POETRY - VALENTINE'S DAY COUPLETS

Poetry - Valentine's Day Couplets

I recently wrote these two Valentine's Day couplets and I thought I would share them. Photo of my tiny red roses from my garden.  

In Love, our hearts compose

Music, lovely as a rose

As our love grows

So does the rose

I wish everyone a very Happy Valentine's Day filled with Love and Hope.

Beverly

Tea Cottage Pretties

OF INTEREST - CITY OF BLINDING LIGHTS

I should start out by saying that I am a Liberal and a BIG U2 fan. I have always listened to their music and they are my favorite group. I admire Bono (lead singer) and the group. Their songs are filled with inspiration and feelings. Bono has a tendency to write heart felt songs about our world that inspire and cause us to remember the trials and tribulations of others. He has the uncanny ability to help us walk a mile in anothers shoes, so to speak, and end by reminding us that there is always HOPE.


During the Obama campaign a song titled - The City Of Blinding Lights was used as a backdrop. This song is by U2 and was inspired by a trip that the group took in 1980 to New York City. Later after 9/11 U2 once again came to New York for a concert. Bono said that when the lights came up he looked out across the crowd and he could see the tears in their eyes and he was tremendously inspired by the emotions that came pouring out of this group of people.


I guess with all that had happened he saw that there was still hope and a resolve in the American people. That we had lost something but we intended to carry on and so we did. He wrote City Of Blinding Lights. This is the lyrics to the song. As you read them keep in mind that we lost so many that day, we were naive before 9/11 and we still rose above all that had happened and we came together.


The more you see the less you know
The less you find out as you go
I knew much more then than I do now


Neon heart, day-glow eyes
The city lit by fireflies
They're advertising in the skies
And people like us


And I miss you when you're not around
I'm getting ready to leave the ground


Oh you look so beautiful tonight...


In the city of blinding lights


Don't look before you laugh
Look ugly in a photograph
Flash bulbs, purple irises the camera can't see
I've seen you walk unafraid
I've seen you in the clothes you've made
Can you see the beauty inside of me?
What happened to the beauty I had inside of me?


And I miss you when you're not around
I'm getting ready to leave the ground
Oh you look so beautiful tonight...


In the city of blinding lights
Time...time....time...time...time...won't leave me as I am
But time won't take the boy out of this man


Oh you look so beautiful tonight
Oh you look so beautiful tonight
Oh you look so beautiful tonight


In the city of blinding lights,The more you know
The less you feel
Some pray for, others steal
Blessings not just for the ones who kneel, luckily




Hope you can see the beauty in his song..... U2 recently sang at the "We Are One" concert for Barack Obama. Bono is a Liberal and a Humanitarian. I was so happy to see U2 perform at this concert.


Also, this is one of my favorite songs and I just wanted to post the lyrics so I could have them and if you are so inclined you can read them too. This is a song by U2 and it is called So Cruel.


We crossed the line
Who pushed who over?
It doesn't matter to you
It matters to me


Were cut adrift
But still floating
I'm only hanging on
To watch you go down...my love


I disappeared in you
You disappeared from me
I gave you everything you ever wanted
It wasn't what you wanted


The men who love you, you hate the most
They pass through you like a ghost
They look for you but your spirit is in the air
Baby... you're nowhere


You say in love there are no rules
Sweetheart
You're so cruel


Desperation is a tender trap
It gets you every time
You put your lips to her lips
To stop the lie


Her skin is pale like gods only dove
Screams like an angel for your love
Then she makes you watch her from above
And you need her like a drug


You say in love there are no rules
Sweetheart
You're so cruel


She wears my love like a see-through dress
Her lips say one thing
Her movements something else
Oh love... Like a screaming flower
Love dying every hour


And you don't know if its fear or desire
Danger of a drug that takes you higher?
Head of heaven, Fingers in the mire


Her heart is racing... you cant keep up
The night is bleeding like a cut
Between the horses of love and lust
We get trampled underfoot


You say in love there are no rules
Sweetheart
You re so cruel


To stay with you
I'd be a fool
Sweetheart
You re so cruel.

MUSINGS - THOUGHTS ABOUT READING TO YOUR CHILDREN

I have always read to my girls. It started with my first daughter Tiffany. We read to her every night for approx. 7 years. We first started when she was very young and over time she began to read with us. Eventually, she took to reading on her own. She is now 12 years old and if I would purchase them she could easily read 2 300-400 page novel every two weeks. She absolutely loves to read. My youngest daughter is somewhat different from Tiffany and we did not start reading to her until about 2 years ago. Mostly because when she was very small she simply could not sit still and listen. Now she sits and reads with me and she listen to me. She follows her sister's lead and loves the bookstore. They both keep up with certain books that they like and when they are being released.


The point to all this is that I had always heard that if you read to and with your children than they will love to read. Having heard that in the past I thought, well they either will or they won't like to read. I simply had no idea that by reading to your child not only would they love to read but they would develop many skills way before other children. Reading develops social skills, a willingness to learn and a curiosity to know. Reading helps children learn how to spell, imagine, cope, develop better work habits and the list goes on and on.


I can not tell you just how important it is to read to and with your children. Reading is many things but it is also very inexpensive and the returns are invaluable. Both my girls are excellent students and they have large vocabularies. They are curious and imaginative. They are bright and enthusiastic learners. They have been given a gift that NO money could buy and one that will last a life time. For you see they have been given all the gifts that books have to offer and those gifts are many.


Read to your child, you will be happy that you did.

MY PRETTY BIRDCAGE

This is a very pretty birdcage that I got some time ago. I painted it pink and added all sorts of crystals and decorations to it. There is even a pink bird inside.

A PINK COAL BUCKET

This is one of those coal buckets with a shovel that I painted pink (of course) and added roses to it. I guess it goes without saying that I don't use it for coal but instead I enjoy it's beauty.

HOW TO CLEAN AN OVEN

Well here I am 45 years old and I finally figured out how to clean an oven. I am sure there are others out there that knew this secret but I thought I would share it in case there was someone who did not. Every once in a while you actually learn something while watching TV. Now I am by no means a TV person however, I do at times actually watch something. Anyway, they were cleaning a stove inside and out and they used a regular cleaning product like Fantastic and a scraper (razor blade type) and they made the stove and oven look like new. Now it takes some work but it cleans way better than any oven cleaner and it is not as hazardous to your health. Provided you are careful with the razor. I even managed to get things off that I had never been able to remove. I have never like those oven cleaning products so this is great for me. Even if you have a self cleaning oven you can still use it on your stove top and underneath your burners. It cleans fantastic and I did not scratch my surfaces. Now I do not know if it will not scratch any surface but it did not hurt mine. I guess it is the same as using it to scrape glass. By the way I actually used a green product and it worked great.

SOME OF MY PORCELAIN BROOCHES

PINK GLASS COLLECTION

I love pink glass and here is my collection. I have it displayed in a beautiful vintage cabinet that I have the buffet and dinning set to go with it. It was painted blue when I bought it. At some point it was professionally painted. The glass collection is from France. The brand was called Arcoroc and the pattern was called Rosaline. I always consider this glass to be from the 1960s although I believe they made it up until 1970s or 80s. I placed my favorite fabric behind the glass collection to show it off better.

SOME PORCELAIN LOVELIES

Some Porcelain Lovelies

This is a beautiful set of hand painted Bavarian porcelain.  There is a cake plate, creamer, sugar, salt and a pretty bowl.  Each is painted with beautiful blue flowers and trimmed in 22K gold. 

Next is a lovely Limoges large platter.  Delicately painted pink roses and trimmed in light blue.  This is one of my favorite pieces. 

And last but not least, my vintage Lefton tea set

 and egg cups.  The sweet little basket with birds in it is also a vintage Lefton piece. 

See you soon,

Beverly

Tea Cottage Pretties

SOME THINGS I PAINTED

CHRISTMAS HOUSES AND A CAKE DECORATION

Here is a picture of my paper houses. I sat them out for Christmas this year along with my vintage pink tree. I added a couple little figurines I had and even a girl in a blue dress that is actually a cake decoration. She looks cute....

STILL IN STYLE KELLY PURSES

I have an affinity for vintage purses. I mostly love the Kelly style purses. They make me think of Jackie-O. I actually use my purses and enjoy them. I get lots of compliments. When people tell me that they love my purse, they will ask where can I get one? I usually say from 1950. They always smile. Nice conversation pieces if I do say so myself.

A PINK CAGE FOR A PINK BIRD

A Pink Cage For A Pink Bird

I love finding neat things that are in need of some love and bringing them home to give them new life.  This is an old bird cage and stand that I found at a consignment shop.  It was in rough shape but I brought it home and worked some magic on it.  Now it is pink and is decorated with a beautiful pink beaded bird, beads, ivy, ribbon and crystals.  I love how it turned out.  I had to move it to take the picture but it sits by a chair in my bedroom.  

I just love my new bird cage and stand.

Beverly

Tea Cottage Pretties

BAVARIAN BIRD PLATE

Bavarian Bird Plate

This is a beautiful turn of the century (early 1900's) plate. It is Bavarian which is a hard paste porcelain that looks and behaves the same as Limoges porcelain. This one is beautifully painted by an amateur artist. The birds are stunning. This is one of my favorite pieces. 

Hugs, Beverly

Tea Cottage Pretties

BALLERINA WREATH

Here is a little pink vintage styled wreath. I added lots of glitter and pink Christmas balls. Then I placed it on a wooded spindle that I also painted pink. I place a beautiful Ballerina in the center and added bows. I love how it turned out.

MY KITCHEN ISLAND

My Kitchen Island

I found this picture of my kitchen island. I stenciled a white picket fence with a gate on it and then added things like the pink watering can and the yellow flower pots.  I added a hand painted sign to the gate that says The Flores'.  The handle on the gate looked so real that our tiny June Bug would try to grab it and open the gate.  

It no longer looks like this but I wanted to share the photo anyway. We are a military family and therefore we are always on the ready to move on.  In order to clean things up a little I repainted the island a solid color. Most folks prefer a more modern clean look and I thought it would be best. I miss my beautiful fence and one day I may have to repaint one for myself. That is when I know I am staying put for a time. 

Hugs, Beverly 

Tea Cottage Pretties

2008 A PINK CHRISTMAS TREE

A Pink Christmas Tree

I am so tickle because I finally found a beautiful pink Christmas Tree.   I decorated it with pink ornaments and added a pretty Shabby Chic tree skirt by Rachel Ashwell.  I also placed my hand painted boxes around the tree.  I painted each box and then painted pretty roses on them.  My girls and I are really loving my PINK tree.  

Dreaming of a pink Christmas,

Beverly

Tea Cottage Pretties

BEAUTIFUL LIMOGES ITEMS

This is some of my favorite Limoges pieces. There are three oval brooches and one skinny bar brooch. There is a set of earrings that match the top brooch. Lastly, there is a very rare watch fob that has three porcelain pieces dangling from it. Each piece is hand painted and dates around the turn of the century.

MUSINGS - HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Happy Thanksgiving

During this time of the year we should all give thanks for our many blessings. My 6 year old, June Bug asked me the other day what I was thankful for? She said that she was thankful for her Mommy (that would be me) and for Sweetie (my Mother, her Grandmother). Then she went on to tell me that she was thankful for Sweetie because Sweetie had made me and without Sweetie there wouldn't be a me. How sweet of my June Bug and how thoughtful.

So I thought of all the things that I am thankful for and I came up with this. I am thankful to be here and to be with my family. I am thankful for all the people in my life, those here and those who have been. I am thankful for my home, where I feel safe, happy and secure. I am thankful for the health of my family and myself. Lastly, I am thankful for the time that I have to spend with my family.

As I give thanks this year I am cognisant of the economic hardships that face many Americans this year. I know that many people have lost their jobs. Many families have lost their homes and had to walk away. I know that people are hungry and desperate. I pray for all of those who are experiencing hard times. It is my greatest hope that we will be able to mend our damaged economy and put people back to work. I hope and pray that everyone will have a home inwhich to live and feel safe and secure. I pray that every hungry person will have food to eat. I pray that we all can find things to be thankful for this year.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone

PICTURE - AND HE SHINES

I just love how the sun is in the background

on this recent picture of my hubby - Eric.

POEM - AND IF I SHOULD CRY

And if I should cry
Please hold my hand
When my eyes are dry
I will smile again



And if I should laugh
Please laugh with me
On my behalf
You soon will see



That I am human
And therefore I feel
So if you can
Don’t ask me to conceal


My heart from you
My one so true
Then Love me too
As I do you

By Beverly 2008

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

June Bug's as Jiggly Puff a Pokemon

and she danced.....

 

Tiffany all dressed up for Halloween

Masquerade Ball

How Lovely....

PRETTY TEAPOTS AND A POEM

Being a collector of porcelain it makes sense that of course I would collect TEAPOTS. I love them and I have many of them in all shapes sizes and styles. One day I was talking with my husband and we were discussing something he had bought and never used. With all the love and tenderness that he could find in him he looked at me and said - "Sweetheart we have been married for 13 years and how many teapots do we own." I told him to many to count and then he asked me "how many cups of tea have I had?" So for my husband I wrote a poem about a cup of tea or maybe two, maybe three.

Have a cup of tea with me

Well maybe two, maybe three

Time will wash away our worry

So there's no need for us to hurry

Have a cup of tea with me

Well maybe two, maybe three

If you'll let me hold your hand

You will see I am your friend

Have a cup of tea with me

Well maybe two, maybe three

When tomorrow comes a new

I will be here waitng for you

ENYA

If you can, listen to an album or at least a song
 by Enya.

She sings beautifully and she is worth the listen.

I recommend Sheppard's Moon it is outstanding.

CHOCOLATE ROSES

Chocolate Pot

A New Addition To My Collection

The Victorians would place bits of chocolate in these Chocolate Pots and add hot water (some time later milk or a milk/water mix was used) and stir. These hot chocolate drinks would be used to give to children in the mornings and/or with breakfast. This would help warm them up and was a nice treat.

You can recognize the chocolate pot as it is usually quite tall and the spout is near the top. The reason for the placement of the spout is to insure that the chocolate becomes well mixed while pouring.


Maybe we should all try a bit of chocolate just the way it was made over a 100 years ago. How delightful.

MUSINGS - FUNNY CHILDREN CHANGING TV

OR IS IT TV CHANGING CHILDREN?

I have a theory about the size of families and how many children people have. I grew up in the 1960s and back then families had 3,4 or more children. You may be able to remember the TV with the knobs that you had to actually turn. Each child would at some point be the Chanel Changer. That is they would change the Chanel on the TV for their parents (in my case for my Dad). As one grew to old to do the Chanel Changing the next in line would inherit the job. This went on until - WHAT WOULD YOU KNOW THEY INVENTED THE REMOTE CONTROL. Suddenly families became smaller and had less children and in some cases couples decided against having children at all. So with the need for Chanel Changers gone so were all the large families. Even knowing that correlation is certainly not causation it is at the very least an interesting thought in which to ponder.

THE GIVING TREE

Everyone should read this book at least once in the their life

- The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

And if you are so inclined read his other books and poems

I recommend Where the Sidewalk Ends

a collection of many of his poems and drawings.

LIMOGES CRACKER JAR

Beautiful hand painted Limoges Cracker Jar.

Limoges Cracker Jar - this was used to hold crackers or biscuits.

It is smaller than a cookie jar and could be used when serving tea.

A SAYING BY FRANZ SHUBERT

No one feels another's grief,

no one understands another's joy.

People imagine they can reach one another.

In reality they only pass each other by.

MUSINGS - I MET A GENTLEMAN THIS EVENING

I was out and about this evening and I met an older gentleman. He was dressed very well in a jacket and slacks. He carried himself well with dignity and grace. I happen to ask him how he was doing this evening and we talked for a few moments. He had made a trip here from a town about 1 1/2 hours away. He said he came here to shop. I asked if he was traveling alone, I was thinking that it was getting dark and kind of late? He said yes my wife died several years ago. He wanted to say something else but he stop as he became kind of choked up. I stop and I almost wanted to cry. I couldn't even say anything to him. It occurred to me that in much the same way he had made the trip to our town today he had traveled through life and here he was alone. As the day slowly turns to evening and then to night, so does our life. I told him to enjoy his shopping and to have a safe trip home. He thanked me and I walked away but not without being touched in some way by him. So I shed a tear for him and for all the lonely people in the world..........