5/31/2009

The Art of Puttering

Hello and welcome in to Sunday Favorites hosted by the very sweet Chari at Happy to Design. Please visit her blog for a complete list of participants. This was originally posted in March.





I have set aside today as my puttering day.



Alexandra Stoddard is the writer who made me aware of the power of this simple act in her book Living A Beautiful Life. "Puttering is really a time to be alone, to dream and to get in touch with yourself." I like that.



I am going to move some things around...mostly accessories and do some reading. I want to take a pad of paper to the porch and sit and daydream of some things I want to do to the house in the next weeks or so.



I have taken chicken out of the freezer and will make some delicious dish for dinner. It will be a good day. I hope your day is just delightful also!



~ Barb ~

5/28/2009

Flaunt Your Reds

Hello and welcome to Flaunt Your Reds. The guest host is Stacey at Poofing the Pillows. Please visit her blog for a list of all the participants. http://poofingthepillows.blogspot.com/



This little guy sits on my living room desk.

A table in the hall.


Flowers in the Living Room.






I love tassels and have them everywhere!


Bedroom fireplace mantel.


Bedroom chaise lounge with red pillows



In the Guest Room





I love this little picture in the bathroom.
~*~
I hope you enjoyed my reds. Thank you so much for stopping by.
~*~
~ Barb ~


5/27/2009

A Sincere Thank You

To my Bloggy Friends.....longtime and new:

I want to take a minute and thank all of you who visit Bella Vista, who follow Bella Vista and all the wonderful and thoughtful comments I receive on my posts.

When I started blogging just four months ago, I had no idea the impact it would have on my life. It has been considerable! I am in daily awe of the talent in Blogland....the creative spirit that awaits me each time I open a blog.

I have met, and continue to meet, such wonderful people....such giving souls.

Thank you all so much for allowing me to be a part of such a wonderful community.

Hugs to each of you, Barb

5/25/2009

Tea Time Tuesday


Hello and please come in to visit for Tea Time Tuesday hosted by Barb at Grits and Glamour. Don't forget to visit her blog for a complete list of participants and all their lovely tea things. http://gritsglamour.blogspot.com/
~*~
Breakfast Tea


I am a Southern gal and adore hot biscuits with real butter for breakfast.....fattening and worth it. Ha.


The tea pot is made by Fitz and Floyd with a hummingbird design....it is one of my very favorites.


The napkin ring is a hummingbird also made by Fitz and Floyd.


The ivory tray is made of wood and is my all time favorite tray. I collect trays and have them all over my home. The rose colored tea cup, saucer and plates were purchased at an antique shop a number of years ago.
~*~

I do hope you enjoyed your visit and I thank you for coming. Happy Tea Time Tuesday to everyone.
~*~

~ Barb ~

5/24/2009

I Love Cookbooks!

Hello and welcome to my first Sunday Favorites hosted by Chari at Happy to Design. Please visit her blog for a complete list of participants. This was originally posted in February when my blog was only a few weeks old. http://happytodesign.blogspot.com/









I am a cookbook lover and collector. I read them just like novels and I am almost always drawn to them when I enter a bookstore. I have over a hundred of them and keep them stored in a bookcase in the guest room...of all places. But I have so many, I now have them displayed all over the place. They make me happy!


I love the colorful and beautiful images on the covers and the way everyone seems so happy. I always date my cookbooks and make little notes when I try out a recipe...like did we enjoy it and so forth. I often times find myself 'tweaking' a recipe for my own needs.


Did I mention I love to cook? Yes, I do! How about you.....do you like/love cookbooks?

~ Barb ~

5/23/2009

Happy Memorial Day

Remembering all those who gave their lives to keep America safe and free!

Sending my wishes to all my blogger friends for a blessed and safe Memorial Day Weekend.

~ Barb ~

5/22/2009

Is It Just Me?

Out of the blue, Internet Explorer will not open some of the blogs for me! Is this happening to anyone else? And, some of my comments are not appearing AFTER they are listed as being published. If you are not hearing from me, it is because I cannot access your blog.

Is anyone else having these kinds of problems or is it just me?

~ Barb ~

5/19/2009

Outdoor Wednesday

Hello and welcome to Outdoor Wednesday hosted by our sweet Susan at A Southern Daydreamer. Please visit her blog for a complete listing of participants. http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/



This is my husband and our Cocker Spaniel, Annie, on the jetski/waverunner. Annie loves to ride with Dad!




These are some of the Japanese Lanterns we have in our front yard. I am constantly thinning them out as they just 'take over.'



I found this picture of Peonies on Google....it has been raining for over two days straight and I need to cheer myself up! I am short on pictures. Ha! Aren't they beautiful?
~*~
Thanks for stopping by and Happy Outdoor Wednesday to everyone!
~*~
~ Barb ~





5/18/2009

Tea Time Tuesday


Hello and welcome to Tea Time Tuesday hosted by Barb at Grits and Glamour. Please be sure to visit her blog for a list of participants and their wonderful tea displays. http://gritsglamour.blogspot.com/

Spring into Summer Tea


I have had this coffee and tea service for years. I have a complete set of matching dinner ware but decided to mix it up a bit with different tea cups.


I love to mix rosey reds, pinks and peaches.


I use these napkin rings a lot in the spring and summer months.


The coffee pot is tall and elegant.







The carved tray is made of wood and is quite heavy.
~*~
Thanks for stopping by and a very Happy Tea Time Tuesday to everyone!
~*~
~ Barb ~


5/17/2009

Blue Monday

Hello and welcome to Blue Monday hosted by Sally at Smiling Sally. Please visit her blog for a complete list of participants. http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/

Random Blues from Around the House
This is my little 'baker girl' doll. I love her blue and white checked legs. She is so cute and makes me smile each time I see her.

Some blue things in the Family Room.


A bit of blue in the Living Room.



Some of the blues in my Living Room.
~*~

Thank you for coming by and seeing my blues. Happy Blue Monday to everyone!
~*~

~ Barb ~

This Touched My Heart

The post below was emailed to me by my husband and it so touched my heart. I don't normally share things of this nature but I hope it speaks to you as it did to me.

Happy Sunday, dear friends.

~ Barb ~

Paul desired a career in the building industry. Early in his career, he was working with a large ministry to help direct several of their construction projects.
As the projects were completed, Paul was asked to stay on for future projects. To keep him busy he was given a number of jobs - one of which was cleaning toilets. He recalls getting down on his knees each day and complaining to the Lord, "Lord, I'm a college graduate!"
Discouraged, Paul told the Lord, "I will not leave here until You promote me. Please give me contentment with my circumstance."


Paul felt totally forgotten by God. A few months later, Paul received a phone call from a man in the Midwest who owned five successful businesses who wanted to interview Paul for a job. This came as a total surprise to Paul. As he drove to the interview, he told the Lord, "I only want your will in my life, nothing else. I am content to remain obscure for the rest of my life if I have You. You must override my lack of experience for me to get this job."
The owner of the company asked Paul a surprising question: "If I asked you to clean a toilet, what would you do?" Paul sat there, stunned. He wanted to burst out laughing. Paul assured him that he would simply pick up a sponge and start cleaning.


Amazingly, Paul was hired even though other candidates were more qualified. After several months of success Paul asked his boss why he hired him. His boss replied, "Paul, I still have a large stack of applications from people who wanted this job. Do you remember the first question I asked you in the interview? I asked each one the same question. You were the only one who said he would clean the toilet. Paul, I am a wealthy man, but I grew up dirt poor. I clean my own toilets at home. I can't have people running my businesses who are too proud to clean a toilet."
Sometimes God places us in situations to see if we will be faithful in those before He is willing to promote us to greater things.

5/16/2009

It's A Beautiful Morning

Hello....blogging buddies....hope everyone is doing well today. It is a beautiful morning here and I so look forward to the day. Wonder what it will bring?

Hope your day is lovely and special.

~ Hugs, Barb ~

5/12/2009

Outdoor Wednesday

Hello and welcome to Outdoor Wednesday hosted by Susan at A Southern Daydreamer. Please visit her blog for a list of all the participants and their pictures...which are truly a treat to behold.



We purchased eight of these flowering hanging baskets for our backyard this past weekend. Aren't they beautiful?!




This is a view of the corner of our backyard. We live on a lake that is surrounded by Cypress trees which are massive and tower in height over regular trees. They are very old and truly beautiful.



We are really working on our grass to get it green....green!


I love marigolds and had to snap a picture of this display.
~*~
Thanks so much for stopping by and Happy Outdoor Wednesday to everyone!
~*~
~ Barb ~






5/11/2009

Tea Time Tuesday


Hello and welcome to Tea Time Tuesday. This is a new event in Blogland and is being hosted by Barb at Grits and Glamour. Please be sure to visit her blog for a list of all the participants. http://gritsglamour.blogspot.com/

Tea for Two


This handpainted tea set was a gift from my husband several years ago. It is a personal favorite of mine and I use it to serve tea and coffee. The pot is actually a 'chocolate pot.' I love the delicate pink roses.







The tray is a delicate shade of green and is made of thin metal with a lacy border.


The little bird napkin rings are also a favorite of mine.
I really hope you enjoyed my tea service and thank you for stopping by. Happy Tea Time Tuesday to everyone!
~*~
~ Barb ~