Garden Life

I am taking things slower in this season of life. I don't rush anymore. I enjoy the seasons when they get here. I had these garden items on my buffet for a week or so, and I kept walking by them and had been thinking they would make a great photo.  

I paused to enjoy my creation with a little mug of tea, and I believe this is Benjamin Bunny.

Oh, and yes, here is Peter! Into mischief, no doubt. 

Tranquility, let us find some of that. 

Where do you find this tranquility? Well, it is in the garden waiting for you. 

Eluding life in the garden is a peaceful habit. 

In Victory,

Sherry

The Enchantment of Peter Rabbit

There is something really enchanting about watercolors, especially the watercolors in children's books. None has ever captured my heart more than Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit. 

When I found this tea set, it was one of my most favorite finds ever.

Charming to the core and childish in embellishment, but oversized cups that you could even serve soup. It was made for the Peter Rabbit fans to enjoy.  

An African violet to brighten my tea tray. 

I laid these tulips here in between seasons, and it looked so pretty I just decided to take a picture of them there.

Many of my photos may take on a nursery theme this year; we have added a new junior member to the family, and I often think of her when I take my photos. This is an original Victorian wicker baby stroller that has been restored. It was restored for me by my parents when I was a teen. It has been in storage for years, but I decided it was time to get it out and use it. I thought it would be a great way to celebrate starting something new.

In Victory,

Sherry

January Tea

I have a large collection of pictures I have taken over the years. I am just putting together a post of past images for today. 

 

No words to share today, just the promise of spring around the corner.

In Victory,

Sherry

Highland Thistle Tea for December

Tis the season...I like to let it come slowly and with respect for all that it means to so many all over the world. 

This year I am enjoying a new combination of these Highland Thistle teacups with 

this green willow teapot. I never have had any teacups that look right with this teapot, and I pulled these out this year and thought to myself, "Why haven't I tried these before?" 

The Highland Thistle was a perfect pairing to this teapot. 

I have found that I really like the swan for this season too. It gives a graceful and majestic air to the scene. Haven't done all of the decorating yet,  and I won't do much, but I will work on it. The older I get, the simpler the  better.

In Victory,

Sherry

September Mini Bouquet

A September mini bouquet seemed to be in order. There are still flowers in the garden that look beautiful.

A pewter creamer is my vase. Creamers are often the way I love to create mini bouquets.

And since we have flowers for the table, let's have tea too.

A quail pattern on my teacup is so fitting for fall. 

In Victory,
Sherry

Goodbye Summer

I am saying goodbye to summer this week, with a late summer tea in the garden while I am doing a fall refresh.

The cicadas are still singing, the daisies are having their last hurrah, and the rose hips are just starting to blush.

On the side of the roads the goldenrod has started to bloom in full, a sure sign fall is on its way.

The roses are having their late summer blooms and looking rather pretty even if this was a brutal summer on them. The days are getting shorter, and I am ready to embrace fall. 

In Victory,

Sherry

Strawberries and Roses

It is the time of year when we are blessed, not only with roses but also strawberries. 

The peonies were in bloom this week and were absolutely beautiful! 

In Victory,

Sherry

May Flowers

Here it is May, and the flowers are all deciding to bloom at once. What a wild spring it has been here.

I found a new-to-me teapot at a thrift store that looks like a cottage. Does anyone else get excited about such things? Probably not.

Here is a page out of Edith Holden's 'The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady.' I never get tired of this book's illustrations. I wonder if she ever knew how popular it would be.

Has Dianthus always come in a long-stemmed version? Somehow I missed that. I only knew of the cottage pinks that were very short, but these are perfect for cutting and flower arranging. I had several of my cottage pinks die this winter, so I replaced them with these long-stemmed versions. 

Soon the peonies and the roses! It will be marvelous.

In Victory,

Sherry

Strawberry Pie in Winter

 

This week it occurred to me that I could make strawberry pie in the middle of winter. Now that may sound really silly. Why not go buy strawberries right? Well, they are not in season, and I really like to buy food that is in season. Then I remembered that I had a good amount of strawberries in the freezer from the garden. The strawberries make great pie from the freezer. This is the recipe: The Easiest Pie

My new Peter Rabbit plate inspired me. Two of my favorite things on one plate: Peter Rabbit and strawberries.

Here is the recipe for the graham cracker crust:

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cup of graham cracker crumbs

1/4 cup granulated white sugar

5 tablespoons butter, melted

Mix all well and spoon into pie plate pressing in with back of spoon. 

Chill for 10 minutes and then pour in desired filling. 

Makes one 9" pie. 

*Note: I have used a 6" pie plate pictured here. I just halved the recipe.

Do you eat seasonally?

In Victory,

Sherry