Early To The Market

 

 

Early in the morning is my favorite time of day to go to the grocery store. First off there are very few people there, and secondly the ones that are there are very friendly. I think they are happy because they're getting a jump on the day. The other thing I like about going to the grocery, no matter the time of year, even a freezing January morning, it's sort of a way to get a garden fix. If I can't see things growing green and lovely outside I can at least see piles of beautiful produce in amazing colors.

It took me a few years to figure out that starting your day bright and early really does make you feel better. It's sort of like having an organized closet. Another thing that took me far to long to figure out, but that's a different post.

Whoa...I've never actually seen one of these in the store before. Should I buy it? Is that fried rice spilling out of it? Uhhh I don't think this is for me.

Now her is an isle I can do some damage in! Have you tried a Bounty Bar? It's like an Almond Joy only I like it a little better.

More British foods. Anyone want a biscuit with their tea? I love how some items sounds so scientific. Digestives.

Another of my favorite isles. CHEESE. Did you know there are over 600 types of cheeses in France? Can you imagine their cheese isle?

This is not one of my favorite isles, but I do think there is something to going gluten free for some of us. Or at least cutting back on it.

 



I wonder how our prices compare to yours?

Thanks for going to the store with me!

Bye!





Mary Cassatt in Miniature

Thank you all for all the lovely feedback on my little greenhouse! If you would like to see more of my moms beautiful miniature creations here is a little sneak peak of her work "Mary Cassatt". You can see more photos and encourage her to post more miniatures ( wink wink) at...

http://madamesewsalot.blogspot.com/2014/01/our-guest-mary-cassatt.html

 
 

Maybe it's Time to Start Cooking Again?

 

 





So, when your onion starts it's own garden that's probably a sign that you need to do some cooking. Your food is getting tired of waiting around. Look at that pumpkin. I bought it at Halloween and it's yet to be turned into something eatable. Next time I start complaining we have nothing to eat I should probably check the bowl on the kitchen table. It's screaming to be turned into soup. I will say though, that onion should open a florist shop. The bowl needed something green, and it really has an eye for contrasting the large orange round pumpkin with the tall lean sprouts. Good job onion. Good job.

 

 

The Small Greenhouse

After seeing Cathy's post over at Morning Musings, full of all the lovely little things she has collected I thought I would show you my tiny greenhouse.

My mom built it for me many years ago and it's one of my very favorite things. I grew up playing with two wonderful dollhouses that my grandmother made for my sister and I. I always found great satisfaction in taking everything out of it and putting it back in a new arrangement. I've rearranged this one a few times too. Hey, it needs dusting out every now and then, it's not like I'm a child ;-).

Adding to it over the years has been a lot of fun. Some of the plants I made myself and some of the plants as well as furniture and other little items I purchased from very talented artists. Miniaturists really are artists.

These charming flowers with faces were picked up over 15 years ago on a trip to London that I took with my mom and sister. I've heard the shop has closed since then, but they are my favorite things in the greenhouse.

Everyone should own a Chia Pet, even very small imaginary people.

My mom also made this little table. She is amazing.

Here are some more goodies...

Some exterior details...

Here are two other purchases that I love. They are both signed on the bottom by the artists and I'm amazed at the detail! I really heart these.

Thanks for visiting the greenhouse! Maybe next time you could help water?

Winter wonderland...a really really cold wonderland.

 

Even the little birds are not venturing outside today. I could only stand being out for about 10 minutes as the wind was burning up my face. It's that cold burn that if you stay out in too long your skin starts to peel. We don't need our skin to peel. I did catch one fellow grabbing a bite to eat. He looks like he's got a good layer of fat to keep him warm.

 

 





Little Pippa (our poodle) played around in the snow a bit and seemed to enjoy. Looks like she was trying to eat it as evident by her snow beard.  I guess her footsies were getting cold though. 






























Little Phoebe (our Chihuahua) was complaining that her people (did you know dogs are really people) were brought to this frozen land from Mexico and cursed them for inflicting her to the discomfort of snow on her whiskers.

 

 

I rather like the snow, yes it's cold, but bundling up in a warm sweater and layering scarves, hats, gloves and whatever else keeps you warm (I highly recommend Kodiak extreme weather socks by the way) makes it enjoyable.

 

 



 

Ok that's enough snow for now, lets enjoy it from here with some hot chocolate!



 

 

Stay warm!
-Shelly

Meow...

I'm wanting to do something different with the background on my blog. I'm not sure what. I've been messing with it for over an hour now and it's frustrating me. Since we bought the new computer I've not worked out all the kinks, but it seems like blogger does not work the same way it did. Until I have laser beams implanted in my head this girl will have to do my dirty work. STARE AT BLOGGER TILL IT DOES WHAT I COMMAND!!!! 

It's not working. poo. Maybe I just need some chocolate. Blogger frustration overload is setting in.

I wanted to share an illustration I did for my cousin. I like to do these "Bird Brains" for fun. It's the type of painting I don't really have to think about to much. It's just fun! 

 

One of my favorite things about my cousin is that she has embraced her husbands family traditions. Really what girl wouldn't love wearing such beautiful traditional clothing and jewelry! This is what they wore on their wedding day.

 

They live in New Jersey so I thought the state bird should perch on their heads. The Eastern Goldfinch.

 

I'm so happy to have the day off from work today. I'm planning to finish Susan Branches latest book about the English countryside. I'm in love with this book! I went to England with my sister and mother many years ago and it has always been one of the highlights of my life. I often fantasize about moving there!

I hope you are having a wonderful day wherever you are and I hope it's warmer where you are than it is here. Although I should not complain, I believe we will be getting up to 20 degrees today!

How now Pink Cow...

 

 

Hello friends! I'm so excited to be back to blogging for the new year! We've finally gotten a new computer and let me tell you...a whole new world has opened up. I think our last computer was at least 9 years old, slow as molasses, and crashed on a regular basis. It feels great to be blogging and not worried that at any moment my computer is going to shut itself off or decide it doesn't want to load photos. Yay for technology!

This is a little painting I did today, it's my day off from work and I'm really going to try and make an effort to paint on at least one of my days off. I wish I could just paint full time, but that unfortunately does not pay for things like new computers. Maybe one day! I girl can dream! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. We didn't have a very traditional Christmas this year. My dad wanted to eat enchiladas and so enchiladas we ate. They were spectacular and didn't give us all food coma after the fact! :-) Next time I make them I'll post a photo and recipe. Now I just need to charge up that camera battery!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!