Monday, December 1, 2008

Winner of the Candy Cane Snowman


Today was the drawing for the winner of the Bethany Lowe Candy Cane Snowman box. I will be contacting the winner by e-mail. Thanks to everyone else who visited my website or blog and left messages. This was really fun and I hope to have another giveaway soon!

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving



Our mantle is looking very autumnal for the season.



And my turkey collection is ready for the big day! I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

Friday, November 7, 2008

Holiday Giveaway














For the month of November, anyone who visits my website at Rosemary's Garden and leaves an e-mail, your name will be placed in a drawing to receive this new vintage-inspired Bethany Lowe "Candy Cane Snowman Box." Just click on the "contact" tab at the website for my e-mail address. The drawing will be held on December 1, and I will contact the winner by e-mail. Also, if you are in the North Alabama area, and are interested in attending the Open House on November 14 or 15, please indicate in your e-mail. However, you do not have to be local to enter the drawing. Thanks to all of you who visit and leave comments.

Blessings, Rosemary

Monday, November 3, 2008

Autumn













"The morns are meeker than they were,
The nuts are getting brown;
The berry's cheek is plumper,
The rose is out of town.

The maple wears a gayer scarf,
The field a scarlet gown.
Lest I should be old-fashioned,
I'll put a trinket on."

---Emily Dickinson

This photograph from Stock Exchange reminded me of the above poem. You know how much I love Autumn, so I'm going to pay tribute as long as I can. I'm planning an open house at my shop/studio on November 14 and 15, so I've been busy preparing for that-- and busying myself with all the things one does for an open house, cleaning, displays, and baking a few goodies.

Saturday, October 18, 2008



Although autumn officially arrived on September 22, we in the deep south have only begun to feel the effects. Yesterday was the first "cold snap" and this morning the temperature dipped to 45 degrees. Makes me want to think about the holidays, but there is so much beauty to enjoy from this season that I cannot let it pass without paying tribute to some of the sights, aromas, and delights that are part of fall. The picture of the leaf that I am sharing is from www.sxc.hu/ .


The cats in the basket are some that I made for fall decorating. They are available for purchase in my Etsy store.






The "Kiss of the Sun" Pincushion is also one of my creations for fall, and I borrowed the name from the poem, "The kiss of the sun for pardon, the song of the birds for mirth. One is nearer God's heart in a garden than anywhere else on earth." It was made from new and vintage fabrics, buttons and millinery ribbon with a little vintage figurine of two birds in autumn colors.



It is available on the www.rosemarysgarden.biz website. As an artist, I just enjoy the colors and fabric of fall, as you can see!

I will be sharing more about the season later; today is Saturday and I will be spending time with my family. Enjoy the fall--those leaves will soon turn and be gone! Capture your moment and seize the day with whatever God has given you to do!

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Growing A Garden




If you have been following my blog, you know that my business has been in a process of development. I believe that we have all been given a garden--a special gift that we need to cultivate and grow--but we have to search within ourselves to find the seeds of that garden. I believe the dormant seeds have to be nurtured and cultivated in order to erupt into tiny seedlings, grow, and finally begin producing fruit. The dream of having a business has been in my heart for many years, but I went to college, got married, pursued a career,raised children, and did everything else. Somewhere in between I got a taste of doing something I love--being creative. It has taken time and experience, but the benefits of nurturing and cultivating my dream have finally begun to spring forth. The Rosemary's Garden website is finally open! Please visit www.rosemarysgarden.biz/.

It seems almost incredulous to be pursuing a business during crazy economic times, but I guess I am one of those people who looks at the manure and says "Where's the pony?" If we have been called to do something, we will face obstacles, but I would rather try to do what I'm called to do than never try at all. Of course sometimes we have to pursue multiple tasks in order to reach our dreams, and I have been doing this for many years and will continue. But at least now, a seedling has sprung forth, and I will continue to cultivate and fertilize my little garden. Please visit the website and tell me what you think. I am so very interested in your comments. Please note that you must log in to blogger or your comments will not show up. You may also go to the contacts page on my website and send me an e-mail.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

October Sunsets


Have you ever noticed the beauty of an October sunset? Have you ever thought about the awesome creativity of God? It almost seems to me that He wants to make this time of year the most beautiful of all so that we will notice.

I have been reluctant to write about the financial crisis in my blog because I want it to be a positive reading experience for visitors, but one can hardly ignore the things that are taking place in our country and world.

Have you ever heard of Dani Johnson's book, "Spirit Driven Success"? She does seminars to train business people for success, and you can visit her website at http://www.danijohnson.com/ In the book, she asks the question are you in a season of plenty or famine? If you are in plenty, it is preparation for famine. When you are in famine, it is preparation for plenty. She says it's all about what you do in the famine that determines what the plenty is going to look like. She tells the story of a man named Joseph in Genesis, who did all the right things in his life, but still ended up in prison. He continued to obey God (not just trust) even during the hard times and God not only brought him out of his prison, but used him to deliver a whole nation from famine. It was all a process that God used to develop character and faithfulness in a person.

Now is not the time to give up, but to look up. Look to our true Source. All hope is not lost in a recession or even a depression. Our parents and grandparents lived through a depression. We have a God who creates the sunsets. He even has some advice on finances. Read Malachi 3:7-18. Maybe He wants to develop some character in us. Let's start noticing Him, what He has to say,and....His beautiful sunsets.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Happy Fall!





Don't you just love the colors of fall? This just has to be my most favorite time of the year! The sky is blue, the mornings are crisp, and the sunsets are beautiful. Harvest time. Baking aromas of cinnamon and spice. Last week I went to pick apples at a friend's house so I will be coming up with ways to use the apples. Today I was inspired to bake an apple cake using a recipe from my Aunt Hilda. Her recipe is the most delicious apple cake I've ever tasted. I took a picture of the finished product. We will sample it this weekend.


Saturday, September 13, 2008

Last Rose of Summer















I confess that I have not been a faithful blogger. I’m trying to improve. But I could not let summer completely pass without sharing a few of my favorite flower pictures. This year I grew zinnias, gardenias, and hydrangeas so I’m posting pictures of those. The blue hydrangeas were a view from my kitchen window. The gardenias bloomed early in the summer; the zinnias and white hydrangeas have bloomed most of the summer. I love how the white hydrangeas turn into a sage green color after blooming. They also dry very beautifully and can be used in arrangements. The picture of the roses blooming on the wall is not part of my garden, but a lovely one I found from www.sxc.hu. It reminds me of the poem—the Last Rose of Summer.


I hope all of you have had a nice summer. It has been a quick one for me—we took a trip to Tennessee, South Carolina, and Georgia to visit relatives, work on genealogy, and visit the University of Georgia-- my oldest son is considering attending graduate school there. We love to visit historical places, so we visited the Andrew Johnson home in Greenville, Tennessee, and Jonesbourgh, the oldest town in Tennessee. We also visited a quaint little town in South Carolina—Abbeville, which has been almost untouched by the rest of the world.



























This was the hometown of my husband’s grandmother and we visited an old ancestral home-- the beautiful old Queen Anne Victorian. There were some wonderful antique shops along the way and, and of course I could not resist stopping in to look for a few treasures. It was a good summer.



Sunday, June 29, 2008

American Heroes


The birthday of our nation is always a time of celebration and patriotism, so I wanted to share a few pictures and thoughts from my little part of the world. Here are a few pictures of display items from my shop--vintage flags and an Americana tray with picture of our forefathers. There is also a picture of a banner that I made using fabric from an estate sale.




























Here is a little handmade pincushion created from new and vintage materials. Standing atop the pincushion is a figure of George Washington found at an estate sale. His hand is on a Bible, and an image of the American flag is at his back. He is surrounded by a collection of new and vintage buttons and trims. Behind the figure, I sewed ribbon, tinsel, and wired gold beads to resemble fireworks.














There are many American heroes, and we need to remember them all. But I wanted to share one who was closest to me.


Here is a picture of my Dad, my American hero, who passed away last year. He was one of the bravest men I have ever known. He was a World War II veteran, who served in a medical unit in France during the Normandy invasion. One of his jobs was to pick up the wounded and dead on the beach during the invasion. There is also a picture of his medical unit the day before they shipped out to Omaha Beach on June 10, 1944. He is the tallest in the middle on the back row.


































In June 1994 his family accompanied him back to Normandy, France for the 50th Anniversary of D-Day. I am including a picture of my Dad and family standing in front of the Pointe du Hoc, a famous landmark, on Omaha Beach in Normandy. We accompanied a group of other veterans who landed on D-Day in 1944. Many of them talked about how the landing did not go as the military had planned. It was difficult getting off the landing craft because of all the dead American bodies floating in the water. Some of the veterans were paratroopers who jumped into battle at the Saint Mere-Eglise church where a famous paratrooper hung from the church steeple for hours. These men were not fighting on American soil, but they were paying the price for freedom in another part of the world.

















Most of us have lived in America without having to worry about freedom because someone else paid the price for us. On July 4, we need to remember those who have and continue to pay the price. I just want to keep my hand on that Bible like George Washington and say "Thank you for true American heroes."


Thank you for visiting and leaving comments. Happy 4th of July to all my friends and visitors!

Thursday, June 12, 2008

The Sweet Fragrance of Magnolia































Just wanted to say hello after a long absence... ...thanks to all of you who are still blogging. Sorry I have been away so long, but I'm dealing with empty nest syndrome. Both my boys moved out, and in addition to coping with change, I've been cleaning out clutter and trying to readjust my life. I have opened my store three days a week, Thursday-Saturday, and thought I would share some pictures from the store in addition to some things I've been working on.


In the store, I have a mix of vintage, new, and handmade. I enjoy floral design and finding new ways to use vintage items. I am including a picture of a wreath created using re-purposed silk flowers. There is also a picture of my latest creations--the little pincushions created from vintage goods. The pincushion pictured is one called "Southern Belle" because the little vintage figurine looks like one! She is currently for sale at Etsy. Thanks to all of you who visit my Etsy Store and my blog. One day the Rosemarys Garden website will be finished!

Now my thought for the day: "Faith isn't the ability to believe long and far into the misty future. It is simply taking God at his word and taking the next step." Joni Eareckson Tada

I really feel like that's where I am right now. I've really been enjoying the sweet fragrance of magnolia blooms during my morning walks. I hope you have been enjoying your life. All my best to all of you.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Washington DC











This week I accompanied my husband on a business trip to Washington DC, and the cherry trees there just happened to be in full bloom! I couldn't resist taking a few pictures to share with all of you. The blooms only last a couple of weeks, so I was blessed to be able to be there and see this beautiful sight.Most of our time was spent in business, but we did manage to visit a few shops and restaurants in Alexandria.

I hope that all of you are doing well and staying encouraged in your personal and business pursuits. Thanks to all of you who visit me and leave comments!

Friday, March 28, 2008

Gardening Angel





Remember the Gardening Angel doll I was working on? I finally finished her! I have been working on several projects this week to place in my Etsy store.


I hope all of you had a wonderful Easter. My whole family came to my house, my sister and her husband, my two nieces, my two sons, and step-mom. Of course there was hubby and me also. We spent the day talking and relaxing. We made a pot of Earl Grey tea after dinner and ate the Easter cookies. I packaged some cookies for my nieces, ages 10 and 6. I asked them if they wanted to take some cookies home and they took them all!

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Happy Easter!


Hello, I just wanted to wish everyone Happy Easter, and share some of the things I've been doing lately. Here is a spring arrangement I did for my Easter table with pansies and bunny. I will be making a chicken casserole, strawberry pretzel salad, asparagus, carrots, and rolls.

I have always wanted to learn how to use the hand decorating bags for icing cookies so decided to try it. I made sugar cookies from a recipe out of the Huntsville Heritage Cookbook. The recipe is called "Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies" and the author said it was her great-grandmother's recipe. It is a great recipe, and the dough was very easy to work with. I would be happy to share it with anyone who is interested. The cookies baked well and didn't crumble.









I made icing from
egg whites, confectioner's sugar, and lemon juice. The consistency was good and easy to work with in the decorating bag.





I was pleased with the results, but need more practice! Hope everyone has a wonderful Easter with your family!

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Thank you God for Spring


I had hoped to take pictures of a doll to put on my post today, but I can’t seem to finish her. She is a gardening angel, and I will post her as soon as I finish. I am just going to say “Thank you God for spring, and the promise of new life.” My quince is blooming and the hydrangeas are beginning to bud. I hope we have some beautiful ones this year—it was such an awful summer last year with no rain and the painful loss of my father. Actually the last 2 years have been difficult for my family. In 8/06 my son was in a serious car accident, and we spent the last half of that year in therapy and recuperation. Then in 1/07 my father was diagnosed with cancer, so most of 2007 was spent in helping him get through the treatments and finally losing him in September 2007. He was such an inspiration in my life, and I will talk more about him later.

Needless to say, my business plans have progressed slowly. Maybe that was for the best, as it has given me time to see what is really important in life—God, family and relationships I am working on business plans to see what works best—my antique shop is not in a high traffic area—so I am in the process of developing a website. I seem to enjoy the more creative side of business, and would like to focus more on that. But I still have some local customers, so I am working on options for opening or closing the shop.

I hope I am not boring everyone with all my wanderings. If any of you have experiences that would help, please share them with me.

Thought for the day: There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature—the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after the winter—Rachel Carson.

Saturday, March 1, 2008

The Joy of Being Creative

Hello everyone,
I am new to the blogging community. I'm not sure about how to do this, but I will give it my best. This really seems like a wonderful way to connect to you creative ones out there. Just wanted to share these little pot holders with you that I made. Collecting vintage fabrics is one of my hobbies and for years, I've had these little squares of veggie fabrics that I wanted to do something with--just didn't know what. I finally came up with this idea--some cute potholders! What do you think? Isn't it amazing that when you have an inspiration to create something and follow through--it brings joy! I hope you have a wonderful day and have some time to be creative.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Apple Cookies and the Sweet Simple Things of Life


February 19, 2008

Today was my cleaning day at home, but I wanted to do something creative because that’s what I love to do! I decided to bake breakfast cookies for later since I had some apples that needed to be used. The recipe is from an old Quaker Oats recipe book, but my family affectionately calls them “Apple Cookies.” I have been baking them since my boys were toddlers, and they are now 26 and 27 and still love them! Here are some pictures I made during the cooking process.

Here is the recipe in case you want to try them. I always double the recipe because they disappear so quickly. They are excellent with coffee or for a quick breakfast when your family is in a hurry.

Apple & Cheese Pleasers

¾ cup all-purpose flour ( I use whole wheat flour)

2/3 cup butter, softened

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1 ½ cups quick or old fashioned oats, uncooked

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup chopped or grated apple ( I grate the apples because they blend into the batter easier)

¾ cup raisins (optional)

Combine flour, butter, sugar, egg, vanilla, cinnamon, baking powder and salt in large bowl; mix well. Add oats, cheese and raisins; mix well. Stir in apple. Drop by heaping tablespoons onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in preheated 375° oven for 15—20 minutes or until golden brown. Store in tightly covered container in refrigerator or loosely covered container at room temperature. Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

And now the finished product! My husband showed up right after they came out of the oven. “ The cooking aroma of these cookies is irresistible” he says.

Now my thoughts for the day. “Let us believe that God is in all our simple deeds and learn to find Him there.” A.W. Tozer

“I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.” Laura Ingalls Wilder

I hope that you will be inspired to develop the gift that God has placed in your life, whatever that may be. Love and Blessings, Rosemary

Sunday Night Supper

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Tonight I basically cleaned out my refrigerator and used what was there to create dinner. This was the end result--a pasta salad! I sliced yellow squash and onion, then sauteed in extra-virgin olive oil. I then added a package of chopped tofu, a can of drained red kidney beans and some cooked whole wheat pasta. I added some grape tomatoes, cucumbers, and some organic spring mix. We ate with salad dressing and some grated cheese. Everyone seemed to enjoy!