Monday, May 9, 2011

Treated Royally and A Shout Out


Yesterday my family gave me the royal treatment.  It started with sleeping in, followed by yummy scones for breakfast/lunch, and then a delicious dinner complete with a beautifully set table.




Our daughter came home for the weekend, which is always a treat.  I just love having everyone under one roof!

On Saturday, my son asked what I wanted for Mother's Day and I told him not a thing.  He then informed me that if I didn't tell him something I wanted, I would get something I didn't want.  

When I opened my gifts there was this single asparagus shaped taper candle (pictured above) and as I pulled it out he was grinning from ear to ear...so was my daughter who had gone shopping with him!  He said it was the ugliest thing he could find and that because I hadn't given him any ideas this was my "something you don't want" present.  I hate to tell him, but the joke was on him since I like my pretty little asparagus candle, and my only disappointment was that he could only find one!




Along with the soaps, a gift certificate, and the candle, I also received this wonderful book Perfect English by Ros Byam Shaw with photography by Chris Tubbs.




If you've been reading my blog for awhile now, then you know how much I LOVE design books, especially beautifully photographed ones and this one did not disappoint!




It's full of wonderful text and glorious imagery of quintessential English country design and decor, which allows it to live up to the title of Perfect English!



My roses are now in full bloom, and my daughter created a lovely table arrangement for my Mother's Day feast yesterday evening.  We had grilled steaks, fresh asparagus, organic potatoes, and berry sherbet for dessert...yum!




Mr. Tide's gift to me was doing a ton of yard work this past weekend and buying me some blueberry bushes and flowers that will bring me lots of enjoyment for years to come!




I also treated myself to a few pretties the past few weeks, including these lovely green cut glass votive holders, which we used at dinner last night.  I also picked up a few pieces from Mason Cash to add to my ever growing bowl collection.  I bought a set of pudding basins, a mixing bowl, and then 4 small oval baking dishes which I hope to use to bake individual pot pies this winter, or maybe yummy creme brulee!

I hope you all had equally wonderful Mother's Day celebrations yesterday!  And thank you to my family for helping make my job as a mother very easy!!!

This week will be another busy one as I am hosting our local garden club this evening, working on a story that was due 2 months ago (yeah this is the life of a writer sometimes...things get delayed or pushed back and you just have to go with the flow), a photo shoot on Wednesday, and I have an art show this weekend that I'll tell you more about in an upcoming post, so it's push time!

But before I go, I wanted to give a shout out to my dear friend Fifi O'Neill!  Her book has been burning up the charts...and is topping lists everywhere!  Congratulations Fifi, I can't think of a more deserving person!!! xoxo




Romantic Prairie Style ranked #6 in sales on Nielsen Bookscan
for two weeks in a row in the Hardcover House & Home category, as reported in the
Best-Selling Books listing (week ended April 17th) in the April 23, 2011 edition of
The Wall Street Journal
Circulation: 9,963,418

20 comments:

  1. It sounds like you had the perfect day! I can't wait to get Fifi's book! I should treat myself and order one! Enjoy your week! I'm still sewing! heehee! ♥

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  2. Love the candle! I would have wanted a whole box of them. Perfect for the table in spring and summer. He did good!

    Di

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  3. Hello Kat,
    I wanted to say how beautiful your post was the day before yesterday. Great insight for me to receive from a dear one who has suffered immense loss. I am still working through the unexpected loss of my sweet sister this last November & now helping my mother with life with ALS.
    Your words were encouraging to me. Thank you Kat.
    I am so glad to hear your mothers day was full of smiles and warmth.
    Blessings, Lisa~
    LeafandInk.com

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  4. What great gifts and to have everyone home is the best gift of all. :) Good luck with everything this week and hopefully you can find a couple minutes for you. :)
    Hugs!

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  5. What a lovely day you had!

    Don't laugh, but when I was scrolling down and got to the Perfect English, I had to do a double-take. At first glance, your watermark looked like part of the cover and I thought you have taken the photos. I said no laughing, I'm old and it's not nice to pick on the old! Plus, it could happen my dear, it could happen!

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  6. You are good for your family and your family is good for you :-)! I am so happy you had a happy Mother's Day!

    Hugs, Ingrid

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  7. Kat, sounds like you had a fabulous Mother's Day!! Your gifts were wonderful!! Dinner sounded so yummy! HUGS!

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  8. Ross Byam Shaw lived in Bath for a while, and ran an unsuccessful shop. Sadly, I never shagged him/her whist he/she was here. Oh well.....

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  9. Kat, I LOVE the candle, too. Your son is quite the character!! Gotta love that! How sweet of your hubby to do the yard work and for the everlasting blueberry plant. How so sweet. Your family treated you like a queen - so deserved, too.

    I cannot wait to see Fifi's book. I am just so happy for her!

    hugs,
    Becky

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  10. Kat, your day sounded lovely. I have to agree with your son on his choice of present :)

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  11. I'm so happy you had a great day filled with love and sweet gifts. Yes, I'd love a few of those asparagus candles, too! And you can't beat breakfast and dinner! I like that your husband did some work for you {and him} outside, I love when mine does the heavier stuff when he can find the time. Your book looks very interesting, did you have it on a wish list? I'm really happy about Fifi's book, that's exciting news...I found the book to be wonderful and bought it sight unseen.

    I hope you have a great week. I know you are busy but take some time for YOU!

    XO,
    Jane

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  12. Beautiful photographs. Love the roses. :-)

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  13. Sounds like a wonderful day! I love that they set a beautiful table for you, too. Thanks for sharing.

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  14. Yay you, Yay Fifi, Yay life, Yay Mama's!
    WOOT!

    love those pudding basins :D
    xx
    z

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  15. Looks like a perfect day, Kat! Your photos are beautiful and every time I visit your blog your wonderful header makes me smile...I love every photo! I really had a great Mother's Day, too...the best part was sharing dinner with all of my kids!

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  16. so glad you had such a lovely day with your family! I had a great day too!! Janet

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  17. Hi Kat, what a lovely post and lovely day you had! That asparagus candle is adorable - I'd be on the hunt for a few more myself. I just love it when my husband buys me trees or flowers or bushes for a birthday or anniversary, or Mother's Day. It will be wonderful to think of your husband every time you see those blueberry bushes and pick luscious ripe blueberries to create some delicious desserts! Ciao, bella!

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  18. Hello Kat! Sounds like you had a beautiful Mother's Day! I haven't been on the computer much these past few weeks but am looking forward to catching up on your posts tonight! Love that asparagus candle - haha!

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  19. Oh that is so funny that Bugs thought he picked out something ugly! That is such a cool candle. And what exciting news about Fifi's book. Your Mother's Day sounded perfect, everything was so beautiful looking! xo ~Lili

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  20. I wanted to say how beautiful your post was the day before yesterday. It is great insight for me to receive from your friend. Its sounded perfect.

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