Italy Anyone?

My bags are packed and I'm ready to go. No, just kidding. I am not really going to Italy. I only found this travel bag and italian sandals at T.J Maxx and began dreaming.



Touring Venice by boat or strolling the walkways at waters edge from cafe to cafe...





Sipping tea while eating chocolate crossants.



I went out to lunch and then shopping with my girls, Holly and Grace, this afternoon. When their hair appointments got canceled last minute, I decided to take them out and have fun.



Holly will soon be a platinum blonde again and Grace is going blonde for the first time. She was blonde when she was little but now her hair is dyed black. I don't know how she is going to go blonde from black! It will be a big change.





The sandals are so cute!



see the made in Italy stamp









I am loving my new leopard travel bag and sandals for summer. I may not be traveling to Venice but I will travel somewhere dreamy...San Francisco, Napa Wine country, and of course the Sonoma Coast.



If you like my sandals there were several cute styles with low heels so you won't break your back! Very comfortable. I may go back and get a silvery gray pair that I liked. Only $20.00. Are you looking forward to summer? Will you be traveling anywhere exciting?

Sea tidings,
kerrie

*images~ travel bag and sandals by me, Venice and The Tourist google library.

Good morning...with baked bread

Good morning. I did not intend to post this three day weekend, but this morning I made Sea Cottage Banana Bread and just had to share it with you!



While the bread bakes in the oven, and I sip my morning Tazo awake tea, I thought I would share the recipe with you along with some favorite Cabbages and Roses vignettes. Afterall, you may want to rise early tomorrow and bake some for your family breakfast. Or take a loaf with you on a memorial day outing. So without further ado...



*Sea Cottage Banana Bread*

1/2c milk
2tsp lemon juice
1tsp vanilla

1/4c butter
1/4c honey
2 eggs
3med ripe bananas

1 1/2c flour
1c oats
1tsp baking soda
1/2tsp sea salt

1Tbsp oats
1Tbsp crushed walnuts

preheat oven at 350



Mix milk, lemon jc(I use real lemon),vanilla and set aside.

In a mixing bowl cream together butter and honey. Add eggs, ripe mashed banana. Mix till blended.
Add flour, oats, baking soda, sea salt. Mix till blended well.

Grease and flour two loaf pans. Pour batter into pans. Sprinkle with oats or walnuts or both. Bake in 350 oven for 1 hour or until golden. Serve warm with butter. This banana bread has no sugar(besides honey) and is so delicious that my children ask me to make it often.



We are going to a poolside party this afternoon. Cheers ox

Sea tidings,
kerrie

*images~ Cabbages and Roses

Red.. white and blue

Now you all know when it comes to red, white, and blue you're mostly going to find white and blue at Sea Cottage. A whole lot of white



a little bit of blue





but Oh My, when I see reds like this, I could definetly do red



if you are a red and white girl then you are going to love these photos from House Beautiful.

Enjoy a virtual tour of the Hamptons. Designer is Ellen O'neill.











ralph lauren linens









I'm going to paint an old primitive star white to hang on the front door. I'll hang the American flag, but I'm staying with an all white theme. How about you? Do you decorate for Memorial Day?

Sea tidings,
kerrie

*images~ House Beautiful

I guess I decided to take a rest break at the right time because Blogger is down and out. I am unable to sign in, therefore unable to comment... give, receive or post comments. How about you?

I enjoyed the gentle rains we had all morning. Baked Chocolate chip scones for breakfast. Loved Oprah's Goodbye show. Watched in awe as our news tracked four tornadoes North of us. This is California...we have earthquakes not tornadoes! Am happy Scotty won American Idol. Have tenative plans to escape to the coast for a day this three day weekend. Our american flag will be up by Friday. Hope yours will be too. Happy Memorial Day weekend! ox

Update~ Thank you ladies for all the help with Blogger...your advice worked! ox

Sea tidings,
kerrie

*image~ Atlanta Bartlett

Sea Cottage Summer

Summer holiday has arrived at Sea Cottage.

School days have come to an end, my children are home again, sleeping in most mornings until noon. I've been able to putter around in the gardens with tea in hand...smelling our blooming roses while listening to birdsong and the quiet patter of soft rain. I've been washing whites while moving things around creating a calm cottage retreat for summer.


Come on in and take a look...



this is our very tiny entry way









a place for Jeanne D Arc Living magazines always at the ready to inspire peaceful living



lavender from Dreamy Whites shop



paper lanterns



inspiration in my studio



a lovely gray placemat with white flowers from World Market



freshly picked roses from our garden



ruffles



unmade beds









a footstool for Bella Bleu to get on to the bed



soft cotton sweater by Lucky Brand goes perfectly with my faded jean skirt... and even with my white pajama pants for a casual summer coastal wardrobe







I am enjoying my rest and refreshment as we ease into summer days.

Sea tidings,
kerrie

and a shorter haircut for summer. I hadn't put my face powder on yet so you get to see my age and blemishes. tee hee ox


Linking with Faded Charm Cottage for White Wednesdays.
P.S I am having trouble with Blogger today. Is anyone else? I cannot sign in.