Ladies, thank you for your comments. I will seal before I put it outside. I want to paint some snowmen and gingerbread men later this year along with jack-o-lanterns and maybe Christmas ornaments. I think colorful ornament pavers would be pretty across the front flower beds at Christmas. - Marylee

cave creek canyon.. That mamas cross, is fairly old, several years.. one of my oldest crosses still surviving, it was from the first year I ever bought anything from the lily auction.. I dont think I spent more then 3 bucks on a cross back then. it was orginally just a fun thing to do one winter, those years crosses are all mostly moved, or trashed, sometimes you really get what you pay for. Silverkelt

Your pictures are VERY cool. Thank you so much for sharing them with us. We'll be looking forward to more. It's fine to post them here, but thought I'd take the opportunity to remind folks that the Texas Garden Web also has a Texas Gallery. I happened to notice on the Cottage Garden Forum that someone asked how many people visited the Cottage Garden Gallery. About a third of the people responding said they didn't even know there was a gallery! There is also a conversation page as well as this discussion page. Look at the upper right on the opening page of this forum and you will see the links to those. There's a lot of great pictures on the gallery and also links to garden tours. We have a lot of fun and informative discussions on those two forums as well as this one! Happy gardening everyone! Here is a link that might be useful: Texas Garden Web Gallery

Thanks so much Punk, Jane, DD, Syble, MM, Luvs, Jeanne, and Lynn! I feel like such an amateur compared to you but it certainly is fun to play with dishes! One of my problems is that I got a new camera last fall and have still not become friends with it. Occasionally have to revert to using my old one. I mentioned the light making a difference because I had been taking pics at dusk and things were getting a *blue* reflection - weird. I should have explained what everything is, I guess, but I'm so new at this I forgot we all like details! I'll try to answer all questions and explain what things are. The dishes in the first setting are Shakespeare's Sonnets by Kensington. I meant to take a pic of the back and forgot. I'll have to do that. The bowls, small plates, and dinner plates each have different style cottages on them. I bot a small set at a thrift store for $5. The plain beige plates are part of an Ikea set. The silver toast warmer is vintage (family). The pottery mugs, covered butter dish, and jam bowl were YS finds as was the little creamer which is old but not valuable. The candlesticks are turned wood. The wooden handled flatware from Europe - Boda, very 70's style and we seldom use it as it must be washed by hand. Rooster and hen were really ugly bright colored things I painted to mute them down. Placemats from a discount grocery. The red/pink transferware is a set I bot at an antique store - it's Enoch Woods English Scenery by Wood & Sons. The pink platter is made in England by Booths "Washington" pattern and a thrift shop find. Last year was the "Year of the Platter" for me as I found 5 for very little. The bone china teacups were YS finds for $1-$2 each. The silver tea service from an auction cost $25. The water glasses and sherbets are vintage 30's etched glass (family), the white wine are Cristal d'Arques (Europe), and the red wine are Birks crystal (wedding gift). Lace tablecloth was a yard sale find still in package for $1. I don't have a black tablecloth, just a set of 8 placemats and a runner. I only have a couple cheap gold plastic chargers so used silver trays (family) in this setting. I need to get out the iron before I do more settings. I really dislike ironing but no one would be impressed with wrinkled linen! LOL You people are a fun group to play with - thanks for putting up with me!