Unlike most bloggers, I do not write my posts weeks in advance. Sometimes I just make my cup of coffee and start writing on the morning of sending it out to you. Especially now, when we are all living in a one day at a time scenario. Today is one of those days where I need to take my own advice, from the post last week on Ways to Navigate Life Now. I am feeling a bit like I’m walking through concrete. But then I scold myself because we are blessed with good health and a safe place to be.

So today I will share what I have been doing to keep busy and focused. Over the weekend, and with the new recommendations about wearing a mask in public, I tried a few different patterns on making masks. It is impossible to find elastic here and though I searched my sewing items, I didn’t find any. What I did find was a terrific collection of fabric! Many of my friends don’t have a sewing machine, but my husband made one without it, just using 2 sheets of paper towels, elastic bands and a stapler.

In searching the internet, there are many choices, but the first one to pop up is The New York Times pattern. In my opinion, it is not well written and when I printed it out, the pictures accompanying the instruction were so small and difficult to read.

This pattern did, however, have 4 long ties on their style mask. I understand health care professional prefer this so they can use it over their N95 masks. The mask’s top ties do not stay on the top of your head, especially if you have straight hair. You must hook them over the top of your ears and tie them behind the base of your skull. The lower ties do help secure the bottom of the mask and these tie behind your neck.

The easiest and best fitting pattern I found online with Hobby Lobby. The video is short, walks you through the steps, gives you pleat dimensions and makes a mask that has an opening on the back to add a filter. I understand a coffee filter or a paper towel works. Click here for the video.

For the ear loops I used thin ribbon. I have very small ears and anything thicker did not stay in place. The dimensions of the mask fit my face perfectly, but was too small for my husband.

With some slight adjustments, I was able to make him a well-fitting mask. Once I get some elastic (ordered it online with a delivery date of next week), I believe this mask will work well for most. Also, I am happy to make masks for anyone who needs them. Hoping it won’t come to that, but I feel better if we are prepared.

I also added pipe cleaners in the top seam that fits against your nose. It was an easy way to bend the mask and make it conform to your face.

Easter is on Sunday and I hope to get an energy boost to do a lovely table. It will only be the four of us, but Easter is one of my favorite holidays. Last Sunday, on Palm Sunday, we missed getting our palm crosses from church.

Being in the DIY mode, I searched the yard and found that palm trees are not equal. Since I needed a certain length of palm frond, the fan palm was the only one that would work. Date palm fronds were too short.

It was a bit of a revelation as I had never REALLY looked closely and noticed the different kinds of palm trees we have. The things we learn during this crisis! It’s all part of being resourceful and creating a new norm in time of need.

I’ve been trying a few new recipes. My daughter, Elisabeth stated she wanted to learn to cook more. A happy benefit for me to spend more time with her in the kitchen. This vegan pineapple, lime, coconut and ginger cake from Twigg Studios is a relatively easy cake to make. Click here for the recipe.

The texture of the cake is more dense, like a carrot cake, and the canned pineapple provides plenty of moisture and flavor. I skipped the part that suggests making pineapple flowers out of fresh pineapple. The icing is a simple blend of coconut cream, confectioner’s sugar and lime juice. Really quite tasty. Happily shared most of it with our neighbors.

On a vegetable note, we also made Baked Parmesan Zucchini sticks from Damn Delicious. They are easy to make and so tasty. Click here for the recipes.

I am still working on washing windows. It’s taking longer than I’d like. In addition to washing windows, I am also cleaning the rooms as I go along. Hoping that accomplishing tasks keeps me moving in the right direction. Being in a funk just isn’t fun.

Thought I would share this picture of Cooper. He’s our first line of defense and does such a great job patrolling the yard and checking out the area. He takes his job seriously, even though he has a sweet temperament.

And you can see another project getting done~~wall repair!

What do you have planned for the week? Best wishes for a Tuesday filled with joy and simple pleasures.

Generally right after St. Patrick’s Day, I am full steam ahead on Easter. But I feel like the last week has been a blur and it’s hard to stay focused with so much going on around us. The purpose of this post is to tune out all the noise, and enjoy Spring and remember that Easter is 2 1/2 weeks away. Really.

A small treat for you today, is a link to this adorable Spring printable. Lucy, from Craftberry Bush is SO talented and generous in sharing her happy artwork. Makes me want to take watercolor classes. The printable comes with or without different messages. Click here for the download. So easy to print!

The evolution of the bulb garden is a source of constant joy and amazement. The sweat equity of planting of over 400 bulbs is now paying off. The hyacinths are past their prime, but the tulips! That red! Nothing beats the colors of nature.

Here is a before picture of the non-existent bulb garden last September…..

And now today! You can see the bearded irises just starting to show their blooms.

It dawned on me that Spring is happening all around us. I am very behind in my decorating for Easter. I pulled out boxes today and found some items that I cherish and bought many years ago. It was enough of a lift to get me at least thinking about the Easter holiday.

In order to help get you into the spirit of Spring and Easter, here are some photos from some of my favorite bloggers.

Yvonne, from Stone Gable, never disappoints. Her photos are fabulous and her blog is so informative.

Plus if you want to make these Chinoiserie eggs, click here. Aren’t they beautiful? I am definitely going to try this.

I just discovered Ann at Dabbling and Decorating. She has a home in Vermont and Maine and a fresh, light look to her decor.

My friend, Kristin, from White Arrows Home is part of an Easter Tablescape and Bunny Hop tour. Kristin lives in the Northwoods of Wisconsin in a big log cabin and I had the good fortune to meet her last October. Isn’t this a whimsical and fun table?

Another new discovery is Rachel from The Pond’s Farmhouse, who sold everything, built a home and moved to the country! I like her “nest” chargers.

Barbara from Mantel and Table has a Tuesday teacup series and everytime I see her post, I am inspired to make a cup of tea in a pretty cup. I think we all deserve some pampering now and again.

Courtney from French Country Cottage is a professional photographer and has the most beautiful pictures. Her photos have encouraged me to focus on improving my own photos. To read a previous post about attending her book signing at Patina Farm, click here.

Isn’t this tablescape so serene and peaceful? Karen from Sanctuary Home Decor has stunning taste and wonderful ideas on how she changes her home from season to season.

Even though I’ve never met many of my Instagram or blogging friends, I feel like we would be kindred spirits if we lived next door. The internet has provided an opportunity for us to get to know others while respecting the physical distancing requests that have been made of our country.

On a separate note, I wanted to share this last photo to show you our new norm. My daughter, Elisabeth, had to move out of her dorm and back home. She is completing her freshman year by taking online courses here at home. She has found the perfect spot to listen to her Criminal Justice class.

Inspiration can come from many sources. Do you have any Easter or Spring inspiration you want to share? Let’s keep each other’s spirits up!

Have a fabulous Wednesday and stay healthy!

*The tulipieres in the first picture are from The Enchanted Home. Daffodils are a great price at Safeway right now at 3 bunches for $5.00 (while tulips were $1 each). They are closed up but within 24 hours are showing their pretty yellow blossoms. To see a post about these tulipieres, click here.

There is something satisfying about a stunning dinner table.  It makes your guests feel special and honors the meal soon to be presented.  Unfortunately, in our household we don’t do it enough.  We can rarely get our senior in high school to be hungry at standard meal times. I love setting a proper table, and look for any opportunity to do so.

Lately, there are many Spring table ideas on Instagram and in blog posts.  However, I have noticed that often the table isn’t set properly. And because we are not pulling out the linen, china and crystal often enough, I tend to need a reminder on the proper way to set a table.

Here are some quick and easy reminders.

Where to put Cutlery

Cutlery should line up with the bottom of the charger. Not that you need to go all Downton Abby-ish and use a ruler, but put the bottom of the silverware in line with the bottom of the charger. If you are not using a charger, then line them up with the bottom of the dinner plate.

Size of Tablecloth

The tablecloth drop or overhang should be around 10 inches. I make an exception to this when we do dinners in the orchard as rental linens for rental tables go to the floor.

Seems obvious, but the salad and dinner forks go the left of the plate. Knife, teaspoon, and soup spoon go the the right.  Knife blade always faces the plate.

The photo below is one from the internet. See how the silverware is not lined up with the bottom of the charges. It is very pretty, though!

Where to Put Glasses

Guests need only two glasses~~one for water and one for another drink (typically wine).  It is okay to use one glass for either red or white wine. The water glass goes above the knife and the other cascades to the right.

Size of Centerpiece

You can be very creative with centerpieces. Flowers are nice, but depending on the them of the dinner, you could use seashells, branches, or just lots of candles. If you do build a centerpiece, please remember that the centerpiece should be 9-10 inches tall, maximum.  Avoid anything that would prevent eye contact across the table.

Table Linens

Putting fabric on a table warms up the space. However, placemats are a nice alternative to a tablecloth. I didn’t use a charger below because it would have dominated the placemat and hung off the edge.

Napkins-use cloth, quality disposables or inexpensive flour sacks or cotton dish towels.  For maximum lap coverage, the best size is 22 x 22 inches.

Seating Arrangements

How to assign seats? Seat each guest next to someone you think they’d have things in common with.  The most VIP person should be seated to the right of the host.  Couples should be seated separately to promote lively conversation.

What dishes to use

You don’t have to use fine or fancy china. Mix and match everyday ware for something a bit different.

You can make your table setting more formal with place cards, napkin holders, printed menus and chargers.

Chargers

Here are some tips on chargers.

Chargers should then be taken away with the dinner plate still on top, as this clears the table and leaves it ready for dessert to be served. When serving desserts, chargers are never used. Once all guest are seated, chargers can be removed. Or they may remain on the table throughout the entire length of the meal.

I hope this inspires you to create a beautiful table!

This post shared with Tablescape Thursday #624~hosted by Between Naps on the Porch

I cannot believe Easter is this weekend.

Though I haven’t thought at all about Easter dinner, I did spend some time playing around with the centerpiece and decorating Easter eggs.

The plastic tub in the garage entitled EASTER, produced a few themed items to add to the dinner table.

Trader Joe’s has a good selection of spring-like plants in Easter-colored containers.

When something is tried and true, why not do it again?  The successful look of the Valentine centerpiece (see it here) encouraged me to again use various smaller containers for fresh-cut flowers.

In the center of the table will be the slightly raised plank my husband made for our Valentine party (click HERE for the DIY).  With the weather being so glorious, eating outside is a must!

Mixing and matching is half the fun.

Adding candlesticks (from West Elm) gives the centerpiece some height and dimension.  The bunnies, birds and eggs are scattered among the plants and containers.

Now I just have to figure out the place setting.  These dishes were given to me a very long time ago by a friend.  I have been searching for this pattern for decades as I only have 6 dinner plates.  It’s Fondeville Ambassador Ware 6762 from England.  I don’t know the name of the pattern but it’s one of my favorites for Spring. Though I have a search for this china on Replacements and eBay, I’ve never been able to find more.

Every year, we have been coloring eggs with hot water, vinegar and food coloring. This year I thought I’d try to paint them with my acrylic paints. After boiling a dozen white eggs, I experimented with some spring colors.

It’s a bit challenging to hold the egg while painting and not smear the paint!

I still have a few to go, but I like the results.

Wishing you and yours a blessed Easter.  If you don’t celebrate this holiday, then my wishes extend to you to have a glorious spring weekend!

Over the last few months I had an obsession with anything that was blush, pink or rose gold. My friend and blogger, Gabie from Tea End blog commented that the color pink was related to nuturing and mothering.  It was during a time I had our children home for the holidays.  My motherly happiness resulted in purchasing rose gold earrings, a watch, a pink pullover….I couldn’t seem to get enough of it.

Now, I’m doing the same thing but with lavenders, purples and violets.  Really?  I’ve never been a fan of purple.  The only thing I can remember loving that was purple was my stuffed poodle FiFi back in 6th grade.

Since I don’t understand this new founded color sensitivity, I did some research on why we are drawn to certain colors.

According to energyandvibration.com  VIOLET is the channel for true balance, facilitating keeping one’s “feet on the ground (Earth)” – while the “head remains in Heaven”. Like with most things, there are positive and negative aspects to color.

Being attracted to VIOLET means having consistent difficulties with remaining grounded. When one is blocked or stuck in VIOLET they are too contemplative and often times unrealistic and impractical. 

Just prior to my purple craving, I was stressing about getting our taxes assembled, doing financial paperwork, on top of all the other responsibilities in life. I did feel overwhelmed and not very grounded.

When I am out of balance I worry needlessly.  Worrying is truly a worthless behavior because it doesn’t generate results.  Even though I try and talk myself out of worrying, I still do….back in the deep recesses of my mind. I find myself fretting over things I can’t control. 

However, not one to wallow for long periods of time, I decided to embrace the positive aspects of VIOLET. 

And purple and lavender and all shades in between.

Openness to VIOLET is knowing and being in that Truth, and total Trust in the intuition and guidance it provides. It is also the Willingness to ACT ON that Trust with complete Faith. In reading the words trust and faith, my worrying minimized.

VIOLET can help also promote inner calmness and mental peace.

My color craving also seems timely as Violet and its opposite,  Gold are Easter colors, representing the Ascension and Christ.

Color therapy and healing have been used for centuries.  I’m far from an expert, but I’ve enjoyed researching and trying to understand my purple obsession. Have you experienced a color craving and don’t understand why?

The flower photos are from my garden and Whitfill Nursery.

The front door to our home is original to the 1910s.  At four feet, it is wider than most entry doors. With the side lights, the entire entrance is almost 8′ wide.

Getting a properly scaled wreath is a challenge.  Most wreaths are 24″ to 28″ inches as measured by the outside tips of leaves or flowers.  This size just look puny on my front door.

This weekend, I went to the French Bee, known for their arrangements and wreaths, but their prices were a bit shocking ($749 for a wreath…..whaaaaatttt???). Even with their 50% off sale, I couldn’t justify spending that amount of money (with 2 children in college and preparing for a third tuition).

I’ve been pondering what to do for Spring so I dug out an old (really old) wreath I found in the well tower.  It was dusty, covered in spider webs (I obviously failed to store it properly) and was a bit less than round.  The framework is made from grapevines and felt solid.  The artificial flowers and leaves on it were rather skanky and faded.

Some of the raspberries were missing or chewed up and it was clear to me that this wreath needed a facelift.

Because it was so dirty, I washed it with a garden hose and left it in the sun to dry.

As always, the dogs want to help with any DIY project I tackle.  So as I was standing back, enjoying the sun and looking at my clean wreath, my beagle, Sox, attempted to lift his leg on it.  After scolding him, he did move on to do his business.

I removed all the yellowed plastic magnolia flowers, the broken raspberries and faded leaves.

Some of the underlying vines were in good shape, so I left those in place.

Using new artificial hydrangeas and lilac blooms, I added these to the wreath base.

I did not use a glue gun, but managed to tuck the stems into the grapevine~~which seemed to hold.

I debated whether to add a ribbon, but decided against it.  With a red door, the contrast in color is simple and understated.

Recycling and repurposing materials you already have~~is so economical and efficient!

Will your front door have a wreath for Spring? If you are looking for a spring wreath, Balsam Hill has a beautiful selection  (unfortunately they are too small for my front door). Some of their new spring designs were created by Courtney, one of my favorite bloggers, at French Country Cottage.

Whether you repurpose an old wreath or buy something new, happy Spring decorating!