For the Love of a Pink Cottage

Please join me in praying for the residents of Colorado who have lost loved ones and homes in the wildfires. A huge thank you to all the firefighters who have risked their lives to protect Coloradans and their homes. 
God bless you.

"Pink Cottage" photo by Robin Kearney: http://www.flickr.com/photos/robinkearney/165188794/in/photostream/
Some Rights Reserved

I love this cottage. It's warm, it's inviting and it's pink. Pink is not a color I would choose for just any home. But I think it works for this cottage. 


It's been another long spell since I last posted, but sometimes life just gets in the way, doesn't it? I spent two weeks working on an assignment for Wesleyan Publishing: seven devotionals for their Spring 2013 devotional publication "Light From the Word." Then this past week I've been playing catch up around the shop and preparing to add online sales to this site. I'm pretty excited about the prospect of an online shop, but it really takes time to make it happen. 


Enough already with my pitiful failure-to-communicate excuses. Let's look at another pink cottage I found.

"Lyme Pink Cottage" by Adrian Boliston: http://www.flickr.com/photos/boliston/2353431634/
Some Rights Reserved

How about those bay windows? I can only imagine what they overlook, but my brain is capable of conjuring up some fairly extraordinary images.

"Pink Cottage" photo by v1ctory_1s_m1ne: http://www.flickr.com/photos/v1ctory_1s_m1ne/455792180/
Some Rights Reserved

Looks like early spring at this charming pink cottage. The forsythia is in bloom.


All three cottages are a different shade of pink, but did you notice they all have thatched roofs? Don't we just love those?

"Cottage" photo by Mark A. Coleman: http://www.flickr.com/photos/48509939@N07/4579165183/
Some Rights Reserved

Ok, I have to tell you that out of all the pink cottages I've shown you this one is my favorite. It's so quaint and I'm drawn to the rustic look. And. . .well, look closely at the door. The wood trim says, "Pink Cottage". Perfect. I would have to do more with the flowers, though.


I'm celebrating pink in the shop too. Recently a consignor brought in a plethora of vintage linens and doilies in a pink theme.

The pink and gold vintage Hall teapot is delightful. Paired with the ecru, and pink trimmed large doily it says "tea party" to me.

This little white ruffled doily with pink trim is sweet. I like to hang jewelry from the teapots in the shop for fun.

Lovely Sherie, owner of Cottage Bliss, bought this intricately crocheted piece for her green and pink cottage. She'll fix the broken threads. Crafty girl.

This little pink and green charmer went home with Sherrie, too. The green Hall teapot went home with someone else who collects. . .what else? Teapots.




More pink goodies in the shop. . .

This delightful vintage Southern Belle tablecloth is hand embroidered and machine trimmed. 

This is one of my favorite oils by my talented husband Dennis Reinke. 

Lewis Townsend, one of the local artisans I consign with, handcrafted this wonderful barnwood hanging wall shelf. 

The pink flower mosaic adds a touch of whimsy.


I hope you enjoyed this little pink journey and that you'll have a safe and fun Fourth of July. Estes Park is beautiful and open for business. :)

One Happy Painter!

(Please take note that this site may be out of commission for a few days while I make changes to accommodate the online shop. If you can't find me, don't worry. Check back again because I will retain the ajoyfulcottage.com name and once things are in place I'll be up and running again.)


Blessings,

Linking up with Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday

Stone Cottages and Gardens to Love

Penlan Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/penlan-cottage-crickhowell.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission

We've had technology issues this week. Our internet provider had to perform emergency repairs, which shut us down for awhile, but we're back up and running now and I can finally share some cottage love with you.

Today we're visiting Penlan Cottage located in the Black Mountains of Wales. 

Penlan Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/penlan-cottage-crickhowell.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission

This deep well window is delightful.

Penlan Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/penlan-cottage-crickhowell.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission

Leaves in a heart. Oak, perhaps?

Penlan Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/penlan-cottage-crickhowell.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission

Love the barbed wire heart. This vignette inspires me to repurpose the old horseshoe I discovered on our property.

Penlan Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/penlan-cottage-crickhowell.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission

Great lime-washed walls in the cottage.

Penlan Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/penlan-cottage-crickhowell.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission

Lovely backyard overlooking a duck pond.

Walnut Tree Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/walnut-tree-abergavenny.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission

Another stone cottage in Wales: Walnut Tree Cottage.

Walnut Tree Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/walnut-tree-abergavenny.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission

Sometimes understated elegance is the best.

Walnut Tree Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/walnut-tree-abergavenny.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission

"Stable" or "dutch" door. Whichever you call it, it spells cottage.

Walnut Tree Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/walnut-tree-abergavenny.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission

A very pretty cottage garden just outside the doorway.

Walnut Tree Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/walnut-tree-abergavenny.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission

Eating outdoors is one of summer's delights, and this lovely setting is especially inviting.

Photo of The Royal Pavilions' North Garden by
David Le Masurier: http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidlemasurier/831374488/in/photostream
Some Rights Reserved

And once I get started on gardens. . .well, it's hard to stop. This garden has hollyhocks, which personally I think belong in a cottage garden. I first became acquainted with hollyhocks in a cottage garden I designed in Illinois. They are a wonderful old-fashioned flower.

Hollyhocks in Taos, NM

When we visited Taos last summer I discovered hollyhocks everywhere. The climate must appeal to them.

Photo of Hollyhocks in the Pavilion Gardens by David Le Masurier: http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidlemasurier/831374452/  Some Rights Reserved

Most of my gardening these days is confined to containers outside our shop. I purchased the little wagon at a friend's garage sale last week. He made it out of solid oak. It makes transporting the plants into the shop for the evening very convenient. I love it.

I hope your week is off to a good start.

Photo Cottage Garden Gate by RWM: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rwm/86839537/ Some Rights Reserved

"Give me odorous at sunrise a garden of beautiful flowers where I can walk undisturbed."  ~

Walt Whitman

Blessings,

Linking up with Inspire Me Monday