Friendship Flowers!

"Make new friends but keep the old,
One is silver, the other gold."

Remember that old saying? I don't know where it came from so it's impossible to give credit to the person who coined it. It's meaningful, though.

Two of my dearest friends go back a long way. Even though there were many years when we lived thousands of miles apart, they both remained close in thought and spirit. Now, once again, we all live in the same town! How incredible is that? Life sure throws some curve balls when we least expect.

So one recent afternoon, the doorbell rang. It was one of my dear friends holding a gorgeous flower arrangment she made from silk flowers.




"Happy Easter," she grinned as she handed me the arrangement plus a lovely Easter card. She's so doggone talented that it's not funny. How she can take a pile of different flowers and greenery and whip it into a gorgeous centerpiece is beyond me. This one is arranged in a white ceramic watering "can" that my friend thrifted!






Later in the evening, the doorbell rang again. It was my second dear friend holding a centerpiece she made from live flowers!

"Happy Easter," she chirped as she came in and happily handed over the flowers. She, too, is tremendously talented and the living bouquet is now on the kitchen table.


Both centerpieces touched my heart because they were made with such love and kindness by two very special women in my life.



Do I feel blessed this Easter season and each moment of my life? Yes, truly, I feel blessed beyond measure and undeserving of such kindness from my two dear friends.




ARE YOU GIVING GIFTS TO FRIENDS THIS EASTER?

Martha and Terri's Teacup Tuesday

Thanks to Martha and Terri for sponsoring Teacup Tuesday! It's fun to see everyone's treasured cups. Thanks, girls!

Today's teacup on this blog has pink, detailed scenes of an American settlement against a beige background. It was made by Johnson Brothers in England.

The lettering on the back of the saucer reads "San Francisco" and "Historic America during the Gold Rush."



Using a magnifying glass, an American flag can clearly be seen above wooden buildings. Four tiny figures are there, two carrying shovels. Also spotted is a horse pulling a wagon. Another lone horse stands by the side of the road.





Numerous tiny houses are nestled in hills above the settlement.




There are about a dozen sailing ships on water, too!



A decorative leaf and acorn border frames the bottom edge of the cup's scene as well as the saucer. There is a decorative border inside the top rim of the cup, too, and on the cup's handle!



This cup allows one to go back awhile in history while sipping tea!

(Wouldn't it be great to hear, "I struck gold!")

DO YOU HAVE ANY HISTORICAL THEMED TEACUPS?

Extraordinary Eggs!

Almost everyone's heard of "Pysanky" or Ukranian Easter eggs. They are very intricately designed and take many hours to make.

Unfortunately, they are very expensive, not to mention extremely delicate. One drop on the floor and they'd break into a million pieces.

Consequently, in buying eggs for our house, wooden ones seemed to be the better bet. Also, because my ethnic background is Polish, on my mother's side, it was a delight to find hand-painted Polish eggs.

Throughout the years, each Easter season, I'd add one or two more eggs to my collection. Placed in a crystal bowl, they have become a traditional part of Easter decor.





Some of them, I even found at yard sales!

After Easter, very reluctantly, they are wrapped in tissue paper and packed away in the attic. They are so beautiful that I'm always tempted to leave them out all year.

The Polish Easter eggs are just one way of adding a touch of beauty and ethnic elegance to the holiday.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ETHNIC DECORATIONS IN YOUR HOUSE?

Little Bunny Blue

Little bunny blue
Soft as can be
I want to hold you
On my knee.

Velvety ears and velvety feet
Make your whole being, very sweet.

You sat so still
On a shelf alone
The second I saw you
Wanted you to come "home."

They say the color blue
Makes a person feel sappy.
But not with you
Cuz you make me happy!

Little bunny blue
Soft as can be.
If you'll come into my heart
I'll give you the key!

Happy Easter, Little Bunny Blue!

(By the way, picked up little Bunny Blue at a thrift shop this week for $1.99, which is great because he's a pretty good sized bunny. His feet and inside of his ears are made from blue velvet. He got a good bath in the washing machine and was tossed around in the drier with a fabric softener sheet so now he smells as good as he looks. Was going to give him away but decided no, he's a keeper. ha! That happens to me a lot.)

HAVE YOU EVER WRITTEN POETRY?

Sweet Surprises!

Serendipity is the "apparent aptitude for making fortunate discoveries accidentally."

Yesterday turned out to be a day of pleasant surprises of a serendipitous nature. There was a brief visit at my daughter's house to check-out progress on renovation. Then, on my way to do an errand, I stopped at a consignment shop and spotted a very pretty floral plate.



It was appropriately named Flower Market, by Pfaltzgraff. Since there was no price tag on it, I asked the shop owner how much it cost.



"You can have that plate plus all the others in the window for $7.00." Come to find out, the owner planned to close the shop due to health problems. While I was sad for her predicament, I loved the gorgeous dishes and bought them on the spot.



There are eight large dinner plates, two dessert plates, and a couple of bowls. Most have a pale yellow background with purple, blue, and pink flowers but there are two purple dishes, too.

Honestly, they look like they are designed especially for spring, reminiscent of Monet paintings on china!






Also found a great framed saying,for $2, that has true meaning:



With 15 minutes to spare, I made a quick stop at a Goodwill store and quickly found a hand-painted vase for 49 cents and a nicely shaped green glass vase for $1.49.







My half-hour shopping spree cost $10.98 and was a real blast! The treasures felt like an early Easter present to myself.



WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HAD A SERENDIPITOUS EXPERIENCE?

The Banquet of Life!

(This bouquet of yellow tulips in a cobalt blue vase was given by my daughter and son-in-law! I found it on the table in the front hall. It was a nice surprise!)



What makes life a banquet?

Each person would, no doubt, compile a list different from the next guy. We are, after all, individuals with distinct opinions, personalities, tastes.

Here are some things that make my life a banquet:

1. My faith in Almighty God who takes care of all of life's details!
2. My husband
3. Our son and daughter, both grown-up now, and both super individuals
4. My family including sisters, uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces,(their children) and nephews
5. My beloved parents who wait for me on the other side
6. Extended family including our "kids'" partners and many, many foster children
7. Friends, both long-time and new
8. Our home
9. My blog and all the great fellow bloggers I've met these past months
10. Eyesight
11. Hearing
12. Ability to walk
13. Teeth to bite into succulent, medium rare filet mignon
14. My car
15. Writing, writing, writing, writing, writing (and reading, too!)
16. A sense of humor
17. Music
18. Art
19. Flowers
20. Good quality perfume
21. Delicious food
22. Dolls
23. Flea markets, yard and estate sales
22. Books and used bookstores
23. Sunshine
24. Swimming and aqua aerobics
25. Bright colors
26. GOOD HEALTH
27. My Honey Cat, a 15 year old grandmother
28. Warm, fleece sheets in winter
29. Our fireplace
30. Lace curtains
31. Day trips
32. My camera and photography
33. My dollhouse and miniatures hobby
34. Christmas first, then all other holidays
35. Surprises
36. My cell phone
37. My cranberry glass and crystal collections
38. My husband's computer that I use
39. The new laptop that he is going to buy me (someday)
40. Memories

Wow! What a feast! Can't wait to see what's for dessert!

WHAT MAKES YOUR OWN LIFE A BANQUET?

Signs of the Season!

Regardless of the holiday, it's important to have a home's decor say "Welcome."

One of my very talented sisters painted the wooden bunny wreath, shown above. Bunny's sweet smile welcomes all guests to our house. Check out the plaid bow on her ear! She has pink on her paws, pink cheeks, and a heart-shaped pink nose.

To her right, on the porch wall, hangs a Happy Easter sign.










This little yellow fellow will be tied to a porch pillar as soon as I find some string to attach him!






Inside the house, some pink and purple bun buns have joined the menagerie!

This diamond-checked bunny has white feet, face, and ears and is as cute as can be.



Here's Zsa Zsa who thinks she's a movie star. She wears one ear over her face, Hollywood style!









Lavender Lopside has a pink nose, pink whiskers, and, of course, a pink bow!



Last but not least is Woolly Two Tone (Lavender and White). He's as soft as a marshmallow, and just as sweet as one, too.



Okay, that's it for bunnies (for today).

WHAT COLOR DO YOU ASSOCIATE WITH EASTER?

A Taste of Lebanon

The executive chef and owner of a new restaurant in Western Mass not only serves tasty Lebanese food, he's also a testimony to the resiliency of the human spirit.

Richard "Dick" Joseph and his life partner, Valerie Soules, opened "Effendi's Oasis" at the end of January. A small, immaculate establishment with green walls and glass-topped tables, Effendi's is located at 1206 North Street in Pittsfield, MA. Casa blanca fans are overhead, as well as plants hanging from a trellis in the middle of the ceiling.




Just a few years ago, Joseph had no inkling he'd be the owner of a new restaurant. He was injured at his job, at that time, had a brain aneurysm, and was pronounced "Dead on Arrival" at a hospital where medical personnel revived him. He then survived emergency brain surgery and remained hospitalized for seven and a half months!

With a fierce determination to recuperate, Joseph enrolled in a culinary arts program at Berkshire Community College, also located in Pittsfield. Through the encouragement of instructors and the Disability Resource Center at the college, he graduated in 2009 with a certificate in Culinary Arts. Then, he did additional studies under master chefs at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y.

At Effendi's, Joseph makes recipes from his family's 200-year-old cookbook. Familiar Lebanese specialties such as tabouli (parsley, scallions, tomatoes, and Bulgar); hummus (whipped chick peas, tahini, and lemon juice. Joseph's version also includes parsley and tomatoes); and umjuddra (cooked lentils, onions, and spices.)

The restaurant is opened daily for lunch as well as for dinner on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday for dinner.

The day my daughter and I went, I had the "fatouche" green salad. The Lebanese use sumac in the olive oil/vinegar dressing. It's a tasty salad with crunch from toasted pita bread pieces and zest from the dressing.






My daughter had the combination platter which consisted of tabouli, hummus, and pocket bread.

Ingredients tasted fresh and the entre came in a healthy proportion. Joseph, a former high school football star, said he emphasizes "fresh" ingredients in his cooking. Our server, Janice Martin, also the restaurant's manager, was friendly and helpful, making us feel welcome. Highlight of the day was the baklava, a dessert that literally melted in the mouth. (I had just a tiny nibble to taste it but my daughter polished off two luscious pieces.) It's a nutty, sweet dessert with layers of phyllo dough and was served with exotic rosewater and a mint leaf.




Joseph came to our table several times and offered explanations of the food as well as checked to see if we felt satisfied. One would never know from looking at him, that he fought back from the brink of death.

A sketch of a cedar tree, a symbol in Lebanese culture, adorns the menu of Effendi's. There's also a saying printed there. It reads: "A Lebanese will offer his guests the very best he has and sets out food in abundance."


Effendi's Oasis also offers takeout.

Teacup Tuesday

Hello Everyone! Today is Teacup Tuesday at Martha's Favorites. She hosts it with Terri at http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com.

Now, I have to tell you, I've never joined anything in blogland because of being very technologically insecure. ha! Have been too scared of that Mr. Linky. But I love teacups and have a nice collection that I would love to share.

Soooooooo. Going to try to see if I can squelch my fears and join. If nothing happens, at least I tried, right? So my first teacup, that I HOPE you can see, was a thrift shop find. It's very beautiful with pastel yellow background and pink roses.

Have no idea where it originated or anything about its history. Just love it. So there you have it.

By the way, I am a follower of Martha's blog and I want to tell you, it's really fun to read. She writes from her own heart, has a lot of beautiful collections, and is a great lady. I hope I can eventually learn how to put her button on my blog!

Hope everyone who stops by has a great day! Sincerely, Susan

A Bush in Bloom!

Driving down the street, people see quite a dazzling sight. The Easter egg bush is in full bloom and the branches are filled with dozens upon dozens of gorgeous colorful eggs!

Decorations can bring smiles to the faces of onlookers and that's what makes decorating worthwhile. In a world that's often filled with sadness and difficulties, a blooming Easter egg bush can make a difference! Children love it but adults do, too!

Decorating completed, I decided to stretch out on the padded lounge chair for a Sunday afternoon break. The lounge finally was out of winter storage. In the sky above, the sun shown down like a giant ball of hot melted wax. Looking up above, this is what I saw:



The birds had not come back yet so the afternoon was pretty quiet except for the sounds of neighborhood children laughing and playing in a nearby yard. No branches had sprouted any growth so the tree silhouettes against the sky looked quite picturesque.

No matter where my eyes moved, the vista startled in its simplicity and magnificence.



The clouds moved across the sky ever so slowly, at one point, covering the sun. Then, two clouds parted and a burst of light shot down out of the sky, completely enveloping me in warmth and light. It was as if God, Himself, sent down a message that spring had, indeed, sprung!











Guess who else enjoyed the afternoon sunshine on the lounge? It was our resident feline grandma, Miss Honey Cat! Here she is:









Before going back into the house, took one last look at the Easter egg bush, which is now about half decorated. There are still many more dozens of eggs to hang but on this particular day, we called it quits!


HAVE YOU EVER DECORATED AN EASTER EGG BUSH?

Easter Fantasy Church

One of the most unique Easter decorations ever is a ceramic church that gives new meaning to the word non-traditional! Since today is Sunday, and many people attend church, including me, would like to share it with you.



Done in pastel colors, the little church sparkles with glitter. It has Easter eggs for bushes at its base and carrots along its roof! Yes! It has a row of carrots growing right along the top of its roof. There are also rows of tulips and hearts!





Flowers are also in each of the church's windows and more carrots at the top of each window! Could this church have been meant for bunnies? (Who ever heard of a holy rabbit?)





There are even a small stained "glass" windows on the front and sides of the steeple.

The church is ready to welcome any peanut-sized rabbits around here who want to attend services.

ARE YOU PLANNING TO COOK AT HOME FOR EASTER OR GO OUT WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY?