Showing posts with label Tartan Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tartan Day. Show all posts

Monday, April 4, 2016

April ~ 2016







~ A P R I L ~


April showers bring May flowers.

We had a wet beginning for April, and here in Texas

we welcome any rain that comes our way.

The drought conditions unfortunately continue to keep

 us on one day a week watering restrictions.





April 1st ~ April Fool's Day

The history of this holiday is vague,

but the tradition of playing practical jokes on April 1st

 is one that has continued through the centuries across the globe.

The above photo isn't really a prank, 

but I have a friend who likes to "photoshop" interesting touches

to create a "joke" photo of sorts.

Here I am in Paris with my strolling French roosters.

One of the funniest she has given me is moi as Frida Kahlo, 

complete with dark bushy eyebrows and a monkey on my shoulder.

Not sharing that one!

Do you have a favorite April Fool's Prank?





First Weekend in April 

Can't leave out the much anticipated famous 

Round Top Spring Antiques Week.


You can read about last spring's Round Top advernture here.





April 6th ~ National Tartan Day

National Tartan Day is a favorite holiday for me in April.

It's not because I'm Scottish, 

but because I adore tartans and plaids.

Click the links below to visit Tartan Day Posts from years past.

 ~ 2015 ~ 2013 ~  2012 ~ 2011 ~





April is the month that Texas wildflowers put on their show.

Roadsides are transformed into a carpet of vibrant color.

~ Bluebonnets ~ Indian Paintbrush ~ Evening Primrose ~ Poppies ~

~ Blackfoot Daisy ~ Indian Blanket ~ Wine Cup ~ Mexican Hat ~

~ Coreopois ~ Sun Flower ~ Rain Lily ~ Spider Lily ~

Just to name a few! 

Thank you, Lady Bird Johnson for your vision in

spearheading the Beatification Act of 1965.




Andrea ~  Beautiful Butterfly Lady
Guest @ Eeyore's Birthday Party A Few Years Ago

April 30th ~ Eeyore's Birthday Party 


To close out the month there must be a mention of

 Eeyore's Annual Birthday Party

a spring traditon here in Austin.  

If you plan to attend, you can read all the details here.

Joining




Sunday, April 5, 2015

Hopping Down the Tartan Trail





Used with permission ~ The Ribboned Crown

Donna @ The Ribboned Crown

 has the most charming Tartan Hare,

so last year I asked if perhaps

he had some tartan eggs to spare.




Used with permission ~ The Ribboned Crown

A-Tisket, A-Tasket

Yes, please ~

Tartan eggs in my basket!





A fruitful year of

hopping down the Tartan Trail,

and now I, too, have a basket of beautiful tartan eggs.





Victorian ladies skilled with needle and thread

spent many an hour engaged in the art of needlework,

so it's no surprise that many items were marketed

with the art of needlework in mind.

Both a collector and a stitcher since childhood,

one can only imagine my delight with a few tartan eggs,

little sewing treasures from the Victorian era.





They open to hold a spool of thread,

a thimble, and a needle.




One of the eggs also has a little surprise ~

a coin tucked up in the point of the egg.

It's definitely nestled in as if

it were original to the egg.





I polished the coin to see if I could make out

the inscription, but it remains a mystery.

I hope a reader will have some information to share.

Is this a real coin or perhaps a commemorative piece?





One of the eggs is 

in the Mc Donald tartan.





The other two eggs look very similar.

One is marked Mc Lean, but the other has no mark.





The gold zigzag lines that segment

each egg, are hand painted.

          


A-Tisket, A-Tasket

Yes, I'm very pleased with Tartan eggs in my basket!

Wishing all a spring fresh 

with good health and happiness!




National Tartan Day ~ April 6, 2015

Click the links below to visit previous Tartan Day posts.

Tartan Day 2011 ~ Tartan Day 2012 ~ Tartan Day 2013


Joining
Blue Monday @ Smiling Sally

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Happy Tartan Day!



~ Tartan Day ~ 

April 6, 2013




~ Tartan and Bluebonnets ~

 We are having a beautiful spring in Texas.





A bit more tartan 

 recently found its way into my life.




Sharing some sister time out and about 

in a few Texas antique shops, 

this happy bit of tartan caught my eye.




Then I saw the 

lovely brass details.




I knew immediately this 

little gem was going home with me.




Price $15 

All because of this French plug!




Easily fitted with an American plug, 

the petite French beauty with its tartan shade 

was a perfect fit for my office book shelf.





Now focus in on these.




~ iPhone Case ~ 

~ Wooly Scarf ~ Spectacles ~






Oh, and a touch of 

Courtly Check for good measure!






Click here to revisit 

last year's Tartan Parade.




Happy Tartan Day!

Joining

Sunny Simple Sunday @ Sunny Simple Life
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch
Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings of the Heart
Blue Monday @ Smiling Sally
Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage
Pretty Things @ TwelveOeight
Tuesday Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Your Gonna Love It Tuesday @ Kathe With An E
The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Ranch
Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life
Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays @ Coastal Charm
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style
My Happy List @ Art At Home
Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life
Open House Party @ No Minimalist Here
Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home
Open House @ Bernideen's Tea Time
Feathered Net Friday @ French Country Cottage
Be Inspired @ Common Ground
Festive Friday Fiesta @ The Home Girl
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home






Saturday, March 31, 2012

Tartan Parade 2012







Time for Favorites on the First

and all things Scottish

in honor of National Tartan Day.



Lads and Lassies




Songs and Poems

of Robert Burns





Kilts and Tartans



Pipers


And . . .

Scottie Dogs



Scottish Terriers,

also known as Aberdeen Terriers

are originally from

the Highlands of Scotland.





Affectionally called Scotties,

these courageous, independent,

and self-reliant dogs

were bred to hunt

and kill predators

of the Highland livestock.



We don't have a Scottie,

but this cutie above has

recently joined our family.

Meet Sadie Mercedes.



Sadie suggested we round up a

group of jaunty Scotties

for the Tartan Parade.




Looks like these guys are lining up.



It's sunny today, but with recent rainy days

I pulled out the umbrella just in case.

Surely it won't rain on our parade!



We've got TARTAN!



A freshly brewed pot of Scottish tea

steeping in its own tartan cozy, a gift from




Scottie Shortbread Cookies

Walker's Pure Butter Shortbread

I added a touch of icing for color.



Scottie Soap

from Gianna Rose Atelier



Scottie Napkins Trimmed in Tartan



Here's how the tartan stacks up.

Arita Tartan Charger

Lauren Ralph Lauren Skyler

Target Holiday 2010 Classic Tidings

Global Design Connection by Kate Williams

Home Beautiful Stoneware in Royal Stewart



Each plate is white and bordered in a tartan

with the exception of the Kate Williams' pieces.

They feature this jaunty little fellow.



A coordinating butter dish

makes a perfect little serving tray.




LIFE'S LITTLE INSTRUCTION BOOK

was a gift from a student in 1991.

It was written by a father as words

of counsel to his son heading off to collage.

It's simply a list of things one should do.

Page 1, #2 :

Have a dog.



Happy Tartan Day!



Bluebonnet Tartan

Like others across the globe, many Texans will no doubt celebrate National Tartan Day on April 6, 2012. The official State Tartan, Texas Bluebonnet Tartan, was designed by June Prescott McRoberts in 1986 and adopted by the state of Texas in 1989. You can read more details about the Texas Bluebonnet Tartan here.




To see last year's Tartan Tea click here.




If you need some tartan for your closet click the link above.

A special thank you to my friends JoElla and Susan
for letting me share photos of their Staffordshire pieces.