Patina White

SMILE because it happened...

hey there show&TELL friends! if you've visited my blog in the past...{specifically last summer}...you likely caught a post or 2 (or 10) about the little duckling, MJ, that came into our lives. she was such a joy. providing many smiles & laughter with her constant shenanigans. 

MJ's instincts kicked in last year...on october 7th to be exact...when she spread her wings & flew the "coop". i was away visiting family in nebraska. that was incredibly hard not to see her off...but i had a feeling that she was ready when i headed "south" myself. and to be honest i think it better i wasn't home. plus she was in the good company of her papaDUCK. 

anywho...the last time i "talked" about MJ here i was still hopeful that she would make tracks back to our home this spring. and we even got a woodDUCK nesting box up & ready {seen below}

 

 

well i was a bit saddened as the time drew on this spring w/ no sign of MJ or activity in or around the nestBOX. i knew it was a long-shot. but i wanted to be ready...just incase.  i also made regular treks to her pond. but stopped doing so as i walked back each time blinking back tears. 

i will say that in even her absence, hubby & still giggle @ recounts of MJ "moments". the time we spent waiting anxiously for her to fly home each night for her corn. the sounds she made when she was startled...happy... mad. (and YES she did get mad!.) the duck diving she did in her pond i caught on video... that finds me laughing now @ me laughing then.

so it's those thoughts & memories i hold onto. plus the plethora of photos on my phone...computer & even around our home.  when i was mulling over her one day in a wave of emotions...i felt yet again the sting from the onset of tears. but blinked them back reminding myself i shouldn't be sad. but be glad. it's then when a dr.SUESS quotes came to mind. that inspired me to pull together a few of my favorite photos seen {below}.

 

a brief description of what's going on {above}. the fuzz ball you see in the top right was MJ (day 1) when i brought her home after discovering her running alone on our country lane. she was dubbed MJ...short for michaelJORDAN due to the impressive vertical this little duck had when trying to escape from her box. also it was in question whether "she" initially was a boy or girl. til the adult feathers came in...we actually called "her" a him!

below that is the quote that inspired this "gathering". and directly below THAT is my beautiful girl again. this time...fully feathered...sitting on my knee. actually this was the last time i sat at the pond with her. and one of the final snapSHOTS i was able to get of her. sniff. no wait...SMILE. finally is a picture of MJ w/ "mamaDUCK". that'd be me.

i must seemed pretty "gussied" up...what high heels and all...to be sitting in the lawn w/ a duck. but the story goes that we had just returned from dinner out and i was briefly distraught when i didn't think she was home waiting for us. turns out she was and i quickly made way to our sitting spot without wasting a moment to change. 

even in her absence she has inspired me. i have ideas whirling in my head. and then i see things that make me SMILE because "it happened". i recently made this necklace inspired by just such a moment {below} when i caught her stretching out her wings. they had AMAZING plummage on the underside!

 

 

and here is the necklace {below} with that image in mind.

 

i suspect that there will be creations that come about that she has influenced in (1) way shape or form. and incase you are wondering about the "nestBOX"? well...it's home to a family of SQUIRRELS. we've been seeing a bushy gray tail in and out of it. i guess in a way i am glad that someone can raise a family in it. there was nothing specifying "duckONLY" on it's "doorstep". 

and really it's kinda of funny that it was a squirrel. because that is how i am lovingly referenced by those near & dear to me (due in part to my constant state of distraction and scurrying about). it's become such a joke that i even have this stamped image by me @ shadyHOLLOW. 

 

 

now...it's that final squirrel "blip" that makes me SMILE! i sure appreciate you stopping by and letting me share the continued "story" of things my duck taught me!

wishing you a wonderful day!

just BE...

greetings! so yesterday was fleaMARKET sunday for me. and the day started grayish w/ some steady sprinkles. which for shadyHOLLOW tends to set the tone for the day. despite being (1) of the lucky handful to have a cottage...the traffic is usually mild on days of the sort.

but there was a troop of those who trekked out. making me smile @ the soggy determined souls that made their way in. i love the following saying that was perfect for the "occasion".... life is not about waiting for the storm to pass...it is about learning to dance in the rain. 

 

it was nice to actually have the chance to chat w/ the shoppers. often times it gets so crowded & crazy that that opportunity seldom presents itself. i also was able to take a quick photo opportunity and snap a pic of the interior of my cottage {you can be INSPIRED below}

 

 

i ultimately did end up closing up shoppe early...lingering as long as i thought fit considering most vendors were packed & gone. when i got home i had a request from a friend in need of a gift. it only required me to stamp one of my exclusive "flagTAGS".

which then launched an idea for a whole new series! by the time i stopped i had a slew of 'em. of course i wanted to do my "artFULL" interpretation" right away. that "vision" is what you are seeing {below}

 

 

there are so many things to BE that i kept coming up with a word. then another. and ANOTHER. there are even more i am sure that will pop to mind. i look forward to weaving these elements into cluster necklaces to extend the meaning further.  now i must TWIRL my way about the day...i appreciate you stoppin' to DANCE w/ me!

 

i hope you will...BE inspired*

a {ROLL} in the grass

hello-HELLO! i know...that title sounds like it could be "interesting". but it's really quite innocent. to start off... i just have to send out a bigTHANKS to everyone who trekked out to shadyHOLLOW for what's now (2) weekends in. we kicked off the season w/ a big turnout of vendors + an anxious crowd of shoppers on memorial weekend...all this despite the sprinkles & wind.

like the jewels i sported that 1st saturday {shown below} proclaim...i have to say i am grateful to be able to DO WHAT i LOVE and have you all there to make it possible. thanks again. really honored.

 

i was able to find homes for lots of good "JUNK". hauling in more than {1} truckload of rusty gold that needed a new home. as seen by the spattering of treasures {below}

 

 

it was like a reunion of {1} BIG happy family. and must thank those friends + family who yet again stuck by me and threw in more than one helpin' hand! couldn't do it without my loved ones!

 

 

and despite the BUSYness of the getting things in order to open my cottage...i was able to take a few moments to stop & smell the flowers. i spent some time doing some simplified planters that fit into my "LIVIN' LIGHT" mindset. or in this case livin' WHITE as i kept the palette very neutral this year.

 

 

hubby & i did enjoy ROLLING in the grass. with our lucy girl that is! it's moments like this i treasure...as her age has been slowing her down a great deal. she was acting like a pup when i snapped the shot {below}.

 

 

now the days find me playing a bit of "seasonal" catch up. there are STILL flower beds to address. yard-work languishing. and projects of life's "progress" to be done. but when the moments of CREATIVITY strike...i RUN with them. i did just that today actually...when after a streak of gray days...i woke up to a sunshine filled morning. that makes TWO days in a row which is QUITE exciting for our neighborhood. 

the rays of sun finally kickSTARTED an idea that's been trapped in my head for a good couple weeks or more. another variation of the ever popular {SUNshine} necklace. (seen below)...

 

pretty excited about her! it's a nice POP of color in this happy combination...and she will be at shadyHOLLOW for this sunday coming up. i also have hopes of doing a facebook {etsyRELEASE} in the future so invite you to visit my page there to learn more in the next days.

did you know you don't have to have a facebook "account" to view my photos/posts? i invite you to POP on over by clicking {HERE} to view as a guest!

 

 

well...w/ mention of the projects at hand...i must sign off today. sure love yammering on & wish opportunity presented itself more often these days. there are so many thoughts & post ideas swirlin' in my mind. it's just putting them into words that doesn't always come about.

that's where the FACEBOOK side of my {corner of the world} comes in handy. it's quick...random...and let's me share the ramblins' in a somewhat "condensed" format. so hope to see you there as i post daily bits of beauty& inspiration.

sending you off w/ some rays of SUNSHINE and thanks for making me HAPPY!

the summer of {shadyHOLLOW} 2013...livin' LIGHT

goodDAY! well..i've been playing some catch-up from what was a late coming SPRING. now here we are...talking SUMMER! and of course w/ the onset of the season...memorial day marks th kick-off to shadySEASON 2013. w/ me dusting off {LITERALLY} the summer home of patinaWHITE.

and we kickOFF with a BANG...opening for {3} days this holiday weekend! 

the collage below touches on the basics. and if you click that said photo...it will whisk you to even more info should you like to see and learn more!

 

 

this past winter has found me exploring new outlets...specifically stocking my {itsyBITSYetsy} shoppe for occasional "releases". so time that would have been spent getting my ducks in a row for shady was put forth into offering some of my goodies for the 1st time ever online for this girl. a HUGE step + such a fulfilling one. i've met the most AMAZING people. made some new dear friends...and have been filled w/ such a feeling of {HAPPINESS} sharin' extensions of my passion all over the country! and world in a couple instances!

what does all this ramblin' mean? well...as (1) girl...it's quite a task trying to be everyTHING @ everyTIME...thus i have adopted a bit of a new forward thinking. i call it LIVIN' LIGHT. and it was inspired by this photo {below} i came across online that has been a BIG inspiration.

 

 

i look forward to opening my cottage...working on a theory that less is MORE. (more or less!). it may not seem as jammed pack w/ all the "littles" i've had in the past. i am streamlining to work more efficiently AND balanced. in hopes of still stocking my ETSY shoppe on occasion to keep that creative outlet alive & WELL! plus hopping on that harley of mine & hitting the road w/ hubby! 

but worry not shadyFANS! i will still have a fun selection of the fashion pretties you love. like this favorite arrival of what i've named the {BOLD&beautyFULL} cross (below)

 

 

and of course you'll find the little bits&BAUBLES on-hand to create a one of kind STORY necklace customized by YOU! with some necklaces i've put together inspired by happenings in & around me. like this new combination {below} i just wove together with my exclusive handSTAMPED dotty discs...a newbie on the block this season.

 

 

there will always be a junkTRAIL that follows me as well. no matter how much i "chat" with myself about being more mindful of hauling home more than i can use. however...i WILL be parting with many "treasures" in my livin' light mindset that have been "eyeCANDY" aka not4SALE in the past. and the pile of goodies i hosed off (below) is testament to that! 

 

 

i am already LOVIN' LIVIN' LIGHT. my friend laurie inspired that and i agree w/ her suggestion that it would be a good necklace. for me to be sure. and maybe there's some of you out there nodding and would agree! 

alright. i must run. even "light" livin' is going to take some effort! i never said it would be "easy livin"...life seldom is. but i am ready to more forward in a direction that is happy, healthy AND balanced! i invite you to pop by my facebook page for my daily blips of inspirations...and pop back here to show&TELL for ramblins' when the moment is right for me to yammer on. 

 

so glad you stopped...and look forward to continue sharin' this patinaPASSION with you!

be the LIGHT!

in our thoughts...

hello friends! as i scurry around with a toDO list in tow...fussing a bit about the items that i "have to" get done for my shady hollow cottage to reopen...i can't help but slow down a bit to enjoy those things i am very grateful for.

the warmth + safety of my loved ones + self is unmeasurable. not everyone is experiencing that same feeling. my mind is thinking of those folks in oklahoma experiencing the devastating blow of mother nature's force. i hope we can all take a moment in the "BUSYness" of our lives to reflect on those little things we have to be thankful for.

 

 

i will be back soon w/ more tidbits about shady + the fun things happening this weekend (and ALL summer!). but for today i just wanted to share a little image i created for residents of MOORE, OK. 

warmest thoughts to them & EVERYONE for that matter...

{4} the love of "SANDY"

greetings show&TELL friends! i am doing a quick "fly-by" this morning...hoping to catch a few of you beachBABIES that are not on facebook & would otherwise miss the announcement that i am doing a sandyTOES {RELEASE} tonight! yes ma'am! later TODAY...wednesday EVE...however you'd like to say it i will be stocking my {itsyBITSYetsy} shoppe w/ miss "SANDY" + her LOVEly little bracelet friend (both seen below) will be there too! 

 

 

here's the time {please find YOUR zone} that i will open up my "shoppe" for her to be purchased. 

-PACIFIC 6pm
-MOUNTAIN 7pm
-CENTRAL 8pm
-EASTERN 9pm

at the time noted in your zone...i will put a link via facebook directly to my shoppe for viewing. 

for those interested in waiting on the ETSY side of things...i invite you to do so at by clicking the image {below} ...

thanks ALWAYS for your interest & taking the time to check-in. i sure hope to catch quite a few of you beachBABIES this go 'round! now i am off to do some "detail work" at my summer cottage. oh my...the time is nearly here! i shall update my blog...w/ all the "need to know" ramblins'! til then... 

make it a GREAT day everyone!

happily yours...

 

gather your {BLESSINGS}

hello & HAPPY day to you. i am always tickled to have visitors to my little {corner of the world} here - so a BIG thankYOU for popping by. now...today is a celebration of mom's.

i am so blessed to have a wonderful ma. she & i have been "sidekicks" for as long as i can remember. when we moved to minnesota 25+ years back... she looked at me and said "it's you & me against the world". and off we went as a team then and continue as a team now.

 

because without the emotional AND physical support of this lady i wouldn't be the person i am today much less have the business i am also blessed with.

she is a big inspiration in patinaWHITE starting waaaay back when she ran a gift shoppe of her own. at that time i worked for her and she was the boss. now the tables have turned finding her right there w/ me helping away at the flea + events alike. guess that makes me the boss! (giggle). and i probably act like it often. "bossy beth" i can be when the heat is on! 

ANYWHO...i dubbed this post "gather your {BLESSINGS} for a reason. because i am quite fond of putting together picture collages.

i did this "gathering" {below} to honor not only my own special ma (that cutie on the left)...but the likes of the other (2) ladies who have been brought into my world...my step-mom Vi (that adorable lil girl bottom right) and last but certainly not least...the lovely Mary, my mom-in-law (the studious lookin' girl in the top right).

 

so happyMOTHER'S girls...i love ya all very much! with mention of my mom-in-law...i can't help but bring up another blessing in my life. that of my hubby (he was part of the package when i got mary!)

 

 

i do so because yesterday was his birthday. that cute little baby you see in the collage {below} grew up into the wonderful man i have adored for the past 20 years. i thought i would surprise him with a little collage of letters to greet him when he got going in the morning...

 

well...what's funny about this is that i did so quite early in the morning...and wasn't until after i published to my facebook page that i glanced at it and realized...no H! the "funny" part being that last year he did a message in our sand "BOX" for my birthday...a recap of it {below}

 

 

so that will teach me for teasing him about that. i suspect this will be our preferred BIRTDAY greeting from here on out! heck...let's just say i MEANT to do it that way (more giggles).

well friends...i am off for today. sure glad to share my little gathering of "blessings" with you. and a happyMOTHERS day to the MANY hard workin' & lovin' moms EVERYWHERE! 

 

happyDAY to you!  

 

it's getting {HOT} in here... stuffed POBLANO peppers ...a*la beth

HELLO show&TELL! so...i've been experimenting w/ a new recipe. and thought it was quite tasty. as my taste-buds have "matured"...i've grown to love a variety of veggies that would have been otherwise hidden in a napkin growing up. poblano peppers are a recent add to my list of loves. they have a bit more zip than bell peppers so it only made sense for me to give 'em a try.

 

 

i decided that i wanted to give my hand @ "stuffing" a poblano. enter in some tuna. now...it may sound odd...but i ended up deciding to do a double protein punch w/ some cottage cheese.  

 

 

and i personally like the bite of green onion...rounded out w/ the sweet crunch of some apple. 

 

so it's pretty basic...your list of ingredients shown here below. subject to your tastes...so tweak as you like. let the following list be your guide to a yield of {4} stuffed poblano halves.

{2} large sized fresh POBLANO peppers

{2} well drained 5oz cans of TUNA in water

1/2 cup (or so) of your choice COTTAGE cheese

2-3 GREEN ONION stalks ( i like alot..so i "error" to 3 or more! ) finely chopped up.

1/2 APPLE. ( again...i do like the taste/crunch of apples...so i usually do more ) diced into small pieces.

choice of CHEESE. i like the ease & taste of a slice of VELVETTA queso blanco when melted.

seasoning(s) choice. black and/or RED pepper...garlic powder...mrs. dash spicy southwest made it into mine...

combine tuna, green onions, apples, cottage cheese + spices in a bowl mixing well. set aside and move on to the next step...

 

 

now it's time to get roastin'! if you have a gas stove as we do...roasting is a breeze. i just rested the whole poblano on the stove grate. the same effect can be achieved in an electric oven by broiling or grilling is always an option. i just let the flame do it's job on both sides. i'm not one to time or measure things...so i can't really say EXACTLY how long i did this...but i turning often w/ tongs stopping when the skin darkened enough in spots & started to pop. 

 

 

let the pepper cool to touch...and then cut lengthwise into halves. you will want to scoop out the "veins"...and most people take out the seeds. i recommend doing both steps w/ protective gloves. me? nah. livin' dangerously. i do remove the veins but keep as many seeds as possible. and gloves...i guess my skin has built up enough tolerance like that of my stomach - to heat. but be aware as some people are quite sensitive to things like this. ( i can recall a friend who canned jalapenos once w/o gloves and her hands swelled up like balloons). 

i sprayed some olive oil on them and lightly seasoned w/ some mrs dash + a pinch of garlic salt. they are ready for stuffin' as seen below.

 

 

have your oven preheated to 350 degrees. and spoon your mixture divided evenly between your halves. top with your cheese choice {again mine was a white queso cheese slice} and JUST incase there wasn't enough "heat"... i put more crushed red pepper flakes on it plus a sprinkle of dried chives.

 

 

into the oven they go! of course...who would think of watching the time. but i know it wasn't long that they were in...i'd guess it was about 10 minutes. i've made them again since and have very good success doing this final "heating" process in the microwave just to let ya know!

when the cheese is melty...grab yourself a plate...

 

 

...and dish 'em up! i like mine w/ a bowl of basic vegetable medley soup...topped with...wait for it...MORE pepper flakes! (as if the photo doesn't give a clue below)

 

 

so there ya have it. peppers ontop MORE peppers. i told you it was getting HOT in here! but remember this can be adjusted to your taste-buds accordingly.

now...with that mention of "hot"...we are fore-casted to have our first 70 degree day in SEVEN months. yes. 7. like lucky number seven. like spring is FINALLY here. which means i am off. much to catch up on. buried flower beds to clean. flea market to prep up for. peppers to roast. you know...all that good stuff.

anywho...i hope you can piece together my random "recipe" here. don't be afraid to turn up the heat if you dare. you can live as crazy as i and LEAVE those poblano seeds in place!

 

thanks for peeking...and have a TERRIFIC day!

  

i {LOVE} my life

hello show&TELL friends! i don't want to miss out on letting you know that i will be opening my {itsyBITSYetsy} shoppe tonight for a little sprinkling of my goodies! i will do so @ the following times broke down by zone...

-6pm pacific
-7pm mountain
-8pm central
-9pm eastern

if you want to peek...things do tend to happen quite quickly on that side of my world so i invite you to visit my shoppe as close to my "{RELEASE}" time as possible for the best selection. you can pop by to my etsy shoppe by clicking the postIT {below} 

please note i only stock for these occasional releases. items only appear for the releases and once they are sold...mother hubbard's cupboard will be "bare" til next time.

i will continue to offer {RELEASES} as my schedule allows taking into consideration that "shady season" just around the corner!!

 

 

there's a variety of treasures...but the (1) i will show you {below} is a little piece i pulled together. though the elements are not forged by my hands...i often do i take artisan pieces & weave them in a way that IS exclusively my "design". this combo is a pretty one...you'll note i did a few options. YOU are in charge as you tell me what initial you want as well as the accent gem or cross! 

 

 

so thank you for being a BIG part of why i love my life. the opportunity to share my passion thru works of whimsy truly makes me happy. and having you here sweetens the pot! but now i must get to stirrin' that pot seeing what i call "whip up" yet in the next hours as release time approaches.

again...thanks for LOVIN' what i LOVE to do...

 

-MESSAGE- in a bottle

hey there show&TELL friends! being the forever scavenger i am...i have been digging deep these days @ our local thrifts. looking closer than ever before at items that i might otherwise pass by. and as a result...i've found my share of trinkets & treasures! 

the other day i hovered around the jewelry section a little longer. even taking time to sift thru some mostly plastic beaded bracelets {not usually where i would dig in other words} when i spotted a tiny glass bottle dangling from the likes of what i mentioned. {see it minus the plastic beads below}

 

 

but what caught my eye wasn't so much the bottle...but it's contents. i could see a tiny scroll of paper rolled up tightly inside. w/ the faint marks of script. i even uncapped it - on location - thinking i could sneak a peek. but alas...the roll wasn't budging. my curiosity peaked...i shelled out the .49  to take home for further investigation!  

 

 

took some finagling...and a tweezer....but i was able to slide out the paper snippet. i carefully unrolled it...holding my breath. maybe it would be a love note? treasure map? the colonel's secret recipe? i started reading it. smiling the whole time. turns out it was a note from a friend to her dear friend. and it was done a decade+ ago.

i've read it more than a couple times. and thought i'd show it here. a bit closer. because who knows...maybe you know a chelsey or katie that could be those mentioned {below}. maybe you ARE chesley and/or katie! in which case i am saving this little friendship token just incase.

 

 

so there you have it! even though it wasn't a treasureMAP...i still consider it very much a treasure. and nothing would thrill me more than putting it back in the hands of (1) of these girls. 

thanks for popping by today...and letting me share this fun story w/ you. makes me wonder what other bottles are out there waiting to be rescued! maybe the next (1) i will find will have a genie! 

always love having you visit my {corner of the world}!