Hostas

The hostas are in bloom.

Can you imagine this blossom 

as a beautiful wedding dress for a garden fairy?

Bluework

 I'm still in the process of washing and taking photos of my linens.  

I know some of you love redwork.  Well, I love bluework.

 Here are some of my blue embroidered tablecloths. 

Some are vintage, but the last one is newer.

I love the little flower bouquets in each corner.

Isn't she a cute little Dutch girl? 

The art nouveau tulip design would look right at home in a craftsman bungalow.

(No, I don't have one of those.)

I love the blue daisy design that fills the center as well as the edges on this one. 

Polkadots are always perfect. 

This one is bigger and it was impossible to get a pic of the entire thing.

Vintage Picaninny Towels

Picaninny dish towels, 

appliqued and embroidered by my Grandma, 

many years ago.

I think they are cute little girls. 

But in today's world would they be considered offensive?  Racially insensitive?

What do you think?

These towels have seen better days. 

There are several holes, stains and some missing stitches.

But I treasure them just the same.

Linking to Vintage Thingie Thursday @ The Colorado Lady

What's For Dinner?

What did you have for dinner tonight?

We enjoy eating vegetarian meals fairly often,

especially during the summer months when so much fresh produce is available.

Sauteed Summer Squash, Red Peppers and Herbs over Chipotle Pepper Pasta
Topped with Heirloom Tomatoes and Basil

I sauteed  a bit of onion and garlic in olive oil.  Then added sliced yellow summer squash, some chopped red pepper, sliced basil and sage leaves, and fresh ground pepper.   I cooked it  just a few minutes, until the squash softened and browned just slightly.  I filled a pretty Williams Sonoma bowl with chipotle pepper pasta (cooked al dente) and spooned the squash over it.  Then  I added a few fresh heirloom tomatoes and more fresh basil to the top.    (You could add some freshly grated parmesan cheese if you wanted to.)

A healthy and flavorful summer dinner in about 15 minutes. 

All the ingredients came from the farmers market or my own backyard. 

Too much...

Ever feel like there needs to be this many of you 

to do what needs to be done? 

Pink Mayfair

My best friend gave this to me yesterday.

Mayfair (Open Rose) made by Hocking Glass Company between 1931 and 1936.

It's so gray and rainy outside the photo makes it looks purple,  but it really is pink. 

A few years ago, my friend gave me a cookie jar in this same pattern.  It had been handed down to her from her grandmother.  Never crazy about  depression era glassware herself,  she gave it to me.  This week she was cleaning out her china cabinet  and found another piece, this plate,  that matched.   So she marched it right over to my house.  I love it!  You know how much I adore pink roses.   Thank you, Miss A.

Speaking of gray and rainy, while it does not make such a pretty picture, we are very grateful to have some cooler temps and a good heavy rain.   Our  grass, trees and shrubs were desperate for moisture.    I hope the weather is cooperating for you too. Blue skies or rain, whichever one you need.

I want to take this chance to say welcome to my newest followers and thank you to those who have been with me for a while.  It looks like I recently reached another blogging milestone, so I need to put on my thinking cap for a giveaway idea.  Look for that announcement soon.  Happy Friday to you all!

Linking to Pink Saturday @ How Sweet The Sound

Embroidered Tablecloths

I love embroidered tablecloths.

I use them when I invite a friend over for a cup of tea and a chat,

or any ol' time I want to add sweetness to an ordinary lunch in my kitchen.

Teapots, birds and flowers are among my favorite motifs.

These make me smile.

Please pardon the wrinkles.

All four were just washed this morning.

(I did not make these.  Somebody, somewhere, spent hours with a needle in their 

hand to create these beauties.  And I thank them for all their hard work.)

Is there something simple you do to make ordinary days special?

Bananas

Do you like Bananas?

I found this fun recipe book the other day while vintage treasure hunting

and had to have it!

Yes, I do like to eat bananas,  

and even have a few decorative ones around the house.

But
the real reason I love bananas is....

(photo courtesy of the web)

Miss Chiquita Banana!!

 She was my music teacher at school for many years.

And I loved her!

Of course she taught us to sing the banana song.

"I'm Chiquita Banana and I've come to say, 

Bananas like to ripen in a certain way..."

There were several Miss Chiquita's over the years.  

They served as spokesperson's, made appearances and sang jingles.  

Some were more famous than others.   But this one was my favorite! 

Now, while I go figure out how to make Banana Coconut Rolls, 

I bet you have memories you could share about interesting people you knew.