Gathering In ♥ Spring Delights from my Inglenook

for the beauty of the earth...

Springtime is surely blossoming all around. I have a gorgeous view outside my window these days...a tree reaching up to the sky bursting with purple flowers and boasting of tremendous beauty. This is our first spring at Shady Cottage, as we moved in last mid-summer, so we are having surprises several times a week seeing what new things are popping up and coming to life. So far, we've discovered a new favorite flower in our gardens...grape hyacinths. They are all over the place and we weren't sure what they were, but thanks to some lovely Instagram friends, we now know their name. And oh boy, are they delightful. There's also a patch of mystery green leaves in our backyard and we're holding tight to see what they turn out to be. I've also been chased by the bumblebees for the first time this year whilst taking pictures...so you can definitely say that spring is here!

musical treasures...

Last month brought two Irish concerts within just five days of each other...absolute heaven! The first one was peace-filled and beautiful in every way possible. Many of my personal favorites were performed, as well as one particular new-to-me song that I've had on repeat ever since. The second concert was full of lots of toe-tapping and hand-clapping. We laughed so hard and just had the best time. Two nights of the music I love so dearly, sweet memories made, and a few hours of such lifegiving, soul-lifting fun!

bookish ramblings...

My "currently reading" stack sits five books high at the moment...yes, I know, that's a lot. However, I've found some true lovelies and for that I'm grateful. I'm reading a charming fiction book that my sister has been recommending to me for a long time now...and I'm thoroughly enjoying every bit of it. After finishing a fiction book that ended up becoming a new favorite of mine, I was a bit leery about starting another book, hoping it would be just as good, and this one fits that bill perfectly. Along with my current reads, I've got a "to-read" pile as tall as Mount Everest...and the fact that we had a girls trip last week to our favorite used bookshop didn't help that at all! But we found some awesome bargains! And this book girl was like a kid on Christmas Day!

in the world of TV and movies...

Since Christmas, I've watched a few movies, all of which have been doozies. First was The Man Who Invented Christmas, which we honestly thought was such a dull, boring movie. It's a wonder we didn't just fall asleep whilst watching it. I'd been wanting to see Saving Mr. Banks ever since it first came out, and well, it was a disappointment. It was over two hours long and well, it felt a lot longer. And finally, earlier this week I saw an author mention the movie The Jane Austen Book Club on Instagram and thought it sounded interesting. This movie had such potential and I loved the concept, but it fell short...in so very many ways. It was lame and incredibly odd and I certainly didn't appreciate the woman/woman relationship that was a little too graphic for me. I didn't know that was going to be in the movie, otherwise, I probably wouldn't have watched it. If you have any good movie recommendations, I'm all ears...I'd love to find some new ones to try!

a grateful heart...

This month, I'm most grateful for our three new kitties that we've added to our family...Finian, Ingrid, and Paddy...I'll be sharing their stories soon. Along with those sweet babies, I'm grateful for sunshine after so many rainy days, blooming flowers and green grass, the fresh scent filling the air, singing birds in the morning, finally being able to wear warm weather clothing, discovering new recipes, our first cookout of the year, good books, and music that gives life and brings joy.

from my kitchen...

Last weekend, the weather was storybook perfect...sunshine and blue skies and springtime temperatures. It was decided that we would have our first cookout of the year, so we invited our friend over who's more like family and had the best time. For a springtime dessert, I made half a batch of Lemon Blueberry Zucchini Bars. (Half a batch made a ton; I can't imagine how many the full recipe makes!) I love having those fresh seasonal flavors in my cooking again...blissful!

fashionable fun...

I'm wearing a new denim mini-type skirt, a cranberry colored top with a gathered tie at the waist, and my favorite sandals that are just starting to look worn. My hair is free falling and natural in every way...I'm trying some new techniques to reduce frizz and tame my sometimes crazy hair. (Thank you, humidity.) And my outfit is made complete with a new pair of sparkly gold dangly earrings.

home and hearth...

Spring cleaning will begin soon...and I can't wait. The seasonal transition in decor is already underway and this coming week, we shall get out our Easter decorations to enjoy for the coming month or so. Whilst at Sam's Club last night we picked up three rose bushes to plant along our picket fence. There's already one there, so we're just adding to it, and here's hoping we don't kill them! I can't wait to see what they look like growing along the fence...roses are so charming and give such a cottage feel. Be still my heart!

my cup overflows...

Lemon water is my go-to drink these days. A quart sized mason jar filled with crushed ice, water and lemon, please, and thank you.

these are a few of my favorite things...

My new chalkboard with a favorite quote on it, a teacup that I found at the antique shop recently...it's blue and white with flowers and it just makes me smile, organized and tidied bookshelves, sunlight streaming in my window, lacy bookmarks sticking out of my current reads.

for the love of words...

"We suffer from play deprivation, nature deficit disorder, awe depletion, compassion fatigue, imagination suppression, and more. As a result, I think we suffer from God deprivation, too...Awe and wonder, imagination and curiosity connect us to the God who is present in every moment and everything in a way that nothing else can. They enrich our contemplative core and expand our horizons to explore new aspects of our world and our God. Believing in a God who loves to plant gardens with dirty hands and make mud pies to put on the eyes of the blind, or who does happy dances and sings with joy over all of humanity and in fact, all of creation has revolutionized my faith."

The above quote is taken from "The Gift of Wonder" by Christine Aroney-Sine, which I am currently reading. Although I'm just on chapter three, it, so far, is one of the best books I've ever read. It is exactly what I've needed for months and every page is like receiving a gift all wrapped up with a pretty bow on top. I'll be sharing more about this book, as well as my other reads, in an upcoming bookish post.

creating and crafting...

Bunting and bunting and more bunting. That's what I have on my crafting and creating list for the moment. Bunting for my window and bedroom door and the window in our living room. And perhaps any other place where I can stick some. I'm obsessed with the stuff and can't get enough! Send help!

What's going on in your corner of the world, dear friends? Let's chat in the comments below...

Hospitality Made Simple & Beautiful || A Book Review

When we create a home where open-door living is a response to who Christ is in our lives, then the love we demonstrate to our guests is a natural overflow of His presence in our own life.

-Jen Schmidt-

Hospitality is one of those biblical words...and it can be one that you either love or hate. Oftentimes, it stirs up a feeling of overwhelm or stress, and yet for others a feeling of delight and excitement floods their heart at just the very thought of having folks come into their home.

I tend to be in the second category.

Hospitality has long been one of those things that interest me. I did not grow up in a home where hospitality was practiced, nor was it even something that I was accustomed to. It just wasn't something that was common among the people I knew or grew up with. However, during my older teenage years, I began learning about that foreign concept called "hospitality". Over the last couple of years, though, my mom, sister, and I have talked about our desire to grow in hospitality and are venturing out slowly...and having loads of fun doing so!

I had grown up watching 7th Heaven and always knew as a little girl that when I grew up and had a home and family of my own, I wanted to be "that" kind of family. The kind that always had enough food cooked for dinner in case someone just popped by. The kind that had an extra bed or couch with blankets and pillows at the read for that unexpected overnight guest. The kind where people could come and feel welcome from the moment they walked in your front door. Where an encouraging word, a loving embrace, conversations of tender, compassionate understanding were offered. Where cups of tea or coffee were served with a slice of cake as friends, or acquaintances, sat on comfy sofas as they chatted about all the current goings-on with their families and lives.

I knew I wanted a home of welcome. Of love and warm embraces. Of coffee mugs being filled and cake being passed around. Where "just pull up an extra seat" was a common phrase. That's what my heart desired...and it's still the dream that I hold dear.

I have always lived in the South where "southern hospitality" is a common stereotype for folks down here. But, as I mentioned above, hospitality was always a foreign concept for me. I didn't know anyone who practiced such a thing. I have received gracious hospitality in other parts of the country and world, places where "southern hospitality" was shown up and real, true hospitality was experienced. Those instances spoke volumes into my heart and soul. 

So, with all this hospitality talk and the desire to be hospitable...where on earth does one begin? Especially if the thought of having someone over for something as simple as tea and cake after dinner is overwhelming or stress-packed for you?

Well, I have a lovely new book to share with you today...

Jen Schmidt's Open-Door Living is just the encouragement and boost of inspiration that you need. Though this is a small, coffee table sort of book, it is packed with encouraging, truth-filled words as well as practical tips that are easy for anyone to follow and plenty of quick recipes that will feed just about whoever comes a-knocking at your door. Her first book, Just Open the Door, is a more in-depth study on biblical hospitality. These two books would work lovely together...little hospitality partners in crime!

The aesthetic of this book is gorgeous! From sweet pastel colors which will have your heart smiling at their beauty to handlettered quotes that are as pleasing to the eye as they are encouraging to the soul. There is truly nothing about this book that I don't love. And that's the honest truth! {{smiles}}

Take a look at the photographs that I've included in this post for a small sample of what's inside this gem...

~ a basic pantry checklist

~ last minute checklist for when company's coming

~ ideas for making guests feel welcome in your home

~ recipes galore

~ decorating ideas (most if not all of her decor ideas are simple and affordable!)

~ and more!

I love Jen's hospitality philosophy:

K.I.S.S.

(keep it simple and sweet)

Extending hospitality is about freely giving of ourselves while granting others the freedom to be themselves. Shifting our focus from us to them removes all unnecessary expectations. No need to worry about what to say or how to act. Just come as you are...

Hospitality, unlike entertaining, treats everyone as a guest of honor rather than grasping at honor for yourself.

-Jen Schmidt-

This book would make a lovely bridal shower or housewarming gift...perhaps in a hospitality basket of your own given to the recipient as a gesture of hospitality towards them. Oh, I can think of so many ideas to include...recipe cards (some blank and others with some of your tried-and-true recipes), measuring spoons, cute tea towels, a pretty mug and delicious coffee or tea, a pair of slippers and some pretty-scented lotion, fancy soap or candles, a handwritten note, the list could go on and on.

Hospitality doesn't have to be a burden. In fact, it can be fun! And Jen beautifully illustrates the simplicity and beauty that hospitality can hold...all the while pointing to the ultimate reason for hospitality. And that is to be the love of Christ in someone else's life. She writes, "Our homes can be the very vehicle used to point others to God's glory as we invite, welcome and pursue the heart of our guest as Christ first did the same for us."

The hospitality dream has not been diminished from my heart...it's been ignited all the more. I am eagerly anticipating the day when I have the freedom to practice hospitality to my heart's content. Jen's book is a wonderful source of inspiration and that boost of "keep on going" that I need. She reminds me that hospitality, though it may be simple and quiet and done in hidden places, is world-changing and culture-impacting. If more Christ-proclaiming folks opened their doors, just imagine how this world would change!

One of my most favorite parts about this book is how she ended it. Soak up the wisdom and joy in her words...

There's nothing like the life-giving gift of invitation. Trust me, God will surprise you. He delights to bring good things to His people, and He often does this through gathering together.

Just open the door.

Friends, I do hope you will check out the treasure of a book...

you will be most blessed by doing so, and in turn, you will bless many others around you.

Bless you today, dear friends!

♥

*I received a copy of this book from B&H Publishers in return for an honest review. All thoughts, opinions, and ramblings are my own. I was not required to share a positive review, and I only recommend books that I personally love. This post does contain affiliate links.*

Come and Join Me For An Irish Tea...

Springtime greetings, dear reader!

Oh, how it delights my heart to know that today is finally a "hello" to springtime! Soon we will be surrounded by green grass and blooming flowers and shady trees. The birds will be singing their melodies once again and butterflies will be flitting around. The scent of freshly cut grass and honeysuckle will hang in the air, and the refreshing feel after a spring rain will grace our faces. Ah, yes, springtime, you are a welcome dear!

As I mentioned in my St. Patrick's Day post, we enjoyed a lovely and festive tea party in celebration of the Emerald Isle. I spent days perusing my huge pile of Irish cookbooks looking for recipes to make our tea special and fun. All of these recipes, with the exception of a couple, were taken from some of my most favorite Irish cookbooks, some of which I brought back from Ireland and others that I have collected here stateside.

I will be sharing most of these recipes here on my blog over the next wee while, but for today, I thought I would simply show you what we feasted on. I have also included some of the loveliest Irish songs...at least they are in my opinion.

Feel free to make yourself a hot cuppa tea, settle in for a bit, and join me for tea...

you're most welcome!

Irish Soda Bread

{recipe coming soon}

When Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, 'tis like the morn in Spring.
In the lilt of Irish laughter
You can hear the angels sing.

When Irish hearts are happy,
All the world seems bright and gay.
And when Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, they steal your heart away.

{When Irish Eyes are Smiling}

Brown Bread

{recipe found here}

Come over the hills, my bonnie Irish lass

Come over the hills to your darling

You choose the road, love, and I'll make the vow

And I'll be your true love forever.

Red is the rose that in yonder garden grows

Fair is the lily of the valley

Clear is the water that flows from the Boyne

But my love is fairer than any.

{Red is the Rose}

Sweetly Simple Lemon Cake

{recipe coming soon}

Springtime Pea Salad in Phyllo Cups

...not an Irish recipe, but it was green and sounded tasty...

{recipe coming soon}

Come by the hills to the land where fancy is free

And stand where the peaks meet the sky and the loughs meet the sea

Where the rivers run clear and the bracken is gold in the sun

And the cares of tomorrow can wait till this day is done

Come by the hills to the land where life is a song

And stand where the birds fill the air with their joy all day long

Where the trees sway in time and even the wind sings in tune

And the cares of tomorrow can wait till this day is done

Come by the hills to the land where legend remains 

The stories of old fill our hearts and may yet come again 

Where the past has been lost and the future is still to be won 

And the cares of tomorrow can wait till this day is done

{Come by the Hills} 

Irish Custard Tarts

{recipe coming soon}

If you ever go across the sea to Ireland

Then maybe at the closing of your day

You will sit and watch the moonrise over Claddagh

And see the sun go down on Galway Bay

Just to hear again the ripple of the trout stream 

The women in the meadows making hay 

And to sit beside a turf fire in the cabin 

And watch the barefoot gossoons at their play 

For the breezes blowing o'er the seas from Ireland 

Are perfumed by the heather as they blow 

And the women in the uplands digging praties 

Speak a language that the strangers do not know 

For the strangers came and tried to teach their way 

They scorned us just for being what we are 

But they might as well go chasing after moonbeams 

Or light a penny candle from a star 

And if there is going to be a life hereafter 

And somehow I am sure there's going to be 

I will ask my God to let me make my heaven 

In that dear land across the Irish sea

{Galway Bay}

Ham and Pepperoni Tea Sandwiches

{a non-Irish dish on our menu, but we needed a tea sandwich and this one sounded so good.}

Potato-Leek Quiches

{recipe coming soon}

Chicken, Grape, & Pecan Salad in Bibb Lettuce

garnished with fresh dill

Thank you for joining me for tea, lovely friends! 

Oh, how I hope spring is a beautiful season for you and that you savour every bit of goodness that it offers. May we taste and see that the Lord is good!

Irish Beauty & Blessings

Ireland...

it's the one place on earth that heaven has kissed

with melody, mirth, and meadow and mist.

Happy St. Patrick's Day, my friends! 

Today in our home is a day of simple, but fun celebrations...

we're going to be enjoying a delightful tea party this evening, 

and oh, I can't wait to try some new teatime recipes.

{{I will most certainly be sharing all about it later this week!}}

For me, it's also a day to reminisce on my family's time in Ireland over the past three years.

We have had the pleasure of visiting the Emerald Isle twice...

with hopes, dreams and wishes to return...

Our hearts and minds are filled with fond memories,

and my camera is overflowing with thousands of photos which always 

transport me back to the lush green fields of Ireland each time I look at them.

I have gathered up a small handful of favorites to share with you today...

so, pour yourself a cuppa, make yourself at home...

I've got some toe-tapping, hand-clapping Irish tunes playing in the background...

and settle in to savour a bit of Irish beauty and blessings.

One of my most favorite places in all of Ireland is Howth Head in County Dublin...pictured above.

We walked down a long pathway and ended up at a cute lighthouse which had the most charming red door...pictured below.

It's a lovely, quaint spot on the Irish Sea, and it's away from Dublin city centre, which is right up my alley. When you go there, you can hear the water crashing against the large rocks, and birds fly overhead and may even follow you as you walk along the path.

It's a beautiful place. Full of life.

Everywhere I look, I see God.

There are songs that take me immediately back to the land of green,

certain scents or random things that bring me back to such a magical place and time...

and there are things that I don't want to forget.

I never want to forget the way the sky looked as the sun set on the way back from Tipperary that night....it looked as if the sky were on fire. I don't want to forget the scent of turf fires lingering in the air as we drove through Wicklow one misty, grey morning. The pure magic of seeing three rainbows is beyond words! I want to always remember the way the morning air felt and smelled so fresh and new. The way the clouds looked and how the sun shined so brightly. I don't want the image of a young boy and his grandfather playing their violins outside a Bed and Breakfast in Kerry to leave my memory. Nor do I want to allow the sound of that Irish melody to escape my mind. I don't want the feeling of seeing the Irish scenery for the first time to ever leave me. It's a feeling that there are no words for, and a moment that causes you to stop in your tracks for a minute and be still. You are actually here. The exciting surprise of hearing a familiar song as soon as we stepped on the plane both to and from Dublin that is only popular in Ireland. If we had been travelling anywhere else we wouldn't have heard it...that was a sure sign that we were going to the place we'd dreamt of for so long.

Don't miss all the beautiful colors of the rainbow

looking for that pot of gold.

-An Irish Saying

In Ireland, many of the narrow, winding, ribbon roads have these tree arches. It was one of my favorite things as it was such simple beauty. You felt as if you were driving into an enchanting fairy tale. It is also a country almost entirely covered in flowers it seems. The summers boast of colorful flowers nearly everywhere you look, and many of the homes have the most charming window boxes. So swoon-worthy! Even in the wintertime, Ireland has flowers, which I am quite jealous of...and it's still vibrantly green!

How green are your valleys, how blue your great skies,

Your mountains stand tall in their glory:

Your rivers run free- the bright stars are your eyes,

Your beauty is endless before me.

May your joys be as deep as the oceans,

Your troubles as light as its foam,

And may you find sweet peace of mind

Wherever you may roam.

This is Ireland-

it's rough, it's wild and it's holy.

Our second trip was in the wintertime, and unbeknownst to us, it was lambing season.

That meant that we were able to gush over all the cute baby lambs all over the country. 

There were even babies being born in the barn on the same land as the farmhouse we stayed at.

To say it was adorable is a complete understatement! 

They would scamper and frolick through the fields, 

and the babies would stay so very close to their mamas.

There is nothing you're searching for that can't be found in Ireland.

God, good music, beautiful landscapes, wonderful food,

maybe even yourself- you just have to be brave enough.

Castles, old abbeys and other ruins are scattered all throughout Ireland.

The above photo was taken at Kylemore Abbey, and it is located

in Connemara near mountains and water...

and it makes you wonder if you're still on earth whilst you're there.

It looks divinely designed and created...but, then, it is. 

God shows off a lot in Ireland; it's a spectacularly beautiful place!

How can a place like this really exist?

May love and laughter light your days,

and warm your heart and home.

May good and faithful friends be yours,

wherever you may roam.

May peace and plenty bless your world

with joy that long endures.

May all life's passing seasons 

bring the best to you and yours.

-An Old Irish Blessing

May your day be filled with magical fun, beautiful music, 

good food and drink, and oodles of merriment!

Happy St. Paddy's Day, friends!

♥

Signs of Life & Markers of His Love

Stop, pray and listen.

Open yourself to the Eternal One

present all around.

Take time to notice the markers

of God's abiding presence

and rejoice in God's enduring acts.

Pause to acknowledge 

how far we have come

on this journey toward life.

Hold on to the signs

that nudge us onward along the path

that leads into the loving heart of the One

who is making all things new.

-Christine Aroney-Sine, "The Gift of Wonder"-

Glimpses of Springtime...

If you ever find yourself empty from something you cannot know or name,

find a stretch of ocean, a field, or mountainside, or even clouds or trees.

Because there are a thousand simple ways to fill your tired soul,

 so you can remember how to be, how to see, and most importantly, how to breathe.

-Victoria Erickson-

Good morning, lovely friends!

Oh, I hope the earth is giving you a feast for the eyes where you live...

some of you are perhaps still in the midst of a winter wonderland,

and others are beginning to enjoy the newness of springtime beauty.

The latter is what is spread out before me in my part of the world.

Mother Earth is slowly waking up after her long winter's slumber,

and oh, the splendid delights that are unfolding before my very eyes.

This will be our first spring here at Shady Cottage, as we moved in last mid-summer. 

It is an almost daily surprise as to what is beginning to bud and blossom out in our yard and gardens.

The very tree outside my window is budding with lovely lilac colored flowers and I'm thinking it may be the same kind of tree that we had in the backyard at our other house. It was one of my favorites, though I don't know its name. The people that bought our old home cut down all the grand, tall, old trees that we had in our yard (as well as every other living thing on the property), and as pathetic and sad as that was, I'm hopeful that this tree is similar. Our new yard, however, does make up for the ignorance of the new homeowners at our old place...

the couple that owned Shady Cottage before us did a marvellous job at making the yard and gardens a magical, glorious place. They were an older couple and weren't able to keep up with things towards the end, so there are some overgrown areas, but other than that, it is a real treat. 

Truly, it feels like a secret fairy garden...

Ivy growing up trees that stand tall and proud in the sunshine 

(there are even rumors that some of the trees where we live may have been on an old wagon trail),

clusters of daffodils sprinkled throughout the yard here and there,

monkey grass along the sides of the driveway that burst with purple flowers come late summer,

trees that boast of autumnal color, holly bushes that are bright red at Christmas,

and a rose bush growing wild and free as it entangles itself in the charming picket fence.

Oh, to be people who cultivate beauty...

I'm so thankful for folks with that vision.

The hope of tomorrow's world always rests on some little beginning

God is making today, in some small obscure place amidst humble people

who are receptive to God and make room for His gift.

-Harold Kohn-

The sun has been shining more and more lately...

though it is the rainy season. I shall not complain, though,

because it is that blessed rain that brings the cheerful and colorful blooms of the coming months.

Temperatures are also slowly rising, and that means that it soon will be time to pull out all my favorite light and flowy dresses and sandals. I've had some fun doing a wee bit of shopping as the shops are all displaying such cute styles for the coming season.

We were made to explore this earth like little children do,

unhindered by fear, propelled by curiosity, and a sense of discovery.

Allow yourself to see the world through new eyes and know there are amazing adventures here for you.

-Laurel Bleadon Maffei-

The first blooms have been spotted in our yard...

daffodils are first, of course. 

They always are and always shall be.

Then just yesterday, we spotted the little pink flower photographed above. 

And plans of what plants, flowers and seeds to buy have been the topic of conversation these days...

we're thinking more azaleas are a must, then perhaps morning glories along the fence line, and then any shade-loving flowers we can find. Maybe a clematis to grow up the mailbox...we shall see.

Last week whilst we were doing our grocery shopping we walked past the garden center, 

and the scent that filled the air...ah, was it ever lifegiving.

To smell the scent of fresh plants and potting soil...it's most welcome after a long, dreary winter.

Let not our days run through like a sieve, but rather let time be handled as

it was by the Timeless One, every commonplace thing finding eternal value under His touch.

-Harold Kohn- 

Glimpses of spring...

It's been said that the earth laughs in flowers. Well, I don't know about you, but I can't wait for the earth to be engaging in a full out giggle fest. To see sweet blossoms dancing in the gentle springtime breezes, the trees swaying to the rhythm of a summer thunderstorm, the sun shining in all its glory...

oh, yes, springtime is coming.

I can taste it.

I believe beauty reflects the truth about who God is and what this world is all about. 

What could be more important than cultivating beauty in little ways and large, however I am able?

-Christie Purifoy-

"Is the spring coming?" he said.

"What is it like?..."

"It is like the sun shining on the rain,

and the rain falling on the sunshine."

Dear spring, you are most welcome...

may the earth behold your wondrous beauty, 

and may we savour every delicious drop of your wonder.

May your day be an absolute delight, dear friends!

Bless you ♥