Oh, Shiny Things!

My camera is still A.W.O.L.

Luckily Howard has a camera, and although it is big and scary,
and weighs a ton, this morning he kindly showed me how to use it . . . .

You, my blogger friends, are guinea pigs for my first foray

into picture taking using a big-boy camera.  I apologize in advance!  This could get ugly.

Do not sue me for any retinal damage; you have been warned.

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 (Fanfare and flourish here.)

I hereby declare this a day for Pretty Things.

Among the prettiest: those roses Howard sent me for Valentine's Day.

They are the most gorgeous true red, and not fully opened yet so they'll last a good many days.

How beautiful; nothing we fashion can touch Nature's style.

But we'll give it a shot.

Let's move those roses out of the kitchen -- we'll lop off their skinny legs and plop them

into a favorite rose bowl -- and then we'll decide what to do with them.

  Out of the kitchen you go!

 As long as today is Pretty Things Day. . .

what could be prettier than things that cost only a dollar?

 

 I always think that being cheap inexpensive just makes something more attractive.

Ladies, do not tell this to my husband.  Or yours.

If there weren't already a Dollar Tree around the corner from That Old House, I'd have to invent one.

Look at what hopped into my cart on my last visit a few weeks ago:

Mirror-and-ruby-glass votive holders.

I mean, really!

Eureka!

Red and shiny.

I wanted to take their glamour shots last night, in the dark,

but I didn't know how to use the camera then.

(Yes, I hear the wise cracks:  "And you still don't!"

Which of course is perfectly true.)

Now we know that red Valentine's roses pair perfectly with shiny candleholders from Dollar Tree.

But we knew that all along, now, didn't we?

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And as a good deli man in New York City might say: "And vat else?"

Why, tea!

Or coffee, in this case.  Ssshhh, don't tell.

It's Tuesday, and tea parties have cropped up in blogger land like dandelions in our spring lawn.

Ah . . . now this is bliss.

 A pot of good black coffee, some pretty shiny things, several new decorating books
I treated myself to before Christmas, and the time to enjoy it all

and let the tension headaches of the past two weeks fade away.

 That's a vintage Wedgwood Patrician mold cup and saucer, in the Bognor design.
Embossed and hand painted.

 Howard's Mom gave me the white coffee pot.
And you know where the votive holder came from!

 Books to dream over, and the pillow my sister Peg made for me last winter.  Perfect.

I'll share the bliss with the Snowman family inhabiting the mantel.

I like to hold over holiday reds and snowmen until the end of February.

 They do brighten bleak winter days!

 And the snowmen just look so darn silly that I can't resist them.

I'll be back.  After I have my coffee.

I'm afraid I've only set out a cup for one today.

 Go get your own!  -- Cass

My friend Tam at The Gypsy's Corner hosts Three Or More Tuesday.   Click here to visit.  
I've got more than 3 Dollar Tree votives to contribute.  But you will ADORE what Tam is sharing!

Marty at A Stroll Through Life hosts Tabletop Tuesday.    Visit Marty here!
I am sure you will find gorgeous tabletops to swoon for!  And Marty is sponsoring a giveaway and I won't tell you what it is but it involves BLUE AND WHITE.  On second thought, don't go there . . . too much competition!  :-)

Linda at Coastal Charm hosts Nifty Thrifty Tuesday  Check it out here!
There is nothing like Thrifty to fire me up!  And Linda's got some giveaway teases for you, too.

And dear Lady Katherine and her Tea Time Tuesday party!  Click here to visit this charming lady.   She's got a most amazing Valentine's tea set in a gazebo, and she herself looks all windblown and rather "come hither" -- so go thither and see for yourself!