LOVE ♥ Valentines - Finch Rest Emporium

It's been a while since I joined

 The Marketplace and Blog Shop linky parties.

Today I am sharing a few things

 that would be great for your St. Valentine's Day!

There are 6 of these little tart bakers available - they come in sets of two.

Wouldn't a chicken pot pie, quiche, fruit pie, cake, etc., be CUTE in these?

There are 4 of these  Pfaltzgraff heart-shaped

stoneware trivits available.

It's perfect for your tea pot or as a hostess gift?

It has holes in the back, too-

 so it may be hung on a wall or inside a wreath.

There are 3 of these gorgeous rose-embossed plates available. 

It's the perfect salad sized plate -

 or fill with petite fours or decorated heart-shaped cookies

 and give as party favors for your small Valentine's Day tea party!

As always, thanks for stopping in for a visit!

♥

~Michele

Linking:

The Marketplace   *   Blog Shop

Snowstorm - Ya Gotta See This!

For all  you in the warmth of wherever,

 I thought some of you would enjoy seeing

 my video short of the snowstorm we're having.

We took it through a back door window.
(Sorry about viewing the screen too.)

It's been at it like this ALL day yesterday and now today!

 I didn't speed it up or make any enhancements of any kind....

it's really amazing how fast it is coming down, isn't it?

I really DO love winter's beautiful splendor!

Columbus, Ohio - Jan. 26, 2014.

Linking:

Seasonal Sunday  *  Amaze Me Monday  

Front Door Transom Window - Before and After

Here is my new leaded glass transom window

 that my DH put in during his Christmas holiday vacation.

We had this window custom made a while back

to blend nicely with the front door's side windows,

as well as the office windows.

We wanted everything to be as cohesive as possible.

I had a heckuva time trying to get a decent shot

of this part of the foyer area but with all the back lighting, along with the shaded areas - let's just say I tried.

(The important thing here was to share.)

BTW, this chandy is clean, but it is made of bubble glass -

 so with all the reflections and the bubbles it looks dusty!

 But it isn't...least not as much as it looks!

(:-p 

I took this shot standing on the stairs to get as close as possible.
The chandelier getting in the way was unavoidable. Sorry.

At least you get to see that too. 
It's a real day of sharing, isn't it?
Haha.

Here is an old bleh before shot looking in from outside.

(It's the only one I could find in the arsenal to show a before.)

This plain  window kept whispering to me:

"Please, please, please
turn me into one of those AFTER beauties!"

(And you know how we aim to please!)

All  our windows in this foyer area now have 

smooth bevelled, bubbled, and/or water-glass pieces.

It's not a huge change, but does it ever make a difference
in the morning with this East-facing window-
especially when walking down the stairs.

I think we came through for her.

She may now think of herself
 as an "AFTER beauty" don't you?

As always, thanks for your visit!

♥

~Michele

Linking:

Home Sweet Home  *  Saturday Show Off  *  Metamophasis Monday

Tweak it Tuesday

Happy Birthday, Tea Time Tuesday!

Well, perhaps a little belated

 comes my well wishes to Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage

on her hosting a beloved linky party

 called Tea Time Tuesday!

I had all sorts of grand ideas on how I was going to present

 my glad tidings to her...

 and that's just where it stayed: in my head.

It never become a reality. 

Life..... it happens.

But I thought I'd show my love to her and to

all the wonderful tea time ladies in blogland (and beyond)

by sharing my Johnson Bros. teapot, Sandi's favorite pattern, and a few past rose pics to join in the fun.

Be sure to check her blog out to see her china collection-

it will dazzle you to be sure!

I wish her a lovely rose-scented, tea sipping & wonderful day!

♥

As always, thank you for stopping by!

Hugs!

~Michele

A Beautiful Winter's Day

Sometimes winter makes me awestruck.

 It can be so beautiful.

Today is no exception.

 It's perfect. It's sunny. It is blue. It is white. It is amazing.

I love all the shadow play

 as the sun begins to make its way,

 winding around our house like a timepiece.

 I just had to share this splendor!

I love winter and I love the snow!

All pics taken from inside the house - the backyard from the backdoor

and the side yard (with bird feeders) from inside a closed window.

If you look carefully

 you can see a dangling hanging bird feeder to the left -

 and see all the funny snow-scratch marks underneath

where the fallen seed lands and gets eaten from the ground.

I think this is so funny for some reason. 

Wide, sparkling fields snow-vestured lie

Beneath a blue, unshadowed sky"

A glistening splendor crowns the woods

And bosky, whistling solitudes:

In hemlock glen and reedy mere

the tang of frost is sharp and clear;

Life has a jollity and zest.

A poignancy made manifest:

Laughter and courage have their way

At noontide of a winter's day.

                                                                                                               

                                                                                  ~Taken from "A Winter's Day" - L.M. Montgomery

As always, thank you for your visit!

♥

~Michele

Linking:

Shadow Shot Sunday

Winter's Eve Dinner Party

I thought you might enjoy a tablescape 

perfect for a winter's eve dinner party.

Using glistening old silver, mirrors, crystal, white,

and lots of snowflakes together makes 

a strong winter statement.

It looks amazing at night with dim lights and all the candles lit.

(Of course it doesn't show up nicely in pics that way though!)

I used lots of different snowflake buttons as scatters.

This centerpiece was found at the GW a few years ago.

The entire tablescape inspiration came from this piece.

(Funny how one gal's trash is another's treasure!)

I really ♥ it!

I had some extra of these snowflake soaps

 so used them again to give as favors.

(Works for different groups of guests easily enough!)

I love mismatched silver - everything matches each kind of piece

but none of the others match one another, if that makes sense.

I have 8-piece SETS of each kind.

This is the view of the table at the halfway landing point

 on one's way up to the loft and  upstairs area.

Anyway it is cold and blustery and has been snowing all day.

Stay warm and snug and cozy, everyone!

As always, thank you for your visit!

♥

~Michele

Linking:

Tablescape Thursday

An Ivory Winter's Tea for Two

Please join me for tea today.

The theme of this simple tea is ivory with doilies.

It is a tea designed to be enjoyed slowly

and with a wonderful friend, such as YOU.

I've set up a small round table with two arm chairs

 in front of the window for us.

(This way we can talk a long while in comfort.)

I've made us some tea snacks:

Snowflake sugar cookies

Lemon shortbread

White chocolate muffins

A doily makes a great "charger" when using little snack plates.

We have pretty white roses to make the tea table extra special.

They smell so wonderful, reminding us of a summer garden.

We have a thick snowflake tea cozy to keep our tea hot.

And a bowl full of sugar to make our tea as sweet as you!

As always, thank you for your visit today!

♥

~Michele

Linking:

Teatime Tuesday   *  Antiques and Teacups  Blissful Whites Wed.

Home and Garden Thursday  *  Tuesday Cuppa Tea (Martha)

Tuesday cuppa Tea (Terri)  * Share Your Cup  * Tablescape Thurs.

Calm Winter Decor Living Room

Many of you are saying how odd it feels and looks

 after we take down all the festive holiday decorations.

 Things may feel a combination of refreshingly

 clean, open, and some may even feel sad & empty....

but what a great time to get busy making your nests beautiful!

Snuggle into your winter themes and enjoy your spaces.

I absolutely adore the beauty of winter.

 The snowfall is so serene, and brings

 calm to my weary self after the harried holidays.

I try to bring that same sense of peace inside, too...
perhaps even with its frosty bits it brings coziness too.

I love to decorate in a winter theme in my home -

 with sparkle and snowflakes and whites and silvers.

Mixed in with my warmer neutrals,
 they seem to play well together.

Winter is the perfect time to bring out

the old unpolished silver plate and mercury glass collections.

I've used a recently polished silverplate bowl

to hold a special handmade Christmas present from my crafty eldest daughter.

The pic of our two beautiful daughters/bridesmaids

from our wedding looks lovely nestled near

a frosted silver winter bouquet.

Finding this wintery sparkle birdie candle on sale last year

was such a thrill. I couldn't wait to bring it out after Christmas.

Can you see it has a pretty pearly bead for an eye?

I think it just may be a finch, what do you think? 

Snowflake tea light holders lined down a family heirloom cedar chest

(used as our coffee table)

gives a nice simple look without too much fuss and clutter.

Here I show them a different way:

Use an extra large 3 wick candle ring

 and string it up on the top of a mirror

 for a frosty mini wreath.

Tucking a crystal & metal snowflake inside it completes the look.

Even a simple greeting card can help carry a theme

 when you find the perfect one to display!

I'm not much for cute whimsy

 but I have had this snowmen rug for years

 and it always makes me smile.

It's a nice happy to greet friends at the door,

and quickly bring them inside to the warmth.

WHATEVER Your decor,
 I do hope you stay warm and cozy all winter long.


Spring will be around the corner, no doubt quicker than 
we think- time surely flies fast.

As always, thank you for your visit!

♥

~Michele

Linking:

Feathered Nest Friday   *   HOME  *  Saturday Show Off

Seasonal Sundays  *  Sunday Show Off  *  Share Your Cup Thurs