Lantana and Butterflies

Ever since our lantana bloomed, butterflies have been swarming and fluttering over them. They are just too cute so I started taking pictures. I just kept clicking away because they keep moving from one flower to another.


There are 3 kinds of flowers coming out of one plant, all pink, mostly pink with a little yellow and mostly yellow with a little pink. I think they are all equally lovely.

I won't say much anymore. I will let the photos speak for themselves. Enjoy!

Can you spot all the 3 butterflies below?

I am linking with Jean's Bloomin' Tuesday at http://msgreenthumbjean.blogspot.com/

Susan's Outdoor Wednesday at http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/

Tootsie's Fertilizer Friday at http://www.tootsietime.com/

and Beverly's Pink Saturday at http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com

Thank you ladies, for hosting, and thanks y'all for stopping by!

Inspired by a Japanese Kimono

I saw a Japanese sash in the other vendor's booth in the store and I thought it would be a perfect table runner for an Asian tablescape. So that became the inspiration to my table setting.



I already have had this Asian dinnerware set called "Shima".

See the table runner? It is a Japanese Kimono sash. I think it's the one they tie around the waste of the kimono with a big bow tied in the back. It is really long and I thought for $20, it would be a very good buy. And I was right because we went to an antique festival last weekend in St. Francisville, and they had a few of them and they were selling for $110.00 each. The seller told me that the ones with designs all over on both sides, which this one has, are more expensive, because of the heavy workmanship.

I used my darker bamboo flatware. I think they are very Asian. I also used bamboo placemats but I only have 4 of them so I alternated them with gold round weaved placemats.

Oval wooden plate chargers....I only have 6 of these so for the 2 end settings, I used round gold wooden charger plates.

This is one of my most treasured possessions, a heavy solid jade urn I found in an antique store in Orlando in the 80's. I also have a small jade tea set. I thought they would look good together and of course, an orchid would complete the Asian ambience.

I placed an Asian figure on either side of the table, next to a candle. I think they are Chinese though. I do have Japanese dolls. I probably should have used them instead. In fact, I did replace the porcelain figures with them. You will see in the last 3 photos.

Here is the closeup of the kimono repurposed into a table runner.

A Japanese teapot with a peacock. I have matching tea cups but I put them away since I am using the Shima cups that came with my dinnerware set.

The jade tea set.

Japanese doll and black Jap. lacquered napkin rings.

Japanese vintage Nippon salt cellars.

The succeeding pictures will show the Japanese dolls that replaced the Chinese porcelain figures.

Which do you prefer, the Chinese figures or these? Here is a Japanese warrior.

I hope you enjoyed my Oriental tablescape. Thank you so much for coming. I am linking with:

Marty for Tablestop Tuesday at http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/

Lady Katherine for Teatime Tuesday at http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/

Wanda Lee and Pam for their Tuesday Tea parties at http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com/

Sandi for teatime Tuesday at http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com/

Martha and Terri for Teacup Tuesday at http://www.marthasfavorites.com/
Trish' Tea Party Tuesday at http://sweetology101.blogspot.com/
Bunny's Blog Hop Wed at http://bunnyjeansdecorandmore.blogspot.com/

Susan for Tablescape Thursday at http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

Miss Spencer's Teacup Thursday at http://missspensersblog.blogspot.com/

I thank all these wonderful hostesses. I really appreciate all your hard and dedicated work.

Bloggers are Generous!

Still don't have too much time for blogging because of so many things happening around here so I will only show you a few stuff I bought in an antique and thrift shop.

The silver plated tray is from an antique store. It was very tarnished but it is very heavy and I like the eding so I bought it for $10. It cleaned really well as you can see in the bottom photo.

The pictures on the right, glasses, a bowl, various plates, saucers and cups came from St. Andrew's thrift shop. Since John and I are both in the medical field, I was attracted to the medical design on the glasses and dishes but the sales lady wanted $45 for them. They also included an S & P shaker and a butter dish with the same design. Anyway, I did not buy them but 2 days later, I told John to look at them so we went back and they were still there and still $45. He told me to buy them because they are unusual. And as an obedient wife, I did, LOL! When the cashier was wrapping them, she dropped the top of the butter dish and it broke, so she gave me a $5 discount. Do you see the prescription sign and Caduceus?

For my Pink Saturday contribution, I would like to show you what I have won from Bloggers' giveaways. Bloggers, in my opinion, are the nicest and most generous people around. You will agree after you see what I have won!

To see more pinks, don't forget to visit Beverly at http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/

First, I won a Kitchenaid mixer from Michael of Designs by Gollum at http://www.designsbygollum.blogspot.com/ I already own one so I gave it to my daughter for her birthday and she was very pleased! I am pleased too because now, I have a nicer mixer to use when I am baking at their house, which I will be pretty soon, after she delivers her baby girl. Thanks, Michael!

Last spring, I won a "count the beans in the jar" contest. I took the pictures of the items when they arrived but I could not remember the website of who sent them to me. All I know is it was Deanna. That is the reason I did not post sooner.

Deanna, I am so sorry, I could not email to thank you. Somehow, I deleted my email notification and our communications, but I really love everything you sent me. Thank you very much! I hope you will be able to read this post.

Aren't they all pretty? I am very ready for Easter now!

A few weeks ago, maybe months, I received this package from Sares of http://loveleightreasures.blogspot.com/

As you can see, the packaging is pink.

I do enjoy all the goodies, Sares. Thank you so much!

I love that crown on the bag and the pearly necklace. The scrabble tiles are perfect too because I love to play Scrabble. Anybody who plays on the i phone or Facebook can invite me. I think my user name is xinex.

Last but not least, I just got this maybe a week or 2 ago and it came from Richard of http://myoldhistorichouse.blogspot.com/

And It is a guest book but the most beautiful Magnolia picture cover.

It is perfect for me because it looks so southern and I love having guests at home.

Beautiful pages with flowers all over.

And there is my lovely guest book on my foyer console, on display, all ready for guests to sign.

Thanks to Michael, Deanna, Sares and Richard for your generosity and for making me sooooo very happy!

Thanks to all for stopping by and you make me very happy also. Hope you all have a nice weekend!