Found Goodies

Yes, the snow remains here in Northern IL. It's lovely to look at...from inside the cozy warmth of the house, but it does create a bit of cabin fever. So an outing was in order.

Here are the goodies that I picked up a few weeks ago with some of my Christmas money. It was such a treat to be out and about and spoil myself a little!

 a neat wire basket, 2 ricers - one for me and one for my etsy shop, a spool of twine with wonderful repro scissors, a wooden finial - that I plan to add to another project soon, a wire egg separator, some lovely faux greenery - just in time to give the house a spring sprucing, a wooden paddle mold - for sugar - I think, a beautiful piece of tin bake ware, a bail-handled graniteware pail (and a parrrr-tridge in a pear tree).

I need another graniteware pail like a hole in the head but then... I am Graniteware Gal.  :  )
                                                        Have a great day!!

Together At Last

Can't believe I forgot to post this awhile ago. For those who follow me on facebook you've seen this already but for the record....

A few years ago I purchased the wonderful George Washington sugar bowl,

that you see above in my blog header photo,

from my friend Vanessa at Mattie's Menagerie on etsy.

I hoped that somedayI might find his beloved sweetheart  - Martha.

Then one day a few months ago...

as I was clicking around on Etsy,

to my surprise(!!) there she was!

Perfect!

I wasted no time in purchasing her and welcoming her into her new home.

Now they sit...together at last.

They look so happy...don't you think?

Thank you RockinHeartJewelry (on Etsy)!

  Together they sit atop the jelly cupboard in our diningroom (yes, right there in the header photo -George is no longer alone!)

                       Have a great day!     
                                       Graniteware Gal





Is Spring on the Way??

Yes, I'm getting anxious for spring - although the 6 or so inch blanket of snow we got yesterday is truly beautiful!

    The thought of spring made me think of flowers...

and roses...

and vintage china...

 with flowers and roses.

 

 

And today, as hard as it is for me,

I'm making this sweet creamy ivory pitcher

available in my etsy shop

 

 

Think how this vintage beauty will look in a white kitchen or dining room

 as part of a pitcher collection!

(Many of these items are available as well.)

 

                                                    Graniteware Gal

Comfort Food

With the anticipation of a big snow storm heading our way, today seemed like the perfect time to make a big pot of beef noodle soup and some homemade bread!

Don't you just love the aroma of soup simmering on the stove? I know I do! And it's even better when I 'm using my grandma's old stove. It's certainly given years of faithful service - both to her and to me. I am blessed to have it. They sure don't make them like this anymore!

You can almost smell the bread baking! It was such a treat just to breathe it in on a cold winter's day.
And I was pretty excited about trying out my new marble pastry slab that I picked up at an estate sale a couple weeks ago. It worked wonderfully! Now I just have to find a place to store it.

As we hunker down and listen to the wind howling outside, I think of all our many blessings!

May you stay safe and warm this winter!

                                               Graniteware Gal

LOVE is in the Air

I hope each of you has someone to hold dear this Valentine's Day -- family, friends, a sweetheart.  The roses were from my sweet hubby. He's a gem!!

Moving from Christmas to Spring

Why does it seem so hard for me to leave Christmas behind and move ahead toward spring?

Every year I linger in the joys and coziness of the holiday, the warmth of Christmas. I suppose I linger longer than most. Most have long since cleared away all reminders of the season, crated the boxes and tubs of decorations back up to the attic, and moved on to the spare, clean look of spring...yet I linger.

 

I long to remain...sip another cup of coffee...bask in the joy of sitting alone, after all have gone to sleep, and gaze at the glow of the Christmas tree decked out in all its symbolism and finery. Enjoying the true meaning of the season.

I guess I have somewhat of an excuse. Since we host an annual After-the-Holiday Party for our church family each January, it gives me a reason to leave things up and enjoy them just a bit longer.

Yet, if it weren't for January birthdays and the need to decorate for those, I think I'd be secretly wishing to leave up the holiday things almost until the first fresh blade of grass peeked through.

Packing up all the things that remind me of Christmases long ago spent with those I love so dearly...is not so easy. So I linger a bit longer...pondering...relishing....

But now it is time to move ahead...knowing I will look forward to next year. I must move ahead to garden catalogues, spring cleaning, and thoughts of throwing open the windows and doors to hear the singing birds and to breathe in spring's freshness. Soon the snow will disappear and God's beautiful flowers will emerge. Welcome Spring!