Pretty New Vintage Linens

Greetings Friends~ ~ ~

Went antiquing last Sunday and found some very nice pieces for very little money. I like to go to Shupps Grove. A lovely place in the woods where vendors set up tables to sell their wares from April till October. I could spend a whole day there. More about this in another post. Today I share my goodies! I made 2 purchases and spent $21 and came home an extremely happy girl!

The lavender and the blue prints are aprons. The blue one with the red flowers I will use for a pattern because I love the style. Never saw one like this before. Hope to get it sewn up this week on one of the rainy days we are expecting. The lavender one I may use for trim for other aprons. Both aprons have holes in them.

7 pretty lace pieces. A few are sort of ragged but thought I would use them for trim on aprons I am making. One long piece will look nice across the back of the sofa.
3 new Irish Linen napkins and 3 monogramed with a C.

A few dish towels.

Assorted other pieces like hankies and pretty yellow yardage that is very sheer.

2 amazing tablecloths, one is white and still had part of the tag glued on and the other is pale pink.

Guess I had a pretty good day. I know I really enjoyed myself. I just had to share because I know you gals just love a great deal. ~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

Remember Washlines?

Greetings Friends~ ~ ~I was outside today taking some pictures on this lovely, sunny, slightly breezy day. Thought I would share them with you along with my ideas about washlines. I would love to hear your ideas too.
Do you remember your Mother hanging clothes outside on the line? Remember how sweet the wash smelled when you brought it inside?

I was visiting another blog and she had posted pics of pretty clothes pins she purchased that were painted pastel colors then decorated with tiny flowers. How sweet these would look on the washline holding my sheets in this lovely Spring breeze.

Maybe I'll have to paint some clothpins. . .What if I put up a washline?

Yeah I know, more difficult then throwing things in the dryer but it's greener!

What if I just hung a few things out like sheets and maybe towels?

Tell me what you think. Would you be willing to do the extra work to have your things smell sweet & sunny or not? Maybe you already hang clothes outside. Leave a comment and let's chat.

~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

So Many Books!

Greetings Friends~ ~ ~

We love to read and have accumulated many books over the years as many of you have also. What do you do with all your books? I have been using some of them an a peculiar way and I would like to share this with you. I stack them to regulate the height of objects and lamps in my table top arrangements. Here are a few examples of how I use books for this.

Yesterday there was a discussion on another blog about sofa tables. Sorry I can't remember where it was but I thought about the unique placement of my sofa table and how I use books to shape the display on the table. My sofa table sits between my sofa and the front window in the living room. The idea here was to give me a place to put a lamp to read and knit by when I'm sitting on the sofa and give the cat a place to sit and look out the window.

You cannot see the table thank goodness, because it is modern and ugly but it does the trick.

This is another display on the buffet in the living room. More Books. We refer to them often so I don't like to pack them away.

More books on top of the display cabinet in the entrance way. These are my Knitting Books. I try to keep all the knitting books and recipe books and Essential Oil reference books all together so that I don't end up running all over the house to find a certain book. There is some logic in the process.
My Spinning wheel has a home in the entrance hall also and you will find more knitting books.

There is a half wall between the front door and the livingroom. The stairway is the divider and I have grouped books on this shelf on top of the half wall. I rather like this arrangement and have mixed other items and a small lamp on the shelf.

Here in the bedroom I have both lamps sitting on a stack of books to bring them up to the proper height for reading in bed. This is just a yard sale ginger jar lamp that I have gussied up with a ribbon and a large candle ring to make it pretty.

I love my round table beside the bed because I can stash things under it to hide them. Notice lamp on stack of books.

Close up of the lamp that I dressed up with ribbon and silk flowers. Sweet huh?! The shade sort of looks like an Easter bonnet.

You will notice the Essential Oil bottles all over the house. These herbal remedies have become such a big part of our lives in the past 12 years that we use them often throughout the day so they are always at the ready.

Many women I know have an unbalanced endocrine system so they are always tired. Essential Oils can be applied topically to the adrenal gland and will give much needed support to the endocrine system. I can't tell you what I've personally been through right now but I've come a long way. It was a personal crisis that turned me toward Natural Products and away from drugs & chemicals 12 years ago. If you would like to know more please visit my website and watch the videos: http://www.2feelgood.com/ Then contact me for further information.

May You Be Blessed and Live In Joy~ ~ ~Ahrisha

Bakin' Cookies

Greetings Friends~ ~ ~

Saw some sweet little cookies at the store today and realized I haden't baked cookies since Christmas. . . and it's Easter. I am way overdue.

So, ta da! My favorite soft cookie recipe. Here in Pennsylvania Dutch Country we call them Lepp Cakes because they are like tiny cakes and not really cookies. Not a clue what Lepp means? Anyone?!

As I was baking I realized that you might like to see my very special measuring spoon set. It's ceramic and shaped like cherries. Aren't they the cutest. I keep them hanging by the stove on the bottom edge of the cabinet. I purchased them years ago at a little gift shop.

Henry's Lepp Cakes

1- 1/2 c. Sugar

1/2 c. Butter

2 Eggs

1 c. Sour Cream

1 tsp. Vanilla

2-1/2 c. Flour

1/2 tsp. EACH Salt, Baking Powder, Baking Soda

You know the drill. Mix it all up then drop by small rounded teaspoonfulls on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake @ 350* till done, when touched on top springs back.

When cool, ice with your favorite icing. Have fun!~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

Happy Easter To You

Greetings Friends~ ~ ~

Just a short note to wish the Happiest of Easters to you and yours.

The Christmas, Valentines tree is still up and is now an Easter tree. I have decorated it with glitter eggs and old Easter post cards. There are also little straw Easter bonnets strewn over the tree,

I am enjoying it so much but I have vowed to take it down just after Easter.

We had friends for dinner this past Saturday and Charlotte thought it would make a swell 4th. of July tree because of the Stars-on-Sticks that I have jutting out of the top of the tree. They are gold and sparkly and they would indeed celebrate the 4th. in style. Thinking, thinking, thinking!

I could buy some red, white & blue ribbon couldn't I? Time will tell.

Oh yeah, Stopped at Goodwill yesterday and made this amazing purchase. I have wanted a SPRING banner for some time now. So there was this pristine box with glittery letters spelling Spring and I grabbed it for $1.97. When I got home and opened the box there were actually 3 springs on the ribbon. Did a happy & grateful dance and hung the banner. Sweet!
Looks lovely across the diningroom buffet.

Life is very good! Have a wonderful weekend. ~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

Metamorphosis Monday

Today I am participating in my first Metamorphosis Monday hosted by Susan@ Between Naps On The Porch. This is my first time joining in for the fun. Please click on the TITLE to link to Susan's blog and see what everyone else has to share.

I have a little change that I have made to my office to share with you. As I am typing this up I am having a cup of hot chocolate. Pitty the poor little marshmallow Easter peep that floats in my cup. But yummm, he is so tasty! Kids love peeps in their hot chocolate right? Me too.

When we moved all I wanted to do was get the desk and computer up so I could get the office up and running. Not much thought was given to the decorating of the space. Now that things have settled down I am feeling the need to gussy things up a bit. This is a picture of how the space looked BEFORE.

This is the AFTER pic with the new wall shelf hung. My Beloved built this shelf for me after I arrived home from a day of antiquing with these metal brackets. I wanted a shelf where I could store some of my reference books and a place to put my knitting needles. I will be adding a row of glass knobs across the center of the shelf just as soon as I purchase them so I can hang a few more treasures.

The next project in the office will be a cute piece of furniture to put the computer tower and printer on to hide this mess of ugly wires and cords down there on the floor. Is this a problem at your desk too?

The tin can hanging on the left was a joint effort by my Beloved and myself. He cut the top of the tin can and made little loops on each side and I put the wire hanger on. A little grass inside and a few flowers and Wha La! A sweet little container for spring.

I also put a bit of my yarn stash in a basket and set it out. The yarn is handpainted and just too pretty to store in a box so I am showing it off.

The book ends were so pretty I could not resist. Look at this proud rooster. You can see part of a bottle of essential oil blend called Purifucation in this picture. I have my essential oil bottles all over the house. I keep them on my desk, by the bed, in the bathroom and especially by the kitchen sink in case I cut myself or burn myself. They are my Natural First Aid Kit so where ever I am they are close at hand and I use them often to build my immune system too.

Purification is an oil I like to diffuse in the house to kill bacteria and germs in the air and it smells so fresh and clean. These oils are not like a room freshner at all. Purification does not just cover up the offending odor it kills the germs that cause the odor. Your whole family will be healthier if you diffuse Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils in your home. We even have an oil blend that is proven to kill mold, which can be a real problem.

If you have an interest in knowing more about Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils click the link in the sidebar to visit my website and thanks for stopping by for a visit. ~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

A Very Special Day

Greetings Friends~ ~ ~

Please be sure to visit http://BetweenNapsOnThePorch.blogspot.com to see more Tablescapes.

Susan is the host every Thursday and I look forward to seeing what everyone has to share.

Everyone just left to go home and it was a fun afternoon. I'm tired and happy, it was a very special day. Today I hosted a Luncheon for Mom's 88th. Birthday! Two of her sisters and a few cousins and friends were here. Here is the Birthday girl, doesn't she look great!

I used Mom's individual salt cellars, or just salts as they are sometimes called, at each place. Each salt has it's own little tiny glass spoon. I had some difficulity getting a good picture of the salts but if you look close at this place setting you can see the salt just above the center of the dinner plate.

I set one on a napkin hoping to get a good shot. Can you see it better? I used two different designs. They are very old and cut glass. I remember folks sometimes dipping the tip of their knife in the salt to sprinkle it on their food. I don't remember if the tiny spoons were as common as the salt cellars were. If anyone knows I would love if you would share.

Again I used my handmade tags as a place card/napkin ring and everyone took theirs home to use for fun. These were a more feminine theme with roses for everyone.

We started with a cheese spread and crackers and a Tangerine Ginger Punch. Then I served Mediterranean Chicken Couscous, a mixed green salad and garlic bread.
For dessert we had a favorite Coconut Cake and coffee. I always use Martha's recipe, it's a very moist and flavorful cake. We got caught up on current events with everyone and talked a little too about the past. We shared some stories and set the date for a family reunion in July.

A Very Happy Birthday To You Mom.

Tablescape Thursday and A New Idea

Hello Friends~ ~

Every week I look forward to all the gals who participate in Tablescape Thursday. You can click on the Title (above) to go to "Between Naps On the Porch" to see the listing of everyone who joined in the fun. Visit their sites and see their tablescapes too.

Today you may be thinking, same table quilt, same china, same tatted doilies, yes it is but a few small things have changed. Saturday evening I had friends over for dinner so I took a few shots of the table before they arrived. The cloth in the bread basket was hand made and cross stitched by a Polish friend of mine Iwona. I found the cutest mossy bunny at Goodwill and gave him a home for the holidays. He looks so natural and organic. Don't you agree? The little yellow peeps were my Mothers and as kid I always loved them.

Napkin rings?? Never quite got this whole idea. Yes they add another element to the table scape and they are lovely but I find that most people fiddle with them and don't know what to do with it when they sit down and open their napkin. It also seems that my tables are very crowded when everyone sits and all the food is placed that there is no room for even one little thing extra.

Also I like to have place cards with each persons name at each place setting. Specially if the guests have not been here before there is much discussion about where am I to sit. Assigning a place for everyone simplifies this while I am busy putting the food on the table.

I found a solution that works for me and I can change the napkin rings at my whim very inexpensively and allows me to use my creativity and share it with others. My napkin rings are the tags that I crafted a few weeks ago. Each tag serves as a napkin ring,

A place card with their name on the reverse side,

And a favor to take home and use as a bookmark or whatever. This suits my entertaining style and can be easily slid under their dinner place or charger till after the meal is over. When the table is cleared the card is remembered and goes into a purse or pocket.

I wanted to share this with all of you today on Tablescape Thursday. Thanks for stopping by.

Have a wonderful weekend and be sure to read the post just before this and share your Easter Traditions with us.

~ ~Ahrisha~ ~