Cousins Add Love to Our Lives

There's no doubt about it. Cousins definitely have the ability to add love to our lives in all stages.

Thanks to having many cousins, both female and male, I feel very blessed.

My cousin, Marianne's apartment has been featured on this blog in the past.

We both enjoy flowers of all kinds and pretty arrangements.

One month, she comes to my apartment for a visit and we have breakfast,lunch or brunch.                                                                    

Then, the next month, I go to hers for the same.

It's a win/win arrangement. We have  wonderful visits and delicious food which is a super combination.

Marianne and I have many things in common.  

One can definitely tell we are cousins.

For instance, we both love art.

The painting above, in her lovely apartment, is of the skating rink at Rockefeller Center in New York City.

The rink opened for the first time on Christmas Day, in 1936.

We both also love baking.

At a recent breakfast, my cousin served, among many things, homemade sugar cookies with buttercream frosting. 

Her mother, my late Aunt Gert, also used to make these.  They are so delish.

Marianne and I both love Christmas. This year she left her Christmas tree up and festooned it for Valentine's Day.

Hearts and Knick knacks are also both on our radar.  

Look at this sweet little teddy bear and the pretty hearts on the curtain in the dining room.

Who would be unable to love gorgeous quilts and delicate lace? 

Many of our treasures have been found in thrift shops. Yes, we both enjoy thrifting, too.

It goes without saying that we love tablecloths year-round.

We love each other, too, and that's the best thing of all!

ARE YOU CLOSE TO ANY COUSINS?

Instant Warm-Up in Winter

 

So far, this has been a very hard winter, especially when temps dip into the single digits. 

One way of giving the small apartment an instant warm-up is to bake something good in the oven.

Yesterday, it was oatmeal/raisin cookies and pumpkin breads.  

The little breads have chocolate chips added to them, compliments of  10-year-old grandsons who love them that way.

We don't think too often of the electric bill to come because it's too scary but, in the meantime, heating up that oven is a joy and the things that come out of it are delicious.

HOW HAS YOUR WINTER BEEN SO FAR, (IF YOU HAVE WINTER, THAT IS)

Visions of Pink

 

Somewhere online, a person in the store, Five Below, talked about  heart-shaped pink pillows for sale.

While looking for children's story books in that store, the friend I was with found the pink, heart-shaped pillows!

They were super soft and very pretty and cost only $7.

There were no kids' books to be found but the pillow came home with me.

Pink is absolutely my favorite color.

On the hutch in the same room where the pillow now sits on the couch, are some lovely pink flowers a very dear friend, Mary, made!

I don't know whether they are knitted or crocheted (I'd bet on knitted) but they are absolutely lovely.

So there are two visions of pink that add to the living room ambiance.

I hope you have a good and happy President's Day!

Little Mary in the Wooden Niche

The tiny statue of the Blessed Mother has been featured in this blog in the past.

If my memory serves me correctly,  I found the wooden niche, with little doors that open and close, in a marketplace in Guatamala, Central America.

It was during the days when my late husband and  I visited all of the Central American countries except Belize.

Mary and the niche have been with me for decades now.

Some pretty pink roses have been added to the top.

Mary is called upon any time deep problems threaten to destroy the peace in my heart. 

She always answers prayers. 

After all, she has a mighty powerful intercessory in the other realm of life.

Happy Day of Love

Happy Valentine's Day to all!

This is such a beautiful holiday, filled with chocolates, hearts, roses, and love.

Of course, every day should be a day of love, don't you think?

Recently, while decluttering, I've come across scrapbooks filled with old greeting cards, some going back 50 years and more!

My mother kept meticulous scrapbooks.

The card shown at the top of this post is from my late Mom and Dad, in 1969!  

Of course it brings tears along with happy memories of the people who loved me throughout my entire life until they left this earth.

May you find big and little ways of showing love today.

Around here, even the dollhouse got a special cake added to a table!

On this special day, I wish you peace, kindness in everyone you see today, and a heart filled with love.