Brookside Cottage

2009-11-14T09:46:00.000-08:00

A Bit About....

ROSE QUARTZ

Rose quartz is the stone of unconditional love and infinite peace.

It is the most important crystal for the heart and heart chakra,

teaching the true essence of love.

It purifies and opens the heart at all levels,

and brings deep inner healing and self-love.

Rose quartz gently draws off negative energy and replaces it with loving vibes.

Holding Rose Quartz inhances positive affirmations.

This beautiful stone promotes receptivity to beauty of all kinds.

To be worn especially over the heart.

Place on the heart, thymus or in relationship corner of your room.

I have also found Rose Quartz to be helpful with headaches

lie down and place it on your forehead.........

whether it is the stone........

or simply the act of being quiet and still.......

honestly it can help!

With the stresses the upcoming Holidays can bring......

and the out of town relatives & stay-over guests......

it may not be a bad idea to have a bit of rose quartz handy!

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY!

2009-11-09T00:31:00.000-08:00

Created especially for

"Mosaic Monday"........

My new Thanksgiving Mosaic:

For more "Mosaic Monday" posts,

please visit Mary at:

Little Red House

Spiritual Sunday

2009-11-08T14:10:00.000-08:00

"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers;

for thereby some have entertained angels unaware"

with the fast-approaching
holiday season I think it is a
good time to remember others......
and especially those less fortunate......
I know it has not been an easy year for many.......
so, let's all look around and see what we can do to help......
It only takes one person.......
perhaps just one small "gesture"........
it could make a HUGE difference
in someone's life.......
If you know or see someone who needs a lift......
or a hand this Season.......
or if you even "suspect" someone may be having a tough time......
please be the one to reach out........

and if YOU are the one who needs help..........
I pray your "Angel"
is just around the next corner........
May you have a blessed week........
filled with Love and Miracles......
Please visit the
Spiritual Sundays blog

for more inspiration:

Happy, Happy!!

2009-11-07T04:18:00.000-08:00

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY!!!

It's in the air........

can you feel it?

Yes, I know the stores seem to be rushing it........

but........

come on.........

admit it........

you are getting just a bit excited.......

Come on now............

Ah...........

I know what will cheer you!!

Betcha can't help smiling!

Visit here:

Stephanie's sweet Christmas blog!

HAVE AN ABSOLUTELY

DELIGHTFUL WEEKEND!!

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY!

2009-10-31T04:13:00.000-07:00

Today.......... for your Pink Saturday pleasure..........
may I introduce you to...........
some DELIGHTFUL PINK TREASURES
on ETSY!!!!

From
Shes Sew Pretty

This simply marvelous pink ballerina slippers pincushion:

and an Oh Cherry Oh pincushion:

From

Isabellas Closet:

her wonderful Vintage Santa Pattern:

and her Victorian Ice Skates pattern:

From

Stoopidgerl

a Sugar-Resin Bunny Necklace:

From

Chollydot

these beautiful knitted hanger covers:

From

The Kitsch End

this too sweet Tickled Pink Button Bracelet:

From

Delish Beads

these Pink Baby Deer Cabochons:

From

Warm Winds Designs

Any little girl would love......

Silky, the Pink Pony:

And From

Live Luscious

a Glittery Glammoury Gingerbread Girl Onesie:

AND a

Up On A Rooftop Reindeer Children's Long-sleeved tshirt:

Such wonderfully creative & gorgeous pink treasures.........

Aren't we thankful for Etsy..........

Be sure and stop in at Bev's

for all the Pink Saturday Fun!!

And have a wonderful day!!

Pink Saturday Recipe!!

2009-10-24T14:34:00.000-07:00

Happy Pink Saturday!!!

For you today..........

a wonderful Fall recipe for:

World's Best Pumpkin Bread

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:
4 eggs
2-1/3 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 - 15 ounce can solid pack pumpkin
----
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1-3/4 teaspoons baking soda
2-3/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon*
3/4 teaspoons ground nutmeg*
3/4 teaspoon ground cloves*
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice*
----
1 cup chopped raw nuts (walnuts, pecans, etc), lightly toasted
1/3 cup golden raisins**
----
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preparation:Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease two loaf pans or 24 muffin cups.

Combine the eggs, sugar, oil, and pumpkin in a large bowl, and stir until smooth.
In a medium bowl, mix the second set of ingredients with a wire whisk. Add the nuts and raisins**. Add to the egg mixture and mix thoroughly. Fill the loaf pans or muffin cups with the batter.
Mix the last 2 ingredients in a small bowl. Sprinkle over bread loaves or muffin batter.

Bake the bread at 375 degrees F for 1 hour and 10 minutes, or the muffins for 35 to 40 minutes. When the bread is done, a toothpick inserted in the center will come out clean.

Yields 2 loaves or 24 muffins.***

Notes:* You may substitute 4 1/2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice for the starred ingredients. Be sure to note that you still need cinnamon for the topping.

** If you don't care for raisins, add 1/3 cup more nuts instead.

***I've only made the loaves of bread so I don't know if this makes 24 small or large muffins.

If you prefer large muffins: fill the cups just to the top with batter. If you have any empty muffins cups, fill half full with water.

Hoping you will try it, and LOVE it!!

HPS!!!

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY!

2009-10-03T08:31:00.000-07:00

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY.........

AND

HAPPY, HAPPY FALL!

Mosaic Monday!

2009-09-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

Well, I think it may be the artist in me.........

but, I am a very visual person......

a true lover of what you might call......

EYE CANDY!

I also TOTALLY LOVE

the Fall Season!

So, when I spotted Mary's

Mosaic Monday on her sweet blog

Little Red House

I knew I just had to participate!

I hope you will stop by Mary's blog

to see all the delightful

Mosaics!

And.......

As "Miss Paula" would say:

Happy Fall Y'All!

CALLING ALL ANGELS

2009-09-25T14:01:00.000-07:00

I know there are so many Angels here in Blogland........

and I am asking for your help.........

You may know my friend, Sherry

of Country Wings In Phoenix

Sherry has a dear neice named Amy who could use our help........

please go visit Sherry and read her request here:

http://countrywingsinphoenix.blogspot.com/2009/09/calling-all-angel-warriors-amy-needs.html

I am so happy to answer Sherry's request........

and I hope you will do the same........

let's all send Amy some love & hope........

Another wonderful blogger,

Elyse, from "Tinkered Treasures"

has designed a side-bar button for all of us to use

to help spread the word:

Please feel free to take the button,

and post it to your blog

to help us spread the word!

Another bloggy "Angel"........

Karen Harvey Cox

the uber-talented artist........

has created some really beautiful designs

which we can all print out and use for cards

to send Amy "the gift of hope"....

Please visit Karens blog to read about it here:

http://karenharveycox.blogspot.com/2009/09/gift-of-hope-on-pink-saturday.html

Thank you so much,

my dear friends........

for visiting......

and for helping spread the word

about sweet Amy........

Love to All..........

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY!!

2009-09-19T11:23:00.000-07:00

Dontcha just love PINK SATURDAYS!!
so much fun........

I am so glad our friend
Beverly
started Pink Saturdays!

Bev had an idea that we should
maybe visit a Pink Saturday lady
and then include her blog in our
Pink Saturday post........
Sounds fun to me!

So.........
may I introduce you to...

Patty
@ Pink Hugs Blogalicious

Now honestly........
You must pay her a visit and tell me........

HOW SWEET is her blog??

It is soooo pretty.........

and speaking of sweet........
check out her lovely
Faux Pastries and Goodies in her shops!!

OHMY!
And........... she is having a give-a-way for some truly
sweet magnets.........

she has a monthly giveaway!
So......... please stop by and say Hello
to Patty~~
and tell her I sent ya!

And while you are out visiting..........
don't forget to stop in and see Beverly........
and all the lovely
Pink Saturday participants!

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY!

2009-09-12T15:13:00.000-07:00

Sigh.....

There is absolutely nothing wrong with

looking at the world through Rose-Colored glasses

Please click below

to visit

Beverly and all the

Pretty Pink Saturday Ladies!

Pink Saturday

2009-08-15T14:59:00.001-07:00

Well, it's a busy, busy day here..........

just time for a quick hello and post.............

I did manage to find some more

Pink Lovelies for you though.........

Ahhhh..........

don'tcha just love flowers??

I think of them as

Natures' Eye Candy........

And...............

speaking of Eye Candy...........

be sure and stop by in a few days

because I am going to share

with you

another blog

I recently found..........

and..............oooooh,

we are talkin'

some serious

Eye Candy!!!

Click below and visit

Beverly and all the Pretty Pink Saturday Ladies!

Feathered Friends Party!

2009-08-12T02:40:00.000-07:00

Oh My! How fun!

We have all been invited to a:

First, I would like to share with you

a very special garage sale find.......

my son bought it for me

while we were out

"treasure hunting"

one Saturday morning a couple of months ago.....

it was just $1, but

what a treasure it is to me.......

a beautiful tin birdhouse..........

and, my second "feathered friends"
treasure..........
is a gift from a very special lady
whom I used to work for.......

I keep him right here by my computer

he reminds me I am loved...

and each day he makes me smile.......

and............. my third special

"FF" treasure..........

is a little gift to share with you!

I don't remember where it came from..........

but I thought it was so sweet........

perhaps you would like it for your artwork?

Enjoy!

it's been fun to say "hi"

and share with you today!

Please click on the

Feathered Friends Party Logo

at the top of this post to see all the wonderful

friends participating today!

TTFN!

Pink Saturday

2009-08-08T08:41:00.001-07:00

It's another

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY!

Have you ever thought about living in a pink house??

What kind would it be?

Would it be a Proper Pink Victorian???

Would it be

Pepto-Bismol

Pink??

Would it be totally

girly-girly

frilly-frilly

pink???

Or would it be cute

and storybook

and whimsical???

Please visitBeverly's sweet blog

for more

Pink Saturday

Posts!

2009-08-02T01:32:00.000-07:00

And I pray dear God,

that in my darkest hours........

you would help me remember

to always look for the light......

for even with the darkness of the night.....

comes the light of the stars........

even behind the dark clouds of the storm.......

awaits the sweet glow of the rainbow......

we need only look.

remember to look deep within......

no matter how far........

or how deep you must search......

for even in the darkness.......

does He bring us light.

May you enjoy this Blessed day......

Please visit the Spiritual Sunday blog

for lovely insights and inspiration.

PINK SATURDAY!

2009-07-11T14:20:00.000-07:00

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY!!

Here's hoping it is a glorious one for you!!

We have a bit of Summer Rain~

and I am just tickled pink over it!!!

Some of my favorite things in life

are PINK.............

and some of my favorite PINK things are.........

SMOOTHIES...........

MMMMMM.........

Banana Berry Smoothie

1 1/2 cups vanilla or plain yogurt

2/3 cup orange juice

2 medium ripe bananas, cut into chunks

1 cup halved fresh strawberries

2 teaspoons honey

In blender, combine all ingredients,

cover and process until smooth.

Pour into chilled glasses; serve immediately.

Yield: 2 servings

Berry Smoothies

2/3 cup milk

3/4 cup frozen unsweetened strawberries

1/3 cup frozen unsweetened raspberries

2 Tablespoons sugar

3/4 cup ice cubes

Place milk, berries and sugar in blender,

cover and process till blended.

Add ice cubes, cover and process until smooth.

Yield: 2 servings

Wordless Wednesday

2009-06-24T09:37:00.001-07:00

Mosaic Monday

2009-06-22T14:00:00.000-07:00

Hey there!! So nice to see you again!!

It's Mosaic Monday over at

Little Red House

and so here is my creation......

don't you just love Fairies?

Wishing you a "Fairy Nice"

Day!!

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY!

2009-05-23T08:59:00.000-07:00

Hoping this day finds you

"IN THE PINK".............

And everything is.............

"COMING UP ROSES"

HAPPY DAY!!

2009-05-10T11:31:00.000-07:00

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

POSTED A BIT LATE DUE TO ILLNESS........

BUT FROM MY HEART ANYWAY........

LOVE TO ALL THE MOMMIES!

DIDJAEVER DAY

2009-05-07T00:29:00.000-07:00

Blogging is so much fun....

and for me, it is all about sharing......

so, I would like to introduce a

New feature here on

Brookside Cottage!

Welcome to

*DIDJAEVER DAY*!

I will post mine on Thursdays......

I hope you like it~

DIDJAEVER see anything so pretty??......

DIDJAEVER wish you had a really good Salsa recipe??

SALSA:

2 Cups canned tomatoes, undrained and chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 can diced green chilies (4 oz)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 Tablespoon wine vinegar

1 green bell pepper, diced

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

Mix all ingredients together and cover. Leave overnight in frig to blend flavors.

If finer texture is desired, put ingredients in blender for a few seconds.

And................

DIDJAEVER start your day with such a sweet face............

Thanks for stopping by.......

I hope you enjoyed this

*DIDJAEVER DAY*...........

If you would like to share your own *DIDJAEVER*

I would love it!

Please just use Mr. Linky below!

It's a travelin' kinda day!

2009-05-05T14:20:00.000-07:00

I feel like traveling today.........
and I thought I'd take you with me........
One of the best parts of blogging is sharing wonderful
finds with everyone......
especially delightful blogs I find.....
so........
here we go........
May I introduce you to.........

Cathe Holden .......
Cathe is a very talented graphic designer
and artist "extraordinaire"!
She lives in Petaluma, California
And has a most delightful blog here:

To say that Cathe is artistic and talented,

is truly an understatement.....

as soon as you visit her blog

I am sure you will agree!

Just take a peek........

not only does she show us what she made,

but often shares tutorials for them......

How wonderful is this Truck pincushion!?

Cigar label watch pendants!

Clip Art Candles

Reverse Painted Windows!

And a totally awesome message box
for Mother's Day!!

My gosh, she even gives us a template
to print out for the box!

Cathe sells lovelies like these

"Prom Dress Bottles"

on her Etsy Store

She also shares her terrific designs with us

for wonderful things like:

Cathe also guest blogs on other sites such as:

DesignMom.com

http://www.rightathome.com/

If you go to visit her,

she'll even teach you how to make

this scrumptious cake:

(OH MY!)

Now, why would such a busy, talented lady

share such lovely things with us all?

Well, personally I think it is .............

You guessed it~ this is also one of Cathe's designs!

I have enjoyed putting this post about Cathe

together for you......

and learning more about her......

I hope you'll stop by and visit her........

and tell her I sent ya!

I'll be sharing another favorite blog soon!

Blue Monday

2009-05-04T01:52:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Blue Monday!

Click the blue bird above to be whisked off to

Smiling Sally's and see more Blue Monday posts!

And, I have a very special little blue something to share with you~

A sweet little Vintage notecard....

from Hallmark........

isn't this just too sweet?

or should I say "tweet"?

Now I ask you........

who would not feel better

if this little "tweetie"

came in the mail??

You may take the images to use in your

art if you wish!

Enjoy!

And have a

HAPPY

BLUE

MONDAY!!

Spiritual Sunday

2009-05-03T10:50:00.001-07:00

"Forget yourself for others

and others will not forget you"

Millie was a mentally retarded adult who lived with her mother in a small town. She was known for her proverbial "green thumb" as a gardener. Lawns, hedges and flower beds flourished under her loving attention. Millie also "volunteered" by cutting grass and weeds, raking leaves, and planting flowers in vacant lots throughout the town. She was known for her "oil can". She always carried a small can of lubricating oil in her hip pocket and applied a dose of oil to any squeaky door, hinge, or gate she encountered.

On Sundays Millie went to church with her mother. When teased she refused to respond in any way other than with good humor and unflappable cheer.

When Millie died, everyone in town showed up for her funeral. There were scores who traveled from distant places to attend, including many of those who had once teased her.

Without consciously attempting to do so, Millie exemplified good citizenship. She worked hard, was an optimist, eased tensions and was a faithful church member.

Others really do notice the small things we do for them in love and kindness.

*Therefore all things whatsoever ye would

that men should do to you,

do you even so to them:

for this is the law and the prophets.

Matthew 7:12

Happy May Day!

2009-05-01T09:10:00.000-07:00

Happy May Day!!

I forgot about this, and didn't get listed in time to participate,

but you should check out all the lovely blogs today

on Cupid's Charm blog party!!

You'll be glad you did!

Just click on the button below:

Brookside Cottage

Spiritual Sunday

Happy, Happy!!

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY!

Pink Saturday Recipe!!

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY!

Mosaic Monday!

*CALLING ALL ANGELS*

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY!!

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY!

Pink Saturday

Feathered Friends Party!

Pink Saturday

PINK SATURDAY!

Wordless Wednesday

Mosaic Monday

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY!

HAPPY DAY!!

*DIDJAEVER DAY*

It's a travelin' kinda day!

Blue Monday

Spiritual Sunday

Happy May Day!

CALLING ALL ANGELS

DIDJAEVER DAY