Red Rose Alley

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Happy Valentine's Day!

love,

~Sheri, Jess, Nel

Friday, February 12, 2016

Vintage Valentine

I wanted to show you the Valentine box that my sister made. It's very pretty, and she added a few items in the box once she decorated it - a glove with lace, a key with ribbon, and a white rose. She started out by using just a plain vintage Valentine box.

And this is what it looked like after.
Isn't it lovely?

She first introduced me to the vintage cards many years ago, and ever since then I was hooked. Here is one that I've kept over the years, and I don't think she knows I still have it. The edges of the card are a bit worn and bent, but it's in pretty good condition after all these years.

The little window pops open,
so cute.

Wishing you a pleasant
weekend, friends.

~Sheri

Thursday, February 11, 2016

February, Just Because

I love white creatures

big and small.

I saw this one rose

growing at a

gas station, of all places.

If you have good thoughts,

they will shine out

of your face like sunbeams

and you will

always look lovely.

~Ronald Dahl

The sun always seems to

shine through in

California, even during the

winter months.

Jemma, you asked how

my rose bushes

are doing?

Waiting for spring.

I love to drink my tea

out of different cups each

day, depending on

my mood. ; )

Valentine leaves in

my front yard.

The birds are starting

to come around

again.

Just bought this magazine.

Lots of great ideas.

Sometimes the best days

are ordinary days.

~Sheri

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Mardi Gras Fun for Everyone

Happy Mardi Gras!

New Orleans might be nearly 2,000 miles away from us here in California, but that won't stop us from getting in the spirit!

(For an explanation of why Mardi Gras is one of my and Jess's most favorite holidays,

see our February 19, 2012 post.)

Tonight, I'm cooking up a jazzy favorite--shrimp étouffée.

(recipe from the world famous Gumbo Shop)

Good food like this takes time to make, so we'll need a few nibbles while we wait...

These mini-muffulettas are super simple. Just slice up a seeded French baguette, spread on a little olive tapenade, add some cured meats, a little mozzarella cheese, and voilà!

Around here, we all get a little festive for Mardi Gras.

Wishing you many reasons to celebrate the day!

~ Nel ~

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Out Of The Ordinary

I was driving down a main street in my town, and I saw something very out of the ordinary. This street is a lively one, and it's a main road to get to the places you want to go to in my town. It's actually one of my favorites, with charming old cottages that have been around for years. There are stops signs on every corner, so you can easily see the happenings going on. All of a sudden, a man appeared and he started shouting and acting very mad. He threw his hands up in the air and yelled, "I hate the way I'm treated!" He said it again and then again, "I hate the way I'm treated," as he walked across the street. It would have seemed that he was a mad man to the average eye, but he wasn't; he was just a man whose heart was broken. My heart sank, as I was watching this whole scene through my windows, which were rolled up. I looked over at him and gently said, "I'm sorry, I hate the way I'm treated too."