Friendship, Awards, Etsy, and A Few Free Images...

"A good memory is one that can remember the day's blessings and forget about the day's troubles."(Friendship Collage)

Thank you all for your friendship and outpouring of care, concern, and prayers in regards to my last post. I have no doubt that things will right themselves as things have a habit of doing. It is that waiting period in between that is often the hardest to bear. Waiting for me is prayerful hope, the substance of things hoped for but not yet seen. I assure you I am waiting peacefully for this painful process to pass and looking for the lessons to be learned thorough this situation. Anyway, let's move on to lighter things...

It seems I have been triple blessed this past week with blog awards. I have said it before and I will say it again it is reward enough for me to have you visit. I feel very honored that you would take the time to do so. I sort of adopted an award policy after agonizing over who to pass them on to because I think you are all so deserving, I choose not to select specific bloggers to receive them hoping that the givers will not think I am rude or unsportsmanlike.

It is with deep appreciation that I thank the very sweet Terry of Lady Liberty and Queenmother Mamaw for the Premios Dardo Award, as well as Tina of Tiny Bear for the Bella Sinclare Award. Each of you ladies are so precious for thinking of me and I thank you.All that said to say that I am now adopting a new policy of borrowing a button from Vee and declaring this an award free blog. Please do not think me rude but if feels funny to accept an award and not pass it on as it was intended. I think every blog has its own reason for being award worthy. This little birdie will now perch on my sidebar and hopefully not hurt any feelings.Heavens this post is giving me anxiety! It think you think I am rude and being brought up with strict Southern manners and worrin' about what the neighbors think and all I am about to have the vapors! Somebody quick, toss me a fan and position me in front of the faintin' couch so I can go down delicately! Anyway, let's move on again...

I ordered some stuff from Beth of Gathering Dust, I think she has become my new enabler of all things paper. She likes the same kind of stuff I like and she finds so many unique things that her Etsy shop just draws me like a magnet. I ordered a couple of old books, a personal weakness, and a set of wonderful old postcards. You know you can look forward to receiving your order form Beth because she will have some sort of super clever packaging like this...I really did not even care what the contents of the first book, The Wilstach Collection Philadelphia 1893 Memorial Hall Fairmount Park, which is an art catalog of a private collection that was donated to the city. I ordered it because I was just drawn by the cover, although I will say I was quite drawn to many of the black and white depictions of famous art pieces. Love this one, please feel free to snag for personal use... The second book I ordered was an old song book, The One Hundred and One Best Songs. I am a sucker for old sheet music. The pages of this book have a perfect aged patina to them and I love the way the the paper has darkened. Each page not only has a song but a quote at the bottom of each page. Miss Jessie Page of Slater, Missouri was the owner Long, Long Ago, please feel free to snag for personal use...I love these sweet birthday wishes on the post cards.This one is my favorite, please feel free to snag for personal use...
Beth is always so sweet to tuck in a little extra treat and there was a old advertising card for a book on one side and a skyline view of NYC on the other side, sweet buttons, and cool shoe store tags! Thanks Beth for such a great place to shop! I am hoping tomorrow to meet up with a friend for a fun day of flea marketing and lots of laughter. I hope to find a few more things to use to organize and display with in my studio space. I hope each of you have a delightful week!

Blessings,
Miss Sandy

Gone But Not Forgotten.....

It has now been a little over one month since I announced that I was taking what was supposed to be a short blogging break. I wondered when I opened my poor neglected little piece of cyberspace what I would find. Much to my surprise, the wonderful gift of friendship awaited me. In my absence little offerings of love have poured my way in the form of emails, encouraging comments and prayers, little gifts arriving in the mail, and even sweet awards and a tag. My heart is overflowing with gratitude for all who venture past my little cottage and stop by for a friendly visit. Many thanks to all who enter here. Thank you that even though I was gone, I was not forgotten!

In my absence, Quill Cottage was thrice blessed with the Brillante Weblog award. Carol of Charli and Me, Zetor of Mog's Blog and More, and Carrie of Oak Rise Cottage were the generous givers of this award. I thank each of you from the bottom of my heart.

I was tagged by Schotzy of Wings of Eagles. The tag instructions were to share five things I love. Hmmm, no other rules, just five things you love. Five is an awfully limiting list. I'll skip the obvious like the Lord, family, friends, etc. and go to personal preferences. In no particular order, here are five things I love:

1.) I love to flea market on rainy Monday's. I always find my best bargains then.
2.) I love sunrise, the quite hush of evening being ushered out and the promise that comes with the dawn of each new day.
3.) I love books, reading and learning new things, traveling through the written word into the lives of characters and the places they inhabit, the weight and feel of a book in my hand, the quite rustle of turning the pages, and the descriptive language that each page holds.
4.) I love the joy of discovery through a child's eyes. I love caring for my little grandson and seeing the world afresh and anew through his exploration and delight in the simplest of things.
5.) I love my Father's world, all nature, rocks and trees, skies and seas, all things His hands have wrought.

If you want to play along consider yourself tagged. I'd love to read your list so let me know if you post on this.

I also received a goodly share of love in the mail. First there was a package from Cindy of Cindy is Crafty. This little package came along with a bonus blog award. I was so deeply touched by Cindy's kindness and for her thinking of me "just cause". Cindy sent me a wonderful little vintage hardbound volume of table graces for all occasions. I LOVE this little book. The prayers contained within its pages are not just meal blessings but words of thanks and praise, requests for God's blessings, special prayers for children, and prayers that are appropriate for holiday's and special occasions. The hope of the author of this little volume is, "...that this book may become a reminder of our dependence upon God's grace, love, and mercy which are ours in abundance."

This precious blog friend knew I needed a pick me up and I thank her for so richly blessing me "just cause". My dear friend Cindy, I am sending one of these beautiful graces back to you:

Dear Father, with the dawning of each morning,
through this friendship rare,
May Cindy's each day receive adorning,
through your blessings and your care.
Amen.

While on break I did a little etsy shopping over at Laura's Decor to Adore. I saw a must have necklace she had made with vintage charms and I ordered it. When the order came I was quite surprised by the size of the box, a bit large for a little necklace. Well, I should have suspected that my wonderfully generous friend would have tucked in some extra goodies! I was stunned when I opened the box and found not only my purchase inside but and item that I wanted to seek out for my kitchen! How did she know? Who told her? Not me.

My necklace was packaged in a sweet little muslin bag which was tied off at the top with a bit a raffia and a little silver bird charm, so cute! She even included two extra vintage rose charms that I turned into matching earrings!I lifted it out to find some wonderful embroidered pillow cases and a delicate cut work linen!A sprinkle of yummy candy. Sorry no picture, we ate it!

And...this stunner piece, a hand painted plate with fruit on it!I literally said to my daughter the day before this arrived that I wanted to find two such plates to hang on either side of a vintage framed lithograph of fruit that I hung in my kitchen! Laura, I am bowled over by your thoughtfulness and I will cherish all your wonderful gifts, thank you so very much.

Last, but certainly not least, one day last week I went to my mailbox and there was a package inside from a precious blog reader, Vicki Page. The handmade card Vicki sent with the words contained within blessed my heart more than she will ever know. The first thing I noticed about the box when I opened it was the scent, heavenly! Just look at all this goodness:
The sweetest satin bon~bon sachets! Don't they look darling displayed here?She included some crafting goodies!Just look at these feathered friends for the Quill! These little doves are perfect for displaying on my writing desk which has a matching motif! I have a special affinity for doves and I will always treasure these.For some quite time of relaxation and reflection Vicki included some herbal teas and a devotional!If I am correct, I think Vicki used her seamstress skills and made this awesome batik fabric handbag!This bag is beachy perfect and full of summer fun! Look at the fantastic stitching, colorful fibers, and glass beading. I have to say that one element of this lovingly crafted creation that stuck out to me were the glass fruit beads that line the top row of this side of the bag. These beads will always remind me of a blog friend that exemplifies the fruits of the Spirit in extending her friendship and taking time out from her busy life, in spite of her own health struggles to uplift and encourage me at a time when I really needed it. Vicki, you have blessed me beyond measure, may it be returned to you tenfold dear friend!

How many Marie Antoinette fans do we have out there in blogland? Then you must go over and visit Viv La Reine! a new blog that is a gallery of Antoinette inspired art! Some of you may already be familiar with this blogger, Kimberly Ryan of It's All About Romance Kimberly Ryan Art. Are you a creator of all things Marie? Pop over and see the art of fellow bloggers showcased there. Perhaps we will see your designs featured next!

Lastly, how would you like to win this original beach inspired painting? I know I would! My friend Helen of Brushstrokes, Etc.is having a give away for this oil painting! This original 5" x 5" oil painting on canvas is titled "Cockleshells" and is valued at $100.00! Go here to get details and to enter to win! I own one of her paintings and let me tell you the detail is fantastic and I would love to have this one to go with the one I already own! Hurry on over as this give away sign up ends on September 1st!

This gets me caught up and ready to begin blogging again! I'll be back at the first of next week on a more regular and consistent basis. Thank you all for hanging in there with me while I refueled!

Blessings,
Miss Sandy

Where I Am Going.....

"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under the trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time."

~John Lubbock~

Photo: A cup of flower, picked on the banks of the Little Red River, Lobo Landing.

Before I tell you where I am going, I need to take care of some blog business. Just this last week my humble spot in this big blog world was honored to receive three awards. One from Rosa of Stripes and Roses Cottage, one from A Hint of Home, and a third from Vanessa of Blushbutter. All of these ladies have beautiful blogs and I encourage you to visit each of them.

Stripes and Roses Cottage and A Hint of Home gave me the following award and the rules:

1. Put the logo on your blog
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4. Add links to those blogs on yours
5. Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs

Thank you to both of you lovely ladies for the honor of this award. I pass this on to:

1. Bonnie of Calamity Jane's Cottage
2. Gale of Mind Wide Open
3. Vikki of Humble Heart , Vikki is a new blogger with a pretty little place to visit so go over and give her a warm welcome!
4. Karen of Bluemuf's Corner
5. Shop Girl of Back of the Moon
6. Gemma of A Desert Garden
7. Denise of Pinkpomegranate

Vanessa stopped by my blog recently and sent me an email that said she found it inspiring. So she used her fantastic graphic design talents and created this darling little award for me:
Vanessa, this is one of the sweetest things I have ever been given. Thank you so very much for this darling little angel fairy baby with her little quill, ink , and book. I just love her! I won't keep this little darling to myself, but will pass her on at a later time. Thanks ladies and blessings be multiplied to you for your kindness.

Now, to tell you where I am going.....

I am going to walk barefoot in the dew damp morning grass,
to watch the wild morning glories bloom.

I am going to sip ice tea while sitting on my deck,
watching Grace, a deer, eat mimosa blossoms.

I am going to slip beneath sun dried sheets,
and dream sweet dreams.

I am going to float on my back in the pool,
while dragonflies dance against the big blue sky.

I am going to dip my toes in the pollywog's pond,
and cheer them on as they grow their little legs.

I am going to walk in the deep shade of the cool woods,
and day dream.

I am going to take my camera on a field trip, just she and I,
to view all the wonders God has made.

I am going to sit under the stars on a quilt,
and watch the fireflies blink.

I am going to recline on the swing,
and read a book.

I am going to eat ice cold watermelon while laughing,
juice dripping down my chin.

I am going to marvel at sunrise,
and gasp at the glory of sunset.

I am going to enjoy summer!

I am going to take
a blog break!

I just wanted to let you know that I will be on an extended blog break. I recently visited with a very good blog friend and told her I am feeling blog pressure not blog pleasure. She suggested a break, I agree. I wish to take some time to just be and not have to do if that makes any sense. I cannot say how long I will be gone.

While I am on break, I will be thinking of you and of this blog. Actually, I'll be giving the blog matter some prayer. I think my blog has lost its voice and I must find it again. I hope each of you take some time to just be.

I'm off for refreshing, refueling, and infilling!

Blessings to you all,
Miss Sandy

P.S. You may not miss me at all, I have a few posts scheduled if you care to pop in.

TIDBITS...

tidbit

Main Entry:

tid·bit

Pronunciation:

\ˈtid-ˌbit\

Variant(s):

also tit·bit \ˈtit-ˌbit\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

perhaps from tit- (as in titmouse) + bit

Date:

circa 1640

1 : a choice morsel of food
2 : a choice or pleasing bit (as of information)

{Please note that as you read this post, no, your eyes are not playing tricks on you and yes the text goes from light brown, to dark brown, to black ~ Blogger has gone color blind on me! I have tried to fix this to no avail so what you see is what you get!}

Today I have a few tidbits, choice morsels of information and food (recipes and photos at the end of the post!)to share with you.

The first delectable bite I offer you is the opportunity to taste and see that the Lord is good. If you are interested in reading about the women of the Bible, sharing your thoughts and what you have learned, connecting with other women, those of the past and present, then perhaps you should check out what Rachel Olsen has to offer at My Life in Chapter and Verse . Scroll down to her post entitled, Want to Read the Bible Together for in depth details.
Rachel is, "a happily married mother of two ... author, editor, university teacher and national women's speaker. My Life in Chapter and Verse reflects my passion for words and especially for God's words."

Who is offering to host a online Bible Study, " by providing a plan, a forum, some direction and some accountability. I think it could be a fun experience! I'm all about drawing women closer to the heart of God and to one another."

Her plan is, " We'll be going through women of the Bible in chronological order beginning with Eve. We'll cover 3 a week for about 6 weeks. And I'm thinking we'll start sometime around the second week in March." If you are interested, just post an, "I'm in" comment on her post about this subject.

The next tidbit is for those of you who are feeling crafty. Popsicles & Lollipops is hosting a Sweet Little Birds Swap. Here are a few of the details, "You will be assigned 3 different partners for this swap. To each partner, you will be sending one handmade bird ornament directly. Your ornaments should be (approximately) 3" to 6" in size. You can use any medium that you choose to readily use/embellish to create a handmade sweet little bird (cardboard, fabric, papier-mache, wood, styrofoam, clay, wire etc.)." The deadline to sign up is March 17, partners will be assigned on March 20th, and the deadline to mail your swap items is April 9th. To sign up just click on the link above and leave a comment and your contact information.

This next tidbit is very sweet indeed. A huge hug and a thank you goes out to Vee of A Haven for Vee and to Jessi of Scrappy Jessi for the sweetness they provided by giving me a little lift just when I needed it!

Vee blew me this kiss in the form of a Mwah! award:
Jessi sent me this darling little sparkle gal who did make my day shine!:
I am breaking all the bloggie rules and if you are reading this post then you get a big fat Mwah! blown your way and this twinkling cutie to make your day sparkle and shine! Snag and tag if you wish!

The last morsel I have to share is last nights dinner! Yes, I am reduced to posting about the dining habits at the Quill! Seriously, last nights dinner was such a treat for me. Darling daughter was off work yesterday and she planned, shopped for, and prepared the meal!!!! That meant I got the night off! I did , however, let her off the hook and cleaned the kitchen for her afterward, so it was just a partial night off but I enjoyed it immensely.

She chose a mix of oriental flair for our dining pleasure. The menu consisted of :
(Recipes at end of post)

~Hot and Sour Soup topped with crunchy baked rice noodles
~Lemon and Sesame Seed Chicken served over a stir fry mixture of white rice noodles, red pepper, fresh ginger, shiitake mushrooms, and bamboo shoots
~White Rice Balls
~Steamed mixed vegetables which consisted of broccoli, cauliflower, yellow squash, zucchini,
yellow baby corn, carrots, and water chestnuts

~Hot Green Tea

She even included a bit of mood music!

It was all seriously delicious! While she prepared the meal I set the table using my Blue Angel by Present dishes. These dishes belonged to my mother and father and were their very first set of dishes. When I was a little girl these dishes resided in a box in our attic along with a couple of old fancy silver percolator coffee pots. My little step sister and I would use them for our play dishes. We would climb up into the hot dusty attic crawl space via the wooden slats nailed to the utility room wall and enter our magic kingdom of make believe.

This was an odd choice for a play space but we loved it none the less. You see, our attic was not one of those cool attics that look like a room and are filled with neat stuff, ours was an unfinished crawl space with exposed rafters and no flooring over the long rows of pink insulation tucked between ceiling joists. In the middle was the workings of the huge attic fan with its constant twirling blades encased in a mesh cage. There was no light save that which came in from the slatted air vents on each end of the house. Each triangle shaped vent had screening stapled over it to keep the birds out but every spring they managed to push the screening in a bit and make cozy nests sheltered behind the slats.

For lighting we ran an extension cord up through the entrance and hooked up an old lamp. There were two old hollow core doors up there and those served as the floor to our "houses". I always "lived" on the farthest end beyond the attic fan because my little step sister was afraid to go past it. She never visited my "house" so I always came calling to hers. We traveled around the attic like tightrope walkers on the wooden ceiling joists poking in boxes to find things to cozy up our homes.

My mother was very indulgent in our imaginary play and she let us bring snacks up but we were warned that if we left food up there and there was ever any sign of a mouse then it would be off limits. Why we chose this hot, dusty, and dark space to play is beyond me but we loved it. We had to draw straws over some of the dishes when we divided them for play, like who got the wonderful divided dish with tiny china spoons and who got the have the oil and vinegar bottles, our two favorites to fight over.

One time is a fit of meanness I snatched what I wanted and scurried over to my side because I knew that she would never pass the attic fan to come and retrieve anything but in my scurry I forgot my favorite doll, Baby Bearskin. She threatened to drop him, (I always thought this doll looked like a boy doll), through the attic opening. She held him pinched between two fingers by his little white t-shirt, swinging him back and forth like a clock pendulum over the opening with a wicked little grin on her face. I surrendered the coveted dishes and she surrendered the doll after my mothers head popped up through the opening and threatened us both with punishment as she heard every heated word that was exchanged through that big old attic fan.

Last night we dined on these same dishes and I recounted all the fond memories of playing with them as a child. Several years ago my mother gave them to me and for some odd reason we only eat off of them when we have oriental food. I added a few modern pieces to this set to make our dining feel more authentic such as the soup bowls and spoons, tea cups and tea bag holders, chopstick rests, and a tea pot. Other than that the set remains the same and the tidbits of memories linger as sweet as ever.

Hot & Sour Soup ~ Make according to package directions ~ delicious!
Soup Topping ~

JAPANESE MUSHROOM STIR-FRY

INGREDIENTS:

• 8 white musrooms / shiitake mushrooms
• 1 small can of bamboo shoots, drained
  
• 1 small chunk of fresh ginger
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 red bell pepper
• salt and pepper to season
• vegetable oil for frying (2 TBSP)
  
• cooked white rice noodles (prepared according to package instructions)
  

Slice mushrooms. Chop ginger and red pepper finely. Heat the vegetable oil in a frying pan and add ginger and red pepper. Add bamboo and mushroom slices in the pan and stir-fry them. Salt & Pepper to taste. Add prepared white rice noodles. Pour soy sauce over the ingredients and stir quickly.

*Makes 4 servings

LEMON & SESAME SEED CHICKEN

2 tbsp. soy sauce 2 tbsp. honey 1 tbsp. lemon juice 2 cloves garlic, crushed Chicken, boneless, skinless, cut into bite size pieces Sesame Seeds 4 tbsp. butter Combine soy sauce, honey, lemon juice, 1 tsp. sesame seeds, and garlic in a large bowl. Place chicken in sauce and turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate 3 hours. Heat butter in skillet, remove chicken pieces from marinade and place in skillet, cook until chicken bites are done all the way through, stirring constantly. Serve over rice or Japanese Mushroom Stir-fry, sprinkle sesame seeds over plated dish of additional garnish. IS THIS YUMMMY!

WHITE RICE BALLS

White Rice, instant or whole grain
Ice Cream Scoop

Prepare rice according to package instructions. Allow to cool slightly. Scoop and pack rice into ice cream scoop, release rice onto plate.

Hoping you taste a tidbit of bliss this day,
Miss Sandy