How Time Flies When You're Having Fun

Sue and I

It's hard to believe that it will soon be two years

since my Step Sister Susan (Scufty to me) came to 

visit us when we lived in our old Victorian home. She was 

here for nearly a month ...we got short changed with time but we had had a wonderful time just the same.

Sue and Donna

She and my sister in law Donna and I had a 'girls weekend' and took off to Springfield Missouri for a look around Donna's old stomping ground and then we headed south to 

'Home of the Throwed Rolls' which just happens to be

my most favorite restaurant in the world...

Lambert's

The cute fellow who was kind enough to stop in mid throw for me. 

For those of you who have never experienced Lambert's 

let me explain why their logo is

'Home Of The Throwed Rolls'

You see...a fellow rolls around this trolley 

as people are eating.

Then when you're least expecting it he yells

'Throwed Rolls'!

Well it's 'heads up' and people start standing up and yelling 'here' and that's when the fun starts.

OH MY...

The most delicious soft fresh rolls start flying through 

the air. The aroma is out of this world and 

the taste..is to die for.

This is the lunch size...we were there for supper once and the plate was even more filled!

By the way...this is their Chicken Fried Steak and it is the best I've ever had. Oh and if you think this plate is  full...they come around with big bowls of fried potatoes and onions...fried Okra... macaroni and tomatoes and if you want some they put a HUGE scoop on your plate. Plus they come around again! 

I was able to get a picture of our food but unfortunately

we all scarfed our rolls down before I could get a shot.

Never fear though...if you want more

just stand up and holler 'here'

and the fellow will throw 

you another.

Sue admiring the huge insulated mug they serve coffee in. Isn't she cute!

From Ozark Missouri after waddling out to Donna's vehicle

we headed to Branson Missouri where we did a bit of shopping and then spent the night. The next morning we were off to Arkansas.

I love the hills.

Table Rock Lake

We finally arrived at our destination...

Eureka Springs .

This is such a wonderful little town to visit...it is truly

a Victorian village with lots of quaint shops

and interesting places to eat.

Sue having fun shopping

The Crescent Hotel which is just up the hill from the village

There are buggy rides which take you around the village and then up into the residential area.

This would be the best way to see all the beautiful old homes as you can relax and not 

have to worry about all the tight turns and narrow roads.

The little shops and restaurants are painted bright

Victorian colors.

I was too slow getting a photo of Sue and Donna walking under this sign ;-)

The village its self is nestled in a rocky little cleft in the Ozark Mountains and above the town district

is the residential area. 

OH MY there are some of the cutest little Victorian homes

you could ever imagine. I'm sorry I didn't get many pictures

of the houses but it was February when we were

there and they had just cleaned up from a huge 

ice storm and it was just a tad dull and chilly!

Many of these sweet little cottages are B&B's

We spent the night and then after doing a bit more shopping and looking around we were on our way back to Kansas.

It was a great trip home and Donna took us down back roads

through Arkansas. What a beautiful State and I can't wait to get back there again.

We brought home a few treasures but most of all wonderful memories to last us a life time.

Before we knew it ...it was time for Sue to head back home to Canada and all that snow.

Thanks for the wonderful visit Sis...it's been two years

... can't wait to see you again.

Donna...thanks for taking us!

XOXO

I think it's time to plan another girls weekend away ;)

Have you had a 'girls weekend' away?

If so I'd love to hear about it.

Enjoy your weekend!

Maura :)

Here We Go Again!

Help!

Here we go again...forgive me as I asked this once before and got lots of great suggestions but now I have another problem.

I'm so glad it's winter...this way I don't have to make my mind up right away and I can really THINK on this

 for a few more months.

Here's my dilema.

I want to paint the house this spring.

So what's the problem you ask?

See the tree in the top picture?

See that rust color on the right side?

It's RUST.

We have VERY rusty water here in the country and everything the water from the sprinklers hits turns orange/red.

If you take a close look at the top picture and look REALLY hard you'll see that the bottom of the porch pillars and the down spouts have already gotten stained after ONE summer!

Our windows are white vinyl and the trim around them are white aluminum so we can't paint them so that 

means I have to find a paint color for the house that will look nice with snowy white trim.

Almost forgot...the roof is a medium brown.

I would LOVE to paint the cottage all white but here in 

Kansas it's windy and the over-spay from the sprinklers

heads towards the house and you know what that means.

Now we have another problem.

The picket fence.

The picket fence is a work in progress...we still have more to put up.

Unfortunately a lot of the fence will be down-wind to the sprinklers so that sweet cottage white picket fence

is out of the question.

To me...nothing looks worse than that horrid rust

stain on a pretty white house or fence.

SO...

I'm thinking that I'm going to have to stain the fence a brown color :(

I had to do that at our Victorian home because of the same problem and when I was done it looked like it had

been there forever.

Picket fence at our Victorian home I stained brown. See the rust on that tree?

Here's a picture of the picket fence as it was going up and you can also see the color of the roof.

 I'd LOVE to paint my house a soft buttery yellow or white...typical farmhouse cottage colors but I'm 

afraid it won't work for us.

So...now I have to figure out what color to paint the house to go with the white trim and then figure a stain color for the fence that will 

have that wonderful cottage look that I want. 

What do you think?

Do you have any suggestions or even pictures that I could see?

I would LOVE to see what you have to say...any 

and all suggestions will be GREATLY 

appreciated.

Thank you in advance!

I hope your day has been a good one so far.

Maura :)

Baby It's Cold Outside!

It's finally snowing here in our part of Kansas.
I have mixed feelings about it...first I love how everything is so bright and clean looking...BUT I hate the dirty wet paws that have to be wiped off every time the critters come into the house.

I filled up the feeder yesterday knowing full well our furry and feathered friends would be extra hungry with this

cold weather.

Looks like they appreciated it.

I love the Cardinals.

Looks like we have a few families of them around.

This little furry fellow let one of the male Cardinals eat with him for a while but then wanted it all for himself.

This furry fellow waited his turn in the apple tree.

We are surrounded on 3 sides by Black Angus cattle.

They make great entertainment when you're working outside.

This is how some of us spent our day.

Above is Chelsea snuggled into her bed under the kitchen table with her little baby bunny toy. Below is Olly in the bathroom sink...not far from the wood stove.

Oh how we love our wood stove...especially on days like this.

I hope you're warm and cozy where ever you are.

Maura :)

More Cottage Bathroom Inspiration

remodelingcenter.com

Wouldn't you just love to have a little alcove like this one in your bathroom!

After posting pictures of our bathroom I went looking

for more cottage-style inspiration that

we might be able to use

here at the cottage.

It's amazing how much wonderful information and pictures there are on the Internet...in fact it's a bit

overwhelming.

Even though our bathroom isn't like any of these

beautiful rooms I still find lots of

inspiration that we can incorporate

into our little space.

Here's a little 'eye-candy' for you.

country Living

Love the sloped ceiling.

Airoom

I'd LOVE a round window in my bathroom!

Kitchen Bath Ideas

Look at the size of this room and those windows...sigh.

Kitchen Bath Ideas

Love all the windows.

BHG

Windows on 3 sides!

Southern Living

I miss the pedestal sink we left in the city. Wouldn't give up living in the country for it though.

Kitchen And Bath Ideas

Now wouldn't a built in bench be wonderful in your bathroom!

Unknown

Love that double window.

Home Decoration

Another large window by the tub....isn't that a different one!

After looking back over the pictures I had chosen for this post I see a definite pattern here.

Bright bathrooms with lots of windows and of course bead board and footed tubs. 

I have the windows (just not as large)...a footed tub (which will go in a future master bathroom..fingers crossed) and we WILL be installing bead board.

I will also be painting this bathroom white but I may just add a bit of cottage-y (;) wall paper.

All that's left to do is get hubby hyped up to get started.

Wish me luck!

Hope your day is a good one.

Maura :)