Cats, Stamps, and Coloring

We all collect things.  Over the years, I have collected postage stamps from all parts of the world.  They are most of cats but I do have a extensive collection of world flags.  Stamp collecting seems to be a lost art...there are rarely stores that carry them.  Perhaps no one collects them because no one writes snail mail anymore?  { I love snail mail! Hint, hint} Some of my kindergartners have never even seen or heard of a postage stamp.  I'll have to bring one in to show them.  Also, my latest coloring pages from this past weekend.  Do you like to send snail mail or color?

 Annabel is worn out from reading her cat book!

{MEOW!}

Half the Sugar Oatmeal Cookies

Some years back, I stayed at a B&B in the middle of the Willamette National Forest in Oregon.  My host made the most amazing oatmeal cookies, which contained only half the sugar as normal...{they were outstanding!}  However, I did not get the recipe and have been looking for one since 2007.  Well, after extensive search, I finally found one {that would do...more or less}, but not to the degree that she made them...{ I think her TLC was the secret}. Alas, mine did not even come close; however, I gave it a shot.

1 cup melted butter

1/2 cup sugar in the raw

2 eggs

1/2 tea spoon baking soda

1/4 tea spoon sea salt

1 tea spoon vanilla extract

2 cups whole oats

1 1/2 - 2 cups wheat flour

Combine melted butter and sugar.  Add eggs, baking soda, salt, and vanilla.  Stir in oats and sifted flour until desired dough consistency.  Scoop onto baking sheet leaving 2 inches in between. Bake at 350 8-12 minutes.  I like mine a tad under-done so I go about 6-8 minutes. Enjoy!   

 

 Annabel made sure the plates were all ready to go!

{Meow!}

 

Easter Colors

I could write a sonnet,

about your Easter bonnet,
And of the girl I'm taking
to the Easter parade.

~Irving Berlin

 Love that song! I watched Holiday Inn last night {one of my all-time favorite movies}.  I like it because you can watch it year-round. Easter colors have graced the atelier this passed weekend.  Couldn't resist this bunny candy dish!

What colors are you showing in your home this spring?

 I think Annabel wants an egg!

{Meow!}

Brenham House Tour

Happy Friday!

I wanted to make sure I gave you a tour of the Brenham House {since I was the only guest that day}.  I had access to the entire house with the exception of the other guest rooms, which were locked. 

                        The Antique Rose Room.  

My room had a special charm that is difficult to put in to words.  The rose quilt even had a {musty} smell. 

 The Sun Room

This used to be the back porch and was made part of the house to accommodate a sitting room for guests. This is where I sat enjoying my craft work and reading.

Formal Dining Room

This used to be the chancel area of the church.  It can now seat up to ten guests.

The Living Room

This room was decorated with Easter along with continuous items...

{I sat in every chair and nook I could find}.  The china cabinet contains pieces made of bone china including a kitty magician teapot seen below. {Can you find it!?}

Main Entrance

You can see the sun lighting the Sun Room at the very end.  Although the house looks haunted, I felt no presence of anything paranormal.

 The Bluebonnet is the Texas state flower and is illegal to pick! Washington county is filled with them!

 

Enjoy! :)

The Brenham House

Old houses have so much character. Brenham, TX is filled with houses from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.  This house was a church at one point and then was used as a residence.  Now it's a thriving B&B but still peaceful and off the beaten path and still walking distance to historic downtown, which is lined with antique shops and specialty stores. The owners live off property...I was blessed to be the only guest that evening and had the entire house to myself!! Have you ever stayed at a quaint B&B?  Tell us your story.

 The Antique Rose Room...{my Victorian haven for the evening} Hardwood floors and a private bathroom with a claw-footed tub {of which I used thrice!}

 The house was filled with reading nooks to explore...{perfect for coffee in a bone china cup and journaling}

Cat Love Letters

Spring break is in full swing!  While everyone else is fighting traffic to go to the beach, I decided to stay home and read one of my all-time favorite books...Cat Love Letters.
It tells the tale {and even tail!} of six feline couples head-over-tails in that many-splendor thing called {love}.  And it is told through the cats' passionate correspondence.  It reminds me of passing love notes in 8th grade and hoping the teacher would not catch us.  I remember all my crushes...I still keep in contact with some...I wonder where they all are now?  Can you remember your first love? Tell us about it!

Adolescence

Adolescence {ˌa-də-ˈle-s^ən(t)s } - to grow into. It’s a unique phase that needs to be dealt with on its own merit.  {The term was not coined until 1904!}

Adolescence begins with biology and ends in culture...{perhaps because in some cultures adolescence ends in different times}. Plus, I believe it depends on other factors as well...{up bringing, family, home, where you went to school, etc}.

The goal of adolescence: Becoming an INDIVIDUAL

                Identity: Who am I?

                Autonomy: Do I/my choices matter?

                Belonging: Where do I fit?

I was so blessed to have the opportunity to photograph these wonderful girls...and they made it so easy for me! I still ask these same questions at my age.  Perhaps you ponder these goals of self- identity?  What questions do you ask yourself?  

Children's Bookmark Series

Happy Sunday everyone!  I hope you are having a blessed day.  It's a rainy day in Texas...perfect for staying indoors and letting your creativity take you places.
I am happy to share my latest bookmark series with you. These children's bookmarks are a great idea for an end-of-the-year gift or just to say "I love you."  They are easy to make...I finished a set of four in about an hour {after letting the Mod Podge dry over night}. I will be sending four to my friend's kids {3rd grade and 4th grade} as a "just because" present.  
         What kind of "just because" gifts do you like to give?

As an added bonus to my weekend, I browsed the specialty shops in League City this past Saturday morning and found a wonderful cat cup. The owner said they had just received them on their delivery shipment Friday morning and I was the first to purchase one! Cuteness right!?