Friday Favorites! A Childhood Memory

This week instead of highlighting a favorite past post,I thought I'd share another favorite for Friday.


When I was a small girl, one of my uncles would treat me to my favorite French lollipops/suckers from an upscale gourmet food and spirit shop in San Francisco.
Not only were the lollipops much more intensely flavored than those I had ever tasted before, in my short life ...They were dispensed in a most unusual way.From the most endearing porcelain sculpture which was an ever present fixture on the check out counter...Always a delightful array of full fruit flavors, or creamy caramel!Decisions. Ambrosial Decisions.So ...Can you imagine my glee when I was given a reproduction of the very Pierrot Gourmand with lollipops as a gift a while ago?!Even the refill lollipops come in a charming tin... And YES!They taste just as good as I remember them so many years ago.When I look at him, it brings back wonderful memories of a happy childhood.I hope certain things remind you of fond childhood memories, too.Have a lovely Friday everyone.

Postcard ~ From the Garden

Hello, thank you for stopping by!

All kinds of activities have been happening, it's been terribly busy around here, hence ~ I haven't had much time for blogging.

I hope those who celebrate had Joyous Easter and Passover observances.

Ours was very relaxed and enjoyable~ though I didn't have a chance to capture much of it in photos so I thought I would share some bunny sitings from around the house and property instead; some from Easters past, and some from this year.

I've loved rabbits since I was a little girl, perhaps because I was born in the year of the Rabbit (Hare), according to the Chinese calendar.

We've had several kinds of rabbits as pets through the years (their waste is excellent fertilizer for the flower garden) and I've also collected things with a rabbit theme for a very long time.

Deb Canham is a former UK police officer, turned soft sculpture artist, specializing in handmade mohair, fully articulated (jointed) miniatures ~

I began collecting her orginal works in the 1980's. Beginning with her earliest teddy bears, then other animals and creatures as she expanded the line. Here I've posed the little rabbit with a dime so you can get an idea of the scale of her little works of art.

There are all kinds of knock-offs since she introduced her line,

but her works, especially her early pieces remain my all-time favorites.

The next rabbit is a modern day replica of a NETSUKE ~

I have a couple of authentic, ancient netsukes which were my mothers'; I would be happy to share in an upcoming post.

Although this one is not centuries old as my mothers are,

I fell in love with the look of him...

... and the charming detail when you turn him over!

A tiny handmade mohair pull-toy.

The artist who made the following decoration uses reproductions of old images, laminates the images to wood, then laser cuts around the image. He then mounts the sturdy cut-outs on wood bases so they can stand independently. Finally he accents the pieces with German glass glitter for a reflective, sparkling effect.

I adore the vintage look of them.

Here's one example ~ there are more further down...

I also like to collect vintage Beatrice Potter figurines;

most of mine are old Beswick, from a fine UK ebay vendor.

I've shared some in the past, and will save the remainder of the collection for another time.

Another Deb Canham handmade mohair bunny ~

This one is Peter Rabbit, he is about 3-inches tall.

If you look carefully you can see the tiny metal Peter Rabbit charm on his neck ribbon. He likes to stay in this old apothocary jar on the shelf in the Garden room ~

I bring him out to sit on a table near fresh cut flowers throughout the year.

(This time on a vintage hankie.)

And good old (glazed terra cotta) Mr. Rabbit, whom you've probably met before, if you've been reading my blog for a while.

He's been with me for years, and shows up all around the house and sometimes in the garden.

Antique doorstop, and vintage painted metal rabbit with basket~

Peeking bunnies...

Probably planning their escape!

Yet another metal bunny with his basket...

This one is hiding in the grape hyacinth, beneath a young fig tree:

A Mother's Day gift from some years ago ~

cement Rabbit Planter, the cabbage holds small annuals.

From the Beatrix Potter, Peter Rabbit children's garden:

They hide all over the place ~ as you can see.

And a few more of the vintage-look decorations~

This Easter card from my son was enclosed with his gift. The rose is a dried Cecil Brunner, from the old climber which still grows at our family home in California.

This rose has very special meaning to me, because it has intertwined in my family's history. My grandfather brought slips from his garden in Oregon, when he moved back to San Francisco in the 1920's and planted in his garden.

When my parent bought their home in the 1940's he brought slips from his plant, and planted two in my parents garden. He did the same for all of my aunts and uncles in the SF Bay Area ~ so you can probably see why I consider it our FAMILY ROSE. :) It's been around lots longer than me!

I love that my son "gets" the meaning of this rose. It speaks love to me!

More wood bunnies with Camellias from the Camellia garden (the same area where we had brunch last week for Tablescape Thursday!)

I hope you've enjoyed this little tour of the bunnies ~

I MISS visiting your marvelous blogs and hope to be back within a day or two.

Have a lovely week everyone!

Tablescape Thursday ~ 2009, March 26

Welcome, welcome to this edition of Tablescape Thursday!

We're having breakfast here in Oregon, in the original rose & rhododendron area of the garden.

Sometimes it's a little chilly early during spring mornings, so I have the outdoor tower heaters warming the area. I think you'll find it quite comfortable.

It's peaceful, lush and GREEN here, surrounded by forest and woods, although the roses and rhodies/azaelas won't come into bloom for about a month or so.

Tablescape Thursday is hosted by sweet Susan at her lovely blog, Between Naps on the Porch.

Since it's Spring ~ that is the theme I chose for this Thursday's Tablescape.

I've collected all kinds of rabbits and bunnies for years ~ here are a couple of them.

The two larger ones are glazed terra cotta, and I'm sure you recognize the jumbo size figurine of Peter Rabbit, and his mother Mrs. Bunny. (She is busy straightening his collar and necktie.)

I love pansies, so I've included some on today's table ~along with a little fragrant Greek Oregano plant in the milk pitcher.

I believe the remainder of the photos are self-explanatory ~I hope you enjoy them...

And I WISH you really COULD be here to have breakfast with me in this tranquil setting .

It's a wonderful place to begin the day.

The linens (again) are from April Cornell ~ her table linens are some of my favorites.

The mugs and bowls the pansies are in are by Martha Stewart.

The glazed white terra cotta plates and bowls (which I've featured in the past)

are by Lone Oak & Co., California. I bought them at Vanderbilt & Co. in Palo Alto, as well as their old store in St. Helena, CA (Napa wine country.)

I believe the company is now defunct, unfortunately.

The small blue glass cake stand is made by the US glass company, L.E. Smith.

The flatware is made by "Gourmet Settings". And the pressed-glass blue tumblers are Portuguese, from Horchow.

Thank you so much for stopping by to visit ~ please leave a comment so I can come visit YOUR blog, too. :)

Please bookmark my blog, or add it on your favorites list ~ there is always something on the table, or something happening around the house, you're always welcome here.

Click here to go to Between Naps on the Porch to see the other blogs participating in this weeks tablescape.