Happy Halloween

It’s Halloween!

Black cats; pointed hats.
Colored leaves; a chilly breeze.
Trick or treat; fun things to eat.
A ghostly scene; it’s Halloween!

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Halloween!

Marianne

Note:  Above image is from The Knittington Fairies series by Marianne Coyne.  Poem by Marianne Coyne copyright©2008.

Lead Cyrstal Bowl

Hello friends,

I was at the thrift shop, and look what I found.  Isn’t it a beauty?  A little lead crystal bowl that I think would look beautiful holding some lovely roses.

It only measures about 3 3/4″ in height and width, but certainly has a lot of character.  Isn’t its carved look design stunning?

I think the pretty little roses around the frosted edges are darling!

Not to mention the gorgeous scalloping around the top.   It has a good weight and thickness to it, and I paid $2.99.

Thank you for stopping by Leisure Lane, and until next time, may happy days abound!

Marianne

Don’t forget to check out this post:  Helping People Help People

Beauty’s Only Skin Deep

Good Day, friends…

Remember those old adages, “Beauty’s only skin deep,” or “You can’t judge a book by its cover” ?   Well, I learned they were also true when it came to ceramic pretties, such as the one above.

Many years ago I worked part time in a quaint little gift shop.  The owner had some very pretty items there, including that sweet child’s Nippon tea set I showed back on February 1st, 2011.  I didn’t know all that much about ceramics at the time.  I thought that if it went through a firing and was made to drink hot beverages out of then it must be a hardy piece.   Well, I learned that wasn’t always the case.

When I saw this set I was head over heals.  It’s so pretty and cheery, and I just had to have it.  But it’s  one of those ceramic pieces very popular today, but doesn’t hold up very well to the heat.

I’ve learned the feel and sound of this type of ceramic.  If you give it a tap with your fingers you can almost hear a slight hollow sound.  That’s usually a clue to me that though the piece is pretty it most likely won’t last long.

This cup can be stored on top of the teapot.  And see the pretty matching saucer? (If you click on the cup photo you will see the crack inside the cup).

The teapot is so pretty with the roses and stems, and the little cup is a most dainty thing with roses on the handle.  I think you can see why I fell in love with it.  But, alas, both cups have suffered extreme cracks within, so are no longer useful for drinking.  And the red plaid cup has also suffered some chipping damage.

Made by Paper Windows, I was very disappointed that I only got to use them a few times before the damage was evident.

The teapot doesn’t seem to have any cracks, but I think I’ll use it for a flower vase only, and save my teatime for real teapots.  These were just so pretty that I wanted to share them.

I have since then bought a couple of sweet Valentine mugs at a grocery store some years back, but their ceramic makeup is the same, and one of them cracked.  So I’ve learned to stay away from certain types of ceramics.  Has anyone had similar problems?

Today I am joining Teacup Tuesday with Terri, and Tea Time Tuesday with Sandi.  Come and join the fun.  Thank you for strolling by Leisure Lane.  You are always welcome.

Don’t forget to check out this post: Helping People Help People

Until next time, may happy days abound!

Marianne

Eat Thy Bread With Joy

Welcome to Leisure Lane, friends…

Yesterday I got busy doing some things I don’t get to do often, but would like to do more…I baked some bread!  Admittedly the flour and grains were already mixed, and all I had to do was to mix the yeast, cut a bit of Smart Balance into the dry mix, knead, and let it raise.  It rises twice, once in the bowl and then again in the bread pan.

Hodgson Mill made it easy.  Doesn’t it look good?  I toasted it this morning with some tea.  It certainly is a hearty bread and good.

Though I will admit that I would like to make it all from scratch again very soon.  There really isn’t anything like homemade bread.

In the evening I made a delicious Mexican stew.  It’s this week’s recipe at work and I wanted to try it.  Wow! It turned out wonderful.  My son and his dad rolled theirs in tortillas, but I ate mine in a bowl over a bit of brown rice and a sprinkle of shredded cheddar on top.  Perfect for an Autumn night.

Thank you for stopping by.  Take your time and stroll around the Lane, and until next time, may happy days abound.

Don’t forget to check out this post: Helping People Help People

Wishing you all the best,

Marianne

Announce & Feature

Good day,  friends…

I’m very glad you came to visit because I have some good news to share with you today.  I am happy to announce that one of my Knittington Fairies designs has been licensed to be used as a header on the blog and e-shops of an amazing knitter.  Christine lives in England, and her Wrapped in Colour blog and Etsy shop are so worth a peek.

Here are some of her handiwork.  I am taken with the yellow scarf.  The patterns and colors of her work are lovely, and Christine’s talent is superb.  Drop by Wrapped in Colour and see the newest Knittington Fairies, and say hello to Christine.

I’m joining Mosaic Monday’s host, Mary, at Little Red House A N D Handmade Thursday at White Lily Green.

Thank you for strolling Leisure Lane. and until next time, may happy days abound!

Marianne

Note: Images above are knitted items from Christine at Wrapped in Color

Hello Old Friend

Happy Autumn, friends…

Welcome to Leisure Lane.  Sip your tea or coffee while you settle into Autumn with a song about my favorite season.  Some of my ‘poems’ are songs, but since you can’t here the melody, you’re welcome to make up one of your own or simply read it like a poem.  Which ever way you read it, I hope you enjoy it, and it makes you smile.  I’ll be posting more through the autumn because, well, “I’ve gotta million of ‘em”. (COL)

Hello, Old Friend 
(an Autumn song)

Hello, old friend, you’re here again.
My heart is warm with cheer.
The leaves are turning, my heart is burning
With love for this time of year.

 Cool breezes chill the air,
Apple crisp baked with care;
Cider is warming, hay rides are charming;
Pumpkins at the fair.

 Hello, old friend, you’re here again.
Let me light a fire;
Find a book, sit in a nook,
And pass away the hour.

 Old town clocks together chime,
Telling us the hour’s time;
Sound more clear when you are here,
Like a child’s rhyme.

 Hello, Autumn, my old friend.
I’m so glad you’re here again.
Please tarry long, where you belong,
Let my heart be your domain.

copyright©2008 Marianne Coyne

Your welcome to stroll along the Lane, relax and enjoy.  If you’d like to visit by leaving a comment, I’m sure to get back to you.

Until next time, may happy days abound!

Marianne

The above image is the original oil painting, “Sheltering Oak” by Marianne Coyne.

Helping People Help People

Helping People Help People

Hello, friends…through the month of October I will be leaving gentle reminders that:

For the month of October I am donating 50% of my profits from the sale of my book,  The Christmas Pin Society to Elizabeth’s Hands for Christ.  With each purchase you will be helping to give a nursing home resident a softer place to lay their heads for Christmas.  Thank you.

To learn more about Elizabeth’s Hands for Christ and all the wonderful help it has offered others, stop by My Sweet Prairie Home.  Thank you.

I’m glad you came for a stroll along Leisure Lane.  Until next time, may happy days abound!

Marianne

The above image is from http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com

Doodle Archives

Welcome to Leisure Lane, friends…

Today I’d like to share some designs which I was reminded to dig out after reading Yvette’s post from Yvett’es Twistedvines.  These designs are from a series I worked on back in the mid-late ’90s.  They were inspired by a kind of doodling I did in my senior year of high school and followed me into college where I would doodle in some classes.  Needless to say I didn’t finish my degree back then…Ha,ha…

This one was done in the earlier years – 1971…my senior year of high school.

1997

The outside design shapes were done using a ruler, then without planning, I would fill it in freehand.   It was always exciting to see to see what would present itself on the paper.  (My apologies for the photo quality – it’s not a very sunny day and I don’t know much about photography, especially digital cameras).

1997

Though the none of the lines were preplanned, they were drawn with purpose, and, I think, contain a certain strength.  Though there are some certain aspects which may be repeated in a design, they always hold a completely different perspective within the particular piece.

 1997

As you can see, you never know where a ‘doodle’ will take you, but it’s always fun finding out.  I took up this form of doodling again about a year ago.  This time around I added other components.  The result is fun and intriguing.  I look forward to showing you the new versions another time.

Well, I hope you enjoyed these…thanks to Yvette for reviving the idea…I can’t wait to work on some more.

May joy and peace follow you today, and until next time, may happy days abound!

Marianne

Note:  All designs shown here are copyrighted by Marianne Coyne

Revising for: M O S A I C   M O N D A Y

I’m entering this post for Mosaic Monday, hosted by Mary from Little Red House…stop by and join the fun!

Yummy Apple Butter

I love apple butter, but haven’t had it in a long time.  So to remedy that, I made some with organic Gala apples, cinnamon, and cloves….Mmmm..MM!!  I love desserts but don’t like a lot of sugar in everything I eat, so making it from scratch was a good way to get natural ingredients and no sugar added.

I peeled the apples, cut them in medium chunks, and simmered them in a dash of water until they were nicely cooked.  Then I pureed them in a food processor and stirred in lots of cinnamon and a dash of ground cloves.  The cloves give it the apple butter flavor.  Sorry I didn’t measure the ingredients, I just add to taste.

I spooned the apple butter into a jar, and VOILA!   Umm…oops…………

As you can see it didn’t last very long…about two or three days.  Love it on my morning toast with tea.  Didn’t even take a photo of it on my toast…maybe next time.   If you’ve never made your own, give it a try.  I know you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

For the month of October I am donating 50% of my profits from the sale of The Christmas Pin Society to Elizabeth’s Hands for Christ .  With each purchase you will be helping to give a nursing home resident a softer place to lay their heads for Christmas.  Thank you.

I’m glad you came for a stroll along Leisure Lane.  Until next time, may happy days abound!

Marianne