Blue Day

I am really blue today.  Not in the unhappy sense, but because I have been washing my china collection,which was very much in need of some attention.

The first thing I started on was my dresser,where I display most of  my blue china collection

Although these china trio's are not really in keeping with the other blue and white china,I am running out of room in the glass fronted kitchen cupboards,so for the moment this will be their home.

I have collected quite a bit of this pattern, I think it is the onion pattern.

I find it quite reasonably priced when I find it.

I love this little collection of animals, especially the little frog and the smiling baby cow.

The soup terrine was given to me by my son when he was a teenager,which is a long time ago,so I treasure it.

I know, I didn't straighten up the plate before I got out the camera.   Not to worry, I did later.

I bought the vintage tin on Ebay and it has an aged patina,which is why it has faded to another shade of blue.

I am playing around with the arrangement to get the right look

More blue and white on the kitchen cupboard shelves

I use this lovely willow box, for paper napkins.  It fits them perfectly.

I was lucky enough to find some willow pattern vintage tea towels.

Some of the collection has to go onto the walls

I am visiting the following parties in the coming week

House in the Roses

A Delightsome Life

Rose Chintz Cottage

 Tea Cups and Tea Things

Coloradolady

My Romantic Home

Kristens Creations

and a little bit of pink for Pink Saturday at

 How Sweet the Sound

                                                                                      

                                                                                           Tea Time Tuesday at Rose Chintz Cottage

Some pretty pink china, which I use,  I so enjoy a cup of tea in a china cup.  Why not join me after all that china washing and arranging.

A bit more Pink

 My one and only Black Boy Rose.  This bush is not a prolific bloomer in our garden,but when we do get a bloom, it is always beautiful and the colour gorgeous.

I hope you  all have a lovely week.  xx  jeanetteann 


PS. As you can see on the rose picture above,I have gone back to jeanetteann instead of jeanette odonnell.  I think it is more friendly somehow.

Candlestick Collection

I never usually have this many candlesticks out at one time, but my daughter collects them, and we were chatting about them recently.

Then I got into tidying cupboards and drawers and discovered I too had quite a few.

The pink depression glass ones were a gift from friends and they usually sit proudly in my china cabinet that holds all my other pink depression glass.

Clear depression glass is so low priced and can be bought everywhere,  These cost only 50cents each at a charity shop,but had they have been pink,blue or gold,they would have been more like $200

I do like the type with the etched glass bowl top too, they don't make any drips and  the candle lasts for ages

Another of my pink glass collection,this one is very delicate.

I like this one as it is very shabby chic, a look I am very fond of .

Royal Albert Moss Rose is a favourite and I also have the pin dishes to match it.

I am visiting How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday
A Delightsome Life for Home and garden Thursday
 and My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday


Happy Weekend xx jeanetteann

Teacups,not only for tea

Teacups are so pretty,and I had bought a few alone ones in the hope of finding a similar,not always matching saucer.


In the meantime, I decided to make them useful, while enjoying their beauty, instead of keeping them out of sight in a cupboard.


Today we went hunting, and you can guess what I was hunting for.  Yes more lone teacups.  Alas at the antique shops we visited,they were so over the top prices,it made me wonder how on earth they possibly make any sales.  I don't get a kick out of paying too much for my treasures.


So it's back to the charity shops.

 They measure as you might know 1 cupful, and are easier to lift the stuff out of the canister.

So it makes sense that a small pretty coffee cup measures 1/2 cupful

Much prettier than the plastic equivalent don't you think?

I have found I can measure 1/4 or 1/3 easily using the 1 cup;

I found this large 2 cup size quite a while ago and have been using it for collecting the stock when I cook a chicken.  Now it has pride of place with my new,vintage pretty measures.

I so enjoy opening my cannisters now.

Now I find these quite ugly,and really don't see me using them again. 

I am visiting 

 House in the Roses today for Show off Your Cottage Monday 

Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage for Tea Time Tuesday 

A Delightsome Life for Home and Garden Thursday

Thursday Teacups and Tea Things at Antiques and Teacups and

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Phew the list is getting longer, I so enjoy visiting these gorgeous blogs and meeting such interesting other bloggers

Happy New week everyone 

and Thank you to all those lovely blogger friends who take the time to visit

You are always welcome

xx jeanetteann

In the Pink

I am in the pink today, I can't believe how much of it is around at the moment

The Hollyhocks are reaching so high.  This fence is about 7 feet high.

Everything is blooming,even in the heat.

The double petunia's are delightful.

Even the singles

Geraniums are the best in hanging baskets,they just go on blooming no matter what the weather

Dried Rose Petals,all ready for my daughters new project Rose Petal Bath Salts

Will be available in my Etsy Shop

Join me for a cup of refreshing tea.

I am meeting with Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday

and Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday.

See you there xx jeanetteann 

Happy Weekend

I 

Project for the week

I was in the right frame of mind this week,to get back into my sewing.

I was trying to decide what I could make,when I came across a roll of white, fabric,(imperial batiste) in my stash. 

 It is so soft and fine I thought it would would make nice little cool baby dresses to sell in my Etsy shop

 I added French cotton lace and edged the collar and bodice with white satin piping..Then I made another one only this time I smocked the bodice.

The little labels with the blue birds added a nice touch. 


 They are gift tags I got from Liz at The Porcelain Rose,I think they are so pretty.

I am joining Kathy at A Delightsome Life for Home and Garden Thursday
Faded Charm for White Wednsday and
Kristen's Creations for Share your Creations party


I hope you are all getting back to your favourite pastimes after such a busy time.


xx jeanetteann

The garden is surviving the heat

The searing heat is continuing,but the garden,especially the sunflowers is surviving well.  We have been using the tank water though to keep it alive.

The Hibiscus love the heat and are coming into bloom

The Marigolds are doing well in with the veggies

Roses are survivors ,tuff as old boots

A little bit of pink for Pink Saturday with Beverly from How Sweet the Sound

Another sunflower about to burst into all its glory.  I planted these from seed,but started them off in a seed tray in the sun room because other years the birds have got the seeds before they could germinate

We get the odd strawberry before the birds.

The tomatoes are getting huge.  They will be just about ripe by the time the tiny toms have finished.

We have been very pleased with the veggie garden this year.

Plenty of basil to go with the tomato dishes.

Little cucumbers getting bigger every day

Capsicums getting plumper.  I want to leave them to become sweet and red.

Rose petals drying in their basket ready for the potpouri'

This week,I am joining 
Show off your Cottage Monday at House in the Roses
Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound 
Kathy at A Delightsome Life for Home and Garden Thursday


meet you there


xx jeanetteann

Easy Vegetarian Meal

Many years ago, I bought a little cookery book by Margaret Fulton (One of my favourite cooks).  

It is a Book of Vegetarian Cooking.  This is a regular meal on the menu at our house. FASOLIA or in other words home made bake beans, and it is delicious.

This dish is widely eaten in Greece, and  can be eaten hot or cold, or as a side vegetable with meat, or add more water and use as soup.

Ingredients

4 tblsps olive oil

1 large onion,chopped

1 clove garlic,crushed

1 1/4 cup,haricot beans soaked overnight

1 bouquet garni

1 tblspn tomato paste

4 tomatoes,skinned and chopped

2 1/2 cups water

salt and pepper to taste

2 teaspoons lemon juice

To finish

thinly sliced onion rings

coarsely chopped parsley

Method

Heat the oil in a heavy pan,add the onion and fry until pale golden.  Add the garlic,drained beans, bouquet garni,tomato paste and tomatoes,then pour over the water.  Bring to the boil and boil for 10minutes. Cover and simmer for 1 3/4 hours until beans are tender.  Add salt and pepper towards the end of cooking.  The liquid should be the consistency of a thick sauce.  Remove the bouquet garni.

  Add the lemon juice,check the seasoning and turn into a warmed serving desh.  Garnish with parsley and onion rings.  Serves 2- 4  In our house only 2.

Enjoy,   xx jeanetteann

41degrees,sooo hot

The temperature yesterday and today has reached a sweltering 41 degrees. It was 28 overnight.


Dorothy is finding her little cardigan far too hot.  I bathed her and washed and pressed her summer frock. 
 I think she looks a lot more comfortable. 
 Tomorrow we will be shopping for some proper shoes, now that she can walk.  Her little hand knitted booties are a little out of date, I think.


Now back to the rearranging and cleaning.  It's amazing how much dust accumulates under the decorations.
I hope the start to the New Year is as refreshing for you as it is for me.


I am joining Cielo at House in the Roses today, for Show off your Cottage monday


xx  jeanetteann