Useful . . . Beautiful . . . Meaningful

As I was dusting yesterday (not fun, but necessary) I thought about the title of the book, The Way We Live With The Things We Love.

I remembered a quote by William Morris

and began looking around my house to see if I am following Morris' advice.

My baskets are beautiful - at least I think so.

And, the baskets are holding books which are both beautiful and useful.

My pitcher collection is definitely useful.

As I continued through the house, I decided that I would add one more possibility to William Morris' quote - Meaningful.

The spatterware pitcher and Manhattan plate are both beautiful and can be useful, 

but more important to me are the memories they evoke.

Beautiful, of no real use, but very special is this shell from the Indian Ocean.

When we downsized to our little cottage, I gave most of my family pieces to my sister, but these 3 items made the cut.

Another favorite piece is my mother's cedar chest which I painted white last year.

When I received these candlesticks, my friend apologized that they were used, but said she thought they would be perfect in our apartment.

This is one of my favorite pitchers and for years it sat on a shelf, but I have begun to use it regularly.

There is a purpose for nearly everything we have in the house.

I know you all have useful and beautiful items in your homes,

but what are the "special" items in your home that make you smile?

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I am joining 

From My Front Porch to Yours - Treasure Hunt Thursday

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson - Share Your Cup Thursday

Lavender Garden Cottage - Cottage Style Party

Mz. Moozy's Open House - Tuesday's With a Twist

Tickled Pink

I didn't know what to title this post so I googled synonyms for HAPPY. 

 I chose Tickled Pink because that is how I felt about all the little "happies" I photographed yesterday in order to write this post.

I spotted my first spring rose in the garden and had to bring it into the house to enjoy watching it open.

I am definitely "tickled pink" with my new computer which is thinner, lighter and so much faster than my 5 year old "slow poke".

Flowers blooming

all over the yard

and filling pitchers in the house definitely make me happy.

I couldn't pass up the gorgeous daffodils at the grocery store.

Having old friends over for dinner and creating a pleasing table setting was a definite "happy".

These little black and white bowls tickled my fancy.

My plan to set the table with white plates didn't work out because I only had two red bowls.

So, I was excited when I found little black and white bowls at  TJ Maxx.

Little wire baskets served as place cards

I had red napkins and fortunately I hoard fabric because I found enough black fabric (left over from a curtain I made for my sister's bathroom ) to make napkins.

I was happy with the results of the table, but even happier that J and D have found one another.

J lost her son to cancer, D lost his wife to cancer and Match.com recently brought together two people we have known for years.

You may look at this photo and ask how I could use the blog title Tickled Pink,

but a new computer, flowers, setting the table and our guests excited me and brought me joy.

What has Tickled you Pink lately?

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The Tablescaper - Seasonal Sundays

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Feelin' Blue

Our bedroom is fresh and new - all because of this unknown little girl.

One of the many items on my March "to do" list was to freshen up the bedroom with new vignettes on top of the armoire and the Expedit.

The shells on the armoire were the first change which led to putting buoys and beach buckets on the Expedit.

I was on a roll with a beach theme so I asked Steve to swap out the sunflower painting that had been over the armoire and he chose the little surfer girl.

Beach buckets, buoys and ocean themed paintings made me yearn for a change of bedding.

As much as I love primary colors, I was ready for simple white and blue in the bedroom.

The furniture on each side of the bed went from colorful to white.

Both pieces were painted with Annie Sloan, Old White, and I love the way the old colors of the vintage record cabinet came through after  a good sanding.  

I found the white bowls in the attic - long ago purchases at Big Lots.

Pillows I made from tea towels decorate the bed.

In the attic, I also found a light blue duvet cover and sham from KC's first dorm room, a chenille bedspread I had on my bed as a little girl, and a vintage tablecloth; did my dad bring the tablecloth to my mother when he was stationed in Hawaii during WWII or did they buy it on a vacation?

The painting over the bed changed, not by my choice, but because it sold last Saturday; Steve knew he had to replace it with another ocean scene.

Lots of little changes.

A softer palette than my usual with the chenille spread on the bed and the light blue of the duvet and shams.

And, if you think I am crazy for having so much white with a rambunctious puppy,

I have a few white quilts as back up.

So thanks to the sweet little girl dreaming of the ocean, we will have sweet dreams in our beach inspired bedroom.

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My Romantic Home - Show and Tell Friday

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Rooted in Thyme - Simple & Sweet Fridays

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson - Share Your Cup Thursday

Pillows, Paint and a Productive Day

While eating breakfast this morning, I made a list of what I needed to do and laughed when I saw that they all involved the letter P.

I used left over fabric to finally paint some pillows for the sofa.

While I was waiting for the paint to dry ( I love Annie Sloan Chalk Paint because it dries quickly) I checked sweeping the patio off my list.

Several windy days had left piles of sand in the yard and Lulu thinks sweeping is a game for her to catch the broom so this task is not easily accomplished, but I got the patio in shape.

I didn't use welting on the pillows so they were quick to make - less than 2 hours from prepping to placing them on the furniture.

I love the yellow stripes, but the red pillow was a failed experiment.

Fortunately, I have tons of the white fabric from making the sofa and chair slipcovers, so I can make another red pillow in a different design.

I love the yellow stripes, the buffalo checks on freshly washed slipcovers, and the polka dot quilt which is to spread over the sofa to keep it white for a little while because,

as soon as I got the slipcovers back on the sofa, Lulu jumped up and took over - at least I had just given her a bath.

I did not get to the Pierpont to swim, but I counted a run/walk with Lulu after her bath and 30 minutes of sweeping the patio as my exercise for the day.

I did get to the post office to mail off a giveaway prize and a pillow I made for Kris of  Junk Chic Cottage and some pillow cases to Jann of Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson.

Tomorrow's project is painting my antique record cabinet so I can finish off the bedroom - I can't wait to show you the vintage bedspread I found in the attic.

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Join me at 

Cedar Hill Farm - The Scoop

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Mx Moozy's Open House - Tuesdays With a Twist

The Style Sisters - Centerpiece Wednesday

Cozy Little House - Tweak It Tuesday