The Bird Feeder – A Hot Spot in Our Garden!

Yellow finch at the bird feeder in our garden

There’s nothing better than being able to sit at my desk, while enjoying all of the noise & traffic that goes by my window each day! Traffic you ask? Yes! The best kind of traffic… wildlife roaming through the yard, enjoying a little treat as they go about their day 🙂

I’m talking, of course, about our bird feeders!

With this being our first year living at the cottage in the woods, we are just starting to get a taste of the joys of living with nature 😉

I thought I’d share a few pictures of the recent guests to the cottage feeder.

The first up (one pictured above) are the wonderful finches! They come in so many colors & sizes – but most of all – they have the most beautiful songs!

Then there are the little guys like this little chipmunk! So cute & tiny – we love to watch them stuff their cheeks full of goods then run back under the trees!
Chipmunk at the bird feeder in our cottage garden

And last of all… the bigger guys like this sneaky raccoon! I do love wildlife… but I hope this is as big as the visitors get! After all… there were a few bear sightings in our area last year – yikes!
Raccoon coming around the cottage garden bird feeder

* Did you know that raccoons have “thumbs” which is why they are able to open trash can lids, and get into lots of other trouble around your property?!

* Do you know what a baby raccoon is called? Answer: A kit

Decorating for Spring

Vintage Pine Cabinet

Although I love to decorate for the holidays, I never really thought about changing things around during each season… until now 😉

About 8-9 years ago, we decided that someday soon we would move into a different home. We wanted something a little larger for our growing family, and more land for our growing desire for gardening! After we found our property, we went through the process of finding a house plan & building the new house. Fast forward several years… I finally feel settled & excited about decorating & gardening for the future.

In the past, I would normally get in the mood to decorate when the holidays came around a few times each year. Now, in our first year in the new cottage, I find myself thinking in terms of seasons – not just holidays.

I’ve always loved to look through magazines & see the beautiful pictures of homes as they go through their seasonal changes, but I always thought it was to expensive, as well as to much work. Now, however, I have a new philosophy… Why Not?

Even if the only thing you change is a picture, a piece of fabric, or a potted plant, you’re still keeping things interesting & current. And expensive? I should have known better 🙂 I have been known to uncover “many a good deal” in these parts 😉 So… I wanted to share some of the recent changes for the new season. This is our first Spring in the new house – as well as the beginning of a wonderful new tradition… change 😉


My friend bought me these little prim chicks from a favorite prim store of mine.

I love having different platters & bowls to serve our family & guests. When I find one at a great price, I snatch it up quick 🙂 This one was only $6 from a Pier One Sale!

* I just had to dress the rusty tin star with a dash of color 🙂


I love vintage wooden butter bowls – I picked these up in a $1 box at auction. The little bunny is cast iron.


I love these pears! I picked them up for .79 cents. They have such a vintage look with their coat of sparkles.

Inspiration Board

Primitive Angel

Isn’t she beautiful! I especially love her little red lips!

P is for Pearls

A gift from a friend – I love pearls & my name is Pearl 🙂

Angel Ornament

My friend made this little ornament for me. I love the way it sparkles!


I picked up the waverly toile runner for $5 at a local discount store. I want to add some pots of green plants to the center.


Here’s a close up of the little cast iron birds in the table wreath.

I can tell this is going to be fun!! 🙂

Thrift and Auction Treasures

I am a firm believer in keeping your eyes open for a great find! After all… why pay full price, when you can have it so cheap? 😉 Here are a few of my latest finds.

This little print above is one that I just picked up in my local thrift shop for .99 cents! I love roses, and for .99 cents … it had to come home with me 🙂

I try to find things to display in my little Victorian glass house, so for Spring it’s a simple cast iron bunny & eggs 🙂 The little vintage lace piece was in a $1 box of goodies that I picked up at auction!


I love this new platter! I just picked it up from the thrift store for $1.99! I love the bright red apples & the different shades of green in the leaves, stem, and platter. When this piece caught my eye I had to pick it up, because I knew that it would go with my decor perfectly! When I brought it home – I simply added it to the new Spring display (I think it will work for most of my displays 😉 in my vintage pine cabinet.

A Great Fabric Resource!

As I mentioned yesterday, last week my daughter & I took a little trip down to MD to spend a week with my mom & dad. While we were there, my mom took us to a wonderful fabric outlet store! The prices are very good, and most items are 50%-70% off! I don’t think I spent more than $5 per yard for any piece that I picked up! They have gorgeous choices piled from floor to ceiling!




Here’s the information about the store:

…………………………………………………………………………………..
The Interior Alternative Fabric & Bedding Outlet
3 different outlets in DE, NC, & TX
Phone: 302-454-3232

Description: Featuring Waverly, and other designer brands. Seconds & closeout fabrics, comforters, bedspreads, pillows, trims, and accessories.
…………………………………………………………………………………..

I thought you might like to see a few of my finds… and maybe you’ll want to discover a few treasures for yourself 🙂


Blue & Gold Toile With Trim

I will use this fabric & trim to make an inspiration board. I have lots of different fabric so I can also change it out for each season.



Fabric for my Harvest Table





It already matches the seat covers perfectly!



Red & Blue Vintage Style Checks & Roses

I want to use this fabric to make some vintage style aprons for my daughter & myself. I want to make a red apron with blue pockets & a blue apron with red pockets. And while we’re at it… why not add some ruffles as well 😉

Apple Blossoms Line a Country Lane

Apple Blossoms
My daughter & I just returned home from spending a week with my mom & dad in MD. It was the first time that I had ever driven such a distance by myself, so I was a bit nervous. I figured, at 38 years old, I should at least give it a try 🙂 To my surprise (and with much prayer) I did a fine job! With my little princess at my side we were off.

To help keep me awake, and to side step trying to find a suitable radio station every little while, we decided to pick up some audio books from our local library. Although I see audio books available, I had never thought of picking up any for my own enjoyment, but now I’m so glad we did! We had a marvelous time & finished 2 novels as well! I would encourage you to go to your local library & pick up some audio books for yourself. It’s free – and you can order the kinds of books that are appropriate for you & your family. I think I’m hooked!

We had a great time with my parents. Even though we are only 5-6 hours away, the seasons unfold about a month ahead of us. We left little piles of snow, and were greeted with apple & pear blossoms, smiling forsythias, and dancing daffodils!

I had to share a few pictures of a country lane lined with apple trees that we spied along a winding country road. The white blossoms made them look like they were covered with beautiful dreamy cotton balls! The sight reminded me of a scene from Anne of Green Gables, when Anne & Matthew were first arriving at Green Gables and the horse drawn wagon enters into an old apple orchard dripping with white blossoms… <./Pearl stops dreaming> 😉

While in MD, my mom took us to the most fabulous fabric shop! When we walked in, I could see that I might need to linger there for quite a while 🙂 I headed straight over to the wonderful home decorating section filled to the brim with waverly fabrics and every kind of toile imaginable! And the prices… 50% – 70% off! Needless to say… I picked up a “few” lovely pieces of fabric for future projects 😉

I’ll be sure to share some pictures & ideas with you tomorrow!

When my husband & I came home yesterday, it was so nice outside that we decided to go down by the river and drink in the goodness of God. We spent an hour or so just taking in the sights & sounds of our little heaven on earth. The water is higher than normal due to the Spring meltdown, so the sound of the water rushing over the rocks was wonderful! We spied a pair of ducks swimming towards us, so we tried to be as quiet as possible as to not scare them away. Here in the forest we seem to see so many different types of birds that we were not used to seeing at our other home down in the heart of the village. I guess even being a short distance away – as well as being tucked back in the forest helps bring out the best of area wildlife 😉

Well… the sun is shining – the birds are singing – and the peepers were out last night for the first time! It must be Spring!

Great Blogs to Visit

We’ve received the Thinking Blogger Award
Thinking Blogger Award

I want to thank Manuela at The Feathered Nest for choosing me to receive the Thinking Blogger Award! She has a great blog – take a minute to go over for a visit!

Once you’ve received this award, you are supposed to pick a few of your favorite blogs to give the award to. Here are just a few of my favorites.

Homespun Living
Deb shares tidbits of her families daily life on the farm. The posts are filled with ideas about recipes, crafting, gardening, and life in general.

The Decorated House
Donna shares lots of wonderful home decorating ideas. You’ll find lots of inspiration at this great site!

Daisy Cottage
I think you’ll love Kim’s little cottage… I know I do! She has a great eye for color & design. You’ll love reading her posts that cover many of her different interests.

Nostalgia at the Stone House
Read about life in Somorset (in the UK). This site is filled with wonderful pictures & ideas, gardening, and decorating ideas.

Here’s a link to see the rules, as well as how the award got started – Thinking Blogger Award