Time in a Bottle

Time is a companion that goes with us on a journey.

It reminds us to cherish each moment,

because it will never come again.

What we leave behind is not as important as how we have lived.

                                                                                                               ~Jean-Luc Picard

springing forward…reluctantly!

Today, I am taking the leap! I am setting my watch an hour ahead for daylight savings time–yes, it is the Friday following the change to daylight savings time! “No kidding! But, I haven’t changed the time on the clock in my car…I want to save all the time I can! What is that you say? I won’t really save time by not changing my clock? Ah…well…!

Thinking About Time

cherish is the word I use to describe…

Cherishing moments I have with my VBS, children, family and friends is something I am thinking about a bit lately. Cherishing is the fundamental essence of living the beautiful life that Melissa writes about on The Inspired Room –whether it is cherishing a family keepsake, finding a long-forgotten treasure, making our homes lovely or spending time with loved ones!

What do you cherish the most to create the beautiful life?

Each spring as my watch is set ahead, I think how quickly time passes! How is it that it is just a blink and our babies grow into amazing adults that we want to be around! When the babies were…well, babies…it seemed like they were always going to be little, sitting next to the table in their high chairs during meal times, climbing into their cribs at bedtime or asking to have just one more story read…”ohhh, pleeeeeeease, Mama!” In reality, there are only a finite number of times to enjoy shared meals, bedtime stories or sunsets…but usually we treat these as inexhaustable!

Taking Time for the Inspired and Beautiful Life

What are the moments that you want to treasure with your children, family or friends?

Because time is not limitless, it is important to “stop the clock” for a minute or two and think about what is it I really want to do or pursue. Then, I consider how to prioritize or balance time between numerous responsibilites and ever-expanding interests of things to do, make and see!  This year, one of my goals is to write the Rose Cottage Gardens and Farm blog as a way to connect with family and friends–old and new. I am using the posts as one tool to think about how to create a beautiful life, and how to resoucefully, creatively and intentionally live in that beautiful life.

one moment {month} in time

I am so grateful that you are stopping by for a chat today, and to share your kind words and support in this journey! You see, today marks the completion of one month in the blogsville! It is so wonderful to meet you here—to pause the clock for a moment or two and share a bit of our lives. I want to bottle up all this time we spend together and save it for a rainy day!

Finding Time in a Bottle at Rose Mille

 

I would love if you would take some time to send me a comment!

Thank you for your visit and a little chat!

sweet treats for my valentine

day just for girls – then a sweet recipe to share

It is a girl’s Valentine adventure along the river town — inspiration, laughs and the making of memories! Two stops are tops on our list!  

Mi filled with inspiring ideas for vintage finds at Rose Mille (modeling fabulous vintage millinery feathers!)

 

 Mi, owner and designer extraordinaire at Rose Mille, is eager to show off her newly-designed haute couture handbags. With camera in tow, we set up to photo the fabulous bags, but the camera battery is dead! So, more about these amazing handbags another time.

After finding a few not-to-be missed vintage treasures, the girls are off to a romantic gardener’s dream–Camrose Hill! Cindie, gifted designer and owner, is inspiring with her beautiful bouquets that always have an added element of surprise and careful attention to detail.

Victorian Rose Basket for a Valentine

Of course, the girls can’t leave without some Valentine’s to share with those they love. One last Valentine just as they say their “good-byes”…Mary offers the girls freshly-baked Valentine sugar cookies for along the road. Who can resist on a girls only adventure?

memories of cut-out Valentine sugar cookies

The sprinkled sugar cookies bring back memories of a tucked away Valentine card I received from my grandparents long ago. Then, I read Karen’s comment on the Valentine’s Wishes post about the card her husband received from his mom. I just had to look for that card from Grandpa and Grandma Marsden. The card is inscribed with a Valentine cookie recipe that I want to share with you–just in case you need to do a last minute Valentine for someone! I am up before Bob, the rooster, looking for the card.

Viola! …I stop in my tracks …and have a growing realization that the card looks quite vintage–something from the era of some things we were looking at on the girl’s Valentine adventure! Oh, my! The little package of red sugar sprinkles is still intact and attached to the inside of the card. The instructions on the package reads, “Make a sweet sugar design on each one.”

Sweet Granddaughter Valentine (c. 1965)

“real good” Valentine cookies

1/2 cup butter (unsalted)

1 cup granulated sugar

1 farm fresh egg, beaten well

2 cups sifted all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon of Madagascar vanilla

Cream butter and sugar together. Stir in egg. Sift flour, baking powder and salt together. Add alternately with milk and vanilla. Chill in refrigerator for one hour.

Drop from teaspoon onto lightly- greased cookie sheet or Silpat. Flatten each cookie with bottom of glass covered with damp cloth. (Using a glass with a impressed design on the bottom makes a very pretty cookie.) Decorate with red or pink sugar sprinkles to make a sweet sugar design. Bake at 350 degrees for 7 to 9 minutes or until lightly browned. Makes 2 dozen.

I hope that you make a “sweet sugar design”

on the life of someone you meet today.

Happy Valentine’s!

A Valentine Wish for You (c.1893)