Daisy Cottage

Stand In The Corner

This is one corner in Daisy Cottage.  Let's stand here for a moment and discuss it, shall we?

What we have here is one little corner in a bedroom that has been layered with a few items found at several different places.

The shutter was discovered by my daughter at my Habitat Restore.  She spray painted it red for her room.  I took the shutters (there are two) when she didn't want them for her room anymore. The pair were $5, I believe. Shannon, please correct me if I am wrong. 

The green vanity was a delightful birthday gift from two friends, Katy & Pam, who found it at a thrift store the next town over.  It was once a dingy off-white color and of course you can now see that it is no longer dingy.   ;-)

The tall wood cabinet was bought at a local country furniture store 24 years ago.  My son, Shawn, was only 2 at the time and I remember going in that store with him as I held his little boy hand and falling in love with the cabinet as soon as I saw it.  It has been used in a living room and a family room, and now functions well in a bedroom.

The yellow wooden chair was bought at this store in Bradenton for a few dollars.  I must go back there SOON.  It has been a long time since Jill and I visited there.  And I will take you with me. 

Let's see, what else ...

 

The plaid cushion was bought at MY Goodwill.

The ceramic flower urn was bought at MY Goodwill.

The fake red flowers were bought at The Dollar Store.

The vintage floral painting was bought at our local store, Vintage.

The little vanity knobs were bought at The Paris Market in Savannah when I went there with Lori.

The red purse was found at a yard sale.  One of my favorites too!

And exactly what is the point to this somewhat silly post about one little corner?

Well, in my VERY humble opinion, I find that when a space is layered with items gathered over time and from different places - there is - hmm, how should I put it - there is an ENERGY.  Yes, an energy.  That's it.

I wish that I could describe it better than that.  Please do not think that I am any more strange than I already am.  ;-)  And yes, while this corner may be described as tacky and ugly by some, (remember though, WE don't worry about that) it still has a vibe when you are standing here.  This corner may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it has energy.

Do you know what I mean?  Do you know what I am trying to say?

I hope so. And I bet you do. After all, you ARE my kindred spirits. 

Maybe you can explain it better.  ;-)

 

 

(Have I told you lately how MUCH I love you?)

 

 

xo,

Kim

 

Spring Fling

Well you know what this unusually cold winter did to our Daisy Cottage garden. And winter wasn't kind to our side yard either as evidenced by these sad looking plants. 

And there are brown leaves everywhere ...

*click on photos for larger view

But I see that some things weathered the season quite nicely - becoming even more chippy and worn, just like I like it  ...

 

 

The pergola survived as well ... 

As did the gorgeous fruit in our tree ...

And a Mama bird even gifted us with her nest ...

So yes, I do see dead plants and brown leaves and sad looking fences.

And I definitely see a whole lot of mess. 

But I also see SPRING. 

And Maggie sees spring.

Yep, we surely do.  We must begin again.  It is time for me to get busy and have a good old-fashioned fling with spring.

 

And that is absolutely a most WONDERFUL thing.

xo,

Kim
 
 
 
 

Mama's Skillet

Yes, I love my kitchen.  I've told you that before.  I love it because it is old and it has a window above the sink and because it has lots of little things in it that I have gathered and enjoy - like aprons, of course ...

And I love it for this is where our family meals have been prepared and where our friends and neighbors have congregated during our parties and get-togethers. We've had so many wonderful times in here over the last four years.  We really and truly have.

The kitchen is where our doggies eat and our little gold fishy eats and where we sometimes eat.  We almost always eat in the dining room.  That is another thing that I love about Daisy Cottage.  Because we don't have an eat-in kitchen, we use our dining room all the time. What a blessing that is!  I love rounding the corner and setting the table for dinner.  It is a happy chore. And I like having a round dining table too.  I highly recommend round tables for conversation. It is easier to see and hear everyone that is gathered 'round - therefore moments are not missed - instead they ARE remembered. 

Yes my kitchen is filled with all kinds of things, including cookbooks and mismatched antique furniture pieces. And, of course, I still love my chickens and roosters - what can I say?  They make me happy too ...

  

But most of all I love this ...

This cast iron skillet is one of the VERY few things that I have from my family's past.  This was my Mama's skillet.  We pronounced Mama & Papa with the first "a" sounding as it does in the word "bad." Did you have a Mama & Papa?  Ours lived in a little white farmhouse in Spencer, West Virginia. Mama & Papa built their home themselves. I only visited there a few times in my childhood but I will never forget the way their house smelled.  I can't really describe it other than it smelled like my Mama & Papa.  It smelled heavenly.  My Mama cooked with this skillet in that farmhouse.  She cooked for her husband and for her daughter and for my Dad.

My Dad.  He ADORED his mother.  She ADORED him.  I can imagine her strong, tan hands - the same hands that loved to can all kinds of fruit and vegetables - firmly holding the handle of her skillet while she cooked for her boy in HER tiny kitchen all those years ago.

And of course Mama is long gone now.  And so is Papa.  And so is Dad.

So this black cast iron skillet that once belonged to my Mama is the most precious thing in my kitchen.  When I look at my own hand as it grips the worn and chippy handle while I cook,  I think of my Mama.  And I think of my Dad.  And while I stir and flip and fry whatever concoction I'm trying to make, my mind quietly wanders away to another place and time. And as the buzz of family hovers nearby and as the breeze blows gently in through my beloved kitchen window, I remember.  If only for a moment - I remember.  I am thankful that I do.  Thank you skillet.  Thank you. 

I wouldn't trade this pan for all of the pots and pans in the world.  There is NO other skillet like this skillet.  This is my Mama's skillet.   

How about you?  Do you have something in your kitchen that gently reminds you of a loved one too?

 

I so hope so.

And I would be honored if you would share about it with me.

Love,

Kim 

  

Do You Want To Know?

Do you want to know why my dining room tablescape is the most beautiful and loveliest of all dining room tablescapes ever?

 

Because of ONE reason ...

 

Thank you AGAIN very much for sharing your heart with Jack.  Remember, if you would like to participate in Hearts for Jack, please email me for my mailing address. If you have already emailed me and you didn't hear back from me, pretty please try again as that means that I didn't receive it. Please mail your heart to me by March 31.  

Love,

Kim