kattz*cottage

Wedding Bells for Ryan & Yeni ~

2011-10-23T10:00:00.000-07:00

My handsome son Ryan & his Beautiful Bride Yeni!

A Beautiful Bride & Groom in a Lovely outdoor ceremony! ~

Sweet Wedding Kiss ~

Mr. & Mrs. Ryan & Yeni Gilbert ~

Ruffles & Roses Wedding Cake ~

Pretty Pink & White Guest Table ~

Wedding Picture in China in May

I have been long gone from my blog but am back to share some exciting wedding news!

We have had much excitement around here because my oldest son Ryan & his lovely bride Yeni came home from China to be married in a small outdoor wedding ceremony in my back yard.

They were married in May in China & I was so happy that they wanted to come share an American wedding celebration with closest family and friends & it was a very special time.

I loved planning this wedding for them! And after months of no rain in Texas ~~ It rained on their wedding day! Fortunately we made it through the ceremony outdoors but the minute they said "I DO" the sky turned black, the winds blew, & the rain came!

Everyone came together rushing very quickly to take food, wedding cake, & about 30 people inside my tiny house & some how we made it work. Despite the rain we made some beautiful wedding memories for them & they were the most beautiful Bride & Groom I have ever seen!

They are now back in Shanghai, China where Ryan is teaching & Yeni is going to school ~ I am sure missing them!

Wishing Ryan & Yeni a very Happy Life together ~ I love you both so much!~ xoxo

Happy 60th Anniversary Mom & Dad! ~~

2011-02-23T10:30:00.000-08:00

Happy 60 Year Anniversary to my mom & dad! I am so happy & thankful that these two beautiful people are my parents :-) SIXTY YEARS!!!! Have a Lovely day you two!
I love you so much! xoxo

2010 Jeweled Trees & Eddie Ross Wreath

2010-12-23T20:40:00.000-08:00

Projects! I've been busy, busy making more Framed Jeweled Trees & here is part of my collection for 2010. I didn't get as many made as I had planned but I think I will keep making more for next year because I love this craft & can't stop making them :-)

They are great fun to create & each one turns out so unique & so different....so sparkly & pretty!

This was another fun & easy project. I've been gathering vintage ornaments for a couple of years & have finally made my Eddie Ross Wreath ~ Just about the easiest project & the cost was so cheap because I found the ornaments at estate & garage sales ~ most were in a "whole box for 3 dollars" which was a great find at an estate sale.

I am loving the days leading up to the holidays & plan to have a very relaxed & happy Christmas ~ Wishing everyone a very HAPPY HOLIDAY! xoxo Kathy

The Glow of Fall ~

2010-11-11T23:00:00.000-08:00

Isabelle in her Fall Finery......

I love the GLOW of FALL!!

Fall candle glow & amber lights.......

Last fall's picture & sad to say I lost both of these beautiful guys :-( Rooster had a heat stroke in August & turkey just up & disappeared.....

BRIGHT yellow Maximillion Daisy.....

And the MAX over the pond.....

Basket of Horseapples found on fall evening walks & the PUMPKIN on the PORCH.........

My Garden Gate dressed for Autumn.......

Freshly picked fall bouquet of the Fairy Rose in it's new Fall Bloom & a lovely dish of Pumpkin Potpourri :-)

I'm enjoying my Autumn more than ever ~ open windows with breezes blowing, crisp cool country air, & cozy candlelit evenings in the cottage ~ Wishing everyone a happy, lovely fall!~~

Summer Blooms On.....

2010-09-17T19:50:00.000-07:00

I am SO not ready for Summer to go! It's been a good one ~ my flowers linger on & for that I am glad. I have an over abundance of 4 O'Clocks this year but it's one that I love so much & their perfume is heavenly.....

The mini pond bloomed with water lilies......

Pretty pot of Mom's Impatiens on the front porch.......

Esperanza "Yellow Bells".....

The Blue Mist was covered with Butterflies all summer long....

A single Jimson Weed flower......so delicate & pretty

This was my first year of success with this gorgeous lavender Obedient Plant from a starter plant out of mom & dad's garden ~ mixed in with pretty Red Turk's Cap....

Obedient......I love their spikey tops

More 4 O'Clocks on the picket fence.....

A big surprise flower this year is this lovely white Jimson Weed ~ pretty much a baby plant last summer, it has turned into an enormous bush, covered with large creamy white flowers ~~ I lost count at 100 buds & blooms.....the picture above shows the buds about to open, picture below was the same evening just after dark, & the bottom picture was the following morning ~

Jimson Weed after dark.....

Jimson Weed the following morning......Lovely!

Now I plan to get ready for fall ~ bring on the Pumpkins, Golden Leaves, & Candle Glow! xoxo

Handmade Shoes~Summer 1974

2010-07-13T15:30:00.000-07:00

A SUMMER MEMORY!~

When - June 1974

Where - Holiday Park Campground - Destin Beach, Florida

What - Embroidered Shoes - Made by Me

In 1974 on a summer camping trip to Destin, Florida with my family, my sister Linda & I sat on a picnic table & spent our summer days at Holiday Park Campground embroidering shoes. We made the tops out of muslin & embroidered colorful flowers on them. Then we took the tops off of our old Dr. Scholl's sandals & replaced them with our newly embroidered tops!

Needless to say, from looking at them I wore mine to pieces. Chips in the wood & very dirty!

I washed the tops & was amazed that they cleaned up very well ~ and they are now attached to a brand new pair of Dr. Scholl's that I found at a garage sale.
36 years later they are good as new! Linda recently wrote on her blog that she is embroidering a bedspread! Wow - So now I think I must look for a new embroidery project to do!

I love thinking of summer memories from the past just as much as I love making new ones! I hope everyone is having a GREAT SUMMER!!! Kathy xoxo

My Happy Garden ~

2010-06-09T21:40:00.000-07:00

A little tour through my Happy Garden :-)

New Rooster ~ "Buddy"

Poppies & Bachelor's Buttons.....

The Secret Garden.....

Hollyhocks by the pond.....

The FAIRY ROSE was gorgeous this year.....

Beehives & Hollyhocks....

Mexican Hats & Larkspur......

I have a very happy summer garden & I'm loving these early summer days ~ Happy SUMMER! xoxo

From Chicken Coop to kattz*cottage studio ~

2010-05-12T22:20:00.000-07:00

WELCOME to my little kattz*cottage studio! Since we moved to our Texas Cottage Farmhouse 6 years ago, this cute little cottage has gone from chicken coop to TZ's pottery barn to it's new owner - ME - & it is newly named kattz*cottage ~

TZ helped me put down a real wood floor (like father like daughter because the wood flooring came from a ditch, discovered by my dad), and my lovely kattz*cottage sign was made & painted by my dad ~~ Thanks Dad!
Within a couple of days work this chicken coop turned pottery barn turned into a lovely little Cottage Studio where I love to do my work. I have set it up as my ebay shop where I will keep my shelves stocked with things to sell. However, I'm now contemplating turning it from ebay shop to sewing & creating shop! I could fill the shelves with tons of fabric, lace, & replace computer with sewing machine!

Floating Flowers welcome me at the door :-)

Isabella watches over the little welcoming garden @ the doorstep ~ I love walking down here in the morning - I walk through the gardens & around the pond to get here & I do stop & smell the roses.....

My needlepoint chair is my "guest" chair - please come visit & sit with me in my cottage ~ It's in a very sunny spot beside the window where I watch the birds on the feeders :-) I suppose it's really a "chihuahua chair" since Cabo or Cookie usually claim it.....lol

Lovely, Cozy, Sunny, Old-Fashioned, Cottage-y, Love it! It makes me wanna go to work!
And that pretty wood floor came from a ditch!! THANKS DAD!!

This Cozy Corner is where I sit & work ~ & look out the 3 windows to watch the birds, see the gardens, hear my new rooster, along with mama hen, turkey, & pigeon who are just behind my cottage outside the windows :-) My laptop fits perfectly on the little lace-covered "desk" which was a one dollar find ~~

Things for sale are all around me, on shelves, hanging on the walls - everything is for sale & will come & go & be replaced with more goodies for sale....

One of the 3 windows where I can see the birds & feel the breeze ~ kattz*cottage is surrounded by trees so it's always nice & cool inside.......

I splurged 3 dollars on the huge mirror on the back wall - it makes this little cottage feel more spacious as it reflects the trees & sunshine.....

One of my first "finds" for my cottage was this little blackboard which says it all - I do "heart" my cottage! My Top-Seller Ebay Award Certificate is above it ~ I need to frame it......

Found this ADORABLE slate sign at a garage sale the very weekend I fixed up my shop -- another one dollar find ~ It hangs beside the door & says it all because it truly is very small :-)

Just a little "peak" inside.....

I Can't believe CHICKENS use to live in here!! ~~

A Bright Spot in My Day ~

2010-03-15T21:00:00.000-07:00

I'm coming out of hibernation after a way too long & cold winter. Enough is enough & I'm super happy that spring is here - officially in five days but it already feels like spring. After all those freezing cold days & too much snow I've never been happier to see the sun & warmer weather. Yesterday it climbed into the high 70's & it was so sunny & beautiful.

My kitchen window was a bright spot in my days during the long cold winter & when the sun shone through all the colored glass it was just lovely. Mom gave me the cut orchids in November & in January & they are still blooming! They just seem to last forever & I love them. She also gave me the pretty yellow primrose & I found the purple cyclamen at Lowe's. The little bowl on top of the red dish holds some green moss that I dug up on our fall camping trip ~ I sprinkle it with water every day & it stays pretty & green.

I love the time change & having that whole extra hour in the evening. I am working on some fun new spring projects & am just loving being outdoors ~ enough hibernating ~ SPRING is finally here & I couldn't be happier! HAPPY SPRING! xoxo

~~Winter Wonderland ~ again!

2010-02-11T17:30:00.000-08:00

What a crazy winter Texas is having! It has snowed all day long & it's still snowing - 8 1/2 inches so far at kattzcottage! Not normal but it sure is Beautiful!

I'm happy to have stayed in all day long, feeding the birds, keeping warm with soup & hot tea, & watching the snow fall from INSIDE where it's nice & warm!

SO COLD OUT THERE!

The wintery white trees are gorgeous......

I'm hoping this is our last Winter Wonderland - come on Spring! xoxo Kathy

Pink Prom Cowgirl ~~

2010-02-04T19:30:00.000-08:00

I couldn't help but laugh when I walked by my dress form after a night of dancing & found TZ was using it as a hat rack for his Cowboy Hat ~~

What could be cuter or more fun than a black cowboy hat with a 1950's pink frilly prom dress ~ I smile every time I look at it ~

Isn't it a gorgeous dress by the way?! One of my favorite finds from last summer's garage sales. It was custom made for a prom in 1952 for the lady who sold it to me - for one dollar!

I adore this pink confection with it's layers & layers of frills & it's history & even more so now that it's become a cowboy hat rack too - I don't mind sharing it ;-)

~~A CONFECTION IN PINK~~

And speaking of dress form ~~ I'm off to watch Project Runway! ~~ xoxo Kathy

Nothing Better Than This.........

2010-01-26T22:30:00.000-08:00

It doesn't get any better than this ~~ my boys have been home after teaching English to children in South Korea, Eric for a year & a half, and Ryan for a year ~~

No words can express how much I missed them & how happy I have been to see them after such a long time.

And.........how sad I am that they are going back---to South Korea. And so again, I will miss them. But what a wonderful adventure they are getting to experience!

So, through the tears, I keep this smile on my face :-) They are happy & I am a very proud mom!

I'm gonna miss you!!

SO, now, on to SPRING time!! xoxox

A WHITE CHRISTMAS in Texas!!

2009-12-25T18:45:00.000-08:00

Snow**Snow**Snow**Snow**Snow

A lovely walk through our woods.....on Christmas Day........

This trail in our woods was covered with deer tracks.......

A WHITE CHRISTMAS IN TEXAS!! Hasn't happened here since 1926!
It was a Beautiful Christmas at our Cottage~~ HO HO HO from Cabo & Cookie!! xoxo Kathy

Happy, Happy, Merry, Merry, Christmas......

2009-12-24T10:25:00.000-08:00

O, Christmas Tree......

I did light up the new garden room!

Happy Santa Garden Flag......

Merry Christmas from our Cottage.....to yours :-)

Wishing everyone the happiest of holidays, the loveliest of laughter, & many special moments to treasure.......MERRY CHRISTMAS!! xoxo Kathy

O, Christmas Tree.....

2009-12-22T21:20:00.000-08:00

Christmas trees are so magical ~ I hope your holiday is filled with many magic moments ~ xoxo Kathy

Deck the Halls ~ Fa la la la la

2009-12-16T21:15:00.000-08:00

Deck the halls......
with boughs of holly......

Fa la la la la,

la la la la.......

Tis the Season ~~ To be Jolly ~~

LOVE these Christmas Tree Cookies ** Pillsbury slice & bake - they are simple, sweet, & look lovely on a poinsettia plate! I'm busy decking the halls ~ can't believe Christmas is almost a week away ~~ I'm off to make some Christmas Tea to go with my cookies! xoxo

Garden Room Just Before the Snow??....

2009-12-02T20:20:00.000-08:00

The new "garden room" finished just in time for SNOW! I will take you on a little tutorial tour from beginning to end.....

Step 1 - Picking the right spot - just on the other side of that tree.....a nice shady spot beside the Iris.....

Step 2 - Laying a rock "patio" with rocks gathered around the yard & pulled in the wagon to the "spot".....

Step 3 - Digging out a path to lay a brick walk which starts from the side porch by the kitchen door....the bricks - FREE - came from TZ's sister just up the road....THAT was the hardest part - loading the bricks to bring them home & then unloading them to this spot! HARD work!

Step 4 - Cutesy lil' brick pansy bed with leftover bricks......Cookie following the yellow brick road - we couldn't help singing that of course while we were laying the path....

Step 5 - White chair & cushions - two different curb finds --- green chair - one dollar @ g. sale.....

Step 6 - Hung a wind chime, pots of plants, little bird bath, angel statue....I think I will hang some Christmas lights around & over it to light it up for the holidays!

It was getting dark so my pictures aren't too bright - by the end of the day & all finished - I was very happy with the completion of this project & proud to say it was done at almost no cost - it should be called the frugal room....lol

Luckily living in Texas I will have many days even during the winter to meander down the curvy brick walk to sit in this "room" that I put together on a whim. I'm calling it the "reading garden" - it's the perfect place to take a book or magazine to relax with a cup of tea.

YES it SNOWED in TEXAS today which is a rare occurrence for this early in December. I was shocked when I opened the door this morning to let Cabo & Cookie out for their morning romp to the woods - Snow~Snow~Snow~Snow~Snow~~~ I have to admit it was BEAUTIFUL & I am now getting very much into the Christmas spirit!

So Thankful.....

2009-11-26T09:30:00.000-08:00

I have SO much to be Thankful for ~~ Wishing everyone a Beautiful & Happy Thanksgiving Day!!~

Where Women Create......Jeweled Christmas Trees ~~

2009-11-11T10:00:00.000-08:00

"Pink Holiday"
"Silver Snowflake"

I don't have the book "Where Women Create" but I do have one of the magazines & I love it ~
Here is where I've been "creating" ~~ Remember my "mess of jewels" ~ it was last year's handmade Christmas project? Well after making the Jeweled Christmas Trees for my family I didn't want to stop making them. So I have been very busy "here" - "creating" ~~

I set up "shop" with this cute little work table and all my new mess of jewels that I searched hi & lo for at garage sales, & went to work making more, one for us, & more to sell on ebay.

I really enjoy this sparkly project & they're such fun to make, but I'm about to set them aside because now I have to get started on my "this year's" handmade projects for Christmas & I'm running behind. It's already too close to the holidays & I need to get busy. So it's time to put away the jewels & start something new.

Now about that cute little work table ~ TZ & I both spotted it at a garage sale back in the spring, secretly we both wanted it, we both thought it was gonna be at least $30 so we didn't even ask.....as we walked away the guy yells "you can have it for 5 bucks". So......TZ was quick to pull out the $5 first & bought it ~~ I knew it would be the perfect worktable for my mess of jewels so he was very sweet to let me be the first to use it & it has turned out to be my perfect little place to create ~ I love this little table & it's kept me organized & making Jeweled Christmas Trees ~ thanks TZ ~
You can have it back now as I'm moving on to other projects :-)

The Fall Garden....Blooms on....

2009-11-02T21:30:00.000-08:00

Little Angel with Zinnias & Red Salvia......

The weather in North Texas is perfectly beautiful this week - so very "Fall". Color still blooms on & is so pretty ~ just seems more vivid & vibrant in the bright fall sunshine. Our garden is lovelier than ever & we're enjoying it more than ever because within a month's time it could all be gone ~~Come on a little yard tour with me!

Soft Blue Mist......

Esperanza ~ or Yellow Bells as my mom calls them :-) ......

Zinnias - or Old Maids as my dad calls them :-) ......

Our front porch mini-pond is so serene......

Maximillion Daisy......

Pyracantha - lovely fall color in a berry......

My lovely Katy Road Rose ~ has never had a fall bloom like it's into now......

Sea of Blue Mist......

Heavenly Blues - Fountain Grass - Copper Canyon Daisy......

The Fairy Rose mixed in Blue Mist & Butterflies......

Butterflies love the Blue Mist......

Heavnly Blue Morning Glories & Fountain Grass......

Copper Canyon Daisy - has just started blooming......

Bright Fall mums......

Pretty Red Turk's Cap......

Angel Trumpet......

Mexican Sage......

Bright Orange Zinnias......

Katy Road Rose......

Pink Oxalis in dappled Autumn Sunlight......

Looking back on summer ~~ the pond ~ TZ beekeeping his bees in the background....

I love yard tours ~ Think I'll take a little rest & then walk it again ~ it won't be here much longer...

I just started a new garden "room" yesterday & should have it finished tomorrow ~ here is a "sneak peak" of where my little "secret garden" will be - in & among those trees.........I will show you soon :-)

Enjoy your day ~~ xoxoxo

From Our Cottage Porch to yours ~ Happy Autumn!~~

2009-10-01T15:25:00.000-07:00

Wonderful beautiful fall has arrived at our cottage and today is the perfect fall day in Texas ~~ we had an early morning rain & now everything is crisp, clear, & cool ~ it feels very much like fall & I'm so happy it's here!

HAPPY AUTUMN from our little Cottage to yours!~ xoxo Kathy

THANKS Project Runway! ~~

2009-09-17T19:15:00.000-07:00

Project Runway made me do it! ~

All cut out & ready to sew......Simplicity Pattern #6888

Gathering.....

Ironing.....
My two "black & whites" Cookie & Cosmo always keep me company :-) Where were you Cabo?

Putting in the zipper.....

And WA~LA ~~ Here is my completed project runway dress :-)

I finished my summer dress - yes it's the end of summer but better late than never, right? :-) Project Runway MADE ME DO IT! ~~ I give them all the credit. Don't you love that show?!
It inspires me, really gets me going, & really makes me wanna sew & create something.

I love watching them drape this piece of beautiful fabric over that piece of gorgeous fabric, adding ruffles, & trims - all while pinning them to a dress form. And then ~poof~ they have a wonderful creation flowing down the runway. I've always used patterns but I think it would be fabulously fun to create something on a dress form. Even if I never do it I sure love watching it on Project Runway.

So, here is my new little dress which I finished Tuesday night & wore yesterday when mom & dad came for a lunch visit. It's nice & cool & comfortable & thanks mom for suggesting I can still wear it with leggings when it turns colder. So maybe I'm not too late for summer after all.

And NOW, I have to go watch tonight's new episode of PROJECT RUNWAY!! ~~ xoxo

Camping Adventures with Joey....

2009-09-10T14:00:00.000-07:00

Number One Rule when Camping - "Must Take Flowers" :-) (or pick them if you're not in a state park) for the picnic table and my special red & white tablecloth just like mom's......

Our New Adventures with Joey......

We just had a wonderful, relaxing camping trip for the holiday ~~ I was a lady of leisure....relax, relax, relax was the rule of camp after falling on my tailbone 11 days ago - I'm wondering if it will ever get better? If you've never fallen on your tailbone, DON'T do it. It's not fun. And any ideas to help ease the pain will be greatly welcomed. Doctor, X-Ray, Pain pills, ice, rest, etc, etc, etc, nothing is working.....plain & simple --- It hurts....

Anyway, we took some nice, easy, slowwww little walks down winding trails, paths, among big beautiful trees, & calm breezes. We usually ride our bikes but no biking for me this time. Then back to the ice pack & lots of rest with books & magazines. Nice little afternoon naps were the best.

We recently graduated from our tent & this is our new baby - his name is Joey :-)
Our new pride & joy & we are having too much fun with this little guy.
And he IS little - just 17' & perfect for two people along with 2 little dogs.
We've been to 3 different Texas state parks this summer & we are loving our new adventures with Joey.....

The top picture is our lovely spot from last weekend & this shady spot was from our first camping trip in Joey.........

We sat up camp & then meandered down nice walking trails.....

Over Mossy Creeks......

Past Crooked Trees growing out of rocks......

Fallen Tree on the trail......

Cool Rock with perfectly round hole caught our attention......

Rambling on down the path......

Rest Area - too hard for injured tailbones to sit :-(

Soft Green Moss......

And back to my cozy corner to relax with magazines & books......my Gene Autry flashlight is handy so NO more tailbone falls during the night......I found the peacock feather on our first trip when we toured a lovely garden.....

A "sneak peak" inside - NO we don't take Cosmo camping - I took this at home & he was hoping to take his afternoon nap in there........

My fun little kitchen.....

Little retro flowers party lights & I found the lounge/recliner chair at a garage sale - one dollar!....was so happy to have it since tailbone injury......I could stretch out & lay on my side.......really comfy....

Too much fun - I am SO ready for fall & can't wait for our fall trip in October!

Hatch Green Chile & Corn Relish.....

2009-08-20T19:20:00.000-07:00

In between sewing, cleaning out & straightening up my sewing room, plus clearing out & throwing away unnecessary "stuff" (it feels really good to get rid of "stuff") - along with too many other projects that I seem to be in the middle of - yikes -I spent a whole morning this week canning corn relish. This took the ENTIRE morning!

Wish you'd been here mom! My other two canning adventures this summer making muscadine jelly & strawberry jam were with mom by my side reading directions & it was easy breezy helping each other along the way. I did this one all by myself & what alot of work!
But it was worth it - we've eaten almost two whole jars because it turned out surprisingly good. Promise I'll bring you some mom & dad before it's all gone.

And THANKS SO MUCH mom for finding Hatch Green Chile at Kroger in Denton for 99 cents a pound! Wow wow wow.....I just looked at the Hatch Green Chile website where you can buy 10 frozen pounds for $86.00 - Wow again - my 6 pounds at Kroger for fresh green chile was $6.00 & roasting them on the grill myself was worth every penny.

Almost 20 years ago I lived in Santa Fe, NM & the best thing about living there was buying Hatch Green Chile off the street corner as they were roasting them in huge roasting barrels. I use to buy huge burlap bags full, take them home & freeze them, & put them on EVERYTHING!

I'm SO happy to have them again, right now, right here in TX & they are just as good as if I were in Santa Fe again. I made a green chile relleno casserole & have already put them on EVERYTHING! My favorite new discovery - Pimento cheese sandwiches with mayonnaise & green chile. I've eaten one every day this week for lunch along with my favorite summer food - watermelon - And my "Luby's Tea" :-)

Will you check the Kroger ad for me mom? I'm off to Denton tomorrow where I must buy every Hatch Green Chili I can find!

Time to Sew....

2009-08-13T21:00:00.000-07:00

Looking at some of my favorite sewing blogs lately has inspired me to get back to my sewing machine & get busy with some new projects.....

I found this wonderful old piece of fabric at a garage sale & knew it would make a pretty pillow ~ just an easy pillow with brush fringe down the sides.....I cut up a matelasse pillow sham for the back. It's my favorite color - deep dark red - I love the design & colors in this old fabric.

I have a new pattern, pieces cut and ready to start a sundress next. The pattern reminds me of a dress mom made for me in high school - one of my favorite summer dresses from ages ago. Gotta get going on it before fall gets here!

Happy Birthday TZ....

2009-07-30T14:40:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TZ!!

Here is a sneak peak at your Cowboy Cake....I sure had fun making it!

We will be taking the cake to the lake tomorrow morning for a camping weekend - looking forward to more relaxation & birthday celebrating....

~now where am I gonna put all those candles?!!....

Beach Sunset....

2009-07-27T09:20:00.000-07:00

A wonderful week at the beach.......relaxation, walks on the beach, warm sand, ferry ride, good seafood, seashell hunts, beautiful beach sunset ~~ a lovely vacation week ~

We're having a nice thunderstorm this morning, lots of rain, & I'm happy to be home sweet home....

Have a great week! xoxo

Beach Bound....

2009-07-19T20:00:00.000-07:00

Lovely Sunset one day last week ~~

Taking a little trip to the Beach so we are off to Galveston at midnight to be at the beach by morning ~~
Have a great week!

Lovely Little Ladies of the Garage Sales~

2009-07-14T14:35:00.000-07:00

BEAUTIFUL SENORITAS ~

I LOVE their FRILLY, LACY Dresses ~

"BUBBLE GUM & MILK SHAKE" !

Sweet & Very Old "Open/Shut Eye" Dolls ~

LOVELY VICTORIAN LADY ~

Some of my recent garage sale finds are these Lovely Little Ladies - all SO unique, SO pretty, SO old, & with such great character ~~

I love the little open/shut eye ladies ~~ each one is so different & they have such pretty dresses~

The two little girl dolls are old & very cute ~ they are "Bubble Gum" & "Milk Shake"!

The porcelain Victorian Lady is so Beautiful with that dreamy look on her face ~

The little Senoritas already have a place in my heart & for now I can't part with them - they are very old & very detailed with their lovely lacy skirts & veils ~

Well since I'm not a doll collector I won't be keeping these Lovely Little Ladies but they sure are pretty to look at & I will enjoy them until they're on their way to new homes through ebay!

Muscadine Memories with Mom....

2009-07-02T15:00:00.000-07:00

I am really enjoying my summer & taking time to remember summer days when I was a little girl.

Early 1960's, one of my favorite childhood summer memories is of the six of us jumping in Dad's old white pick-up truck on a summer evening after supper & driving down dusty East Texas country roads in Carthage - we called this going on a "bunny hunt" & of course we were looking for bunnies.

AND Muscadines! I remember the excitement of finding a muscadine vine, picking them, & popping them in my mouth. They are a very distinctly different type of grape & it's a taste that just brings back my childhood summers. Takes me right there again.

Mom & Dad just came back from a trip with Muscadines from my Aunt Joy & we spent the morning making Muscadine Jelly ~ oooooh is it ever delicious.

And just look how pretty it looks in the jars - just looks like summer time!

Thanks mom for another wonderful summer memory!

HAPPY SUMMER!! xoxo

Vintage RETRO CUTE Travel Trailer - For Sale!

2009-06-28T10:25:00.000-07:00

Isn't THIS little Retro Travel Trailer the CUTEST?!! We had plans to "fix it up" but never "got around to it" ~ so now someone else will have the pleasure.

Straight from the 60's, it's a one-of-a-kind, cute as can be, & I will miss just :-) LOOKING at it! It makes me SMILE! Not to mention the fact that it was a great ebay storage room on wheels!

Today is it's last day on ebay & then it will have a new home ~~ I will miss you my little Pierce-Aro!

Fresh from the Garden......

2009-06-10T13:10:00.000-07:00

Nothing better than home grown veggies......

Yum - aren't they pretty?! Fresh summer veggies - just picked from our garden. Last week's first basketful were my very favorite vegetables - yellow squash & green beans ~ Cabo & Cookie love squash too & tried to snatch them right out of the basket!
Yesterday's garden surprises - yellow squash, green beans, potatoes, & onions ~~ And I'm off to the kitchen to cook them for supper......

Green Bat House

2009-06-07T20:25:00.000-07:00

What do you do with leftover tin? If you're TZ, you build a green bat house with a tin roof.
The deck roof is finished so he moved on to other tin roof projects. This is the second bat house he has made. The black one is in our woods.
This one is perched as high as the trees on it's pole awaiting the bats.....we have a couple of bats that fly in around 8:00 in the evening & swoop around our yard......interesting, funny little creatures.....we hope they like their new home ~

Floating Fairies

2009-06-03T21:30:00.000-07:00

The Fairy Rose has bloomed & it's such a sweet, pretty spring surprise with it's tiny, dainty little clusters of pink flowers ~~

Here is today's floating garden ~ there is nothing prettier than colorful petals floating on water.

I had a little fun in the garden today taking one or two little flowers from each plant in my garden & setting them afloat to play amongst each other as a breeze moves them around ~~ I love to do this & I was amazed to find I had such a sampler of blooms plus a couple of favorite leaves.

This is what's blooming in my garden :-)
The Fairy Rose, Katy Road Rose, Geranium, Marigold, Poppy, Larkspur, Dianthus, Pansy, Four O'Clock, Hollyhock, Jasmine, Bachelors Button, Mexican Hat, Petunia, Impatien, Oleander, Lantana, Coreopsis, Columbine, Allysum, Agapanthus, Begonia, Crysanthemum (didn't think those would be blooming now but this one is), Red Yucca, Japanese Maple Leaf, Violet Leaf, Sea Oats Leaf. I know I missed one but can't recall it's name ~

This is a one of a kind with every flower from my garden, but just a few petals is nice in a floating garden so they can really move around ~ forgot to pick the lamb's ear, zinnia, & honeysuckle but I don't think there is room for them!

The Fairies are Afloat!

Hummingbird Haven

2009-05-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

~Our new garden room is a Hummingbird Haven with as many as 7 Hummingbirds buzzing the feeders at one time ~~ we've never had this many until this year! ~ It's so entertaining to watch these tiny birds do what they do! ~~ So little, so cute!

Have a great week! Kathy xoxo

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T21:15:00.000-07:00

~~HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!~~ We had a wonderful Mother's Day lunch with my mom & dad, I played my piano, & picked bouquets of Pink Roses! I missed my boys Ryan & Eric, both still teaching in South Korea, but it was a special & beautiful Mother's Day!~~

~~Hope you all had a Beautiful Day!~~

~~Garden Room ~ A Lovely Spot~~

2009-05-05T20:45:00.000-07:00

I know! I've been a long time gone from this blog! Not sure why I haven't blogged in so long - somehow I just got away from it, keeping busy just loving spring & this spring I am loving this new lovely spot. TZ just put a tin roof on our back deck & it's hard to stay away from it ~~ it's a great place to be, awesome place to relax with morning coffee, dinner, or even a nap ~~ Especially nice when it rains on the tin roof ~

Cookie & Cabo love the cushy papasan chair as much as we do & this past week-end we found a second one at a garage sale for $7 ...... so now we each have one ~ they are so comfortable you really can curl up & nap in them. And I recently got a laptop (never had one - best thing ever!) so I can even work "in the garden room" now, ebaying the afternoon away in the papasan chair. So there you go, & here I am ~ just enjoying this new lovely "spot" in my day!

Hope you enjoy a "spot in your day" ~~ I'm happy to be back to my blog!~~

~~Kite Flying Picnic & Birthday Flowers~

2009-03-05T15:25:00.000-08:00

My Lovely Birthday Flowers ~~

Dumpster diving once again - I pulled out this flat of wheat grass! Right out of a dumpster!
I've watered it every day since Monday & it's growing very fast.....don't know what I'll do with it but I think it looks like Spring!

SO Pretty! Spring!

Complete pond make-over with new liner......the spring flowers will soon pop up all around it ~~

Wonderful day for a picnic - in the 80's, nice & warm ~~

Gorgeous day ~~ pretty kite ~~

The wild plum trees in full bloom ~~ we pulled up & brought home a couple of little ones ~~ the bees are loving them ~~

The "Home Comfort" Treasure dug up from our yard ~~

On Monday I turned another year older & just look at my Beautiful Birthday Flowers from my sweet Mom & Dad! I LOVE Daffodils, Petunias, & Snapdragons & the colors are so bright & pretty & they smell so good!

We've been really busy lately with lots of projects & with spring just about here we're spending lots more time outside now. Last week we had to completely renovate our pond because the liner was leaking. It was a huge job emptying it & re-doing it but now it's so clean & pretty & the spring flowers should come up soon all around it.

After finishing the pond re-do we rewarded ourselves with a nice relaxing & fun picnic & flew kites. On our way home we grabbed up a couple of little wild plum trees. TZ chose a spot behind the beehives to plant them & dug up an amazing treasure out of the ground. It's a metal cooling shelf from an old Home Comfort Stove. We've dug up tons of old bottles & other little treasures from all around our house & woods in our 5 years here but this was THE neatest "find"! Since our house was built in 1891 it could be very, very old!

Feels like spring here already! In the 80's again today & I have flowers to plant!!

xoxoxo Kathy

Happy 58 Years Mom & Dad!~~

2009-02-23T13:45:00.000-08:00

Look how adorable they were & still are!

This was taken not long after they were married February 23, 1951 ~~~

The same pose, same place in front of this special rock wall where they once lived ~~~ still cute as ever after 58 years!

Happy 58th Anniversary to my mom & dad ~~ THE most Adorable, Sweetest, & most Talented Couple I know ~~ I love you both so much!

HAPPY 58!!! Love, Kax xoxoxoxo

Too Many Eggs

2009-02-12T22:28:00.000-08:00

Thank you mamas..........

Our hens are being too generous lately ~~ I love gathering eggs & I always thank the girls for giving us such delicious & lovely jewels......& I love eating them but we have eggs galore!

I use to sell them but now we just share & give lots of them away. Yesterday I made 16 deviled eggs....I love deviled eggs but two people don't need 16 of them and I will probably eat most of them!

We're still having 70 degree days & more & more every day I'm getting spring fever ~~ I know it's just around the corner because I'm already seeing QUINCE & DAFFODILS!!

A Little SEWING Time & SPRING Fever - Already!~~

2009-02-02T10:55:00.000-08:00

Heart Pillows on Etsy.....

Beads, Ribbons, Charms, Flowers...... and Cabo :-)

My Sewing Corner......

Hat Boxes & Tins full of Buttons & Lace......
More drawers & shelves to store "stuff"........

Just found this little shelf for 50 cents at a garage sale to organize fabric. I have fabric stashed in dressers, under the bed, in cabinets, etc. so this will hold what I want to use for near future projects..........doesn't take up much room & this room doesn't have any space left so it's perfect in this little corner!

I spend so much time on EBAY that I have jumped off the ETSY wagon & haven't seen my sewing machine in months! So, I recently got a little better organized, got my sewing space back into shape, & I finally spent some much-missed sewing time with my sewing machine ~~

I made two heart pillows & have just listed them on Etsy along with some lavender sachets & some vintage items. I have so many projects running through my mind ~ I really WANNA SEW but there aren't enough hours in the day!~

Happy Groundhog Day! He says 6 more weeks of winter but this week we are having 70+ degree days here in Texas! We spent yesterday tilling the garden, planting & moving some plants, & dreaming of SPRING! Looks like I have Spring & Sewing Fever! ~

Have a great week! xoxo

We Hit the Chisholm Trail

2009-01-08T15:45:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we took a little road trip & headed north to Oklahoma to hit the Chisholm Trail......

Stopping first at "Lookout Point"......

This area is the actual trail, left untouched.....

Did a couple of geocaches along the way....

And made it to our destination ~ The Chisholm Trail Heritage Center in Duncan, Oklahoma....

There was lots to see & do from a wonderful art gallery to a movie to lots of hands-on activities......

The audience got to experience "smelling coffee, bacon, & traildust" & even getting "rained on" during the movie!

TZ loved the Chuckwagon...... He wishes he owned one....lol.....Santa brought him a very cool miniature, tiny model of one.....

Beautiful statue in front of the Museum......

Homeward bound..........

TZ loves history & has always been interested in the Chisholm Trail so we decided to take a day to explore & see all that it was about. So early yesterday morning we filled two big cups with coffee & headed north to Oklahoma ~~ and it was a beautiful sunny day.

We drove first to "Lookout Point" & then out to where you can see the "actual trail" that is preserved with no digging or mowing allowed. Then headed to the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center Museum in Duncan, Oklahoma where there was so much history - so much to see & do. We did a couple of geocaches along the way, & even found some great thrift stores in some tiny towns! Our first road trip of the year was a really great adventure ~~ such a fun day!

My "Mess of Jewels" Jeweled Trees

2009-01-02T21:20:00.000-08:00

Here are the finished Christmas projects that I made for my family from my "Mess of Jewels" ~~ Four Framed Jeweled Christmas Trees ~~

They were a really fun project that I worked on little by little each evening while watching Christmas movies! After making four of them I was ready to stop so I didn't make one for us but eventually I will do just that ~ maybe next year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! xoxoxo

A Silent Night with Marco Polo

2008-12-23T18:50:00.000-08:00

Remember my little Marco Polo Piano I wrote about in March? I found it on Craig's List for $50 for my birthday ~~ The cutest little thing & it is now newly tuned & sounds wonderful ~~ I am LOVING playing Christmas Carols every single day! My mom gave me lots of her old Christmas Carol books & I sit & play every one of them - over & over & over!

I have scattered my most cherished Christmas possession across the top of the piano ~~ Ryan & Eric with Santa, every year for years until they decided they were too old to sit on Santa's lap!
A big "comfort & joy" this season as they are both teaching in South Korea this Christmas & I miss them terribly.

Just made a cup of hot cocoa & I'm off to play Silent Night!

Hope you are all having a wonderful Eve before Christmas Eve!

Kathy xoxoxoxo

Comfort & Joy......A Simple Pleasure

2008-12-22T15:40:00.000-08:00

Christmas Tea-Time with Candy Cane Lane Tea & Cookies.......

Take Time to Enjoy the Holidays!~~

Just a little moment of comfort & joy in my day ~~ taking time to enjoy the holiday season ~~

Wishing everyone little moments of joy too & a wonderful & happy Christmas Week! ~~

Kathy xoxoxoxo

How to get a Kitty out of a HIGH Tree

2008-12-18T07:00:00.000-08:00

What a crazy & worrisome two days this turned out to be! I went out to feed our goat Vanilla Bean in the woods & heard Cosmo meowing from about 50' above me in a tree....so far up I could hardly see him.

Look how high he was! That started 2 whole days of trying to get my kitty out of this tree SO high up that I can only imagine how scared he was. If you look at the very top fork in the tree that is where he was for a long, long time....

So I tried everything I could think of to get him to come down but he wouldn't budge.
Coaxing didn't work - a huge bowl of his favorite food didn't work - baby talk didn't work - shaking the tree didn't work ~~ TZ even took down the flag pole, attached a hanger hoop on the end & tried to scoop him off ~~ nothing worked.......so poor little Cosmo who has grown up but is still such a big baby, was stuck for two days & nights, 50 feet up a tree in our woods ~~ he cried & looked so scared....

Especially here where he is peeking down at me wondering why I'm not climbing up there to get him down.....

For a long, long time he was perched in that small fork of the tree that he must have scooted & shimmied up because there were no limbs to climb back down. So on the second night when the forecast said lows in the 20's there was no other choice....

TZ cut the tree down with the chainsaw ~~ Cosmo held on for dear life all the way down & then jumped off at about 10 feet - no broken bones, no worse for wear - just a starving kitty!

Thank goodness it was a dead tree so no great loss there & we have tons of trees ~ If it had been a live one he might still be up there!

He came in & ate THREE cans of kitty food within the hour & has turned into a big baby since that escapade.....a very pampered kitty jumping in my lap wanting lots of love & reassurance ~ This kitty doesn't venture out much anymore.....he hasn't forgotten the big tree.....& stays safe & sound inside with Cabo & Cookie.....lots of baby naps....

A "Top Secret" Mess of Jewels....

2008-12-01T21:15:00.000-08:00

Since it's "top secret" I can only show you a mess of jewels.....all over my coffee table which for now is my Christmas work table.....

Nothing organized about it but I know what I'm doing with them - just can't show you!....shhhhh

So to you, it's a "mess of jewels" - to me it's my Christmas Craft project for this year.....& believe me it gets harder & more challenging every year to come up with my new project, a new idea....something I haven't made yet after 25 plus something years of "homemades only" with my family.......which I still LOVE doing after all these years!

So after seeing the top 3 pictures I at least tried to organize here ~~ but once I get busy again they will be all over the place & a mess again until I have all my homemade treasures finished....& then I will show you!

HAPPY DECEMBER 1st!! xoxoxo

I Found Springtime on the Curb!

2008-11-25T13:55:00.000-08:00

Look what I found - on the curb!! A little bit of Springtime being thrown away!

I can't imagine giving up on these Lovely Pink Impatiens so soon since they are still this Beautiful & in full Bloom!

They are now in a nice, bright spot in a corner of my kitchen, right in front of my kitchen door where they can soak up the sunshine ~~ I hope to baby this hanging basket throughout the winter so I can have Springtime every day when it turns cold!

It's still in the 70's here in Texas so it feels like spring but those cold days are coming!

Can't believe Thanksgiving is TWO DAYS AWAY! Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!

Kathy xoxoxo

Good Morning Autumn

2008-11-06T09:56:00.000-08:00

We did a little autumn road trip this week & discovered this gorgeous fall "glow" just up the road from our house ~ the leaves haven't changed too much yet here in Texas so this was such a nice surprise to see!

My favorite new hanging candle $1.99 from Goodwill ~ I love the way the beads reflect on the wall behind it when the room is dark & it has a nice glow ~~

I Love The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!

This morning I went out to feed the chickens & Vanilla Bean & I really soaked in the brilliant, warm autumn sunshine, shuffled through the fallen leaves, & just took some time to breathe deep ~~ Everything is damp this morning from a late night thunderstorm so the air smells really fresh & earthy - fallish!

I'm loving Autumn so much this year & am just taking time to enjoy all the wonderful fall feelings of falling colorful leaves, breezes through open windows, candle glow! Every day feels special & I don't want to miss a single, cozy minute of fall. We're still having days in the 80's here in Texas but you can sure feel that change in the air & it's warm enough to get outdoors & really enjoy it.

So I'm off to open all the windows & let fall breeze in ~~ Hope you enjoy your Autumn Morning too!

GOOD MORNING AUTUMN!! xoxo

Our Little Cabin in the Woods

2008-10-07T11:30:00.000-07:00

Four & 1/2 Years ago when we found our cottage we knew it would be "home sweet home" ~~ But what really sold us on our place was the woods behind our house, so thick at that time we couldn't walk through them. We moved in on the first day of Spring 2004 & within a week & with boxes still stacked in the house to be unpacked, we headed back to the woods & cut walking trails, put benches so we could sit & enjoy it, hung bird feeders, birdhouses, & windchimes, & made an arbor from tree limbs for the blackberries & honeysuckle vines ~~

And the next Spring we built this little cabin in our woods!

This was the first week & first wall & it was almost every bit put together by TZ with salvaged, found, curbside, & free materials ~~

With it's rickety tree log steps, it's very rustic & primitive with a screened in porch where we love to sit in our rocking chairs & watch the birds & other wildlife ~~

Cabo & Cookie love to watch for critters in the woods from the porch~~

It's a great place to camp-out when we don't wanna leave home......just head to the woods ~ We've even joked that we should move in ~~ what a much simpler life to live in a tiny little cabin!

The white storage cabinet & little fridge were both found on the curb!~~

One of the few things we actually had to buy were the two sliding windows on each side ~~ curtains, chairs, etc. were all from garage sales or the curb ~~

The sleeping loft has just a simple mattress & a window on each side - all were found on the curb - it almost feels like a treehouse up there because the peak of the cabin is up in the trees & there is always a nice cross breeze coming through those windows ~~ the doggie fence is to keep Cabo & Cookie from falling out! TZ built wooden slats on the wall for climbing up there & we have little skylights in the roof to let in the sunlight & see the sky ~~ the tin roof is so nice when it rains ~~

This is in front of the cabin where we dug a fire pit for campfire & cooking ~~

There is an unfinished "peak" at the tippy top with no tin - that would be right about when TZ fell off the ladder ~~ I'd rather see it unfinished than for him to get back up there - it's very high!~~

A special place to stop & enjoy the quiet & the birds ~~

I found our "WELCOME TO OUR CABIN" paddle sign at a garage sale for two dollars ~~

I especially love being out here this time of year in the fall ~~ the breeze is wonderful, it's very cool, & the leaves are falling ~ the trees are dancing! It's just a quiet, serene, & happy place to be & it's a nice, lingering little walk through the woods to get there!

Now if you go here - Good2go2Mexico you can take another walk that I'm sure you will enjoy. My sister Linda & her husband Bill moved to Alamos Mexico this summer ~~ You'll find lots of great, fun, & funny adventures in her blog!

Happy October! ~~ Kathy xoxoxo

End of Summer Blooms

2008-09-18T21:25:00.000-07:00

End of summer still blooms on at kattz*cottage ~~

Sunflowers........

Blue Mist.....

Althea - "Rose of Sharon".....

Red Salvia & Periwinkles......

Esperanza "Yellow Bells" & the "Katy Road" Rose......

4 O'clocks.....& one of our 2 Turkeys - "Pork & Bean".......

The front yard.......

Fall mums.....

This was our Morning Glory Deck 2 Years ago......

This is our Morning Glory Deck today.....It's amazing what a difference it makes when you don't get rain......morning glories barely bloomed this year.....& there is Turkey #2 - either Pork or Bean.....lol.....they love coming up on the deck to eat from the vines......

It's always sad to see Summer come to an end.......before long the flowers will fade but I have that wonderful fall feeling & will soon put up the fall wreath & the pumpkin on the porch ~~ the windows & doors are all open & the air is cooler, crisper ~~ it already feels like fall ~~ & it's only 4 days away ~~ I'm so ready to enjoy it!........Happy Autumn! xoxoxoxo Kathy

On Golden Trees

2008-09-10T16:20:00.000-07:00

Shimmery Gold Trees.....
Dancing Leaves.....

Just found this little beaded tree!~ 50 cents at last weekend's garage sale!

~~ Little Golden Trees ~ Shimmering, light, & delicate ~ I put them in front of breezy windows or under a ceiling fan & they really shimmer & shine! I have found them all at garage sales - each for a quarter ~~ If you ever run across one I promise you will love watching it dance!

Hope you all have a super nice rest of the week! xoxoxoxo Kathy

Lazy Daze of Summer

2008-08-24T21:40:00.000-07:00

Looking back over the summer, this was my VERY favorite summer day ~~ gliding in the canoe over the water to the piney woods, cool breezes, & a lovely lazy summer day picnic ~~ moving slowly through the lake is so mesmerizing, hypnotizing, soothing, & calm ~~ this day was what summer is all about & I loved it ~~ After a super hot summer here in Texas, the last two weeks we've had wonderful summer storms with lots of rain & cooler days ~~ really nice!

Happy end of summer - I'm SO happy fall is coming!

Cookie & Cabo were as excited as we were!
I Love these Piney Woods~

Cookie with a goofy ear~

Cabo wants to jump in~

So peaceful & calming ~~

NOW, I'm ready for fall! xoxoxo

Cozy COTTAGE Needlepoint

2008-08-13T22:00:00.000-07:00

I Love Needlepoint ~~ It just speaks old-fashioned - I don't know where my Love for it began but I only know I've loved Needlepoint for just about always ~~

Probably it began with my very own Grandmother ~~ & possibly that's where my love for Cottages began too - with a Cottage Needlepoint made by her hands ~~ knowing the finger-work that goes into them makes them so special ~~ somehow over many years they have caught my eye, all found at garage sales or thrift stores, & now they can be found all around my cottage ~ Needlepoint Roses, Cottages, on footstools, benches, chairs (my chairs were $5 & $7), framed in pictures, & pillows.... and a precious petit-point brooch & wallet also made by my Grandmother's hands ~~

After taking these pictures I couldn't believe I had this many & I'm sure I even missed some. So as in the past when I've taken pictures of my collections I realize I NEED to down-size......I have TOO many! Eventually I will part with some of them ~ YES YES I WILL!! But for now they give me such a feeling of warmth & coziness that makes me feel so comfortable in my cottage & I love having them around me ~~ so here are my needlepoint beauties that I treasure & adore! Just COZY~~~

The next 4 are my favorites ~~ by my Grandmother Ella Melissa ~~

Brooch & Wallet on the left made by my Grandmother Ella ~~

Winter Cottage by my Grandmother ~~

Sweet Cottage by my Grandmother ~~

Lovely Floral Pair made by my Grandmother~~

What a LONG TOUR that was! I really didn't realize I had that many & I've already looked up & seen one that I missed right here by my computer! Alot of them have wear, even holes, & chippy places but that makes them even more special! Have a great rest of the week! KATHY xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

TZ's Birthday Dance @ Rockin' Rodeo

2008-07-30T11:00:00.000-07:00

~~~~ We love to dance & spend hours on this wooden floor ~~

Celebrating TZ's B-Day @ the Rockin' Rodeo with many friends ~~

Bradley Dale - just turned 21 on 7/11 ~~

Thomas Christmas - yes that's his real name!

David & Lydia ~ Happy birthday to David too! ~~

Mark & Jackie!

April & Jeremy - we've known April for 6 years since day one at RR ~~

Lloyd ~ Tony ~ Rex ~ Brian ~ Cody ......the owners & DJ of RR make this a great place to dance!
CODY our awesome DJ plays great country music & he's only 19!~~

Glenn & Missie ~~ Best of Friends with us for years at the RR!~~ Happy Birthday to Missie too!

Ryan & Annie ~~ Happy Birthday to Ryan too~!! He & TZ have the same birthday & we met him at RR when he was 20 ~~ today he turns 26!

Dos Vaqueros ~~ TZ & Strat~~ some serious Cowboy talk there!

Happy 50 TZ!

We celebrated TZ's Birthday all weekend & all night on the dance floor with so many people that we've met in our 6 years at Rockin' Rodeo & 4 of our RR friends along with Tim have the same birthday!
We've danced together for 7 years & still look forward to every Friday & Saturday night where we spend hours on that wooden floor!
It's great exercise & so much fun ~~ hopefully it's keeping us young even though we are now half a century old!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TZ!! ~~ I hope you have a wonderful Birthday! xoxoxoxo

Here Came Trouble with a Capital "T"

2008-07-29T11:55:00.000-07:00

Cute Cute!

I'm VERY Cute but I'm TROUBLE.....Cookie says so!

I'm "black & white" just like Cookie!

He's JUST A BABY in a BLANKIE - gotta love 'em!

Cookie & Cabo wondering WHY IS HE HERE?

Just cause I'm cute!

We have a new "baby" at our house - & his name should be "Trouble" with a capital "T" but I call him Cosmo ~~ doesn't he look SO innocent? Most of you who read this blog think kattz*cottage could be all about cats! But I have to admit I'm a dog lover - have never really loved cats that much. But for some reason I've tried to make a cat connection since we've lived in the country. The sad fact is maybe because we are in the country they always disappear. They are grabbed up by something unknown so I always say "I can't have ANYMORE CATS" because I always lose them.

But here he is - this little kitten so very CUTE! I got him at 6 weeks old in a Wal-Mart parking lot! He's a big ball of crazy energy, bouncing off the walls, pouncing on Cabo & Cookie who are fit to be tied & wish he had never bounced through the front door! The pictures show it all......two little chihuahuas who's world has come unwound! We will do our best to love & tame him & keep him safe at kattz*cottage.........& eventually Cookie & Cabo & Cosmo will be good buddies!

THANK YOU to everyone helped me with my "what is it's!" I appreciate all your help & because of internet problems & being way toooooo busy I haven't sent answers to everyone that commented. Thanks to all of you though ~~ & especially to Shirlee & Debbie who sent awards my way. I appreciate all of you so much for your comments & just for visiting kattz*cottage!

HAPPY SUMMER! Kathy xoxoxo

What IS it?

2008-07-03T20:30:00.000-07:00

~~Just lookin' for a little help from my friends! I have some things that I'm trying to identify! Some of them I bought to put on ebay but haven't listed them because I don't know what they ARE! Any ideas anybody? Let me know if you know what any of them are!......OR what they could be turned into!

This is a heavy cast iron 4" Rooster that has a screw in the bottom - not like a lamp finial but must have come off of something???!!??

This is a vintage perfume that I KNOW I've seen even when I was a little girl -- old fashioned couple on top of lid - criss cross design on the bottle - it has NO markings on it at all......surely someone knows what this is!!

This is a porcelain handpainted 2 1/2" cylinder that is open at the top & bottom - has felt inside & gold metal around the top - I have no idea what it's for?!?

This is another little silver metal cylinder only an inch tall - has raised designs & has a small hole on top & larger opening on the bottom.....what is it?!?

I paid a dollar for this & planned to re-paint & use it but I'm not sure what to do with it.....is it a plate rack? And what goes in the bottom? If it's a plate rack I don't really want to hang it on the wall so is there something else it can be used for?

I've sold French Presses on ebay before but these appear different....or are they? The teapot has a press type plunger but the coffeepot just has the filter & lid with no press inside. Are they another type of French Press?......

This is a stoneware pot made like an angel food cake or bundt pan but it has a lid ~ I have no idea what it's used for!?? To bake something I'm sure but surely it has a specific purpose? There are no makers markings on it......

I will love to hear any ideas even if they are inventive & other than what these things really are! Creativity can be better than logical!

HAPPY 4th of JULY to everyone ~ have a Safe & Fun Holiday! xoxoxox Kathy

Certified Wildlife Habitat @ kattz*cottage

2008-06-19T20:18:00.000-07:00

We are very excited at kattz*cottage that we qualified to be a "Certified Wildlife Habitat" ~~ doing our part to take care of any & all wildlife that enter this lively place we call home. We are happy to share our gardens & our woods with so many creatures from birds, owls, frogs, toads, bats, armadillos, raccoons, squirrels, rabbits, tons of insects & now our thousands of Honeybees! We provide shelter, water, food, & they provide us with hours of watching pleasure! I realized when posting this that I never have my camera in hand when I see these creatures ~ so that will be my next project - to try to get some wildlife pictures. So without the wildlife, here is the habitat! TZ found an old cedar log in our woods to display our new sign proudly!

What's wrong with this picture??!! Cabo knocks his Croquet Ball into the Pond & always goes in after it!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND! Kathy xoxoxo

T.Z.'s BEES

2008-06-10T21:30:00.000-07:00

Tucked away wayyyyy back there behind the Hollyhocks is the BEEHIVE~~

THE "Bee Viewing Area".......YES we watch the bees ~ Our big pond is just behind the chairs so the bees have lots of water ~~

TZ checking the frames - you can see the white wax across the top where our Busy Bees have already begun working.....after 3 1/2 weeks they already have Honey in them ~~ it tastes SO good :-)

Cookie - TZ's Bee Buddy just can't stay away from the hive.....no stings yet but it'll happen~~

This view from the top of the frames is after just ONE week in the hive ~ I think that's so amazing - they work fast~

TZ is pointing out the QUEEN - she's easy to find because she's marked.......

Smoking the bees to calm them~~ when I knew TZ was planning Beehives I found an antique Bee Smoker for $5 at an estate sale - works great~~

Alotta lotta bees......

TZ dumps the Bees into the Hive.....

He sprayed them with sugar water to keep them from swarming out - they start licking the sugar so they stay occupied while he dumps them into the hive ~~

Opening the BEE BOX after they arrived.......they come with a can of sugar water to keep them alive on their trip to our cottage~~

~A new adventure at kattz*cottage~

Our new & very exciting adventure! TZ has Bees! Something he has planned for years actually & he has been working on building his beehives & getting ready for his bees for several months now. The Italian Honeybees arrived 3 1/2 weeks ago & they seem to be very happy & comfortable living in their new hive-casa!

After researching & googling the internet & books for months & even years, I think TZ has learned what it takes to be a great bee-keeper. Every step he's taken has been smooth & easy as if he's been doing this for years. Fortunately, as he claims, he got some calm bees if that's possible....lol

The bees arrived at the front door, in a little box, thousands of them - the buzz was almost deafening & Cookie wanted to get in the box with them! He couldn't stay away from them & still can't. The Queen is marked with a red spot on her back & she was contained in a tiny box with candy on the end that she had to nibble through to be released into the hive.

He has already "smoked" them twice to check the frames & to our complete surprise there was HONEY right before our very eyes! He pulled out every frame to check them & was never swarmed & so far we are "sting-free" but I'm sure one day that'll happen - probably Cookie will be the first victim because he can't stay away from the hive - he walks right up to it!

It may sound crazy but we go out & sit & watch the bees every evening. It's really interesting to see them flying back into the hive from their daily excursion. After smoking them last week TZ pulled off some chunks of wax with honey & brought them over to what I call ~OK don't laugh ~ our "bee viewing area".....lol We couldn't believe that first taste of honey - so unbelievably good & sweet! Can't wait till we can start filling jars FULL of HONEY!

Our internet was down all last week so I had to make 2 trips to town & use the library computer just to catch up on ebay ~~ I'm still trying to catch up & am trying hard to get things listed since last week was a dud with no computer. So since I'm still behind with ebay & that comes first - I'm super WAY behind with blogging! Thanks so much for all your comments & I promise I WILL CATCH UP on all of them! I need more hours in the day!

~~hugs~~ xoxoxoxoxo Kathy

The PINK FAIRY has BLOOMED!

2008-05-29T15:35:00.000-07:00

2008 ~~ "THE FAIRY" Rose ~~ a week ago!

2007 ~~ "THE FAIRY" Rose ~~ a year ago!

The Pink FAIRY Rose has bloomed! And my oh my how it has grown since last year! In the bottom picture up there it was barely halfway up the arbor this time last year. I was so surprised that not only did it make it to the top this year but it went all the way over & halfway down the other side. And that tiny little red rose on the other side of the arbor last year has grown all the way up to meet the FAIRY at the tippy top! These pictures were taken last week & as all roses do they have already faded but I'm hoping for another bloom....

Well I'm still "out of the blog loop" when it comes to keeping up with what's going around here! It's because so much is going on around here! So many new projects & we are busy as "BEES".....which I will blog about soon!

HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY!! xoxoxoxo

Garden Surprises from the Wildflower Fairy

2008-05-09T10:42:00.000-07:00

A very unexpected Wildflower Garden has just come to life before our very eyes!

We had a mound of leftover dirt that we had used to fill in holes that our happy chickens dug ~~ Last fall we spread it all out flat & then scattered a variety of seeds - mostly wildflower mix all over it. Just THREW them out there! And then kind of forgot about it - didn't do a thing to it!

Until a couple of weeks ago - when THIS appeared ~ like a Wildflower Fairy had waved her magic wand & wa-laa - there it was! Red Poppies, Blue Bachelor's Buttons, Red Clover, Yellow Coreopsis, Purple Larkspur......It changes & grows every day as more & more little buds open & bloom!

A couple of nights this week we've headed down the road to do our favorite wildflower drive ~~ I love picking huge bouquets of them ~~ and we dug up a few more lovelies to add to add to our new fairy wildflower garden - foxgloves, wine cups, daisies ~ And YES - that IS a purple BOWLING "gazing" BALL smack in the very middle sitting on a stand I picked up from a dumpster in Fredericksburg last month! It was TZ's idea to make it a "gazing" ball stand & I've grown to like that big spash of purple in there! He bought the bowing ball - two of them actually - $1 at a garage sale ~ to paint them like ladybugs for the garden....a very cool idea he saw in a garden magazine!.........but that's another story!

The whole garden is a little unkempt~shabby chic-ish~looking but I kind of like it that way! No planned garden style made by me - just did it's own happy thing!

My Pink Fairy Rose is JUST on the verge of a beautiful bloom! I will bring it to you soon!

Friday night & we're always on the dance floor right about now but decided to give our boots a rest & take a night off......we're up early tomorrow morning to head to the Bowie Trade Days to look for a new *NICE* Rooster, Pet Turkeys, & **FLOWERS**!!!!..............Happy Weekend!! xoxoxo

A Lovely Day in Texas

2008-04-24T22:30:00.000-07:00

I love walking through our woods......all nice & shady & green again.....

Wayyyyy tooooo many water lilies have come up this year.....and don't plant Pink Primrose unless you want a million of them.....they DO take over a flower bed - I have lots of thinning to do!

Our front porch "anniversary" pond we started a year ago......
Purple Petunia - a Lowe's bargain @ $5.74.......50 cent pillows - last Saturday's garage sales....

TZ's Clematis & 25 cent trellis - repainted........

After last week's B & B trip I came home & dug out the Hammock.......

I LOVED this lovely spring day at our little cottage ~~ windows all open, breezes blowing, & all the lace curtains fluttering in the breeze. After last night's nice long steady rain everything was crisp & fresh & SO green! We've had tons of nice spring rain lately in North Texas - some very scary thunderstorms though - even very damaging hail every Wednesday or Thursday for the last 4 weeks.

But our gardens are very Happy & coming to life! Today there were more water lilies blooming than I've ever seen at once. In fact our big pond has way too many lilies so soon I will have to take lots of them out. Everything is nice & green & the trees are a solid canopy again. We are out in our yard taking garden tours every evening & doing lots of planting & projects.
I am way TOO happy that SPRING is here!

I've had a very busy week with ebay & have listed lots of new unique & interesting things......tomorrow is garage sale Friday so I'm off to Denton to look for more treasures!

Love Trip to Fredericksburg

2008-04-15T19:10:00.000-07:00

Fields of Poppies & Verbena at the Wildseed Farms......unfortunately there weren't many roadside wildflowers like last year's beautiful Bluebonnet fields........not enough rain this year :-(

I have many nicknames but TZ usually calls me Kitty Zam ~ this was my love trip road bag.........this one had a bobblehead puppy & Snoopy coloring book along with lots of goodies.......my last road trip goodie bag had a baby doll & a Barbie coloring book....... :-)
He knows I'm just a little girl at heart!

The Cheshyre Cat Cottage Bed & Breakfast.........

Front porch looking at the woods........

We kept the windows open & could hear this pretty fountain from inside..........

Walking Paths around our Bed & Breakfast..........

Hammock in the Woods.........

Lots of pretty pots of Flowers all along the main street of town............

Fields of Red Poppies............

The old Railroad Bat Tunnel where you can watch tons of bats fly out in the evening............they fly out right behind where TZ is standing..........the train tunnel is in the picture above.....that little green spot in the middle is the opening of the tunnel on the other side.........

The Pretty Arbor where we were married.......it's SO pretty here.....

The old Mill Wheel in the park.......

Yellow Columbine.......

Lots of Roses........

We were all packed & ready to go on our yearly Bed & Breakfast Anniversary Trip to the lovely little german town of Fredericksburg, Texas ~~ I opened my car door & was SO surprised to find my "love trip" goodie bag that TZ had secretly packed for me.....inside was a fuzzy little bobblehead puppy because he knew I would miss Cabo & Cookie so much......a Peanuts Coloring Book & box of crayons.......potato chips......gum.....& a big pack of Almond Joy mini Candy Bars! SO sweet & brought me to tears before we even left the driveway......the love trip!

And what a fun trip we had! Fredericksburg is one of our favorite places because we were married in that pretty town underneath a beautiful outdoor wisteria arbor in a gorgeous park full of roses, columbine, iris - tons of pretty flowers & statues, an old mill wheel. We go back almost every April & I especially love it because it's early spring & everything has turned green ~ lots of flowers everywhere ~ huge red geraniums which is on the top of my next Lowe's list!

This year we chose the Cheshyre Cat Cottage Bed & Breakfast ~~ the sweetest, most peaceful & serene place all tucked away outside of town in the middle of trees with paths lined with gazing balls, hammocks, peace & quiet. We did the walk up & down the main street of beautiful shops & restaurants but most of all we enjoyed the flowers, Wildseed Farms, Luckenbach, & the old railroad Bat Tunnel. Instead of shopping the shops we looked for garage sales & thrift stores ~~ there is a thrift store there that I could spend hours in! And we always get lots of inspiration for new gardening ideas, projects, & instead of buying anything in the shops we get great ideas for things to go home & make ourselves!

It was a very happy, fun, & special anniversary love trip to a beautiful place with lots of memories!

It's always nice to come back to home sweet home though & we have ideas galore to get started on in the garden!

Here a Chick*There a Chick & I've been Tagged!

2008-03-27T13:07:00.000-07:00

BUTTERSCOTCH ~~ He's Pretty but he's VERY MEAN!!

Meet the new members of our family.....14 new feathered babies! Our grown hens already give us more eggs each week than we can eat but with the price of eggs these days a few more can't hurt! We're always happy to share & the eggs you gather yourself are always the best. We have brown eggs & colored eggs & they are so creamy & good.

We've had the new babies a couple of weeks & they are growing so fast!

On the other hand, we have a very mean rooster - he's a beautiful big Buff Orpington but he attacks us! I have bruises & cuts on my leg & knee from his attacks. I plan to find a new NICE rooster soon!
Sorry Butterscotch :-( You will have to go to a new home before the new babies head to the coop.

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

I'm happy to have been tagged by Suzanne ~ Painter of the Past at Pear Tree Primitives to tell you how I came up with my blog & business name ~~ kattz*cottage
This is interesting because I've always wondered how so many blog names come about & why they are chosen!! So here is mine ~~

kattz*cottage

KAT is a nickname from my husband TZ

TZ is my nickname for him & it's his initials

Put the two together & you have "kattz".....& I have LOVED Cottages since I was a little girl & I do live in my dream cottage ~~ I have collected Cottage china & Cottage pictures for years & years & there is nothing COZIER than a Cottage!

In the fall of 2002 we started a new adventure called Geocaching and "kattz" is the geocaching name we came up with by putting our names together. Geocaching is SO much fun! It's all about treasure hunting with a GPS & it takes you to some of the most beautiful places! Since 2002 we have found 1666 geocaches & we have placed 50 of our own to be found. We do lots of geocaches on every trip we take ~~ you never know where they will lead you! You can find us through www.geocaching.com as "kattz"!

Since kattz was our geocache name I decided to change my ebay name to kattz*cottage ~~ so on from there it just made perfect sense to be kattz*cottage in the blogging world too!

I will pass this tag on to anyone who would like to tell us your "blog name" story!

Beautiful, warm, & sunny 80's here today ~~ hope yours is beautiful too!

HAPPY EASTER!

2008-03-23T21:15:00.000-07:00

My BEST garage sale find of the week ~~ Easter Egg Tree with eggs, bunnies, & birds....25 cents!

HAPPY EASTER!!

Happy Spring & Home Sweet Cottage!

2008-03-20T11:10:00.000-07:00

HAPPY SPRING!

I'm SO happy SPRING is here! Four years ago on the first day of spring we moved into our little cozy cottage in the country! HOME SWEET HOME!

Our country kitchen is a very vintage-colorful-eclectic-cottage-combination of things I love ~ vintage 30's & 40's Universal water pitchers, fiesta, cottage china, & sentimental heirloom treasures. Lots of Red! ~

Looking at these pictures though makes me want to minimize! Hard to do when I'm adding new garage sale finds like the fruit bowl, red lid, & little teapot up there! I'll have to work on it ~~ Our sunny cottage kitchen makes me happy!

We have warm sunshine & 70's here in Texas today!

Hope you all have a LOVELY first day of SPRING!

Congratulations to Rosie's Whimsy!!!!

2008-03-17T13:00:00.000-07:00

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my LOVELY MOM!

And CONGRATULATIONS to ROSIE'S WHIMSY ~~ the big winner in the drawing for my blogaversary give-away! I am happy to add a few more goodies seen here ~~ A Roses Apron! Easter Eggs! And I'm sending two very special little treasures made by my mom & dad. My dad carves little Loons out of wood & paints them.......My mom is a wonderful painter & has recently made little magnets from her watercolors. These will be be included with my give-away!

I am truly flattered that I received so many lovely comments from so many wonderful bloggers! I can't say THANK YOU enough! I was very surprised to hear from all of you & due to a long weekend away from the computer I haven't had the chance to catch up in answering all of you......I WILL do that before the day is over!

I hope all of you will come back for many more visits to kattz*cottage!

Congrats again to Rosie ~~ I will send your package on it's way!! THANKS SO MUCH!!

Happy One Year Cottage Give-Away!

2008-03-12T11:15:00.000-07:00

What fun this has been! One year ago this week I started kattz*cottage blog! I haven't been the best blogger with constant keeping up but I have thoroughly enjoyed keeping this little journal & meeting so many wonderful people in the blog world. I love reading each & every comment I receive & I have learned so much from reading so many beautiful blogs!

To say "Thank You" here is my anniversary "in the pink" cottage give-away ~~ A reversible Lavender Dream Pillow, Lavender Strawberry Sachet & matching Lavender Sachet "Little Purse" all Handmade by me ~~ a beautiful Cottage Flowers photo album, Rose picture frame, a Victorian Fan, & some other sweet cottage chic treasures! All comments left between today & Sunday night ~ 3/16 will be entered in the drawing ~~ I will have a Top o' the Mornin' St. Patrick's Day announcement of the winner on Monday March 17!

I would love to meet new blogging friends so feel free to pass the word along if you'd like. I will also later add a few more give-away treasures to the 10 things pictured above!

A huge THANK YOU for all your kind words & blogging friendship!

Much Love & Hugs! ~~ Kathy

The 50's & a Little Marco Polo Piano

2008-03-09T21:45:00.000-07:00

okay - it's not easy getting another year older, or is it? No, really, it's not so bad.

I've been another year older for a whole week now & I'm getting use to it.
Doesn't feel any different really. I can even say it - I'm 53 now ~ wow.
March 2, 1955 - but my dad reminds me almost every year - it's also "Texas Independence Day" & hey, that's important too & I usually think of that first!

I'm happy, I'm healthy, & I'm ready for every new year to come ~~ bring 'em all on. I have a happy warm cozy home & a tremendous amount of love in my life.

I had a sweet, calm, simple, celebration~ music to my ears. I was given a piece of my childhood that I've missed ~ to play the piano again. It's an amazing small size so it doesn't take up much room in our little cottage. Didn't even know they made "real" pianos this little ~ but it surely is a real piano. There are a few less keys since it's smaller but like my mom says - who uses the keys on the ends of a piano?....I never have so this one is just right for me!

I am happily sonatina-ing away on the keys every day now & my fingertips are working hard to recall Clair 'de Lune - my favorite on the piano because my mom has played it since I was a little girl.

I discovered Craig's List just recently, through my sister & from seeing other bloggers with great finds. So when I didn't want to get too serious about a piano (meaning not to spend much $$ ~ just something I could play) I went to Craig's List for the first time ever & found just what I was looking for to celebrate another year ~~ this little Marco Polo cutie just down the road - for $50. Thanks TZ for bringing music to our cottage!
It's a "cute as a button" birthday piano & I adore it!

BLOGging Behind & Why is it Snowing in Texas?

2008-03-06T18:20:00.000-08:00

Bird Feeder/House TZ just built ~~ has been a popular place today.......

Cabo & Cookie looking out the window - wondering "What is that Stuff?"......

Walking into our Woods......fierce thunderstorm this week knocked the canoe to the ground....

Wicker "SnowChair" on the Deck.......it's crazy seeing all this snow when I'm looking for Spring!

The Woods behind our House......

Spring is suppose to be "right around the corner" & look what happened today in Texas - crazy WINTER is back in full force with Snow like I haven't seen in years. I'm SO ready for spring to be here! But if you're from Texas you will know the old saying "If you don't like the weather, wait a minute & it will change"! Which it has surely done lately - one day 80...next day 40.....it's been doing this for a month ~~~back & forth

Well the blog world has gone about it's day to day thing & I've been in hibernation mode for way too long. I spend so much time all day on the computer working on ebay that I tend to be so ready to "sign off" when I'm through ~~ with no blogging to be done. "Bad Blogger"!!

I am about to be upon my One Year blogging anniversary & although I have been a bad blogger I plan to celebrate with a super-duper giveaway!

So please DO come back & I will try to be a better blogger back on my blogging track!

Valentine Love from kattz*cottage!

2008-02-14T15:06:00.000-08:00

I wish everyone a wonderfully Happy & "Full of Love" Valentine's Day from kattz*cottage ~~ I've been away from my blog for awhile so I think February 14 is a good day for a fresh start with Lots of Love ~~ Much Love to everyone who has visited my blog & I hope to get back on track with lots of new projects & cottage happenings!
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

My Little Corner of Early Spring & Hiking in the Grasslands!

2008-01-08T08:30:00.000-08:00

I can't make it through winter without a "little corner of spring"! However yesterday felt like spring really is around the corner! It was 76 degrees. I went outside barefooted wearing shorts & a t-shirt. I took a little walk through our woods, moved some limbs that were down from our recent winter winds, & felt like winter is officially over!

Unfortunately I know better & it will be cold again but I really, really DO NOT like winter. I never have & would take 100 degrees any day over 40 ~ I'm definitely a summer girl! But I will TRY to be patient & wait it out because I know 2 months will fly by & SOON it will be March & officially spring! So here is my "spring corner" in my kitchen window that will tide me over until the world comes back to life again, all green & fresh & colorful!

With SPRING out of the way now, because no doubt I'm jumping the gun, I wish a belated Happy New Year to everyone. We had a wonderful first week of 2008, welcoming New Year's Eve in on the dance floor, & hiking at one of our favorite geocaching spots, the LBJ Grasslands.

Cookie & Cabo love getting to run free & lead the way all up & down the trails. A couple of years ago we placed a terra-cache along this rugged trail. The cache is wayyyyy up high in a tree & can only be found at night - we put reflector markers in the trees all along the trail to lead the way. To find it the geocacher has to follow this steep ravine which is a very sharp drop-off. Not too many geocachers have attempted this one!

Cabo & Cookie know they can't follow TZ on this one, but they surely want to & look like they think they can!
But Mama won't let them so they have to hang out with me & look sad! :-(

The Pine Grove was our next hiking spot in the grasslands - an awesome place even in winter - the pine trees are so tall & make me think of east Texas where I grew up. There is another huge pine grove on the other side of a lake in the grasslands that we canoe to for picnics - a really beautiful & serene place.

I also want share a very special new blog Glass Pond Studio, just created by my sister Linda. She makes beautiful handmade jewelry & gorgeous glass beads, lives in the Pacific Northwest, & she & her husband Bill are getting ready to move to Mexico! She will have many interesting stories down the road so check out her blog at Glass Pond Studio!

~~From my Christmas Cottage to Yours ~ Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas!~~

2007-12-25T10:43:00.000-08:00

It's a beautiful, warm, sunshiny Christmas Day here in Texas ~~ Wishing everyone a VERY, MERRY, HAPPY, & PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS DAY wherever you are!

Warm Christmas Hugs! xoxoxo
Kathy

Congratulations Ryan & Eric!

2007-12-18T09:06:00.000-08:00

Ryan Patrick is 25 & graduated from the University of North Texas in Denton on Dec. 15!

Eric Tyler is 23 & graduated from the University of Texas in Austin on Dec. 8!

This is a very special moment for me! As I mentioned in my last post, both of my boys graduated from college last week! I am a SUPER PROUD Mama! Such a great & wonderful accomplishment for two awesome guys who I still call my little boys ~~ but there they are, all grown up now & college graduates as of this week! I look at those Santa pictures that I just posted & it's unbelievable how those little boys have become grown men that have made me so proud! They both looked so handsome on their special nights in their caps & gowns. Wow! They are two very unique & very special guys who I know will do wonderful things in their futures! Congratulations Ryan & Eric! I love you both so much!

Merry, Merry Christmas, Santa Claus!

2007-12-17T21:58:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve is one week from tonight, right this minute! At this moment, a week from tonight, every child will be trying to fall asleep with thoughts of Santa & his Reindeer flying through the sky on his way to every rooftop! I had a MAGICAL MOMENT Saturday morning in the mall - a place I never go except at Christmas time. And there I sat, on a bench only 10 feet from Santa Claus, mesmerized by every child that sat upon his lap. My children visited Santa every single Christmas while they were growing up, up to 14 pictures - guess I was lucky I could still talk them into to it at that age! I treasure those memories & pictures so much. So Saturday morning, in the mall, watching Santa, was a very emotional moment! Ryan & Eric are all grown up, now 25 & 23, & they both just graduated from college last week ~~that will be my special post for tomorrow! Here are a few more pictures of our holiday home & those Santa pictures that I treasure the most. The Rabbit & Santa Celluloid ornaments were from my mom's tree when she was a little girl!

Feeling the Christmas Glow!!

2007-12-13T22:18:00.000-08:00

I am enjoying the Christmas Season SO much this year & am really Feeling the Glow! Some years are so busy & can be stressful, but this year I am just sitting back & enjoying it in a slow, peaceful kind of way. Not too much to do, not too much to buy & loving the simple things. I've been busy making the ornaments for my family's tradition which we have done for many years instead of buying gifts for each other. My tree is covered with so many unique & beautiful handmade items because of this wonderful tradition. This Christmas for me is all about love, much happiness, thankfulness, peace, & remembering what Christmas is all about ~~ I'm loving it! Here is my Christmas Cottage in it's own little laid-back, slow-moving, stress-free, serene happy glow ~~ Happiest of Holidays!

White Roses, Lights, & Candle Glow~

LOTS of Candle Glow~

"Isabelle" in Glowing White Lights & Roses~

"Feather Bird Tree" in the Hallway ~

Old Fashioned "Bubble Light" Tree in the Mudroom~~my Mom made the Snowman years ago!

Norfolk Pine - this beauty came from a garage sale 8 years ago for 50 cents - it was 6 inches tall!

HAPPIEST OF HOLIDAYS to all!

Camping with Dinosaurs

2007-11-26T09:45:00.000-08:00

We just went on a little camping trip & had a wonderful time camping in Dinosaur Valley ~~ walking where the dinosaurs walked. This beautiful state park has actual dinosaur footprints & how lucky we were that it was still 80 degrees so we could cross the river where most of the prints are under water. They have wonderful marked trails where we took nice long hikes & beautiful wooded campsites where we spent alot of time just sitting & soaking it all in. We made early morning campfire coffee & there's nothing better than breakfast on a camp stove......bacon smells SO good outside! And of course Cabo & Cookie loved it too & their tiny little legs kept up every step of the way on our hikes. It was hard to come home! But we did get back for a wonderful Thanksgiving with family & after our 80 degree days we had snow & sleet Saturday morning! Texas finally turned cold!

Tonight we will be putting up our tree in between watching Dancing with the Stars Finale! I hope everyone had a wonderful & happy Thanksgiving! I can't believe it's time to decorate for Christmas! My family gift tradition with my parents, brothers, & sister is only homemade, handmade things so I'm busy trying to come up with ideas !! I actually took a bag full of fabric, ribbon, pins, beads, & styrofoam balls on our camping trip thinking I would come back with lots of treasures made........has anyone ever covered a styrofoam ball with fabric?? I'm having a terrible time figuring this out so please send suggestions if you know how!!

Have a lovely day!

kattz*cottage

Wedding Bells for Ryan & Yeni ~

Happy 60th Anniversary Mom & Dad! ~~

2010 Jeweled Trees & Eddie Ross Wreath

The Glow of Fall ~

Summer Blooms On.....

Handmade Shoes~Summer 1974

My Happy Garden ~

From Chicken Coop to kattz*cottage studio ~

A Bright Spot in My Day ~

~~Winter Wonderland ~ again!

Pink Prom Cowgirl ~~

Nothing Better Than This.........

A WHITE CHRISTMAS in Texas!!

Happy, Happy, Merry, Merry, Christmas......

O, Christmas Tree.....

Deck the Halls ~ Fa la la la la

Garden Room Just Before the **Snow**??....

So Thankful.....

Where Women Create......Jeweled Christmas Trees ~~

The Fall Garden....Blooms on....

From Our Cottage Porch to yours ~ Happy Autumn!~~

THANKS Project Runway! ~~

Camping Adventures with Joey....

Hatch Green Chile & Corn Relish.....

Time to Sew....

Happy Birthday TZ....

Beach Sunset....

Beach Bound....

Lovely Little Ladies of the Garage Sales~

Muscadine Memories with Mom....

Vintage RETRO CUTE Travel Trailer - For Sale!

Fresh from the Garden......

~~Green Bat House~~

~~Floating Fairies~~

~~Hummingbird Haven~~

~~Happy Mother's Day!~~

~~Garden Room ~ A Lovely Spot~~

~~Kite Flying Picnic & Birthday Flowers~

Happy 58 Years Mom & Dad!~~

~~Too Many Eggs~~

A Little SEWING Time & SPRING Fever - Already!~~

~~We Hit the Chisholm Trail~~

~~My "Mess of Jewels" Jeweled Trees~~

~~A Silent Night with Marco Polo~~

~~Comfort & Joy......A Simple Pleasure~~

~~How to get a Kitty out of a HIGH Tree~~

~~A "Top Secret" Mess of Jewels....~~

~~I Found Springtime on the Curb!~~

~~Good Morning Autumn~~

~~Our Little Cabin in the Woods~~

~~End of Summer Blooms~~

~~On Golden Trees~~

~~Lazy Daze of Summer~~

~~Cozy COTTAGE Needlepoint~~

~~TZ's Birthday Dance @ Rockin' Rodeo~~

~~Here Came Trouble with a Capital "T" ~~

~~What IS it?~~

~~Certified Wildlife Habitat @ kattz*cottage~~

~~T.Z.'s BEES~~

~~The PINK FAIRY has BLOOMED!~~

~~Garden Surprises from the Wildflower Fairy~~

~~A Lovely Day in Texas~~

~~Love Trip to Fredericksburg~~

~~Here a Chick*There a Chick & I've been Tagged!~~

~~HAPPY EASTER!~~

~~Happy Spring & Home Sweet Cottage!~~

~~Congratulations to Rosie's Whimsy!!!!~~

~~Happy One Year Cottage Give-Away!~~

~~The 50's & a Little Marco Polo Piano~~

~~BLOGging Behind & Why is it Snowing in Texas?~~

~~Valentine Love from kattz*cottage!~~

~~My Little Corner of Early Spring & Hiking in the Grasslands!~~