It has been a wild few weeks with the weather, I mean just look at Texas. The snow has been mind boggling. Maryland received its fair share of Arctic temperatures and ice showers, with a little snow thrown in for good measure. It was cozy in the house…and then it was too cozy in the house. We all needed to go back to work/school. It also made me really really anxious to start some planned renovations that were put on the back burner because of Covid delays. I love this 100 year old house. It has great bones. It’s just time to put those great bones to work.

This week left me wondering if spring could be just around the corner. The balmy 40 degree weather, birds attempting to build a nest in the door wreath, daffodils poking out of the earth seem to speak of this change and I must admit I’m ready for it. I always miss the beauty of a snow day mid week, but I think I’m done for the year…at least until next December! Enjoy some decor touches that seem to bridge winter into spring for me. No bunnies or heavy floral touches yet.

Inspire me Monday. Inspire me Tuesday . Metamorphosis. You’re the Star. . Wonderful Wednesday. Keep in touch. Beautifully made. Party in your pjs. Wednesday blog hop. Your whim. Share your style. Home and garden. Waste not. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm.Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at Home Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters.Create bake grow. Snickerdoodle. Happiness is homemade. Silver pennies. Create with joy. Over the Moon Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday celebrate your story Little cottage Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it Friday Pink Saturday encouragingj hearts and home fresh farm Tuesday. Wednesday Centerpiece. Dare to share. Doodle buddies heart and souls simple sundry Sunday stars silverado. The Fabulous Party. Charming homes and gardens. Tuesday with a twist

Artsy mom

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Artsy Fartsy Party@ Artsy Fartsy Mama

I love collections in my home. Things displayed in multiples seems to speak to my decorating soul in a powerful way. I have made some mistakes along the way….think 1990 Longenberger basket obsession…when I realized I was collecting what I thought I should be collecting rather than what I really wanted to collect. Expensive lesson for me. I am a wiser collector now. Let me share some life lessons I have learned on my collection journey…and show off a few of my most favorites at the same time

1. Display collected items together…they lose their impact if they are separated . Think of Grandma’s home with her ceramic cats scattered throughout the house on every surface….don’t do that! I like how my vintage rolling pins look in this giant egg basket…suddenly simple objects are seen as an elevated art display!

2. Collect what you love and what resounds with your soul…Be honest when you no longer feel the love and gift or donate. Also, don’t serve as a storage facility for family member’s “treasures” out of guilt or obligation . If you don’t love Aunt Lulu’s souvenir thimble collection , find someone who will delight in them…Aunt Lulu would approve! Many of the chickens on display on my dining room hutch come from a friend who inherited them from a relative. After 20 years of storage I was excited to give them an honored spot in my home. 

3. Don’t collect with your child’s college fund in mind…unless you collect early Picasso abstracts. We all know someone with tubs of Beanie Babies in their basement just waiting for the magical buyer to show up and pave the way to Harvard. The price of my beloved Lusticru omelet pans (French flea market finds) on eBay tempts me to enlist my friends to send me every piece they can find…but then the memory of finding these beauties would be forgotten in the crush of enamelware.  

4.Master the art of rotation. Seasonal collections are a great way to freshen decor with little effort. For example, I display seasonal vintage postcards on a 24 pane window in my kitchen. They make me smile. In May and June I display vintage French seed labels. 

5. The best collections are aquired over time and experience.  It is so tempting to see a beautiful collection on a blog and jump on the EBay express to immediately duplicate it.  Most likely that blogger has been collecting for years and that collection represents her/his life and experiences.  Let your collections represent you! This collection of antique kokeshi dolls is unique to me and my life experiences in Japan.  I have never seen a collection like it and love the unique and unexpected element it adds to my home. 

Someday I hope the Princess will share my love of collecting…beyond collecting compliments…and how was she ever this tiny!

Inspire me Monday. Inspire me Tuesday . Metamorphosis. You’re the Star. Wonderful Wednesday. Keep in touch. Beautifully made. Party in your pjs. Wednesday blog hop. Your whim. Share your style. Waste not. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm.Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at HomeThursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters.Create bake grow. Snickerdoodle. Happiness is homemade. Silver pennies. Create with joy. Over the Moon Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday celebrate your story Little cottage Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it Friday Pink Saturday encouraging hearts and home fresh farm Tuesday. Wednesday Dare to share. Doodle buddies heart and souls simple sunday Sunday stars silverado. The Fabulous Party. Charming homes and gardens. Centerpiece. Tuesday with a twist. Artsy mama

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Lisa at Condo Blues – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

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Penny at Penny’s Passion – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Jennifer at Busy Being Jennifer – Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

<a href=”http://www.simplysweethome.com/category/friday%20favorites/&#8221; target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”><img src=”http://www.simplysweethome.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Friday-Favorites-Button.jpg&#8221; border=”0″ /></a>You can show your love for this week’s favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

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Encouraging Hearts and Homes@A Slice Of Life

The icy weather has trapped us in the house this Valentine’s Day. This might be a bit exaggerated. It is really cold outside and I want to stay in and bake and read. I read a magazine, saw a recipe and baked, so I can check that off my list. Spinach and feta quick bread, I know, sounds a little different. I also had some reservations. I’m now a believer. I hope everyone is enjoying a safe and lovely Valentine’s weekend.

The Usual Cast Of Characters

all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled 1 1/2 cups

baking powder 2 tsp

kosher salt 3/4 tsp

freshly ground black pepper 1/4 tsp

crumbled feta (about 1 cup) 6 oz.

frozen cut spinach (2 cups) 6 Oz.

canola oil 1/2 cup

buttermilk 1/2 cup buttermilk

Eggs 2 large

The Steps To The Glory

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease an 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-inch loaf pan; line with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on long sides.
2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Add feta and spinach; toss to coat. Whisk together oil, buttermilk, and eggs in a second bowl. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until combined. Transfer batter to prepared pan.
3. Bake until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, 55 to 60 minutes. Cool in pan on a wire rack 10 minutes, then use overhangs to remove from pan and transfer to rack; cool completely.

Our sweet Princess braved the icy cold to deliver Valentine’s to our neighbors. She wanted to make sure everyone felt loved.

Inspire me Monday. Inspire me Tuesday . Metamorphosis. You’re the Star. Tuesday with a twist. Wonderful Wednesday. Keep in touch. Beautifully made. Party in your pjs. Wednesday blog hop. Your whim. Share your style. Home and garden. Waste not. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm.Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at Home Thursday favorites. BFF open house.A Morning Cup Of Joe.Home matters.Create bake grow. Snickerdoodle. Happiness is homemade. Silver pennies. Create with joy. Over the Moon Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday celebrate your story Little cottageSaturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it FridayPink Saturday encouraging hearts and home fresh farm Tuesday. Wednesday Centerpiece. Dare to share. Doodle buddies heart and souls simple sunday Sunday stars silverado. The Fabulous Party. Charming homes and gardens. CPW. Artsy mama. Whats for supper

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Lisa at Condo Blues – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small Things – Pin

Penny at Penny’s Passion – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Jennifer at Busy Being Jennifer – Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

<a href=”http://www.simplysweethome.com/category/friday%20favorites/&#8221; target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”><img src=”http://www.simplysweethome.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Friday-Favorites-Button.jpg&#8221; border=”0″ /></a>You can show your love for this week’s favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

And if you love all of this week’s favorites, please pin, share, and invite your friends to this week’s linky party! Continue reading →

Encouraging Hearts and Homes @ My Slice of Life

Elizabeth Barrett Browning – 1806-1861

I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight…my sweet Princess!

Ready for Valentine’s Day!

Home and family Inspire me Monday. Inspire me Tuesday . Metamorphosis. You’re the Star. Tuesday with a twist. Wonderful Wednesday. Keep in touch. Beautifully made. Party in your pjs. Wednesday blog hop. Your whim. Share your style. Home and garden. Waste not. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm.Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at Home Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters.Create bake grow. Snickerdoodle. Happiness is homemade. Silver pennies. Create with joy. Over the Moon Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday celebrate your story Little cottage Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it Friday Pink Saturday encouraging hearts and home fresh farm Tuesday. Wednesday Centerpiece. Dare to share. Doodle buddies heart and souls simple sunday Sunday stars silverado. The Fabulous Party. Charming homes and gardens artsy mama