Blogging and My Irish Tablescape

I am less than a month into this world of blogging now and am thoroughly enjoying content I read, the photography and the ideas about home, health, cooking and living. It is like having the perfect magazine -- only articles about ideas I love.

I am amazed that in those three weeks, my own blog has had 700 views from 11 different countries! Special shout out to my brother in China, and high school friend in Singapore! I am certain that's how those countries landed on my stats report. But 5 readers from Australia -- Wow! I just think blogging is so cool! G'Day Mates! I hope you are enjoying my stories and getting some ideas, Down Under. I like to write about what inspires me and brings little smiles into otherwise routine lives. The greatest compliment I can receive is if something I write creates a little spark, a smile, or leads you to try something new. I'm just passing it along.

One of the delights I get out of other blogs are "share days." That's what I am calling them, but I am sure there is some Uber-tech blogging word that should be used. It's like show and tell. Everyone who loves the same topic is invited to share ideas, projects, and photos on a certain day of the week. You've seen me link to What's For Lunch Wednesdays and Romantic Home Fridays. Well, I have my new favorite share day -- Tablescape Thursdays!

I pulled together a few favorite things around the house that are green or remind me of being Irish. I wanted to showcase the new clover table runner I picked up at an antique store in Brookvile, Pa., for $4. See the beautiful embroidery? Added a green & white doily, hurricane candle, and sweet little replica of Anne of Green Gables home my father gave me as a souvenir from Nova Scotia. And Grandma's Ruth's Hummel figurine ~ she's German and looking very Irish, just like me! Oh, and my Wendell August Forge dogwood candy dish, sans candy.

So here's how you do it, you link your blog to the share page, and put a link to the share page on your blog. Easy, huh? I encourage you to follow my link below to see all the beatiful St. Patrick's Day tablescapes for more inspriation that you can shake a leprechaun's cane at!

Linking today to Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursdays.

Mardi Gras Tree

HAPPY FAT TUESDAY!

To kick of Mardi Gras, I'm sharing some photos of my Christmas tree, all done up in purples and golds and greens, feathers, masks, jewelry and other fun baubles and beads. Even a Beanie Baby found his way. That beautiful sweetheart mask on the top left I recused from a yard sale in Girard, Pa. And of course the Fleur de Lis!

One of my favorites, made in Italy.

Here you see a great example of some of the antique costume jewelry I use as garland. The jewelry collection belonged to my grandmother and are authentic from the 1920s to probably the 1950s.

My little jester perches on the mantle next to Gram's cameo.

I love this shot with the peacock and his feathers, and that's actually a mask necklace given to me as a gift from a friend visiting New Orleans; I've been there once. What else can you see there? A French horn, more of Gram's necklaces, a lady's fan, a handle to a cosmetic mirror, and purple poinsettias. Once you see this tree in person, you will never forget it! It makes me smile all Christmas season, and some year, I'll keep it up until Mardi Gras.


Indulge!