Angel~Tea Cups~Cloche

Happy Thursday to all of you wonderful bloggers and friends.

Yes, I'm very happy today. The sun is warming the ground and the temps are amazing. We are in the low 80's and perfect weather for gardening. I've been planting outside for the past few days.
Our garden tour is only 23 days away. 

I visited my favorite thrift store last week and found another cupid. Or (baby angel) and two new tea cups. Our Camellia tree is blooming and I couldn't resist to set a table with my new little friends.

While it was raining a few weeks ago, I was ironing some of my tea towels and some small table cloths and hung them on the clothes rack.  

I love  my cloches and I've always wanted a bell shaped one. While in Michaels Craft store I bought this beauty. Exactly what I've been looking for to showoff my tea cups. 

The three together. *Oh so pretty*

I love my dining room. The windows look out into my garden, but I love my lace curtains for my romantic tablescape. The camellia is an old garden favorite called 'Pink Perfection' and is a wonderful addition to my garden.

Tea Cup under Glass♥

Stanley English Bone China

Paragon Victoriana Rose English Bone China

I'm so happy you came for a visit. I love company.

Hope you enjoyed yourself and please come again. 

Joyously,
Betty
Linking to:
Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Show and Tell at  My Romantic Home
Show and Tell Saturday at Cheerios and Lattes
How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday
Seasonal Sunday at The Tablescaper
Inspired Sunday at Sunday View

Mosaic Monday at Little Red House  

Make It Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House

Your Gonna Love It Tuesday at Kathe with an E   

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home

Tea Time Tuesday at Rose Chintz Cottage 

The Scoop at Cedar Hill Farmhouse 

A Return to Loveliness  at A Delightsome Life 

Tea Cup Tuesday at Martha's Favorites

Tea Cup Tuesday at Artful Affirmations

Tuesday Cuppa Tea at Antiques and Teacups

Tea In The Garden at Bernideen's Tea Time Blog 

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

The Scoop at Cedar Hill Farmhouse

Centerpiece Wednesday - Spring Ideas at The Style Sisters 

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

The Drought in Northern California

Hello everyone, 

I thought you would like to see what a drought looks like... Sweetheart and I took a ride to Shasta Dam a week ago and I took some photos of Shasta Dam and the dam deer at the Shasta Dam Visitors Center. 

They just stood there looking at us as we stopped to take a photo.

As you can see it was a rainy afternoon.  We passed the deer and drove to the launch ramp. Wow that is a long way to back down backwards.  Most experienced boaters drive down to the bottom of the ramp and then turn around and back their boat into the water.  Smart idea.

Some statistics:
Depth at dam: 418.51'
Depth at dam a year ago: 489.19'
Distance from crest: 98.49'
Before 9-11 we could drive across the bridge on top of dam and 4-wheel drive up the mountains along the back side of the dam. After 9-11 the bridge on the top of the dam was closed to automobiles.

The remains of the main 465-foot (142m)tower used to support the cableway system at the cam site

The metal is only seen when the lake is very, very low.

We drove over to another look out point and I captured this panoramic view of the front of the dam.

Totally amazing. 

Fishermen love to fish right up close to the face of the dam. Great bass fishing.

During the summer we enjoy all the beauty of Shasta Lake. Water skiing, boating and house boating. 

Picnics and floating on a raft in a cove are my favorite things to do on this fabulous lake.

I love to travel to far-away places, but I do have a wonderful vacation spot, right in my own back yard.

14.4 miles and 22 minutes from my house to Shasta Dam. Sweet♥

Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Joyously,
Betty
Linking to:
A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday
A Delightsome Life for Home and Garden
The Tablescaper for Oh, the PLACES I've been!

Thank you so much for your wonderful comments.

New Spring Wreath

Welcome everyone,

Hope you're having a sunny weekend. We have a little sun again, and I'll be working in the garden most of next week. We had a couple of rainy days, so I decided to make the wreath for the front porch. The day of the Garden Tour, the members of the Rose society will be sitting at a table on the porch selling tickets and receiving guests. I wanted to use my Boxwood wreath I bought in January to hang over the fireplace for the winter months and add a little sign and burlap bow.
Before

I found a little welcome sign hanging in the patio and hung it to the top of the boxwood wreath. 

While shopping at Michaels Craft store I found 5 feet of burlap for $2.99. Ta-Da a burlap bow. I might add a some white flowers to the center of the bow. It needs a little something more.

The front porch has a large space for the ladies to sit under the porch overhang and stay out of the sun. We never know about our weather the first week of May. It could be hot or cold and rainy. I'm personally praying for perfect weather. As a hostess I always want my home to be PERFECT. LOL!
After

Thanks for stopping by for a visit.
Linking to:
Between naps on the Porch for MetamorphosisMonday
 DIY Showoff for DIY Showoff Party
 Creatively Living for Monday Funday Party
Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Cozy Little House for Tweak It Tuesday
A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me
Home Stories A 2 Z for Tutorials and TipsTuesday

Joyously,
Betty♥

My Photo!!!

Wow! 

I'm so excited to have 

Mt. Shasta Vacation Rentals 

ask to use my Photo...
To see the post about this photo 
Hot Air Balloon Faire
Go Here

http://mtshastavacationrentals.com/

Thank you, 

Donna♥

Tartan Day Tea Time

Welcome everyone,

We had another rainy and cloudy day, but that didn't stop me from heading outside to photograph this post. I wanted to celebrate Tartan Day(April 6), because I love Scotland.  I'm not Scottish, but I traveled to Scotland in 2011 and enjoyed my visit so very much. I would love to return someday. While in Edinburgh I bought a scarf and tam in the "Wallace Clan" tartan pattern.

Nothing is better than pure butter Shortbread cookies.
Walkers are the BEST.

I was going to bake some old fashion shortbread cookies, but I couldn't resist buying these darling 'Scottie Dogs' when I saw them in Safeway last week.

 Very Cute. Don't you think?

The Daffodils are just wonderful. I picked a few for this vase from places that are hidden from the camera's eye. If nothing else in the world that gives me joy, I certainly receive generous doses of joy from my garden. 

I brought out my vintage tea pot for the occasion of our little
Tartan Day Tea Time. 

This is my Tartan scarf and Tartan Tam. I wear them to church on The “Kirking o' the Tartans” in November and especially during the festive Christmas season. 

Our car blanket became my tablecloth today. We carry two blankets in our car all times.

One for each granddaughter or sometimes I cuddle up in the cozy blanket on long road trips.

Have you ever tried to find a tea cup and saucer with a thistle pattern? 

I found this sweet thing at the thrift store. 

The Story of the Thistle

The story goes like this........... 

a very long time ago when Scotland was ravaged by Viking invaders, a group of Scottish fighting men were resting overnight in a field.

Unknown to them, a viking raiding party was preparing to attack this group of Scots, under cover of darkness.

As the attacking Vikings approached the encamped Scots, they stepped into a patch of thistles with their barefeet, and of course cried out in pain, as the thorny thistle spikes imbedded themselves in their feet and legs. The thistle is akin to a weed that inflicts such spines and pain, the 'nettle'. The weed that keeps giving pain for hours after pricking the skin.

The Scots, having been awakened by these cries, were alerted to the invaders and able to fight off the attackers.

So, from that day, the Thistle has been adopted as Scotland's National Emblem. Everywhere you go in Scotland, you will see the emblem or picture of the Thistle. A dangerous little weedy flower, and it can be quite painful and destructive .......just like a Scot!

Scottish folks love their Scottie Dogs too.

MacGregor Clan Tartan Tea Cup and Saucer. Adderley Fine Bone China ENGLAND 

Come sit awhile and enjoy a cup of tea and a little cookie. As the spring days slowly start to stay for more than a day or two at a time...

While touring England and Scotland in June 2011, I wore my Tartan almost everyday.

Hope you have a wonderful week and Happy Tartan Day!
Joyously,
Betty
Linking to:
Foodie Friday at Rattlebridge Farm
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Show and Tell Saturday at Cheerios and Lattes
Seasonal Sunday at The Tablescaper
Inspired Sunday at Sunday View

Mosaic Monday at Little Red House  

Make It Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House

Your Gonna Love It Tuesday at Kathe with an E   

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home

Tea Time Tuesday at Rose Chintz Cottage 

The Scoop at Cedar Hill Farmhouse 

A Return to Loveliness  at A Delightsome Life 

Tea Cup Tuesday at Martha's Favorites

Tea Cup Tuesday at Artful Affirmations

Tuesday Cuppa Tea at Antiques and Teacups

Tea In The Garden at Bernideen's Tea Time Blog 

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

The Scoop at Cedar Hill Farmhouse

Centerpiece Wednesday - Spring Ideas at The Style Sisters 

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

My First Cloche Party

Hey everyone,

We had a little rain this past week. I've got a few posts almost ready, but I wanted to repost my first Easter Cloche party. 

I'm joining Throwback Thursday.

Easter Time~2010

 I am so excited to join a Cloche Party.  When I first read about a Cloche Party I didn't have one Cloche that I knew of. But, I started to look around and what did I see.  Cloches. I decided to decorate my Cloches with an Easter theme.

Thank you Marty for having this party.  Please stroll over to A Stroll Thru Life and see the beautiful decorations.  I am also joining Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday.  Cindy is so creative and her bunnies are adorable.

I found this cloche at a yard sale.  It covered an anversary clock that didn't work and I bought it for $5.00.  My real chocolate bunny is sitting on a small cake stand. 

This cloche is a smaller aniversary clock cover that I bought the same day for $1.00.  This chocolate bunny is sitting in a candy dish.  The cup has a matching spoon and the Camellias are from my C. japonica tree that starts to bloom in early January. 

I love this couple.  They are salt and pepper shakers.  I found this pair at Big Lots for $1.00.  They are standing in a covered cake plate.  As you will see later in the group photo.

My eggs and pansies are sitting under a cheese dome.  I found this cloche at a yard sale for $1.00.

And this candy dish I found at an estate sale for $1.00.

Another sweet couple making Easter bright and cheery.

Here is the whole gang.  The candy in the tall cloche is chocolate and the foil candy is chocolate.  I love chocolate.  In the other candy cloche is assorted flavored jelly belly candy.  SUGAR....SUGAR....SUGAR.

I hope you have enjoyed your time looking at my cloches, bunnies and delicious candy. I have enjoyed sharing them with you.  Please leave a comment and come visit again.
xoxo
Betty

Wow! How my photography and style of blogging has changed over the past four years. I get a thrill every time I publish a post.♥
Linking to:
Throwback Thursday at Glitter Glue and Paint
Home and Garden at A Delightsome Life
Be Inspired at Common Ground
Show and Tell at My Romantic Home
Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound