Out & About With Mr. Doogs & Miss Fiona ~ Scottie Independence

It is a nice and breezy morning ~ just perfect for a walk with us! So come along with me and my little sister and and we'll show you what we like to do.
There is lots of sniffing and exploring along the way. Doesn't my little sister look too cute with that pink flower stuck to her nose?

The sun is nice and bright against a perfectly blue sky.

Maw and Fiona better hurry up and catch my Paw and I. You know us guys, we are bigger and faster! ...but we don't tell them that!

We like the flags that fly high and proud at the park.

Ok! Let the games begin!!! Off go our leashes and we are all about running around and playing Scottie games ~ that of which translates into biting on the face, poking each other in the butt and tagging and running. Of course, little sis just has to be the first instigator!

She is learning that I, Doogie P., am bigger, faster and smarter!

However, I am also a gentleman and like to let her think she is getting the upper lip on me every so often.

Lots of circling each other...

Running....

....and yes, she keeps on running.....and running...and running...and she runs just like a rabbit!

...until she figures out I stopped. With our tongues totally hanging out as far as they could possibly extend from our mouth, we look for a place to rest.

I guide little Sis to where the shade trees are...
...and she insists on running rather than walkiing. So off I go to chase her down.....

....and we find the perfect spot to plop down in the nice cool shade and soft grass. She is telling me that this IS A GOOD SPOT!

Ahhhh....to relax.....

...and smile pretty for Maw's camera!

We are contemplating how far away the water fountain is. With our mouth watering in anticipation for a refreshing sip of H20....

...we made a break! Fiona is my lookout...

...and always lets me (the big dog) drink first. Maw always says, "ladies first," however Fiona still lets me have first grabs.

I have to tell her that it's OK to drink with me.

We head back for home now....

but Maw wanted to show you some of the cool details at the park ~ like this STAR metal flowerbed cover.

While Maw is oooo'ing and awww'ing over the doo-dads, Fiona and I check out the park rules. Hey, we are under 5 so do we get to play?

Fiona really needs to learn her ABC's...

...and I could teach them to her as we swing on these.

Hmmmmm....interesting....is this something I could pee on?

Maw said, "No," so I shall stick to places like this.

On the trek back home Maw spies these flowers that she said reminds her of fireworks or sparklers.

We're back at the ol' homestead now.

WE hope you enjoyed your Independence Day!

...time for a good doggie snooze.....

Aroooos!!! Scotty Translation: Thank you!

Greetings! I am just amazed at the friendship and sharing that comes from connections through blogging. I'd like to share a few of some special treasures from some very special friends.
Toni, who is a new blogger and has an adorable blog titled The Tattered Cottage, asked if she could send me something "small." I am really shy about getting presents *insert red face here." So when I got this not so small box from Toni and opened it to find this Scottie doorstop I *gasped!* I might add that he bears a striking resemblance to Mr. Duhgall Piper! And almost as heavy, too!
Toni also enclosed these adorable red checkered embroidered pillows that have three ,out of four, of my favorite words in life - how did she know? Thank you, Toni!
My sweet friend, Miss Kim (Daisy Cottage) sent to me this beautifully written book titled Gifts From The Sea. It is one of her favorite books and I can see why. Anne Morrow Lindbergh's insight to life is simply profound. Her heart, wisdom and words have touched me in the pages of her book. I found this sentence she wrote to be true....

"The waves echo behind me. Patience - Faith - Openness, is what the sea has to teach. Simplicity, Solitude - Intermittency....But there are other beaches to explore. There are more shells to find. This is only a beginning."


Thank you, Kim! Anecdotes, like these, are like little doses of hugs and comfort.
My fourth favorite word is FAITH and sweet Diane (Lavender Dreamer blog) recently had a giveaway for this sweet print by artist Catherine Holman. So needless to say that when Diane informed me I won this giveaway, I jumped up and down with joy! Thank you, Diane! You know I will cherish this and will have it framed in an antique frame, too!

Below is the story about the drawing. I think it is soooooooo sweet!!! Clyde is a hero in my eyes! Miss Abigail is one lucky lady as well. I can just picture these two lovely souls who share laughter, smiles and friendship over meals and stories.

Miss Lisa (A Thing For Roses ), my longtime sweet and talented blog friend (who I swear I will get to meet someday!!!) surprised me with MORE wonderful Scottie goodness. She has a way of knowing what I like, too.

Above is a vintage crocheted doily with none other than Scottie dogs. I will be sewing this onto a linen covered pillow someday!

Lisa also sent this teensie tiny little quilted stuffed Scottie. The squares are about a half inch each - toooooo cute! Lisa, thank you!!!

And lastly, my friend Sandi (The Green Pea blog) gifted me with five vintage Scottie glasses and these cute little figurines. Sandi and Mr. Green Pea own a fabulous antique shop (read about her here on her blog) and she usually has a story to go with the pieces she sells. The gold Scottie piece was from an old estate in town and a little boy made this plaster Scottie piece many, many years ago. The little black Scottie is from her own collection and I am honored to have it now in mine.

Thank you, Miss Sandi!

If you are ever in Central California, be sure to stop by her shop! I know that my infamous friends, Elizabeth and Pam, recently did and loved it! Miss Jean and I have made quite a few stops there together to oogle and aww over fun vintage things....I have a few fun pieces to have delivered soon, too!

Old Art From A Tough Period

Charming....

Old fashioned..

Nostalgic...

Sentimental...

....kind words....

....and practical.

I am drawn to art from the 1920's and '30's. Even through the difficult times of those days, you will find artwork that has a humble and gentle appeal to it. The Buzza and Gibson companies manufactured little motto prints to offer kind words of encouragement, love and appreciation. People made things to use in their homes, like this wooden napkin holder that was signed by the artist in 1937. Even though times were hard, people made the best of what they had and thought of ways to create and endure. They pulled up their boot straps and tightened the knot on their apron. Simply... they perservered.

There's a little cozy corner in my heart for my old things....

from a time in history that sometimes I wish I could have experienced first hand.

Farewell....

Peace be with you Michael and Farrah.

If Pieces Could Speak.....

....our homes would be full of stories.

How did the person feel when they received this old trophy for competing in The Hammer Throw? How many little shoes were made with this tiny little shoe form? Did the child love their new shoes and proudly show them off to their friends? Did they run around the playground laughing and singing as their shoes protected their little feet? How many miles did those shoes travel?

Did the gentleman who carved the Victorian picture frame have specific tools? Were his hands strong? What was his name? What was once inside the now empty frame?

Who's face, before mine, reflected in the old mirror? How did the roses get carved into the old soldered silver loving cup?

Perhaps those loving hands who carefully crafted their wares

smile on us as we display them in our homes. How many others

before us have touched these same objects and admired them

like us? Where did they come from and how far have they traveled?

Just curious, aren't you?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~ I found this saying that I thought I would share with you. It is from

the book The Shack (which I am almost done reading).

You can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put

miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you

in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live

in a world but a world lives in you.

--Frederick Buechner, Telling The Truth

~~~~~~ Treasure your day.....xx ~~~~~~

...I Dream Of Creamy Whites.....

...tone on tone..crisp, clean and simple. I dream of having a dining room with a big table with shabby white chairs and a toleware chandelier.....

For now here is a glimpse of the hutch that I painted a creamy white and placed my Ironstone pieces inside. It is a simple style that I have admired in other homes for a long time.

What do you think, Miss Fiona?
Do you like the room so far?

You know, the little chair you are napping on may have to be moved to another room.

She is thinking about that.......

...and dreaming of creamy whites, too.

I bought these wonderful white curtain panels at Ikea. They are called "Matilda" and were pretty inexpensive at 19.99 for a package of TWO 98" panels. I ironed them up and put them on the rods and draped them on top of the hutch till they could be hung up over the windows. However......I kind of like them on the hutch for a beachy cottage romantic look.

..but for now...they are over the windows.

Hmm...I feel another trip to Ikea coming up!!

What colors are YOU dreaming of these days?

I'm Beat!

...and so is Miss Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum! She requires much sleep in her growing spurt....and so do I after doing much 'round here. Note: our computer has been disconnected due to moving it to another spot...More later...but just wanted to check in to say "Howdy-do!!" and to wish you all a wonderful weekend. Hooray to all of the wonderful Dads, Pa-Pa's, Fathers,

Pops, Grandpa's and Faaaa-jaaaa's (a nick-name for my hubby from the boys...kinda like an Austin Powers thingy).

((hugs)))

In Miss Jean's Garden

Welcome to my dear friend's, Miss Jean, garden! Jean loves her yard and spends hours outside tending to it each day. With over 100 pots of flowers in her yard, there is always something that requires a little snip here and a little snip there.

First stop is this really cool old mailbox that was fashioned into a birdhouse.

Love the perch made out of an old bent spoon.

Jean brings the garden "up" by using hanging planters and flower pots mounted to stakes.

In the background a pretty little plate, simply hung on a patio post, shows of its pink flowers and vintage charm.

Little nooks and crannies, like this little brick patio, are throughout the yard. The white metal trellis brings your eye up to take notice of the delicate lavender stems.

Hmmmm...what time are the tours?

Jean has quite a vast collection of vintage textiles and quilts. This sweet little bear sits on a darling quilted pillow.

A perfect embroidered towel covers a wicker table.

An enchanting spot to have a cup of tea and lunch!

You could rock away the hours and read a good book in this shady little spot....

...while Mr. Rabbit stands guard over the yard.

Jean's latest project is this amazing stack of pots that remind me of something from Alice In Wonderland. It turned out just perfect!!! And she didn't even break any pots assembling it either.

I hope you enjoyed your little tour! Stop on over to Jean's blog (appropriately titled "In The Garden With Miss Jean") and see what else is going on in her neck of the woods! She's probably covered in potting soil and chasing Maggie out of the flower beds!!!