

This tree is just loaded with fabulous ornaments.

A Christmas Tree decorated with all kinds of birds... Amazing

Hope you have enjoyed your tour of the House of Design.

I'm joining my friends for a party or two.

My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

At The Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday

The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday

and

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday

A Big Hello to My New Followers

Sharon Akers

Courtney-French Country Cottage

The Charm of Home

Thank you so much for your wonderful comments and visiting My Cozy Corner

Betty

My Cozy Corner

~Love Muffins~

Tablescape # 41

Chocolate Kiss Tea!

My Valentine Love Story ~ 2011

More Pink and White

A Beautiful Home ~ Someone Special

My Back Yard Before and After~2011

Dreaming of Spring Planting

Tablescape # 40

Drum Roll~The Pergola is Finished

A Lenten Rose and Tea Time

My Secret Garden-Setting the Posts

Tablescape # 39 'Snowflakes'

~Keeping It Simple Sweetie~

A New Angel for the Garden

My Secret Garden~Making a Plan

Winter Gardening Inside

A Year in Review 2011

~HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011~

Blogiversary # 2

I Love Tea Parties~Pink and White Tea

Tablescape # 38

My Christmas Mantel and Vignettes

My Christmas Trees!

*I Love My Angels*

Come to a Church Bazaar!

Christmas in the Dining Room

~In the Christmas Spirit~

Tablescape # 37

A Chirstmas Pin~2010

Tea Under My Feather Tree...

~Christmas 2010~

My Thanksgiving Wish

Off to Grandmother's House We Go!

Tablescape # 36

How to Style My Coffee Table

~My Final Days in England 2011~

~Christmas Preview~

I Love My Angels