Daisy Cottage

$6 Goodies

Let's see - this round red tablecloth with its' fun fringe was $1 at my Goodwill and the larger creamy casserole dish was $3. The matching, smaller one was $2. So for the grand total of $6 I got a much-needed round tablecloth and wonderful, like-new dishes! Oh how I LOVE thrifting! I can use the tablecloth either on our dining room table OR out on our porch. And the dishes - well they'll be enjoyed over and over again! Have you had a chance to go thrifting lately? If not, I hope you get to soon - there are treasures to be had... just waiting for you to give them a home! Happy hunting!

Yummy Cookies

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup butter or margarine

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup peanut butter

2 1/4 cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2 14-oz. packages milk chocolate kisses

dash of salt

Cream together sugars and butter. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla. Gradually, add peanut butter and dry ingredients until well blended. Roll dough into small 1-inch balls. Place balls on lightly greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes until lightly brown. Press a chocolate kiss on each cookie immediately after removing from oven. Remove cookies and cool on wire racks.

How is it Tuesday already???  I hope you all had a wonderful and safe holiday weekend. The cookies that I made are already gone but I did save a few just for YOU. I'm sure most of you have this recipe, but in case you don't - give these cookies a try, especially if you love chocolate AND peanut butter together! They are so easy to make and 100% YUMMY!! Here's to a very sweet Tuesday!

*little dessert plate is one of four that I found at Goodwill*    :-)

In Honor

... of every brave soul who has ever served our wonderful country. Bless you ALL.

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I wanted to share this cute-as-can-be little chicken (or is it a rooster..I never can tell the difference) that my niece, Jamie, painted just for me, just because! Jamie is THE sweetest girl in the world. Isn't this adorable? She did such a great job.

I moved the black buffet from the dining room into the kitchen - hoping to make it my "baking" center, or a kitchen island - my family is adjusting to walking AROUND the buffet and there is a wee bit of grumbling, but give them time- they'll get over it! ;-) Especially when I serve them up some homemade, warm and delicious, peanut butter kiss cookies! I'm off to the store - be safe and have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!

A Yellow Teapot from Susan

My Florida friend, Susan, sooooooooooo sweetly sent me this PERFECTLY yellow teapot and other adorable, vintagy and handmade notions that I just love!!

The package was beautifully wrapped and tied with a red ribbon and the cutest little yellow flower. I am going to treasure her gifts ALWAYS.

I moved a plastic round table that we were using in the back yard to our front porch. I covered it with a tablecloth that belonged to my friend's grandmother . I really think that I am going to like having the table out here. I enjoyed spending a few moments this morning, flipping through some of my favorite books' pages.

 

It was so nice to relax while listening to the morning birds, and feeling the gentle wind blow by that has been visiting us the last few days. Thank you so much, dear Susan, for making my Thursday morning even brighter!   xo, Kim

Edited to answer a few questions ~ Julia, the two books that I have opened in the above pictures are "Mary Emmerling's American Country Cottages" (one of my very favorite books) and "Victorian Details" by Caroll Louise Shreeve. Carol, the book showing the pink table in front of the bed is the one by Mary Emmerling. I found these red chairs at my local Habitat for Humanity store and they were originally a dingy/creamy color. Dear hubby, my resident master spray-painter, painted them red for me. Thanks everyone for your kind comments!!!!

 

Sweet Days

Shannon's graduation was BEAUTIFUL! In every way - just a beautiful, special day that will be forever etched in my heart and hopefully hers. We could not have been any more proud of her as she walked across the stage to accept her diploma. There is nothing like a graduation, to gently remind us of how talented and smart our youth are today, is there? We can have great peace of mind in knowing they are our future leaders. Such bright, shining stars...

We had a small family reception here at the house before the 8 o'clock ceremony. That was a nice time for all, I think. I didn't make the cake, but it sure was delicious!

Shannon got a pretty corsage for me to wear - and yes, there were tears...

My sister made a little tablescape with a few tokens that represent some of the things that Shannon loves -

I can't thank you ALL enough for your very, very, sweet and helpful words of encouragement and advice - what a great help that was to me! I took each of you with me in my heart to that piano recital and graduation.

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And so today - we celebrate her 18th birthday! I'm making her cake and trying not to eat all of the german chocolate icing before I spread it on!

I thought these flowers were pretty that I just gave her -

Needless to say, it has been a true whirlwind around here. I think it will slow down a bit now and I hope to catch up with all of you. Before I end this loooooooong post, I DID want to share a thrifty find - I got this chandy from our local Habitat for Humanity store and my hubby spray painted it yellow for me. (he's much better than me at spray painting) I asked him not to spray paint it all the way so it wouldn't be "too perfect". It hangs in my office and I love it! Maybe I should add some of my beaded necklaces that I got at that estate sale to it. What do you think? 

Anyway, I think you are ALL caught up now with the happenings at Daisy Cottage! Again, thank you for "being there"! You are the best!

 

Shhh....

Shhhh ~ I'm quietly checking in while others, including the dogs, are taking a quick nap in the house  ;-)

Well, we are back in town after spending a couple of whirlwind days away at Shannon's college orientation. Whew! She took a much needed catch-up nap in the car. I did too.

In a few hours, we will be enjoying her very last piano recital.. sigh

Can one mom survive this roller coaster of emotion? I sure hope so! I will, right?

Thank you SO much for your comments and emails - I hope to catch up with all of you just as soon as things calm down a bit. 'Till then ~ I'm thinking of you!

Bye For Now

Right about now, I hope you are all in the midst of some wonderful Mother's Day sweetness. I won't be able to post over the next few days or so, as we will be really busy with our daughter's college orientation and end-of-the-year things, like a piano recital, special little celebrations, and oh yes, Shannon's graduation from high school. We'll even squeeze in her 18th birthday! So I will leave you with a few pictures from our time spent this morning at Mayfaire, which is held a couple of blocks away.....

We felt a bit lazy as we watched this race go by our house last night, but we energetically rooted them on! It was a really neat sight to see! I love how something is always going on in our neighborhood.

The artisans set up camp around the lake...

I fell in love with this vintage bike, of course! It belonged to a lucky somebody - but I think it belongs on my porch, don't you?  ;-) Hmm, maybe I should go back and try to find the owner and see if he'll sell it to me!

A very small sampling of the art that was on display -

My daugher really liked this jewelry - I did too!

There was plenty to choose from to quench our thirst, thank goodness...

And just a few people in the crowd....

I loved seeing this lady cruisin' in style! Good for her for looking so pretty and being out and about, enjoying her day!

So I'll be back as soon as I can! I'll miss you bunches! Bye for now!    xo, Kim

Happy Mother's Day!

I hope all of you moms have a wonderful, Mother's Day weekend. I say "weekend" because I think we deserve to stretch the day out, don't you? There will be lots of people going by our house as they drive down our street to the lake for the annual art show. I hope to walk down and visit that tomorrow or Sunday. I also hope to have some lazy moments, like sipping coffee out of my new $2 thrifty cup and just staring at the passersby, and oh yea, the wheelbarrow. (Sorry honey, but the flowers are thriving and I'm still lovin' it!) ;-)  Sending each of you BIG hugs and lots of love, and I hope this is your best Mother's Day ever!   xoxoxo

 

A Teapot From Betty Jo

Good morning! For those of you who shared my popcorn and M & M's with me last night, I hope your tummies are okay today! ;-)  That was fun, wasn't it? Every once in a while, we have to indulge, right?

It is a beautiful, sunny morning, here in Florida, and the light is perfect in our living room for me to take a few pictures of my VERY special teapot from the VERY special, Miss Betty Jo! If you haven't met her yet, you are in for a treat! Betty Jo is the NICEST person - AND so wonderfully talented. She generously sent me a box FULL of green treasures that are already scattered around Daisy Cottage and being enjoyed immensely! I was like a kid in a candy store, unwrapping all of the goodies! Isn't this little green teapot that you see on the red box adorable? It fits right in with the others that I have on our mantle. Betty gave me the sweet green saucer that is next to it too! When I was cleaning the other day, I just smiled as I dusted Betty Jo's teapot and saucer, thinking of her and, once again, feeling SO humbled over the many acts of kindness from you all. Thank you Betty Jo for ALL of my new green goodies and I'm so happy that a little bit of YOU is here in Daisy Cottage!

 

Pass the Popcorn

My shortest post ever - but I just had to share my new popcorn bowl! Now if I actually had any popcorn in the house,then I'd happily share that with you too! Wait a minute..where are my car keys? The heck with a nutritious dinner - I'm going to run to the store (well, not actually run, but you know what I mean) to get us some popcorn AND peanut M & M's too!!!!! Please come back later and join me in satisfying my craving... I'll have lots of Diet Coke, chilled just for you!