Simply Easter. . .

I wasn't going to bring out the Easter decor. . .
my heart just wasn't in it.

I wanted to keep it stored away. . .
until my World was 'right', once again.

Only,
my World isn't right. . .
and while I do believe it will be. . .my heart is heavy.

But then,
my fellow bloggers gently reminded me that Easter is coming. . .
and suddenly, I didn't want to miss it!

Keeping it simply Easter,
I placed a faux boxwood and berry wreath beneath the oatmeal bowl
of my Hearth and Hand everyday dinnerware.

A freshly ironed blue and white tablecloth and napkins
makes for a refreshing backdrop for my place setting.

Using faux flora,
I brought in the more cheerful hues in the color palette
from On Crooked Creek's Gardens of green, purple, white and yellow.

Little~by~little,
my heart felt lighter. . .my World a bit righter.

The contrast of the whimsical vivid orange patterned fabric carrots
against the veridis hued wall pockets wholeheartedly uplifted me!

Easter is coming!

While it may appear different in 2020,
I believe, in my heart, it will be even more meaningful,
for me, than it has ever been before.

A 'special' Thank You to the Ladies in The Land of Blog!
Thank you fellow bloggers for gently reminding me that Easter is coming!

Until next time. . .
                         Pat  

P.S. Honestly, I have been struggling with being away from my Church Family.
        I was thinking ahead to all the festivities and Holy Week events of Worship
        that lead from Palm Sunday to Easter.

     Today, Palm Sunday,
     our Church held its first 'social distancing' Holy Communion.

     As directed by our Pastor(s),
     "Mr. Ed" and I prepared the Sacraments
     and placed them on the desk in our Home Office On Crooked Creek.

     "Mr. Ed" broke the bread and poured the wine (grape juice).
      I served.
      My heart was blessed by this 'perfect' act in a perfectly imperfect location.

     While I was preparing our lunch, I heard a "thud" at the front door.
     "Mr. Ed" , thinking it was the neighbors shared Sunday newspaper,
      found instead, a Palm Branch!

     The story of Jesus Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem
     is printed on the paper and signed, inhisname.

     Blessings arrive.
     They are richly and abundantly bestowed to those who believe.

     May you and yours have a blessed 2020 Easter!

From A Different Perspective. . .( Tour)

Spending more time than usual within our home,
On Crooked Creek, has made me pause.
To see things from a different perspective, literally.

Today,
I hope you'll join me as we enter through the Garage Door Entrance
into On Crooked Creek's Dining Room.

Standing on the second step of the Garage Door Entrance,
I am welcomed home to this view of On Crooked Creek's Dining Room.

I adore this view of the sun streaming through the Patio Doors!

Not exactly 'open concept' but the L~shaped Living / Dining Room
combination does have a moving flow about it.

Literally, standing outside of the Patio Door,
you can see how the two rooms join to one another

I rarely,  ever,
photograph On Crooked Creek's Living Room from this perspective.

("Mr. Ed" and I are contemplating refinishing a piece of heirloom
furniture for the open area, but until the 'stay at home' orders are lifted,
we've decided to postpone this DIY project.)

Arriving On Crooked Creek,
"Mr. Ed" and I realized we needed something to fill this wall space.

This Entertainment Center has been the most amazing option!
Not only does it house our television and my oversized stereo system,
but the display area and storage are exceptional.

The right side can be taken off,
should we ever 'downsize' our living quarters and have a smaller space.

My comfy club chair and ottoman give me an amazing view
of On Crooked Creek's Dining Room / Living Room combination.

This Flea Market $8 table find looks amazing after a combination DIY
of my paint technique and "Mr. Ed's" hand rubbed staining.

(With the 'stay~at~home' order, houseplant shopping will wait awhile longer.)

These velvet tufted chairs

make comfortable additional seating for guests and gatherings.

Other than On Crooked Creek's Entertainment Center,
this is my view from my comfy club chair and ottoman.

To pause, in these troubling times, can be a 'good thing'.
It helps one to visualize life from a different perspective.

It is my hope that under these ordered 'stay~at~home' times,
you, too, are taking in the views of your home. . .from a different perspective.



Until next time. . .
                           Pat

Beginning March 30, 2020 @ 12:01 AM, Governor Laura Kelly
has issued a Kansas Statewide 'Stay~At~Home' Order through April 19, 2020.
Stay home.   Stay Safe.

Restaurant. . .Dining In!

Currently, our county is under a 'stay~at~home' order.
Restaurants have closed to dining in.
Carry~out or take~out, only.

So~o~o. . .
using my vintage restaurant dinnerware,
I set the Dining Room table On Crooked Creek for. . .Dining In!

My maternal grandmother owned and operated Ford's Cafe
during the late 1940's and early 1950's.

When Grandmother  Susie Ford passed away,
her personal belongings were divided among the family.

I didn't receive any of her restaurant ware. . .
but, I have spent many years collecting the similar pattern
from various flea markets and antique shops.

Spring cleaning within On Crooked Creek's Galley Style Kitchen
and Dining Room seemed to be the perfect combination with our
'stay~at~home' order and dining in.

Although I've used modern day tablecloth, placemats and napkins,
the vintage intricate white overlay cloth is also my Grandmothers.

Everyday Oneida flatware and Libby glassware complete each place setting.

These adorable vintage pepper and salt "chick" shakers from Japan
"peep" to us that Spring has arrived On Crooked Creek.

Oh, yes!
While I didn't inherit any of Grandmother Susie Ford's restaurant ware
from her Ford's Cafe, I did inherit her 1950's Dining Room Table and Buffet!

The perfect spot to set the heirloom table for "Mr. Ed" and my. . .Dining In!


Until next time. . .
                            Pat

Touches of Green . . .

Touches of  green are popping up On Crooked Creek!

This past week,
"Mr. Ed" informed me that the Shasta Daisies are poking through
in On Crooked Creek's Heirloom Garden on the South.

Following Mother Nature's lead,
I, too, added some touches of green to the built~in china cabinet.

I have always loved my Bordallo Pinheiro collected dinnerware pieces.
Placing them within On Crooked Creek's Dining Room built~in cabinet
is a perfect placement for my daily enjoyment.

Since the editing of many of my vintage dishes,
the cabbage pattern with the brown rim remains one of my most favorite.

The subtle hues within my Willow Tree Angel 
is a lovely compliment to my Bordallo Pinheiro cabbage bowls.

The subtle vintage green depression ware oval platter
adds a soft layering touch and enhances the wrought iron wings on the Angel.

Not, in the traditional cabbage pattern, but Bordallo Pinheiro just the same,
are these morning glory pattern cups and saucers.

Although the dessert/salad plate has the same brown rim as my cabbage plates,
the design is somewhat different with a motif of grapevines and leaves.

To vary the height within On Crooked Creek's Dining Room built~in china cabinet,
I added a Majolica lidded Cauliflower Teapot , my Homer Laughlin ironstone
lidded sugar bowl and a green depression ware cake stand.

Two Bordallo Pinheiro water pitchers of varying patterns

and a vintage lidded petite soup tureen are placed on the bottom shelf.

Visually pleasing to the eye are the creamy ivory, bits of brown
and touches of green reflect my personal desires and taste.

One of my more recent finds is this green vaseline  lidded candy dish.

This trio of petite vintage green books,
with gold lettering on the spine, adds interest.

My oversized Bordallo Pinheiro platter fills the space in the open shelf
of the built~in cabinet and provides a cohesive backdrop
for the Homer Laughlin ironstone soup bowls and dinner plates.

Every afternoon On Crooked Creek, I stop for a 'cup 'o tea'.
Serving tea time using my vintage silver teapot
makes the Winter Chill more bearable.

Hot soup and hot tea will keep "Mr. Ed" and I warm
throughout our 1970's Ranch Style Home On Crooked Creek
while we wait out this last month of Winter for 2020.

In the meanwhile,
I'll continue adding touches of  green!

Until next time. . .
                      Pat