AMELIA ROSE COTTAGE

Good Bye For Now.

2009-04-02T16:32:00.004-04:00

Hi everyone, I have been very busy on my vacation. I have a few other things that I would like to do, so for now I would like to thank all that have followed Amelia Rose Cottage along the way. I have been blogging for 3 years and have enjoyed it very much. I feel like I need to read a few books, and take time to learn other things. I will still visit my favorite blogs and comment on what is happening it your life. For now I will say good bye. May you all have many blessings in the year 2009. Love U Sharon K

We are on our way to the Golf..........Sunshine and warm breezes....

2009-03-27T11:38:00.005-04:00

Hi Gals, I have had a good time at the Villages but just like ever thing else, time moves on and it is now time to head north. But before we do, we will head south for a day or two. A few more days of sunshine and warm breezes, a few more days of vacation. We are going to good friends of ours that are in Engelwood Fl. They have a beautiful winter vacation home on the ocean. Just give me a few more days till I am again cold and most likely standing in the rain showers that are happening up north.
I think this is one of the hardest things about being in Fl. for a few months, then going back to the cold. No flowers in bloom, no real green grass, lets say I am blessed and thankful to have been here during the cold winter months up north.
The picture below is of a doily that Mary Jane made for me many years ago, I cherish this because it was made by a good friend.
Watch out Mary Jane because I am on my way to your beautiful home, happy hour and good food a wait us. ( Friends are kisses blown to us by angels )

The Villages & Decorating 101

2009-03-15T13:26:00.006-04:00

Hi to everyone out there in blogland, I had a few problems with my last post, the story was there but the pictures were not.....so here we go again light camera action and the pictures please.
The pictures are of the Villages and a few pictures are of the recreation buildings which are decorated so nice. Come with me on my walk along the Village streets.
Decorating 101 Recreation Centers

Thanks to Connie and Roger for the pictures, they were here for a week, we ate and shopped and shopped more, got in a movie and had a wonderful time with them. Sharon K

2009-03-11T15:53:00.003-04:00

[Photo]Hi everyone, I hope all is well with all of you, I can not begin to tell you how happy I am to be in Fl. I just talked to my daughter Tammy in Ohio and she siad that it is another day with high winds and rain. It has been one nasty winter up North and enough is enough. Spring is March 20th, and I hope Mother Nature knows what day it is. After saying that.........it is another beautiful day at the Villages Fl. It has been in the 80's, the sun is shining and there is a nice breeze blowing the lace curtins. OK, I realize you guys up north do not want me to go on and on about the wonderful weather here so with out futher a do.....Here are some pictures to share with you. The picture above is Sir Winston and his friend Nather, both just adorable dogs and they know when to wink and smile for the camera. [Photo][Photo][Photo]The Villages is a golf cart community, you can go to the movies, grocery store, the doctors office or Walmart in a custom built golf cart. This pictures were taken at Sumter Landing in the Villages. We went to a few receation buildings , I took a few pictures of the way they are decorated.[Photo][Photo][Photo][Photo] I will end this post with another picture of the dog gone cute dogs. Have a good day and I will be beck tomorrow with more pictures. Love to all......Sharon K[Photo]
draft I am sorry but I just lost the pictures, I will post tomorrow and show you the pictures.

F is for Florida..........

2009-02-26T12:14:00.009-05:00

Hi from the sunshine state, has been a little cool here but nothing compared to cold Ohio. It will be in the 70's and the sun is shining, what more can I ask for at the end of Feb. Charlie and I have been staying in a motel, not real happy with it so we rented a little cottage. We will move in next Monday and I will be more then ready for another little cottage to enjoy for a month.

The Villages Fl is a rather big area with around 60,000 living here. It is an over 50 retirement area where we lived as winter snow birds for 8 years. I told you the story on how we retired here and now we come each year and rent for a month or two. It is the least I can do for my man (Charlie) after I dragged him back to cold Ohio. Anyway all is well here, he is golfing and playing pickle ball ,I got him to go to the movies 3 times with me and that is a record for him . We went to the town square Tuesday evening I took a few pictures. Above is a picture of a cottage like the one we will rent for the month.

A dog with a mask in a buggy, and he loved dressing up for the occasion. how cute is that? Now I am wondering wharf I should give up for Lent. I think I can give up choc late and candy for 40 days and still live. It will be hard to do for me but I can do this. Also exercising every day.......When I get back to Ohio I want to be 10 lbs, thinner. I will keep you up on how I am doing with this venture. It has taken me two days to find out how to upload pictures on my computer. I had to go and bye a Vista book for dummies.......If I had it to do over, not sure if I would have gotten this vista thing. I now have to go and visit a few blogs, I will be back soon. Love you guys.......................Sharon K

Got a new computer.....Now I Can Blog Again

2009-02-24T15:24:00.004-05:00

Hi everyone, it has been forever since I have taken the time to read or post any thing. We arrived in Fl ten days ago, the weather here is a little cool but so much better then up north. As soon as I got here of course I set up my computer and it was so slow that I told Charlie, I think I need to go to Best Buy and do a little shopping around. I went in and said just what kind of wonderful sales do you guys have this week. I ended up getting a Sony computer with the new vista( not sure about that yet ) I also got one of those Verizon plug in jacks that you can use where ever you are to get the internet......and just like magic I am now up and running. Two days with out this handy little thing I call the computer all most put me in withdraw.
Anyway all is well now, and next week we will move into our little cottage that we rented for a month. It has been a long ten days living in a motel. Now I have to go out and take some pictures so I can show you just where I am and what the Villages Fl. is all about. I promise I will be back tomorrow with pictures.........until then, stay warm and be good
Sharon K

On the road to the sunshine state.........

2009-02-03T11:49:00.006-05:00

It is about time to start packing for the sunshine state once more. For those that do not know the real story about Florida here it is. After Charlie and I retired it was my idea that we pack up and move to Fl. Once we got there and settled in as snowbirds I missed my girls and grandchildren so much through the long 6 months that we were there.
Now mind you this was all my idea, so I had to live with the end results, I had made my bed and I had to lie in it for 8 years until I could convince Charlie that we could move back to the cold country and just go and rent something for a few weeks. So that is the rest of the story...........We will pack up and rent in the sunshine state for 6 weeks.
When we return to Ohio in the middle of April, it will be time to think Spring , get ready for our little summer place and work in the garden at the condo. I am so ready to get away from the cold and snow we have had up north. I will blog and take pictures when I get to Fl. and show all the folks up north what the sunshine looks like.
Till then stay warm and please think SPRING!
Love you guys.......Sharon K

My... Oh So Vintage Award

2009-01-24T12:48:00.003-05:00

A special award to my blogging friends that inspire me with their Cottage and Victorian decorating ideas. Every day as I visit friends I am finding wonderful decorating ideas that I have never thought of. It may be a bowl of fruit or a special way they showed a vignette, they inspire me to look around and see if I can capture the look. I find my blogging friends post much better then any decorating magazine on the news stands. So I am going to award this to 5 people that have inspired me and as you receive this award please hand on to others that make this little world of blogland such a nice place to be http://vintagerose42.blogspot.com/http://vintagerose42.blogspot.com/

1 ) Isabellas Closet-- http://isabellascloset.blogspot.com/
Mary has wonderful decorating ideas,they are Oh so vintage. I love the guest room that she has for her grandchildren in her cottage. You have to visit , say hi and check out her vintage banners that she sells so reasonably.

2 ) Picket's Place--http://picketsplace.blogspot.com/
What a fun blog to read, she will keep you in stitches reading about her daily life. Her home is so pretty and she also has inspired me to try and learn new things. You will also get to meet the burly guys.

3 ) Rose of Sharon--http://roseofsharonmay.blogspot.com/
Sharon has a lovely home and many ideas on decorating in a cottage look. You can also meet all of her guys....and a new daughter-in-law

4 ) Pea's Corner--http://peascorner.blogspot.com/
Carole is fun to read and oh so busy, you may find her in the kitchen baking cookies or she may be out and about finding many oh so vintage treasures to share with us.

5 ) Mo's Cottage--http://moscottage.blogspot.com/
What can I say this lady even slip-covered her sofa in the most all so vintage material. You will love her and her pretty vignettes that she has in her oh so pink cottage.

That was fun now please pass on to that oh so vintage blog that you love to visit..............Love ya guys.............Sharon K

Something old......Something new.......

2009-01-21T15:37:00.012-05:00

Hay, glad you stopped by for a visit, sit a while , have a cup of tea and I will show you a few of my favorite things. I have so many I can only show you a few. Any thing old, anything that came from my Mother or any thing I am lucky enough to find while walking through a thrift shop. All things old, or reproductions of the old. They become treasures to me and will move from this table to that until I get it just right. Above is a picture of my mother, my grandmother and a wedding picture of my mothers aunt taken about 100 years ago.

Pictures of my my grandmother and grandfather. I love the outfit that my grandmother is wearing and my grandfather looks quite dashing.

What fun it would be to ware a hat like my grandmother had on. I could strut my stuff and think I was something.
A picture of my Charlie when he was a little guy. I wish I had been in his pre school.
Picture of Charlies parents on their wedding day. How pretty the bride looked and how young the groom looked. Now for new, not new pictures but( a new generation to keep the circle of live and love going ) Our granddaughter Hannah taken 6 years ago. Picture of Lindsey Amelia ( Lindsey's middle name is the same as my mothers (Amelia) for which and why my blog name is Amelia Rose. This picture was taken 5 years ago but the look of the picture and the outfit makes me think of long ago.

I can take and old or new picture, put a rose or something special next to it and make a lovely table scape. Look through your pictures and share something old something new and add a new look to your room.

.

2009-01-20T19:10:00.005-05:00

Hi gals, welcome to my cottage. I thank you for the visit and the chance for me to come into your homes and say hi.
Guess what,

I just joined face book so I think that makes me a cool and sweet( Not sweet like sugar but sweet the way the kids talk) I thought I was hip when I got a blog but now I am in the last lane for sure. The above picture is of my Mother Ada Amelia, when she was a young women. When I think of her growing up and the way my grandchildren are growing up I realize how lucky I am to live in this time. I can remember the way it use to be, when I look at the way it is now I can not believe how far we have come in such a short period. I am thankful for the camera's we have now and oh so thankful that we do not have to take the film to the drug store and wait a week to see if the pictures turned out. We are so lucky to have blog spot to help us send a post out to the world in a second or two. If my Mother were here today she would marvel at the cell phone and not know what an ipod was. She would see someone with a blue tooth and wonder if they had a big hearing aid. Oh so much has changed and we are so blessed to part of it all.
Speaking of change in the world we now have a new President of the U.S. God bless him and God Bless America. Till later, Love you guys....Sharon K

Winter in Ohio..............

2009-01-14T17:03:00.011-05:00

And the winner is Melissa from Melissa's Heart and Home. Thanks so much to all that left a comment on my vintage give a way. Melissa ,I will have your vintage gift on the way as soon as I can get to the post office. We are in a very nasty cold freeze in Ohio right now, the temperature will be below 0 with wind chills down to -16 below 0
Np global warming going on here right now. A few days ago we had cabin fever, went for a ride and out to lunch. Here are a few pictures from our little ride in my little corner of the world. A picture of Sir Winston who in this picture looks like he is the king of the mountain..... A picture of the Marble Head Light House on a cold and snowy day..... If you look close you can see open water in Lake Erie.... I think it is the time of the year to find a good book to read...... Get my self that warm cup of tea and relax.
I have to visit mt favorite blogs before I can sit back and relax...........so see you guys soon
Sharon k

My Cottage ......Vintage..Give a Way

2009-01-06T11:16:00.015-05:00

Hi .... welcome to my little corner of the world. I have enjoyed meeting so many lovely ladies through blogging that I thought it was time for me to put together a vintage give a way.

I can not express how much fun I have had in the world of blog, I have formed many friendships and have met people that I would have never known. I think we are so fortunate to have the computer to help us get around this big world.

I look forward to my time with all of you, we share decorating ideas, family pictures, hobbies, craft ideas. But most of all we can get together and share only things that another women would understand . I have enjoyed seeing pictures of new little family members, but have also been there when some one has lost some one near to them. We share the happy times and rejoice with each other, but we are also there when some one needs support. I want to take this time to say thank you to my readers who leave a comment and to my family and friends that stop by and say hi. Also to a few friends that get a god laugh out of my blog when I spell something wrong.....you know who you are.........

Enough of this.....lets get to the give a way............
A sweet little vintage cup with pretty roses on it................... A little vintage purse with a small rose........A lovely pin cousin shoe that is just so vintage......... For some reason this picture is a little blurry........I wonder if it was me or the camera, anyway it is a box with a lovely Victorian lady on it. You can keep all of your vintage treasures in it. Last is a journal with what else but a rose on it.
Pleas leave a comment on this post - I will pick the winner of the give a way on Wednesday, January 14, 2009.....any one may comment and win this little Thank You gift for visiting my little cottage. Good Luck to all that visit.........Love you guys........Sharon K

Decorating 101.........

2009-01-02T18:17:00.012-05:00

Hi Everyone,
I am settled in my little cottage and all is quiet, the tree is down , most of the decorations are organized and put away for another year. I have a few seasonal items that will sit out all winter. I love the Christmas season but it always feels good to get back to what I call normal again.

I think what you put on your table says a lot about who you are and I guess when I look around I am a person who loves the look of yesterday, old pictures and antiques are what you will find sitting around my little cottage.

For me it is fun to put a look together and then of course go back and change things till it looks just right. My husband will say are you moving that again and I will say yes, until it is just right I will move it again This picture is a table scape siting on my desk in the dining room, also as you will notice RED is my favorite color to decorate with, they say in the decorating world every room needs a touch of red. I may have gone a little overboard on the color, but it looks so good with my gold walls. Light also means a lot when decorating a home, low light on a cold winter evening sets the mood for relax action. The picture above is one of the items that will stay out all winter. I bought this Victorian stocking at Cracker Bar ell it was on sale for 9.99. I just had to have it. I also found this cute winter skate to hang on the inside of my new red door.......just love it and not ready to part with just yet. This little corner with the small light that is always on is in my guest bathroom. This pretty blab hangs on my little Amelia Rose Tree that is also out the year around.............so the Christmas decorations may be put away but the low light mixed with my favorite things makes me feel like a little bit of the season is still here in my little cottage I guess I can say come visit often because the light is always on.
Would you please sign up on Blog gs that follow me-- on my sidebar if you have not done so yet I think it is time to turn on a few more light and love a few more things..lol Love you guys........Sharon K

Christmas Memories And A Happy New Year......

2008-12-31T09:47:00.006-05:00

Christmas is now another memory of a wonderful family day that was filled with good food and many gifts under the Christmas tree.

We had a good brunch and then started opening gifts, starting with the youngest which was 5 years old and then on to the oldest which was 70. This is a tradition that I started a few years back so we could watch each person open all their gifts.

After that it takes a while to get the living room back to normal, picking up all the wrapping paper and getting rid of all the boxes, of course that chore made us all hungry so we had to set up the lunch table. Looking back at the day I think we ate well and should have a tummy just like the jolly fat man in the red suit.This is a picture of my daughter Tammy and her daughter Lindsey taking a brake after opening all the gifts.This is a picture of my other daughter Amy with her family. Left to right Brittany, Amy, Sarah, and Nick. Jess and Austin were gone when we took this picture.
The picture above is of a floral arrangement that was hanging in a lovely Victorian shop where I went shopping the day after Christmas. Forget the stores with the bar gins just give me a sweet shop filled with lovely treasures and I am one happy lady.

From my family to yours I want to wish you and your family a wonderful and Happy New Year filled with all of God's blessings.

Remember a life recorded is twice precious - first the experience itself and then the memory of it full and sweet when we read about it later............ Elaine Cannon

Love to all..........Sharon Kay............. December 31, 2008

Christmas Blessing To All.........

2008-12-21T17:01:00.012-05:00

CHRISTMAS WISHES
I would like to take this time to wish all of my blogging friends a wonderful Christmas season filled with candy cane wishes and butterscotch kisses. May all your dreams come true in this season of remembering why we celebrate this special day.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not For behold, I bring you tidings of Grate joy, Which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David A Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying om a manger. Luke 2: 10-12

May your week be blessed.......Love to all
Sharon K

CHRISTMAS MEMORIES.....................

2008-12-20T17:55:00.004-05:00

The Way We Were

I have not felt real good for the last few days and my sweet husband reminded me that last year around this time I had the same problem. I thought about what he said and started thinking why...........he being a Dr. Kassay.......always tease him about the Dr. Casey that use to be on TV...
anyway he was so understanding saying that through the years so much as changed for me. I have lost my Mother, Father Sister JoAnn and this fall I lost my brother-in-law. They were my family and now they are all together in heaven. Now I am the Grandmother, I am the oldest of the family and I now know why I have not been up to par. As a women I sit and think of how Christmas use to be and miss the ones that were my little family. Thank God I have my two daughters and my grandchildren to celebrate the reason for the season with but still linger for the way it use to be. As I reflect on my family in heaven I think to my self......wow what a beautiful celebration must be going on in heaven and now they are there together. I know that I will have a lovely Christmas day with what is now my family but will always remember.........how it use to be and the way we were. The picture above is the one and only picture I have of my little family and it is always framed and sits in a special place in my home.

Now that I have though about what use to be I want to share this darling picture of Winston who thinks he is one of my stuffed animals and posed with my Amelia Rose Bear. The bear was made for me by my friend Marylin, she put the date and name of my bear on its foot. I just love it and Winston , they make for a cute picture.

Christmas Tour Of Homes.....................

2008-12-15T19:02:00.015-05:00

BOOMAMA is having a Christmas tour of homes, it is like a Christmas parade of homes and so much fun to visit all the homes. Hit on the 2008 tour of homes and enjoy.

Some of you may have seen some of the pictures, but please come with me and see my home decorated for the season

Christmas Blessings and Gifts...........

2008-12-14T18:16:00.006-05:00

Hi and welcome back, I have been busy this last week but things have settled down and I am now ready to sit back and enjoy the Christmas season. It is a cold and wet Sunday evening and all is quiet at the little cottage. The tree is lit and the candles are burning, it is now the time to sit and reflect on the reason for the season.

I joined in on a Vintage Christmas swap and Andrea was my swap partner. I received her package last week and I want to show you a few of the wonderful gifts I received. Choc late candy just one of my favorite things, a wonderful candle that smells like I just took a pumpkin pie out of the oven.Christmas towels and candy canes that fit perfect on my little tree. Andrea thanks so much for the Christmas treasures that I have to add to my favorite Christmas items. I had to find my favorites because I have so many treasures from Christmas's through the years and I now have the smallest house I have had so only the special items are out this year. I have many pictures I wanted to share but the faithful blogger is running slow tonight so I will say good evening and try again tomorrow.
Hugs Sharon K

Oh Christmas Tree.....Oh Good Friends

2008-12-07T14:06:00.017-05:00

My Christmas Tree........Small condo/cottage..........Small Tree

Family ... Friends and Christmas just seem to go together especially in the month of December when every one is busy with meetings, parties and special social events. Ti's the season to remember dear ones that have been friends for years and those that have come into our life in the last few years. A saying I will always remember is ( Make new friends but keep the old.....one is silver and the other gold. That saying is one we always said in Girl Scouts and one I will never forget . I guess I did not realize the impact it had on me until I got older and wiser and realized we go through life in stages and I am still meeting people that leave an imprint on my life
Yesterday I met with girl friends I went through grade school and high school with, the same group of friends I posted about a few months ago while enjoying a week at the lake. After lunch we went back to a home where good friends, a very good desert and fellowship were shared.
Below are pictures of a all so pretty home of forever friends........Connie and Roger who live in a big home, she is not only and artist but puts her talents to good use by decorating her home for all the seasons, she did a wonderful job this Christmas season

...I who love wicker and the vintage look think that this room is so pretty..........The tree below sits in the sun room, it won first prize last year at the Pemperville Opera House show of Christmas trees.........Roger was a Toledo fireman and he helped Connie with this tree.........you go guys.
Please come back and visit soon.........untill then the Christmas tree light will be on...........you all come back soon. Love U Sharon K

Christmas cookies and happy hearts this is how the season starts...

2008-12-03T17:50:00.015-05:00

Welcome to my cottage, please come sit at my table and share with me, warm gingerbreadd cookies and cinnamon tea

There is a cold chill in the air tonight and tomorrow it will only be in the 20.s but inside we will sit in front of the fireplace and enjoy the Christmas tree I like all four seasons but love the cold evening when you can snuggle with a warm blanket and drink Chi tea.
When I had to get up early in the morning while working for the school system I did not like winter . I would drive to work some mornings to find out that the schools had been canceled due to bad weather. Now that I am retired I can sit at the window and watch the snow flakes fly, I can now pretend that they are Angel kisses on the horizon.
To all that are out there working , you have so much to look forward to..............like enjoying the winter wonder land , one of the four seasons that the lord gave us up here in Ohio.
The packages are wrapped and the cookies are baked. I have always loved Christmas and like to enjoy the month of December. I can only enjoy if all the work is finished. I have a few packages to go to the post office and then...........I will sit back, relax and enjoy the season of Christmas.

I am working on a New Year's Eve give away. The new year will find all the packages open under the tree, I thought that would be a good time to put a special package together for you. I am now ready to read a few blogs and visit with all of you for a while.
Sharon K

For Christmas comes but once a year........

2008-11-23T16:28:00.013-05:00

Hi every one , thanks for visiting me at the cottage, please sit down for a cup of hot tea with a cinnamon stick and a freshly baked Christmas cookie. I am one lucky lady because Charlie likes to work in the kitchen. It may be soup, cake, or Christmas cookies, he is my head chef and baker.

He has finished all of our holiday baking and they are safe in the freezer, where I can not get a hold of them. If they are here I will eat. While he was busy in the kitchen I had time to decorate for Christmas,it seems early but we leave on Tuesday for S. Carolina and Thanksgiving at Charlie's daughters home. When I return home all will be ready for Santa. The above picture is of the pond behind our little cottage. The geese fly in often but today when they arrived they had to walk on thin ice. It was so cute to watch them walk oh so carefully. Why I was busy with decorating and Charlie is in the kitchen working oh so hard, just where is Winston? Out in the sun room just a sitting in the sunshine.
No matter how far you travel this week have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.
Love to all..........Sharon K & Winston

Flowers and Cookies ???

2008-11-13T14:30:00.008-05:00

You just never know when you should have a camera with you. Here I am..Tuesday evening after a TOPS meeting, I go in the bathroom and there and behold is a pretty floral arrangement so what do I do. Turn the arrangement around to face the mirror and take the picture...and here is the results. You just never know when you are going to find that right picture do you? I guess this shows that a blogger is always prepared.........just like a girl scout. And now on to other important things. Are you starting to think about Christmas........well I am going to start baking and making a few gifts. And the time to start is now so I will meet the deadline of Christmas Eve. Just like Santa and that Girl Scout I want to be prepared and ready. Last year I made these cookies and they were so good. For those of you that have not had them...here is the directions for.......

P-NUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE RITZ CRACKER
COOKIES

48 Ritz crackers
Peanut butter, enough to make sandwiches out of 24 sets of Ritz crackers
Melting chocolate for candy making

Make two cracker sandwiches filled with peanut butter (24). Melt candy making chocolate in double boiler. Put crackers in chocolate and coat them with chocolate. Put on waxed paper and let cool. These taste just like the Girl Scout P-Nut Butter cookies.

Above is a before picture of my kitchen and later you will see all the cookies cooling on the cookie sheets. I like easy baking and this is about as easy as it can get. One more easy idea that goes so well with the cookies and easy to make.....................

Hot Chocolate Cones

A perennial winter favorite, hot cocoa with all the trimmings (mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, and a cherry-red gumdrop) sports an even sweeter look packaged as a cone. This makes a great gift for babysitters, teachers, and neighbors. Be sure to add a tag letting your recipients know the cone contains enough for four servings.

2008-11-08T10:21:00.007-05:00

I found this picture at a cute little shop and I wanted it to live in my cottage. I like what it said and the picture was in my favorite colors.....gold and red and green. This is the time of the year when we gather together to give thanks for all that we have. I know that the last months has been so hard on every one, with the job market and the election and all that is happening..........but we still live in one of the best countries in the world. I my self am thankful for all that we as Americans have and I pray that we like this picture says......Gather together with thankful hearts.....one for all and all for one....The United States Of America.We have so much beauty around us and at this time we as Americans have to work together to rise above all this is happening. Each family has to find the things in there live and be thankful . I have read many blogs in this past week with people complaning becauae things did not go their way . We have to put our faith in God and he and he alone will see us through this difficult time in America. Remember the words...........In God We Trust. And God Bless America.
Sharon K

A Family Is A Gift That Lasts Forever......

2008-11-02T16:00:00.009-05:00

Hi from Amelia Rose Cottage...Charlie, Sharon and Winston 2

Hi to all of you that took a while to visit me at the cottage, it has been a very long and trying week, I lost my brother-in-law last week but he is now with my sister that passe ed away eight years ago. They are now together again in the kingdom of heaven. Some times it is so hard to realize that the family I grew up with are all together and I am the only one who is still on this earth. I had only one sister and no brothers so my family was very small. I have many happy memories to cherish of how it use to be.

Now on to the week ahead, I hope that every one takes the time to vote and may the best man win......still not sure who that man is but the people of the US will make that decision this Tuesday. God Bless Us All.
The picture above makes me stop and think about the memories I was talking about. I had a doll house and was always changing things around...which I do till this day. I should have understood then ( when I was a wee little girl that I would love decorating.Yoy can see by the size of my little cottage I can not move much of my furniture so I am always cahnging pictures and nick nacks, which by the way can change the look of a room. In the picture above I have the live, love and laugh picture and I will show you in the picture below that I have changed the picture and a few things on the tables.The picture above is one of my favorite rose pictures and the pictures above are of my Grandmother and Grandfather. The pictures on the side are my mother when she was a little girl and the other is my Mother with her parents. These are the memories that I have in my home of long ago.
I hope everyone has a day blessed with the beauty of this beautiful Autumn Earth.........Crisp, apple days and cozy nights.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE

2008-10-31T09:30:00.008-04:00

Here I am.................oh I went out this morning and found that sheep that got away. What a way to start this Halloween day...

There is a party going on and every one is invited to stop by and visit at Pea's Corner http://peascorner.blogspot.com/ This post is to cute and must have taken Carol a long time, stop by and say hi to her. My friend Judy and I were invited and here we are This is Judy, and she went to dancing school when she was a little girl........so she loves this costume........I saw this poor man working hard to get out of the mess he got him self into..........good luck to him.This house had a few funny looking people out in front directing traffic...... Have a fun day filled with candy apples and all kinds of good and yummy things. Till later tonight ,,,,,,,,,when I will be out there some where to scare you.............Sharon K

Softly Flote The Leaves Of Fall

2008-10-24T17:36:00.010-04:00

Hi every one, hope you have bought your candy for the little ones that will be out trick or treating this coming Friday. This year has gone so fast and soon we will be thinking about the Christmas cookies that we have to bake. Just where has the time gone?

Charlie and I went for a ride last week to find pretty leaves and scary yards. I am going to take you on the ride with us.I found this little cottage, it had no fall decorating but it was so cute I had to share with you.

A small garden along the way. A few trees wrapped in Au tum splendor. Pumpkins in the cornfield Gold among the brown Leaves of rust and scarlet slowly coming down. Eveyone must take the time to watch the turn. Thank you for coming on the ride with me as I check out the fall leaves and no spring nor summer beauty hath such grace.

WELCOME BACK TO THE COTTAGE

2008-10-19T17:25:00.007-04:00

WELCOME.......PLEASE COME IN

Look who is here to welcome you back to the cottage. I found this darling bear and high chair at a craft show a few weeks ago and of course I just had to have her. Charlie painted our front door red which is my favorite color and I now have my fall wreath hanging there. I also found this old tea pot at the craft show and knew it would find a place to live in my cottage. This picture did not come out real good but you can see that I made little cur tins to go with the valance I had at the kitchen window. This is where I sit in the sun room and think about the next decorating change I will make. I think I look at two many decorating books and I seem to always find one more little thing I can do to change the look of my little cottage..I wish every one a beautiful fall week full of the beauty of this season we call Au tum.

2008-10-19T12:39:00.000-04:00

What time is it. It is the time of the year that I love, the time of the year when the scenery is painted in beautiful colors, it is the Autum season. Also it is the time of the year that I had better settle down and start blogging a few times a week. The time of the year when I read my favorite blogs on a daily basis. I love the blogging world and want to become a part of the family of my favorites. I want to post more often. SO this is my new look and the begining of the New Amelia Rose Cottage.

I want to show you the fall decorations at the cottage, I want to share craft ideas, and just talk. I want to lisen when we have problems in the blogging family and be there to share in the good times. So please come visit me often and remember I am here. Give me another chance.

New York..............What a wonderful town

2008-10-01T19:55:00.004-04:00

I had a wonderful time in NYC, It was every thing I thought It would be and more. I saw the Today show being televised, which was a high light because I worked in the Audio Visual dept. of Toledo Public Schools and worked with cameras and sound equipment. I wanted that makeover I wrote about but did not get picked for it....darn it. Rode through Central Park, and walked the streets of Manhattan. I will show you a few of the pictures I took

1- We took a NYC taxi from JFK Airport to Manhattan. It was a 60.00 ride
2 - An empty area where the towers once stood.
3- Times Square
4-A memorial to John Lennon in Central Park

I will be back tomorrow with more pictures of the Big Apple
Till Then............Sharon K

New York City...........Here I come............

2008-09-07T11:56:00.005-04:00

Where have you been, all of my wonderful readers of Amelia Rose Cottage? Oh you say it is not you that has been missing..........you say it is me who has not been here enough to draw an audience. I do understand and I will try to post every few days........I promise I will........I just have to put my summer flowers away and get with it again.... I have my clothes packed for my big week in New York City and I am ready to hang out with all the stars that will be watching for me to walk down a crowded street. I may have a soda is a little shop so they can find me for my big chance in the movies. All kidding aside I do hope to go to the today show on Friday and try to get a make over. I friend said I should carry a sign saying I need help because I am only 23. What fun it would be to have a makeover in an hour by some famous hair dressers and then a new outfit to take home. I guess I am getting a little carried away with this New York trip.
This is the place you will find me on a normal day, on my sun porch with a good book, but watch out New York City .........I am on my way to your city and plan on finding my star on your walk of fame...This has been a fun post about my trip to the big apple......I will be back in no time and let you know just how much fun I had on my trip to New York City. Till then
Love to all......Sharon K

My Flower Show

2008-08-27T18:23:00.005-04:00

Oh how the time flies, another few days and we will be counting the days in September. I love this time of the year with the cool breezes and the pretty sunsets looking out over Lake Erie. Above are a few pictures I took while in Michigan a few weeks ago. The sad thing about September is that the flowers start loosing there bright colors. All though fall is the time of year I love with the changing colors, apple orchards, pumpkins and a fall craft show or two. I will be changing the look of my cottage by adding my Au tum Halloween and Thanksgiving tree, and working on curb appeal with my fall wagon and pumpkins in front of my little cottage. I have to get busy and change the look of my blog to go with the up and coming season. Summer has been a very busy time for me and I am going to start to slow down and smell the flowers. take time to read that good book and also take the time to read all of my favorite blogs which sometimes is much better then that good book. Oh how could I forget on September 15Th I am going to the big apple. New York city here I come, and how long have I been looking forward to this trip.......( FOREVER)
I have a wonderful friend Mary Jane from the state of New York and she has invited me to visit her brother who lives by Central Park for five whole days . I have bells on my toes and my luggage packed for this trip of a life time. After that I will slow down and smell the flowers. Have to go and work on my new look for My Amelia Rose Cottage but will be back real soon. I will take my camera to the big apple and take just a few pictures to share with all of you.

Thanks For The Memories....................

2008-08-20T13:36:00.006-04:00

What a wonderful time I had with friends, would you believe 6 of us girls that went to grade school and high school got together again. Carol has a wonderful cabin in Michigan and we were invited to spend a week And what a week we had, going down memory lane again. One evening we got an old record player out and played the songs we danced to at Teen Town and our H.S. sock hops, of course they were 45s and of course we remembered most of the words.
The scenery at the cabin was splendid and I took a few pictures of what Carol looks at on a daily basis.
Mother nature at its best is what greeted us when we arrived. We went shopping, went out for lunch and dinner, dinned in and even went to a poetry reading in the woods. We made a few plans for our 50Th Waite H.S.. reunion which will be upon us in just a few short years. Needless to say that we talked just like we have been together for years, laughed a lot and made new memories. A girl scout song that I remembered is ( Make new friends but keep the old.......one is silver and the other gold. I truly had so much fun with my golden friends. I guess you can call us the Golden Girls. Left to right.....Myself,Darla,Carol,Sharon,Martha and Connie at the sand dunes. I will put more pictures on in a day or so. We went to Suttons Bay Michigan I have pictures to show and share with all of you. Hope to start making more time for blogging.............have been so busy............bye for now and love to all
Sharon K

LINDSEY and AUSTIN............

2008-08-03T17:42:00.004-04:00

If I had known that Grandchildren were this much fun I would have had them first.......yes I would have.
Lindsey and Austen came to visit with Gram and Gram pa, for a week. We had lots of fun, swimming every day at Grams beach and playing on the swings and slides at Grams little beach park. We had reading time and arts and craft time. We even picked straws to find out who would take a shower first. We some how have more time to to make every thing in to a game then moms do.Some times moms get just a little to busy for the games in every day life. We went to an old cemetery which you can see in the back grown of this picture. We also went climbing through a cavern, which by the way was not a good thing for the older generation..........gram and gr amps had sore knees and a bad back by the time we saw the light again. The best time at the caverns was mining for gold. Lindsey and Austine found many gems and a few sharks teeth. Austin is 5 and just young enough to wear his cure hat the whole day. Of course to complete the day we had to go to a fish farm where they fed the fish, but that was by now old to them for they had fed the fish every evening in the pond behind Grams cottage. The day was finished with lunch at Berger King which is Austins favorite place. I have to say both of the grandchildren got along so well with the 5 year difference in there age. At the end of the week I was worn out and tired and for sure know why we have children when we are young. My whole summer is going by so fast and there is so much to do that I have not kept up with my writing or reading of blogs like I would like to do. I think in the summer we all have so much to do that we just can not fit every thing in to our busy schedules. And they said retirement would be boning..........NOT..........
I will leave on the 5Th of August to spend 5 days with 6 girls that I went to grade school and high school with. I will take my camera and show you just a little bit of the fun we will be sure to have. Be back soon.............

My Summer Place................

2008-06-28T11:51:00.005-04:00

MY LITTLE SUMMER PLACE

When I was a wee little one , my Mother and Father had a cabin at Silver Lake in Michigan I some times have to stop and thank God that I have been so blessed to live near the water. My first husband and I had a sail boat and all most lived on the water. When Charlie and I married 17 years ago we knew that when we retired we would want a place near the water. We now have our small place on Lake Erie and the condo with a pond in the back yard. I have always been so happy to be near the water, to see the sun set on warm evenings is a dream come true for me. I thought I would share just a few pictures of my little corner of the world with you. As you can see by the picture that Winston also enjoys the little summer place with us. I also have a small pond that Charlie made at the lake. In this picture you can see the gold fish but they are there somewhere. I will now sit a while and enjoy that refreshing glass of ice tea with a good book and enjoy my summer place.

Memories of Summer Time

2008-06-23T11:28:00.005-04:00

Child Hood Memories

I remember summer time as a wonderful time growing up. I remember peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and those pink and white snow ball cakes wrapped up in wax paper and put in my little brown bag. Mt girlfriend and I would walk down to the park and have a picnic, we would swing high and laugh the afternoon away. I remember playing Mother May I, hope scotch and kick the can. What would we do with out child hood memories and the memories of a time long ago. I remember ruining through the grass in the evening and finding the lighting bugs so we could make a ring that would shine for ever.

I can remember my Mother reading her paper in her favorite out door chair, surrounded by her little flower garden........and oh my I just remembered that big gray tub that would sit under out tree in the back yard and if I was good I could put water in it and pretend like it was a little pool. I can remember having my girl friends over and we would take a big blanket and put it over the clothes line and make a tent. I could go on and on but I hope this post makes you stop and remember growing up in a time when we could walk to school . A time we did not have to worry about the man down the street. I wish my grandchildren could go back with me for a day and play games and walk to the park and know how it was when gram was a little girl. The days of my child hood memories.

Have a wonderful summer afternoon..........Sharon K

2008-06-22T16:14:00.003-04:00

I am so happy because it is summer time, to me the best season of the year. We are spending more time at our little summer place, the flowers are in bloom and all is well.
Summer afternoon summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.......

Take The Time To Treasure This Day............

2008-06-12T12:27:00.006-04:00

I would like to treasure each and every day but they are going so fast and I have to some how manage my time better. Is there ant one else out there in saber space that is having the same problem that I am having? It seems like every day I will say to my self..........self this is the day that you are going to slow down and enjoy each day but then I find my self ruining around like a nut trying to do it all. I am one of those people that can not look at a pillow that is not siting just right....you know one of those people I have to have every thing just right all of the time. The older I get the more I seem to be this way. I hope by writing this I can learn to manage my time better and take time to treasure each day. I want to know if there are others out there that feel just a little bit rushed to get it all done.
I have a few signs around my home that tell me how to live each day ...but now I have to take the time to read them all. Have a wonderful weekend and take some time to smell the beautiful flowers that God has planted for us.
Sharon K

2008-06-12T12:05:00.004-04:00

Time Flies....................Way To Fast..........

ON GOLDEN POND........

2008-05-22T19:53:00.005-04:00

Hi to all and I am still thinking spring in Ohio, it has been a very cool spring but with the holiday weekend fast approaching I am pretty sure we will have spring in the air. We have had one week of cold winds and and no sunshine so we are ready for warm weather and a weekend of fun in the sun. I want to share a few pictures of spring time at the cottage. a few flowers and my little sun room that looks out to the pond.
This is the fire place that is decked out in its spring time look. I have many books on decorating and a few on gardening, witch I am some what new to, having the pond at the lake and a small garden at the condo I am learning slow but sure what flower to put just where.........
This is stain glass that Charlie made many years ago, which hangs in the sun room and is so pretty when the sun reflects it.
This is my spring time arrangement that I got for Mothers day and it came with the gloves and gardening hat, just to cute........
I want to share the pictures of the pond behind our condo. I call the little pond Golden Pond, so now I can say I live on Golden Pond. Charlie enjoy fishing and has caught a few big ones,he throws then back in but enjoys the catch. Winston is watching him fish in the picture but you can not see him. Nothing like a boy and his dog finishing on golden pond.

I wish every one a wonderful Memorial Day weekend filled with sunshine and flowers blooming in there own garden. Good bye for now from Amelia Rose Cottage on Golden Pond.......sounds good, yes it does.........

Granddaughters Day.................

2008-05-15T10:01:00.007-04:00

It has been for ever but I am all ready to enjoy a summer full of fun, family and friends. All is well at Amelia Rose Cottage, the flowers are planted and I am just waiting for the warm breezes and sunshine of the summer months. It has been a cool spring up north so the wait is on for the warm weather.

I would like to wish belated birthday wishes to Lindsey Amelia who celebrated her 10Th birthday on May 6Th. She had a skating party with friends and a family party also. She is my shining star and I love her so much.
I received this lovely picture of Emilee Elizabeth with my Mothers day card from New York. This is her special Graduation picture from her kindergarten class. I just love the picture it will be a forever memory of her school days.

This picture was taken when the announcement was made that my granddaughter Brittany was chosen as prom queen of her Senior prom. In this picture she is just starting to cry and it re minds me of when she was a little girl and some one told her no.
I love being a grandmother, I receive so much joy from watching them turn 10, graduate from kindergarten and become prom queen. I will try to blog at least two times a week, when I do not get to it I miss it so. It becomes a part of who I am. Be back real soon............

Spring Time.........and My Memory Shelf

2008-04-29T12:43:00.010-04:00

Spring time is here in Ohio. We have had many lovely days filled with sun shine and fresh air. Windows have been open during the day and I can now look out and see green trees. I love the spring time when the tulips bloom and the birds are singing. I have been busy working between the condo and our small place at the lake ( Lake Erie) . We are now ready for summer in both places.........except for planting flowers which I will do closer to Mothers Day. It took me much longer then I thought to get over the first cataract surgery, I guess each of us heal in our own ways. Now that I am ready for the second eye surgery I am feeling well and I do see a big difference in my eye sight I had the right eye done and will do the left eye tomorrow. Every one says that you notice a big difference after both eyes are finished...........So I have a lot to LOOK forward to.

I love pictures in black and white and this one is of Lake Erie in the early morning hours. It is at times like this that I sit back and thank God for the beauty of this land.
I again wanted to show all of you in blog land my memory shelf. So many of us have lost loved ones and this is my little shelf where I van look and remember my family. The little book with the rose is a book of my Mothers and the red glass is one that sat in my Mothers dining room where I grew up. The angels represent my Mother Father and only sister. The dish with the rose is a dish that my mother use to eat of when she was a little girl. The pictures are of my sister and my self. The picture in the middle is of my parents at my senior prom. I was a class officer and they were chaperone's at the dance. I have so many happy memories in this little corner of the world....( My Memory Shelf.
I will be back in a day or so and I am sure that I will SEE just a little bit better. Love U...

2008-04-14T15:56:00.000-04:00

Under construction........In the last few weeks my little cottage has been under consturction, first the bedroom, then had to clean and open my sunporch which by the way is the one room that Charlie enjoys the most. You will find him looking out at the pond while siting and enjoying his morning coffee and paper. I have the spring cleaniing finished and all is well..........all most

Under construction......I will be under construction for the next month or so.....I guess it is part of what they refer to as old age. I remember not so many years ago taking my mother to the eye doctor for cataract surgery.......well now I will be the one geting the surgery, the surgery when my morhter use to have to wear those funky looking sunglasses.......yes that surgery......... just where did the years go, now I am the little old grandmother who will have her cataracts taken care of. I have the surgery this week and the next week have the other eye taken care of. I am sure I will wear those glasses for a month..........During which I will be seeing the dentist to reconstruct my teeth that are still good..........oh how I remember taking my mother in for that one to. I just hope when I am finished I will come out as well as my bedroom did. Will be gone for a few days I to will be under construction.............

Black and White and red all over

2008-04-10T17:58:00.000-04:00

Just more pictures to go with my black white and red bedroom makeover. Of course when I am at flee markets or garage sales I will be looking for my favorite colors. The pictures go with the post below. I use Pacasa and I can only upload 3 to 4 pictures at a time. Untill later....Sharon K

Black and White and red all over..........

2008-04-10T17:44:00.000-04:00

What is black and white and red all over?
No not the news paper this time, it is my new bedroom, I have had the wallpaper behind the bed for a year and the other walls are the same color as the wallpaper. It is a very bold look but I love the outcome of the room. I had been looking for a bed spread in black and white for a while. While shoping one day in Fl. I came acrossthe black and white patchwork spread and knew I had found what I was looking for.

I then bought black and white check material and covered my chairs with the material, black velvet hangs behind the pictures and I dressed up pillows with ribbons and flowers. I have checked napkins hanging as a valence with my lace curtins that have little red roses in them. I found black and white poka dot cups and sauscer and made an arrangement with yellow daisys whick sits on my dressing table. It has been fun and I will post mare pictures tomorrow. It has been fun to change the look of the room.

Sweet Home........Ohio

2008-04-03T18:15:00.012-04:00

Mid pleasures and places though we may roam, Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home...

Hi everyone, It seems like forever since I have sat down to relax or just hang out in my computer room. I had a good time in Fl. but it has taken me so long to get caught up around home again. All is going well, the sun is shining and that makes me happy.
I have a special thank you to Sheila she gave me a Picnik membership offer that she received and oh what a wonderful gift . I am having so much fun with it and soon you will see my new and oh so pretty picture es. I have been playing with the program all day and all most forgot I said down to do a short post.........

Amelia Rose Cottage is dusted, and spring cleaning is finished and I am waiting for the day I can open all windows and let the fresh air in and watch the cur tins flow.
I am now working on the redecorating of our master bedroom, I found a quilt in Fl. and that is the vocal point of my room. Every thing is going well and I will post pictures in a very few days.
Have a wonderful Friday and will be back soon with my bedroom makeover ........Sharon K

SUN SETS ON A GOLF COURSE

2008-03-28T18:25:00.009-04:00

Remember When.............
I remember the evening I took this photo of the sun shining on the golf course that is behind Deb and Jim's home at the Villages Fl. Charlie Winston and I had a wonderful visit at their home and will have many good memories of our vacation 2008
Above is a picture of myself on the left and Debbie on the right. Debbie was my best Friend while in the Villages and we may be miles apart in distance but close in friendship always.
Deb and Jim have a beautiful home and garden, below is a picture of flowers blooming in Deb's garden for all the people up north that forgot what a bloom looks like. Yes we will thing spring in Ohio and soon we will see a bloom or two showing through the snow. We are now in SC. to spend Easter weekend with Candee, Joe and Hannah. Had a very nice visit and a wonderful Easter dinner. Check out the Easter Cake. It tasted as good as it looked.

Here is a picture of the pond that is behind my little cottage....sun set and trees not yet bloomed. But still very pretty. We had a good vacation and now back in Ohio. It has taken a week for me to get back to normal while doing a little spring cleaning. Back to the real world and glad to be here.

COME SAIL WITH ME

2008-03-14T19:32:00.000-04:00

It was a pretty day with the sun shining bright, Charlie and I went to a sail boat race at a small lake in the Villages. The sail boats are 3 foot models and remote controled. I would say that most of the men used to be old salts up north. They have marks that they have to go around and a finish line. It was fun to watch the boats out on the race course. Charlies birthday is the first day of Spring and after going to the races and watching how much fun the remote boats can be he has decided when we get back up north he will go birthday shopping and find his own little boat. We have a pond behind the cottage and live on Lake Erie all summer so he will have all the water he needs to go float his boat.

In the picture above we are getting ready to go to the Dogie Run Run Park, Winston is waiting for me to get in the car. He loves the chance to play and run around with out his leash . I love the color of the flowers below and can you spot the ducks in the water under the tree. .We have one more week before we head up north to Ohio, I hope that on March 20 the sun will shine and the tulips will grow......think Spring every one.

The Red Door.............

2008-03-10T16:24:00.000-04:00

Come and shop with me.

I found a darling little flower shop while driving back and forth to The Villages. Talk about thinking Spring. I walked through the door and I thought I was in a dream land. The shop owner knew how to put items together and she just happened to sell me on a few items.

I loved the white bird house and she had so many floral arrangements made up it was hard to choose just one. Of course I had to get the spring sign hanging above. . I had went to a new furniture store and was very disappointed when I saw what they were selling. The big over stuffed chairs in dark wood and the old looking dark furniture that you would see in a museum. Could not get out fast enough , found the Red Door and I am sure I was there for an hour. It is all about what you like when on a shopping spree and I found my little corner of haven behind a red door...............Untill tomorrow

THINK SPRING..........

2008-03-09T18:44:00.000-04:00

I am thinking spring while still in Fl. and wishing every one up north sunshine and warmth. I am hoping that when I arrive back in Ohio the first week in April that spring will have all ready arrived. While in Fl. I am seeing gardens and pretty flowers, waterfalls and robins. I walk in the stores and see pretty settings of furniture, porches with wicker furniture pretty pillows and hanging ivy. It looks like spring when I see a convert able with its top down strolling down the road. All that I see here makes me think spring is in the air. I sit and look at pictures of my cottage and think of spring cleaning and decorating. I will miss decorating for Easter, we will not be home in time for the bunnies, eggs and tulips but I have a few signs of spring in my shopping bag for the cottage.

I like the look of the photo above with the soft look of lace and roses, nothing says vintage more then the two together.

This porch says come and sit a while, have a cup of tea and relax a while. I hope the pictures are making you think spring

The Color Red.....................

2008-03-07T17:21:00.000-05:00

Any one who knows me well will know my favorite color is red. Yes even red lipstick, to this day you will see me and my red lipstick. I love the color red and you can see this in my home my clothes and my lips.I have a cute little story to tell. Tammy called up last night laughing and telling me that she was working with letter flashcards with Austin. She was showing him the letter Q and he said this is myGrandma Sharon, the q was for queen and of coures the queen had my bright red lipstick on

I decorated my bedroom in red, I found a wallpaper I liked and had the paint made in the same red color. We moved in a year ago and It has taken me a while to decide on black and white accents to go with the room . I am looking for a black and white toil print for the bed, I now have white sheers with little red roses and I will make black and white checked valances and seat covers for the chairs. I have bought a few as series in black and white for the room while shopping at the Villages. When I get home and put the room together I will post the finished results. To me decorating is like painting a picture.....I keep working on it till I get it just right.
If you have a favorite color do not be afraid to go with that color in decorating your home. If it is a color you love go for it and be bold. Your home should be about you and the things you love. The picture above is in my bedroom, and I love my red walls. I just got a new purse and guess what color it is? You all have a good weekend while I sit and look at more of my decorating books.

Practice Mode With New Picture

2008-03-06T15:33:00.000-05:00

I am in practice mode with this new picture program.Picasa2 And so far it is taking the pictures I could not upload before. I will practice with this so I may have a more then one post. We went to dinner at (Diana and Toms) friends and old neighbors at the Villages, had a wonderful meal and there cats came out to visit and I had to get my faithful and forever camera out and take a picture or two. I love the way the green eyes match the sofa.

I also have a picture of our Winston who looks like he got lost in a flower bed during one of the many walks that we have taken while at the Villages. When we went to dinner we left Winston back at the hotel because he is so much smaller then the cats and we were not sure how all three would get along. By golly I think I may like this new program more then the Ulead program I was using before. I am still in practice mode and will try a few more pictures.........wish me luck .............

2008-03-06T15:15:00.000-05:00

Practice

The Picture Blues................

2008-03-05T17:09:00.003-05:00

Good afternoon to all on a warm Thursday, just thought I would let you know that I have a camera predicament..........I can not up load my pictures on blogger. It seems that my camera is taking pictures that are to big to upload.......help.....if any one knows how I can fix this problem please let me know.

Except for not being able to blog I am having a fun vacation, all though I am a little tired of living in a motel room. We will be in the motel for another 10 days and then a week with friends and then back to cold Ohio.........But I have all ready started thinking spring, and I think every one up north has to be so tired of the cold, snow and ice. If you can please help me with my photo blues....... I would be ever so grateful.

Cold Front On The Way.........

2008-02-27T13:13:00.009-05:00

Happy Wednesday to everyone in blogland, as per the picture above I have had such a hard time posting on Blogger. I do not know if it is my computer set up in Fl. or if it is a problem a lot of you are having?
The weather has been nice but today there is a cool chill in the air, not a day to sit by the pool, it is cute when you listen to TV and they say a cold front will be coming through, there for cover the bushes and plants. After talking to Tammy up north in Ohio, I do not think the people who have lived in Fl. know what a real cold front is. I think Charlie and I timed our time in Fl. quite well this winter.

I can not believe that February is all most over and March is right around the corner. Charlies birthday is March 20Th and that is also the first day of spring so we will have a lot to celebrate while we are in the sunshine state. St. Patties day and the wear in of the green will be here soon

I also have a few more pictures of the recreation center here at the Villages.

It would be such fun to have the job of decorating a recreation center like this. To be able to choose the furniture, pictures and the accents pieces. It is a job that I would love to have and a dream come true for me. I hope to post tomorrow if all is right with blogger. To all.have a wonderful day and remember to thank God for this day.

A Visit to the Villages Fl....

2008-02-24T18:22:00.006-05:00

Good evening to all, I am right back where I started from The Villages Fl and as always it is always a lovely day at the Villages.We moved from the Villages a year ago January. I wanted to go home to be closer to my family. We lived in the Villages for nine years is and I was just ready to go home again. Charlie always loved the Villages and I told him we could visit every year and here we are. We are staying in a hotel in the Villages and we were at the pool today. It rained the first few days so we enjoyed the sunshine today. We went to see the newest recreation center yesterday and I just happened to have my camera with me.
I love he look and decorating at the new recreation center. It is the cottage look and I could spend a day in a cozy chair with my glass of ice tea and a good book. The carpet is pink roses and what fun to walk around and steel a few good decorating ideas.
We are enjoying our vacation in Florida and I have not missed the snow and ice up north at all. I guess we chose a good time to go back to where we came from.

Play It Forward

2008-02-17T10:45:00.004-05:00

Play It Forward..........

Let's "Pay It Forward"

Hey ya'll! Here's a chance to get a surprise from me, on a surprise date, in the next 365 days. (I'm responding to this via http://isabellascloset.blogspot.com/

Here are the rules:

1.~Leave a comment on my blog that says you want to play. First three folks to comment will get a gift from ME. (If I don't know it already, let me know how I can contact you, an e-mail is fine.)

2.~Do the same thing on your blog!The first three folks who leave a comment and commit to doing this on their blog, too, will get a surprise from YOU at a surprise time in the next 365 days!
(PLEASE PLAY even if you're not the first three
This should prove to be fun.....and interesting.This is a great way to make new friends too.....let's see what happens.

Just copy all MY post..pic and all..and use it on your post.

ps..I recommend your read the book & watch the movie, it is wonderful

I saw the Movie and it was wonderful, I think this will be a lot of fun and the gifts will be a big surprise on a surprise date. I love to go to the snail mail box and find a special treasure from one of my blogging friends. I hope every one will join in on the fun. Sharon K

Happy Valentines Day.............

2008-02-14T14:37:00.008-05:00

A very happy valentines day from the Manassota Keys. It rained for two days but the sun is out and it is warm but windy. A few more pictures from the sunshine state to you.

I have had such a good time while in Florida. We will move next door to Mary and Ernie this Saturday for a month and then on to the Villages for a week. I have talked to Tammy and she has said how cold it is in Ohio and that they have received a lot of snow. They said it was to be a mild winter up North but I think somew one was very very wrong with that prediction this winter. I received a pretty bouquet from Charlie today for Valentines day and a card from Winston. Sharon K

2008-02-14T14:35:00.000-05:00

A Day At The Beach.....................

2008-02-10T17:06:00.000-05:00

It is Sunday afternoon and all is well in the sunshine state. Went for a ride today and stoped by and said hi to a lady that use to be the girl next door. I grew up on Nevada St. in Toledo and Shirley lived next door. We have many memories of the days long ago. We use to play hop scotch and mother may I. It was so nice to see her again and talk about old times.
For some reason I can not up load pictures I have taken with my camera. Is any one else having a problem or is it just me. I have many pictures I have taken and hope tomorrow will be a better day. I have pictures of where we are staying and when I found this valentine I thought it would go well with my pictures.

I have a blessing award that Mary from Isabellas Closet is sharing.
Please take this award and display it proundly on your blog.
The idea…it’s a game of tag with a difference, rather than looking inwardly, we look outside ourselves and bless, praise and pray for 3 blog friends.
By participating in this endeavour we not only make the recipient of the blessing feel valued and appreciated, but we are having some fun too.
We’re going to see how far the bloggin’ blessings can travel around the world and how many people can be blessed!
Recipients of a bloggin’ blessing may upload the above image to their sidebar if they choose to.
If you receive a bloggin’ blessin’ please leave a comment on this thread here so that we can rejoice in just how many blessings have been sent around the world.

Just sitting in the sun............

2008-02-05T13:20:00.000-05:00

What a wonderful day in the sunshine state. The sun is shining the wind is blowing and it is in the 80s. We arrived in Fl. last Friday evening and I have had a wonderful welcome from the state where we used to live during the winter months. The story I used to tell is I woulod pay the water bill so the grass would grow so we could have the growns people cut the grass so I could send him a check I will tell you how my days have been. I will wake in the morning and Charlie and I will take a long walk. When we return I will sit in the sun with a good book a nd get a few sun rays. Then it is lunch and after that I will read my favorite blogs, and do a post or two. After that I will take a short siesta so I can keep up the engery level I will need for this life of retirement.
Then I will sit in the sunshine and waite for the sunset so I can have my happy hour drink....one only and it is wonderful. Baileys carmel cream...so good
.Then we will play cards or board games or watch television if we can find something to watch. Of course after all the thinking that I have to do to win a game it is time for bed. And then I start another day. I thank God for the blessings of good health and a wonderful day in the sunshine state just a sitting in the sun.
Be back tomorrow with more pictures.
Till then.................Sharon K

On The Road Again.........

2008-01-30T14:29:00.001-05:00

I
It is Tuesday and I am busy packing for our trip to Florida. It is so cold here that we do not want to go out side to pack the car. We will leave early Wednesday morning because we want to get ahead of the next show storm that is to arrive in Ohio this Friday morning. I just wanted to wish every one a good week, as soon as I arrive in Florida and get settled I will be around to visit and I also will blog just a little about the sun shine state where we will be for the next few months. Oh to see a palm tree and white sand. Be back soon............Sharon K

Me and My mistakes.......

2008-01-25T19:15:00.000-05:00

You would think that I just started blogging with the looks of the post below. I forgot to put my new banner on that Mary made for me and I messed up on her blog address...........so please go to my sidebar and go to my favorite blogs to find her address ( isabelloscloset ) I guess I had so much fun playing paper dolls I forgot where I was . Please go to post below this one to remember when with me.............Sharon K

Remember When................

2008-01-25T17:28:00.000-05:00

It is Friday afternoon and I am staying in the house this afternoon and evening. It is close to zero out side , the fireplace is on and I just finished a good book while covered up with a nice warm throw ( The Gift ) By Richard Paul Evans It was a very good book and I would recommend to any who enjoys reading like I do.

To those of you who have not visited Mary from http://isabellascloset.blogspot.com/%20the blog isabellascloset please do so. She is a wonderful person and her blog is such fun to read. She has a lot of talent in so many areas so please say hi and see all the items she has for sale. I have one of her banners on this blog.............Thank you Mary... Is there any one out there that can remember playing paper dolls? I have many memories of siting in my family living room when I was a little girl and playing paper dolls for hours. When a girl friend came over and we played with the paper dolls I can remember dressing them up for the dance and of course to do a little shopping. What fun and what memories of how it use to be. I am going to call my paper doll Sara, and she is going to church on a chilly Sunday morning
She will wear her new coat that her mother made for her . She has a new blue hat with a pretty feather to go with it of course.
The dress above will be worn to her friends birthday party this Saturday. Her friends name is Lilly and they will have fun playing games and having birthday cake. The pretty dress below will be worn at her aunt's wedding. What a fun day that will be for Sara, she will get to be the flower girl and drop rose buds as she goes down the isle. I had so much fun playing with the paper dolls that Mary sent to me. And a big thank you to all the girl friends that came over on a cold Friday after noon to sit with me while we remember when................................Sharon K

This And That Tuesday

2008-01-22T16:44:00.001-05:00

Hi and thanks for the visit on such a cold and snowy day. Went out for a while today, had a Dr. app and Charlie and I went to lunch. I am siting in the restaurant and spot a pretty stain glass window and of course I had my camera in my purse so I snapped a shot to share with you.
When I arrived at home I found Winston in his warm bed, I then looked out the window of the sun room and saw many birds enjoying the seed that we put out all winter, so had to snap a picture or two for this and that Tuesday

The picture below is left to right....My sister JoAnn, my niece Darcy, my mother and my self. This picture was taken many years ago on a trip to Vegas We had a wonderful time and the picture holds many happy memories. I am trying to keep busy because today and tomorrow will mark the anniversaries of the passing on of my sister and my mother. It will be 7 years ago that I lost my sister and 12 years ago that I lost my mother. There passing was 5 years and one day apart. I miss them both so much but time does go on and I am so blessed with the happy memories I have of both of them. There is a reason for the lens of the camera and this picture is the proof of a happy family time that I will hold on to forever. Till later.......Sharon K

Think Spring..............

2008-01-20T10:48:00.000-05:00

By the title of this post can you tell it is a very cold day in Ohio. I know I am the one who wanted to move back up North to be close to family. And I know I was looking forward to the changing seasons and I know NOW I am ready for Spring.
The month of May was come, when every lusty heart beginneth to blossom, and to bring forth fruit; for like as herbs and trees bring forth fruit and flourish in May, in likewise every lusty heart that is in any manner a lover, springeth and flourisheth in lusty deeds. For it giveth unto all lovers courage, that lusty month of May.
It is about 7 degrees this cold winter morning, with the wind chill it is 5 below 0 and Charlie and I are making plans for a trip or now I guess I will call it a vacation. A vacation to the area where we lived for 9 years, a place where the sun shines all day and the palm trees dance in the warm breezes.
Charlie has been so good about the move back to Ohio so I think I can plan a mini vacation and make my self go with him to a warm climate.

Yes I think I can do this thing they call vacation in the warm sun shine state. I will start packing tomorrow. My favorite season is summer and autumn would run a close second with spring coming in third. Now winter will be right up there with the others if I can spend a month or two in the area where I use to reside. FLORIDA........Yes I can do this.

Friends of ours, Mary Jane and Ernie found us a small but comfortable place on the ocean in Englewood Fl. where we will stay for a month and then we will head up North to the Villages

While we are there we will stay with friends Deb and Jim and spend time visiting all of the friends that we made there. Yes I think I can do this thing they call vacation. Of course Winston is going with us and I think he will be ready to sit in the sun for awhile. The fun of a vacation is the planing of it so I will sit with a pen and a pencil and make a list of all I have to take along and what we want to do.

I have a few weeks to get ready and of course I will take my laptop with me so I can show the people up north what the sun looks like..........Have a wonderful Sunday and remember to think Spring with me........Sharon K

A little of this and a little of that.................

2008-01-15T15:42:00.000-05:00

So glad that you could come by and sit a while. Have a cookie or two and I will put on the tea.
I woke this morning to a land covered in snow and all was beautiful here, I am enjoying this season but looking forward to spring. Driving was not bad and I got my grocery shopping finished and all put away. This afternoon I sat and read a while, a past time that I have always enjoyed. I am reading The Gift by Richard Paul Evens and it is very good reading. It was a Christmas gift from a friend Pat and another friend Mary Jane let me borrow the whole set from her, so on the chilly snow days ahead of me I will be in a far of land with Mr. Evens
I have been busy with winter projects such as .......working in my computer room doing that thing they call organizing.....Charlie thinks I am to organized to the point I put it somewhere good and then forget where that place is but I just keep moving it until it is close and handy for me.
I have everything where I want it right now and I am happy with the outcome. I have the files in folders in my file drawer and I am ready to play again.
This is in my computer room and it reminds me of many of my favorite things....old and Victorian items that I love and they were gifts from other blogging friends.
This is a Christmas gift from my daughter Amy, It took a while but I now have all the newest family photos on place. The door opens and it is a place to put all my jewels.....right.
This also hangs in my computer room with all my treasures. I have taken every decorating class that I could and this is my prove of that statement.
I am now of to the kitchen to finish making my chicken noodle soup that will taste good on a cold snowy evening. Until tomorrow............Sharon K

The Rest Of The Story.............

2008-01-13T18:50:00.000-05:00

The Name Of The Story Is...........
Young Abigail was siting and waiting for her father to tell her if Clifford had asked for her hand in marriage. They had talked often about marriage and he asked to speak to her father alone. What else would be so important to Clifford other then her and their future plans. It had been over an hour and she was getting quite up set waiting to find out what the conversation was about. She walked to the garden and sat, but her mind started thinking about the length of the talk and could it be something else they were speaking about. Could it be possible that Clifford were thinking of going of to war? Oh no that could be the topic...............Could he do that to her at this stage of the relationship. She walked down the rose garden lane to the main house when she over heard...........
Please finish the story in the comments section.....If the book goes to press I will be sure to mention the other authors.........have fun

Old Family Pictures

2008-01-12T20:53:00.000-05:00

As you know I love the look of yesterday, any thing that is old and vintage. If the vintage item tells a story that is better yet. If the story is about a long ago loved one then it is a family antique that has and always will be a treasure to me. The picture above of the man women and child once hung upstairs in my mothers home. I often admired it when I went up stairs. One day I asked my Mom why she had it hanging up stairs where few people would see it. She then said to me where should I hang it and I said in my home. She then took the picture down and gave it to me and it has been hanging in my livingroom ever sence. I love decorating with the vintage look and would would be better then a family picture of my mother, grandmother and grandfather.

The Daily Dose...........Thanks Amy........

2008-01-09T16:17:00.001-05:00

Thank you to Miss Amy at Abundant Curiosities for the Daily Dose Award. Amy
included the words written by the creator of this award and so I am passing it along...

From Xandra: creator, The Daily Dose Award.
"This little award is called The Daily Dose - and here is all the important info to tell you what it is about and where it came from. This is a tribute to all the blogs that you've discovered that you can't possibly live without. They make you laugh, cry, think and feel connected every time you read a post. They give you a thrill as you see them loading into your browser and you get an equally satisfying thrill when you see that they have commented on your blog". I'd like to pass this honor along to some cherished blog friends. In a cyder world ... I often gravitate to these places for my "daily dose" ... because these particular women share bits and pieces of themselves that I just can't seem to live without. I sit in the morning with my hot cuppa Joe and stop by my "friends" to get caught up ... perhaps even a little "wrapped up" in their lives. ;)

Thank you Amy.......I have so many blogs that I look forward to on a daily basis. I have said many times it is like reading a good book but in blog land we come to know the people. We can laugh with them and shed a tear or two, say a prayer for them or a family member. I have taken many walks with them in there homes and neighborhoods. It has truly been a new little world that opened up for me. The best part of the blogging experience is getting to meet a wonderful little group of women that I have come to look at as friends. I have seen a sunset taken across the ocean, a flower that was grown on Australia. a Christmas tree that sits in a yard in Virginia. A home that is being rebuilt because of the Katrina hurricane. All over the world I have come to know many wonderful people thanks to the world of blogging...........

It will be hard to choose from all the blogs that I read but I narrowed it down to four.

Memories are made of this..........Miss Judy has been a good friend for many years. She is the one that got me started in this world of blogging. When Judy got started blogging I would visit her often to see what was happening in her life, I got to see her children who I watch grow up and also see her grandchildren.

Smilnsigh.........Miss Mari-Nanci has a blog I look for word to.....she finds the most beautiful pictures and her writing is very creative and a lot of fun to read.

A Place Called Home.........Miss Susan has a blog that makes me stop and think. What she says and how she puts her thoughts and feelings in her writing makes me stop and count my blessings often.

As time goes by........Sheila has a blog that is fun to read ....I have taken a walk or two with her, I have watched her children grow and shared in many of her every day blessings. I look for ward to each new post that she writes.

To all my blogging freinds.........I love you all.........Sharon K

A New Beggining........2008

2008-01-02T14:15:00.000-05:00

Another year....Charlie and I had a fun new year bringing it in with good friends. We had way to much food...a resolution I will work on this year. It was a wonderful way to begin yet another year. It seems just like yesterday that we werebringing in 2000 and so concerned if the computers would still work and here we are 8 years later and all is well.

I have always been one of those people who in the first week of the new year will change all of the things that are still not quite right. Like my weight....my computer desk, my house, my life. This is the year just like every other year that I am going to become a new me.
Well this year will for sure be like last year and 5 years ago.......every thing will stay the same except( I hope for the little numbers on that big scale) I have come to realize that all else will be the same as always........Why you may ask? Because I have realized that all else is OK. I have been blessed with so much and I am happy with where I am on this Jan 2nd. of this new year. Yes I have many things I want to improve like:
My weight.......
My computer skills............
My blog..........But these are things I am in charge of and should with some will power and knowledge be able to improve on a daily basis. I leave every thing else in God's hands. What I am trying to say is I am OK and with the blessings from above I will have yet another wonderful year to make many happy memories with Charlie, my family and all my friends. God be willing. I take this time on this day to wish all a wonderful new year to prosper in and to be OK with where you are on this day........... Sharon K

Happy New Year.......

2007-12-29T19:42:00.000-05:00

I hope every one had a very Merry Christmas and I also hope Santa was good to all of you. We went in to Amy's house to open presents and had a very nice Christmas brunch. In the afternoon we went over to Tammy's and had dinner. I received many nice presents but I do enjoy watching others open gifts. A few years ago I suggested opening gifts acording to age, starting with the youngest and ending with the oldest person. That way we all can watch each person open their gifts. It has worked out good and I do not miss any thing.

I took a few pictures, I was so busy watching every one that I forgot to get my camera out but I do have a few to share with you .

Oh Christmas Tree with Santa's gifts just waiting to be opened on Christmas morning.

Austin and Tim waiting for Brunch to be over so they can open presents.
Lindsey reading from her High School Musical book that she was so happy to get.
I want to wish every one a wonderful New Year filled with all that you want. Blessings to all..............Sharon K

The Beauty Of Winter...Part 2

2007-12-17T19:23:00.000-05:00

Sorry, but my computer has a mind of its own today and between it and blogger being slow I will be real lucky to get this post finished. You have to scroll down to the post just below this one to read what I will now call part 1 of The Beauty Of Winter.
Again I am having trouble with the pictures........I love the picture of the bulb on the tree with ice hanging from it. We have had it all...rain....ice...snow....and I guess they call this winter up north.
We will be leaving on Wed. to visit family and friends in N.Y.
Will be back in Ohio on Christmas Eve. I want to wish every one a wonderful Christmas day filled with love of family, friends and most of all the love of the Lord above that has blessed us with this beautiful season of Christmas.

The Beauty Of Winter...

2007-12-17T17:20:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidays to every one out there in Blog land. Oh what a wonderful time of the year. I have been very busy in the last week and have not had much time for my all time favorite past time. To blog and to read what is happening in other parts of the United States and world. In this world we call blog land we can look at other seasons in other parts of the world. It can be winter here but we can see the summer gardens of others. I know that I take so much for granted when it comes to the computer but to the people that did all the work so we can put pictures and a post together.........a big Thankyou. Because of there time and talent we can put pictures and a post together and wish greeting to other in places we may never see in person. When I think of yester year some of us had to share a party line with another family on that old thing we called a telephone.......and it had a cord, we could not walk around and talk at the same time. We have come so far in such a short time and we are truly blesses with all we take for granted. I would like to share some pretty pictures that a friend of mine took. Her name is Kathie and she lives in a beautiful corner in my little part of the world, it is called the Catwaba Cliffes. The area is so beautiful in the summer but I went to her house for a Christmas lunchen today and I was so thrilled with the trees and the snow. Now mmind you it has been many years since I have been in this area in December, but the beauty of yet another season that God has created was a thrill to see. I would like to take you to Kathie,s home and show you the Cliffes.
I will put more pictures on in about 5 minutes. I do not know if it is me or Blogger but I am again having a hard time with the pictures. Be right back............Sharon

The Word.............CHRISTMAS

2007-12-09T19:57:00.000-05:00

CHRISTMAS .......AND WHAT IT MEANS TO ME

C......Stands for the C hildren who on Christmas Eve will put the cookies and milk out with a letter that says......Santa I have been so good.

H.....Stands for the Heavens above that has a special star that shines on Christmas Eve.
R....Stands for the cookieR ecipes that are put away in a tin for a special family gift on Christmas morning.
I.....Stands forI' m dreaming af a White Christmas for all that beleive in the true meaning of Christmas.
S.....Stands for the jolly fat man Santa .who will visit all the good boys and girls of that special night
T.....Stands for the Christmas Tree that is decorated with all my beautiful vintage Santa's
M....Stands for May your Christmas be Merry and Bright
A Stands for the Angels that are always with us during this Holy season.
S.....Stands for the reason for the Season......The Crist Child that lay in the manger.
I hope that all of you had a good wekend filled with the light of the season.........Sharon K

Deck The Halls.........

2007-12-06T15:24:00.000-05:00

It was time to deck the hall with balls of ivy. Not to many halls but I do have a few decorations to share with you. I have so enjoyed visiting all of my blogging friends homes and being able to see the way they decorate their homes. In Ohio or California all of the homes say Merry Christmas in many different ways.
I baked christmas cookies today so please take one while I show you through Amelia Rose Cottage at Christmas time

Charlie thought that we should put the tree in the sunroom this year and every once in a while I will lisen to him.
Fire place is ready for the arrival of the jolly fat man in a red suit.............
The night light is on to show Santa the way..........
My teddy bear and bunny are ready for the christmas cookies.....My little village is up and the small Church is ready for the reason for the season My Christmas gift is light and ready for Santa............... The crystal glass is ready for Santa's cookies and milk. I have a few more pictures but the blogger pictures are taking some time to come up today. I hope you enjoyed the walk through my small home.

Dear Santa......This is my list

2007-11-29T09:18:00.001-05:00

A very serious talk going on here between Miss Hannah and Santa. He was a very handsome Santa and took in every thing that Hanna said and remembered all the gifts that she wants this year for Christmas. Happy Holiday Greetings from Ohio..........And the countdown is on for the big day in December. As you all know this is the year that I was going to make all my Christmas gifts and it went well. I made many items but can not show on my blog because my family also reads my blog. I have to admit that I went to a craft show or two...........and I did not say who was going to make the gifts. I guess the idea is some one made them. It has been a fun time coming up with ideas and I can share them after Christmas. I am going to decorate the house today and will take pictures and post tomorrow. Every one stay warm and enjoy this day that the Lord has made.....
Love u........Sharon K

Thanksgiving in Greenville S.C.

2007-11-25T13:23:00.000-05:00

We went to Greenville S.C. to spend Thanksgiving with Cancee, Joe and Miss Hannah, we had a good time and had turkey left overs in a salad, sandwich, soup and turkey alaking. Thanksgiving dinner was wonderful and very filling. It seems when ever I have turkey it is like a sleeping pill. Thanksgiving dinner and a nap just go together. The colors here are just beautiful with the reds and golds. It is an amazing picture that God provided to be thankful for. We will head back to Ohio on Monday morning and hope to miss most of the Thanksgiving traffic that will be on the roads on Sunday. I want to wish every one a belated but happy Thanksgiving season and good wishes for the Christmas season that is on its way for all of us to enjoy and get ready to celebrate. As a little girl I loved every thing about Christmas and I am still a little girl at heart because I love Christmas and all the hussel and bussel that goes with it. I do believe in Santa and always try to be very good in the month of December. A Christmas memory that I will always remember and never forget was............I was six years old and in the first grade, I remember my mother helping me get ready to go to the big Christmas party that was held every year by my Fathers union where he worked. While she was helping me get dressed she thought that i felt quite warm and took my temperature to make a long story much shorter ..........I had a high temp and insted of me going to a party I ended up in the Dr.s office with Scarlet Fever. They came to our home and put a quarantine sign on my front door. My sister JoAnn was at a friends house while this was going on and ended up not being able to come home to celebrate Christmas with me. The gift I received from Santa that year that I can remember is a toy telephone that had to be washed well and lost its numbers. Now just how good is a phone with no numbers to a little girl with scarlet fever at Christmas with out her big sister to celebrate with?
Love to all..............Sharon K

THE BEAUTY OF THE SEASON...............

2007-11-12T19:02:00.001-05:00

I hope every one had a good and safe weekend. My weekend was busy and went by way to fast as usual. Last week I took a few walks and had my camera in hand, for a sunrise, a sunset , leaves falling, and pretty tree's. I would like to invite you to take that walk with me through the lens of my camera.

Thank you for taking a walk with me from sunrise to sunset. I hope you have a wonderful week full of the beauty of the season..............Sharon K

ENJOYING AUTUM IN OHIO..........

2007-11-05T13:27:00.000-05:00

The leaves are so pretty and ready to fall of the trees. I have taken many pictures to share with you. I do not know where the time has gone. I just put the bathing suit away and now it is time for the sweat shirts and gloves. I have found the fall season to be so refreshing this year. I hope I feel this way when the snow is falling in Ohio. I have said this time and again but I can not even imagine working a full time job like I use to.........just where does the time go?

Charlie is pulling the flowers out of the garden after the first frost of the season and I am getting Amelia Rose Cottage all cleaned up and ready for the winter months. Last night it was dark at six o'clock and that takes getting use to after the time change we had last Saturday night. It will make for long cozy evenings around the fireplace......and warm Chi tea of course.

It has been forever since I have blogged and read blogs. I hope to start a daily blog and also want to take the time to read all of my favorites and see what is happening in blog land. I have to get in to a daily routine again. I started today with a long cool walk with my friend Linda. It is so good to have someone to walk with you and push you along on the road to good health. About a month ago we joined a TOPS program in our area and we have enjoyed it so much. Have met many lovely ladies and when you have to report in each week.......after the weigh in weather you stayed the same........lost or gained.......you think twice before taking that extra cookie or opening that package of chips. So far we have both lost 5 lbs and are working toward the number 10. Yes we can do this thing they say is the healthy way to live. I am going to get my daily routine going ,l so I can blog more often. I have a question for any one out there that changes their backgrown and header. Just where do I go to find my master copy of my blog? I think I know how to change it but can not find the area in bata blogger to do so...........I admire the different backgrowns and I have a lovely new header but do not know where to go..............Any information will be so helpful to me. I have been blogging now for almost two years and should know how to do this thing.........help........I have so much to learn and this is one thing I like about blog world..........I learn one thing and find 5 more things I want to do........I have to go and read and enjoy all the lovely backgrowns that all of you know how to do.....................bye for now and I hope to change my look real soon................Sharon K

Autum Greetings From Amelia Rose Cottage.......

2007-10-15T10:16:00.000-04:00

AUTUM IN OHIO

Hi and Welcome to Autum in Ohio.......My first in nine years and I am loving it...... I would like to take you for a short walk around my little corner of the world. I have the cookies and cider ready so please stay awhile and we can chat.
The chair above is one I found at a garage sale for three dollars. I painted it and arrange flowers in the basket for each season. In the summer I have my red roses siting in the guest of honor chair, now I have the colors of fall siting at my front door.This is a cart I found at a garden shop many years ago. I also change the flowers for each season in the cart that sits in my little garden out side my front door.Come on in and I will show you my treasures.
This is my little autum tree with lights that sits in my dining room. The floral arrangement that sits on my dining room table. This basket of roses and fall flowers sits on my living room flooe close to the front door. Fire place mantel that sits in the sunroom. My angel wings arrangement. Just a little fall color in the kitchen. One of the few trees that have changed color in my yard. My yard happens to be a golf course and they say after the first frost here........the trees will change colors. This is the pond that I look at while siting in the sunroom. As you can see I have many trees to watch change color when the time comes. I like the way you can see the clouds reflected in the pond. Oh yes and remember we should not forget the fall colors in the power room.
I hope you enjoyed my little tour of Autum in my little corner of the world. May we all remember that the Lord does the painting and we just tate the pictures. Please come and visit often.........I love company........Sharon K

Happy Birthday Wishes. And A Welcome To Come Visit Pea And Me..........

2007-10-14T12:24:00.001-04:00

I borrowed this birthday cake from Tammy at My Gentle Retreat to wish Carol at Peas Corner a wonderful 50Th birthday. She is so much fun to read daily. Stop by her blog and say hi please.
I am busy decorating for Halloween and Thanksgiving. I love being in Ohio and watching the changing of the seasons. Lets see how I feel when we have our first ice storm. I will let you know how I feel when that happens. I am busy decorating for my first Autumn in nine years in Ohio and it is so much fun doing so in a climate where it feels like fall. I decorated while living in Florida for fall and Christmas but it never felt as good as it does here. Did I say how happy I am to be back in Ohio ?? I think so, just a few times. I have my camera ready to share with you my fall decorating. So just like Pea had a birthday party I would like to invite you to my first Autumn at Amelia Rose Cottage. Come sit a spell or two and enjoy a cup of hot cider and a cookie decorated for the season. I will take you for a walk around my little corner of the world where the tree's are changing colors and there is a chill in the air. Till tomorrow and my tour or my home and my beautiful growns . Sharon K..........

Just A Few Of My Favorite Things...........

2007-10-10T19:38:00.002-04:00

A picture that hangs by the front door to Amelia Rose Cottage.
A picture painted by Becca of Bluebird and Roses hangs oh so proud in my dining room
Stained Glass that hangs in my sun room that Charlie made a few years ago.
A family picture and my Ceramic Lovely Lady. Just a few of my favorite things..........Sharon K

2007-10-10T19:38:00.001-04:00

October..Where did summer go?

2007-10-05T13:49:00.000-04:00

I know I have been busy working on my home made Christmas but just where did the time go? It has been forever since I have taken the time to blog or read all my favorite blogs and just where did summer go? This will be my first autum season in Ohio for nice years and I am so looking forward to all the season has to offer. But where did summer go. Wow I guess I have been busy. I love being here in Ohio because I have been able to be a part of mt grandchildrens every day life. I am going in to a football game tonight to watch Nick play and Brittany cheer. It has been a warm fall so far and this weekend it will be in the 80,s which is a good thing for Charlie who is not so sure about weather in Ohio. I have been busy with my idea of making all my gifts for Christmas and the time has passed by so fast. I miss blogging and reading my favorites which is far better reading then a good book. I have taken a longer then I thought brake but I think I am caught up enough to do all the things I love to do. Any one out there that is retired and bored, just spend time with me and I will keep you busy...for sure. I have missed every one and will be back Monday with the saga of Amelia Rose Cottage. Have a safe and happy weekend and remember to thank God for each and every day. Sharon K

Welcome To Southern Ohio..............

2007-09-11T09:58:00.001-04:00

What a fun day we had in beautiful Amish country. There was a breeze in the air and a look of fall, with pumpkin candles burning in the shops. We had a wonderful time and just kept going and going. We saw so many lovely rolling hills which I do not see in the area of Ohio where I live. I would like to share a couple pictures that I took while on the trip.The Amish homes, the horse and buggy's, are all the sights you will see in this area of Ohio, which is a calming and relaxing place to visit.The flowers that lined the streets and we saw as we traveled were beautiful, and also had a look of the up coming season.I found the most wonderful Victorian shop and I am sure I was in there for an hour just looking for the special treasures that would go home with me to Amelia Rose Cottage.This is a covered bridge we found in a little Amish town called Charm. We stopped there to find a bakery where I could get Charlie a home made apple pie, of course I will have to get the ice cream to go with it.
This is a picture of Marylin trying to decide which shop we should visit next.
We ended that day with a visit to a Java Joe's where I had a wonderful cold Chi tea with lots of whip cream. Of course that took the place of dinner, it was a wonderful desert,then we went to our Bed and Breakfast where there were a few choc late chip cookies waiting on the table for us. It was a wonderful get a way and a fun girls day and night out. I will now take pictures of the treasures I bought and share with you tomorrow. Have a good Tuesday and be thankful for the day.......Sharon K

Beautiful Amish Country...........

2007-09-09T17:15:00.000-04:00

What a fun week I had, a good friend and I went to Southern Ohio and visited all the Victorian and country stores that line the streets of Middle berry, Charm and other little towns. We shopped all day and got up the next morning and started all over again. I wanted one of every thing I saw, and of course you have to decide just which treasures you are going to take home with you. The stores and shops were of course all decorated for the Autumn season and I love that look. The season when the leaves start falling and pumpkins can be found everywhere.

Marilyn and I have been friends for 25 years, we use to work together for Toledo Public schools. I can remember when we use to say...........some day when we retire we will have the time to shop and work on crafts and do all the fun things that we both enjoy. The time has come, I am now back in Port Clinton and we are just an hour apart so......we can shop till we drop..which happened last week... We are going to get together and work on Christmas gifts, and it is always more fun when you are talking about old times while you are working on that special gift for family and friends. I was going to share pictures of the pretty country and the shops and a few treasures that I found but...............I do not know how to download the pictures from my new camera to my old computer. I will work on that problem tomorrow and share with you the beautiful Amish Country. I am way behind in reading blogs and leaving comments so I will take the time now to sit and have tea, while I enjoy one of my favorite past times. Hope every one had a good weekend and have a happy Monday...........Sharon K

School Days.............

2007-08-30T12:23:00.001-04:00

I can not believe how fast this summer has gone. School sessions began here this week and all my little ones and teenage grandchildren are back in school. Years ago my Mother told me that the older you get the faster times goes and I being younger at the time would say Mother there are 24 hours in your day just like my day. Well not I do agree with her, the older I get the faster the time goes. I do not know how I worked for 27 years and got any thing finished...........but I did............ I think right now I have about 6 different irons in the pot and I am getting nothing fin shed. Next week when the children are back in school will be a good time for me to get some type of a schedule going or mark things off as I get to them. So much time and going no where is the name of the game I am playing.
So next week will be the week that I will have something to show on my blog. Something I fin shed. It may be tea and a desert but I will finished it.
I have to read the article below on this blog to remind my self that is all right to do nothing and it is all right to take a day of. I like so many women feel guilty if I have a me day. So this Labor day I will think about all the work and all the projects I have to do and some day when I am good and ready I will finish them. Thank you to every one that commented about the gift of growing old. I read it now I have to live by it. Have a wonderful holiday and remember to stop for that school bus. And to all that home school have a wonderful school year.

The Gift Of Life....

2007-08-23T20:12:00.001-04:00

The thoughts below were sent to me by and old and dear friend( Gail. ) We have known each other for many years and we are growing old together. We meant when she was 14 and I 16 and have been friends forever. In the month of August we went out to lunch to celebrate our birthdays and talk about the way it was and the way it is. We talk about our grandchildren while we remember our own children growing up. I do not know who wrote this, but please read carefully and if you are not over 60 yet....you will be one day.......and you have much to look forward to............because growing old is truly a gift from God.

Old Age, I decided, is a gift.

I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother!), but I don't agonize over those things for long.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend.
I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.
I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon?
I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60&70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set.

They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day. (If I feel like it)

Thank You Sarah..............

2007-08-22T11:14:00.000-04:00

I want to thank Sarah from the blog (Horizon) for the Nice Matters Award. Sarah, it is not only my first award but I love the vintage look of the picture. I am now to pick 8 ladies that deserve this award. I think most of us have got the award so........I am sending the Nice Matters Award to all the wonderful ladies that I have meant over the last year in blog land. I could have traveled the world over and never found such lovely and talented people. So to all..we know that nice matters....

Well it is almost September and I had better put in a few hours each week day to making those Christmas gifts that I am going to put under the tree. I started this project in early 2007 and my how the time does fly. I am bound and determined that this is the year for my home made Christmas. I had better quit thinking and talking about it and JUST DO IT.
Like the shirts that the teenagers use to ware I have to get busy and (do it) If there is any one out there that would like to give me some ideas for gifts.......I am so ready for NEW ideas......Please.......share with me..........I look at it now as a job but come December I know that I will be proud of the gifts that I took the time to make......Of course each gift will be made with love......So now I will think snow, decorating, trees, Santa, and that one thing we celebrate at Christmas.......The birth of Christ. Merry Christmas and much love to all........Sharon K

This and That and Here And There...................

2007-08-17T15:34:00.000-04:00

I was so surprised when I looked on the date of my last posting and saw how long it had been.
The time seems to fly by so fast and I always say that starting tomorrow and after I do this or that......I will try to sit down daily and write a post.....even a short post. Well that does not seem to happen. As I said before, with cooler weather around the corner maybe I may have or take the time to do so. I have noticed with the blogs that I read if you post daily or every other day you seem to have more readers. So starting real soon....not sure when I will try to reach that goal. I have been busy at Amelia Rose Cottage trying to get a few things finished that I started before. Below are a few of the pictures of the most recent projects. I found this old chair at a garage sale for three dollars, painted it and then scuffed it up a little found an artificial plant and roses and now it is at the entrance to Amelia Rose Cottage. It took only a little time and I like the way it turned out. I found this little night stand and put it next to my favorite chair, I keep my favorite things close at hand and my books are in the drawers. It is working well for me. Then I moved a few pictures here and there and came up with some more new looks. It has been a very busy summer and I will be glad when things slow down just a little bit so I can have just a little me time. Time to sit and read a favorite book, work on the Christmas gifts that I have started or just take a short summer snooze. I will be back mush sooner then I have lately and please come and visit me again soon. Have a warm and relaxing weekend and remember to be safe while you are here and there doing this and that like me...........Sharon K

A Wedding And A Birthday.....August 4th.

2007-08-08T16:24:00.000-04:00

Here Comes The Bride was a popular song at the lake Saturday evening. We had a wedding in the sand. The guys wore white shirts and the bride a cute little white dress. Of course they were all bare footed in the sand. The flower girl and ring barer were so cute and she had a flower ring in her hair. The wedding was some what long and I am sure that the little ones got a little bored for after about five minutes they could be seen playing in the sand. The wedding went well and they had the reception on the green
About the time the bride was walking down the sand we were busy starting my birthday party. We all took the time to watch the wedding and then the song Happy Birthday began. We celebrated my birthday and Tammy's the same evening. Mind you we also had a family reunion going on at the same time at the lake. The lake is a wonderful place to celebrate any family occasion and we all took advantage of the water, sand and moon light that evening for sure. My menu was just a little bit different for the party. How about Buffalo style chicken wings, peach pie and grasshoppers?? Wow when I look at the menu now I wonder why we all did not get sick...................Every one bought something and Diana won the award for the best peach pie ever.
Bob was in charge of the blender and the grass hoppers which are made with ice cream and were so good.....And Charlie who is from the Buffalo area of New York made the chicken wings which were a little to warm (hot ) for me. Of course we had birthday cake and a few other goodies which was enjoyed by all. The evening ended with yet another beautiful sunset over Lake Erie. Now you all can see why I love my little summer place at the lake. please stay cool..

Happy Birthday Tammy

2007-08-06T10:09:00.000-04:00

My little girl is celebrating her 44th birthday today. Oh how the days fly. On my 21st. birthday in 1963 I was watching Bananza when I had my first labor pain. I was two weeks late with Tammy and thought I will have my baby on my birthday. To make a very long labor story short I had her two days later. Here is a picture of Tammy with her little girl Lindsey. Tammy is not only my daughter but a wonderful friend who is always there with a smile or helping hand. Tammy I love you so much............................Have a wonderful day and a year full of sunshine and lolipops.

Little Miss Susie Homemaker........

2007-08-02T15:05:00.000-04:00

A good afternoon to every one, and did I say it is warm outside, I can not go outside with out sweating, I feel sorry for any one that has to do physical labor in this kind of heat. I am at Amelia Rose Cottage today, catching up on projects,have the air on good music going and felling like Susie homemaker. I have been busy putting new wall paper border up in the guest powder room. Also I am one to move things around to give an old room a new look and that is what I did today. Move a plant here and a lamp there and like magic you have a complete make over Thanks to Diana for a early birthday present, a cute set of cups and sausers, and Sherie for the darling butter holders that go with it. It is so nice when your friends no just what you like. I had to find a new home for them, and this after many changes is where they live for now. When I move things around there are always one or two items left and of course I would not want to put them away....so this little setting in the kitchen works for right now. I like having a small light in the kitchen, in the evening it is just enough light to see where those cookies are.
I found this artificial plant at a darling little shop and had to have it, I like it because it looks so real I some times think that I should water it. It was a fun day just changing this and that, just like HG TV, move it, paint it, wallpaper it.....and you have a whole new look. Now for that tall glass of tea for me as I walk out to my garden with my camera to take pictures for tomorrows post.......Happy warm and humid Thursday to all..............Sharon K

PICTURE PERFECT.........

2007-07-31T20:27:00.001-04:00

Mother and daughters had a fun and productive week end at the summer scrapbook get together. There were many there and pictures were being put in to memory albums for safe keeping. We were there from Friday till late Saturday evening and I finished all my albums.

Tammy looking for just the right picture for Lindsey's scrapbook

My granddaughter Brittany puting the finishing touches on her Junior year H.S. sceapbook

Amy working on Jessicas book

I am sure there were three hundred of us there that weekend. They serve lunch and dinner and we just keep going all day. We walk around and get ideas from others and can purchese all the wonderful items they have for sale.

We had a fun weekend making a few more memories for all of our scrapbooks. I finished all the books I have been working on and will wrap them up for my home made Christmas project which is going slow. I had better get moving on the homemade gifts, we only have five more months till Christmas................Have a wonderful Wednesday and remember you never know who has their camera foucesed on you....................................Sharon K

The sunset in glass..............

2007-07-24T16:20:00.000-04:00

As I was standing on the rocks I looked over and pass the cut where the boats go in and out and I saw a beautiful sunset reflected in the window of a home. I had to get my camera and share with you the beauty of a sunset in glass.
My friend Linda took the picture.

I will be on a mini vacation this week but will take my computer along with me. We are going to be with family and I hope my grandson can teach me a few things on this computer. I still have so much to learn. I will be checking in and playing catch up with all of my favorite blogs...........Sharon K

A Scrapbook Weekend

2007-07-18T14:38:00.001-04:00

Oh Dear, which picture should I use and what color of paper. What should I use for the title of the page? That is what I will be doing this weekend. I will put the title, colors and pictures together to make a beautiful scrapbook page. I have been busy at this hobby for about eight years and I am winding down, I have finished many scrapbooks for my girls and grandchildren. I will be finishing two scrapbooks this weekend. Tammy,Amy and my granddaughter Brittany will spend the weekend with me at a scrapbooking extravaganza. We will arrive at noon on Friday and stay untill midnight that evening of course we will take time out for dinner. We are staying at a motel for a short nights rest and will scrapbook all day Saterday.
I am looking forward to the weekend not only to finish my scrapbooks but to have quality time with the girls. We went to this weekend during last years winter months and I am looking forward to the summer get together to empty a few more boxes of pictures that have taken up a corner of my closet for ever.
Two of the scrabooks that I will finish will be the Christmas gifts that I am making that is a part of my homemade Christmas gifts for Christmas 2007. I will take some pictures of the scrapbook picture weekend. I hope you all have a good weekend of summer fun in the sun. Sharon K

The Week That Was........

2007-07-13T18:47:00.000-04:00

16 Years and counting......

Hi to all..........I said in my last post what a busy week I had in the first week of July. Above is a picture of Charlie and me at our wine and cheese party.
We had a good time celebrating with friends. Charlie and I went to Put-In-for the day and had many memories of the garden wedding that took place there 16 years ago.
We missed the fireworks on the 4Th of July because Winston was upset and shaking because of all the no ice, we went to the condo turned on the air closed the windows and watch TV with him. He did settle down and we had a very quiet evening but Winston was happy.
The rest of the week was fun filled with the gals. We went to a Tea Room and had high tea.
At the lake in the summer time we celebrate the ladies with a straw hat tea and each year we pick a queen and this year we are celebrating Queen Mary. She is in this picture at the tea room with her family.
A fun time was had by all and that is just a few things that I did in the week that was.............Sharon K

The One That Got Away

2007-07-09T18:32:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone, boy I have been so busy I have not taken the time to sit down and blog or read all my favorite blogs. It will take a while but I will visit all of you and see what has been happening in blog land. I went to a tea party with the ladies, celebrated my 16Th anniversary, went to a craft show, celebrated a fFriends birthday and went to dinner with an old and dear friend. This is just a few of the things that have kept me so busy.
I have to share a few pictures of Mason with you, he is my friend Linda's grandson and is to cute in this fishing fashion show. He had a fishing pole in his hand and was very serious about that big one that got away.
Linda and I are going to spend a day just driving around and taking pictures. I got a new camera from Charlie for my anniversary and now I want to practice with it so I can take good pictures to share with all of you.

A beautiful sunset on Lake Erie. I sit each evening and enjoy the artwork that God supplies on the shores of Lake Erie. I will now sit and read a few of my favorite blogs while enjoying that big glass of ice tea. Sharon K

A Happy Forth Of July To All.........

2007-07-03T10:16:00.000-04:00

Just a short post to wish all a safe and fun 4th of July.

I will spend the day at Ceder Point which is a fun amusement park located in Sandusky Ohio ,I will be with Tammy and Amy and my little sweethearts. Of course I will have my camera along. Have a wonderful holiday and please be safe.

The Rest Of The Story...........

2007-06-27T17:15:00.000-04:00

A few months ago I was visiting a blog and the post was the start of a mystery story. I will start the story and ins ted of a comment it would be fun if each of you would keep the story going. You know we are all story tellers so lets see how the story develops.

The Myesery Of The Lost Glasses.
It was a warm summer day and the lady of the house could not find her glasses, she needed them to read the morning paper. She got her cup of tea and went from room to room looking every where she had been. At this moment she heard a strange sound out side her window and wanted to set the alarm at her door. Then she remembered that she did not have those glasses that she would need to set the alarm. What would she do, as she moved the sounds were closer and she lived in a wooded area with not many homes around. A day that started out like every other had now turned in to a moment of panic. Her name was Emily and she thought that she............