Yummy Red!

It's Rednesday so I am sharing a few of my favorites red things...and two involve food!
First up are pillows I found at a small shop. Aren't they adorable?! Of course, I was certain that I could make them myself and save money. No pillows here yet-sigh.
Next is a picture of a flower garden in Carmel, CA. In late April, it was still cool in Michigan and my spring flowers were not blossoming so these were especially magnificent to me.
The bruschetta was delicious! I try to get the the Thursday night Farmers Market in San Luis Obispo, CA, once every visit. Yum!
The raspberries on this chocolate cake were wonderful (as was the cake and homemade ice cream!).
Somehow I didn't have a difficult time finding red in my photos. Red is yummy!

Sisterly Adventures

My sister, Lynne, and I spent two full days together this week up north at
our cottage. She was a perfect companion to shop with-encouraging and excited with each discovery. We drove up to Petosky one day,
enjoying the fruit trees in full blossom.
One of our fun purchases were light toys for the Fourth of July.
I stopped at Toad Hall which is the only Wee Forest Folk store in the area, to find that their cabinet had fallen over recently, destroying or damaging their inventory. Poor little meeses! I asked about their fate and am in negotiations to adopt some of the amputees. I have an idea for a Mouse Hospital, giving a home to damaged mice. Now I need a trip to a shop in GR to see if a small vintage cabinet is still available to house this hospital.
We had a terrific lunch at City Park Grill then continued our shopping. We both ended up buying some LED lights-mine are a twig garland with tiny lights for my mantle; Lynne's is a bunch of greens with tiny LED lights hidden in the green leaves. So excited to put these lights where they belong!
The next day we drove into Traverse City where we stopped at 'The Red Dresser'. I did find a small wooden box with a Scottie dog carved in the lid, which I know I will find a use for. I also was excited to find out about a flea market in a few weeks at Brownwood Farms. Hope I can make it there!
We picked up our favorite raspberry pies at Grand Traverse Pie Co. Gramma Zimm made us these pies every summer. Each bite reminds me of sweet memories of time spent with my grandparents on the farm. I pray that one day, I can make memories for any future grandchildren I may be blessed with.
I took my sister to a new favorite restaurant, Red Ginger, but this was a miss (and I had high hopes!).
We drove on to the shops at the old mental hospital where we were amazed by the sight of a dozen huskies lounging in the back of a pick up truck. They were so calm and beautiful and didn't seem to mind being photographed or the light rain wetting their coats.
My final treasure was found at the gallery inside. I love the texture of the fabric and the quilted flowers. My mind is buzzing with visions of where this will hang once I have it framed.
I am so fortunate to have such a wonderful sister to make more memories with.

France Highlights Part Quatre

Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in Rouen. Hard to imagine a young woman leading an army, let alone being burned alive. They erected a church in tribute on the site where she died. The design is very contemporary-with the roofline mimicking a ship's sails. Inside, they used old with new in the stained glass windows. This was very controversial at the time, but visitors have come to admire and love the windows.

There is an small carousel outside the church along with gardens and places for contemplation.

One can't help but be moved by this tribute to an amazing individual.

Love affair with glass domes...

I should understand why I love glass domes so much~they keep the dust off my miniatures!
I ordered a huge glass dome for my Crooked Tree Lane house and it arrived this week. Now I need to drill a hole for the wires which run the lights and glue the swivel on the base. Now I can glue the house on the base and it won't move! I love this project and can't wait until it is permanently in it's new dome!

Paris Highlights Part Trois

Highlights from our afternoon in Rouen...what a wonderful town. So much to be amazed by-there is more but I saved Joan of Arc for another post.
One of my favorite pictures is the wooden carved lion head which I happened to see whole strolling down a side street.
The skull was on a building used to contain bodies during a plague.
John is standing next to a look alike Saint...ha!
I just love the gargoyle rain spouts-these were on a building which is now a police station.
The huge clock only has an hour hand. Centuries ago, that is all that was necessary. The man who cared for the clock lived behind it. The round circular windows near the bottom are part of his apartment.
I walked around town with stars in my eyes...

Call me a wino...Paris Highlights Part Deux

....but I fell in love with these bottle trees while in France.

We missed out on Monet's gardens-they weren't open until the following week. Instead, we visited the place where Vincent VanGogh spent his final months. I can't say I like his work but the lovely spring day in a beautiful French town was wonderful!

BTW-I have started a collection of wine bottles for my own wine tree!

PS Even VanGogh knew way back then that smoking kills...too bad he died from complications from syphilis.

On the bottle.....

Last evening, I made more than two dozen tiny jars and bottles from beads and findings. They will go on shelves in two wizard wagons I have orders for, as well as in a Wizard's Crooked house I have been contracted to make. So it was a good thing that I have a stash of beads and things...right?! LOL I am always looking for excuses for my huge stash of small things...

Paris Highlights Part One

The trip of my lifetime (at least so far)...still feel like it was a dream.
I think I smiled the whole time there-although my feet yelled at me now and then. I must get in better shape for our next trip!

I surprise myself!!! It worked!

OK....let's see if I can really figure this out. New technology just drives me bonkers!
Here are new pictures of those I love most dearly! The first picture is of the four of us...the second was taken on Mother's Day-the cousins who were there with Gramma Joyce-my dear Mom. So I had both sons home for Mother's Day....one planned and one a surprise. One who flew in for the weekend for a wedding and one who drove over fifteen hours to surprise all of us.
We will find a way to pay them both back!
So glad I finally figured this out! I am smarter than I look! LOL