Tales of the Traveling Totes #26, Blizzard on the Prairie, February, '21 & A Giveaway

Welcome to the Tales of the Traveling Totes, where my fellow travelers and I share our latest adventures, projects, and current events. At the end of my post you will find links to visit our other members and learn about how to register for our giveaway. I'm so glad you've stopped for a visit.
This winter has been a wild ride out here on the prairie, and I never had much of a chance to even leave the house. We experienced a 100 year winter storm, and sharing a glass of wine and some cheese from the MacKenzie-Childs Cheese Course in front of the fireplace, felt like a wonderful way to celebrate Valentines. We were pretty much snow and ice bound for a full two weeks. Wind chill temps plunged to a zesty -36°.

Eventually the ice melted, and in last week we experienced temps in the 60's and 70's. Even my pansies have begun to perk up again. I grabbed the opportunity to set a table for "Dine and Dash" after our Garden Friends Bible study. I was so ready to use one of my blue and white patterns. I selected the Mottahedeh Blue Canton on the Mottahedeh Blue Lace charger. The Mottahedeh Blue Canton candle sticks are fun to line up down the center of the table. The big fat blue and white round bowl was an estate sale find. I don't know anything about it, and I really enjoy using it. The crystal came straight from the kitchen cabinets. The Mikasa French Country paired nicely with the cobalt Dollar Tree goblets. 

 We met on the screened porch where it is easy to practice social distancing. The antique English pine harvest table (which has been in our warehouse since 1997) is home again, and it was the perfect spot for us to spread out for an easy lunch of quiche and fresh fruit. Some of the ladies needed to move along, and a group of us stayed to visit the afternoon away. We've all had both of our vaccine shots for several weeks, and it was so nice to be able to gather in a safe environment for fellowship. We are all excited to see our lives returning to normal, or at least more normal. I was even able to go to church and Sunday School again this month. So interesting when the ability to move, from a spot in front of the fireplace inside to the screened porch, feels almost as exciting as a cruise. Here's hoping that Spring and Summer present more opportunities to enjoy a trip or adventure.

I never take those of you who take your time to read my posts for granted. I appreciate you so much. Thank you!!! Be sure to stop by to visit and comment on the posts from all the ladies of The Traveling Totes. You'll automatically be entered to win our giveaway, a darling MadKenzie-Childs tea towel when you visit Jackie and Miss Madi K. @ Purple Chocolate Home. Good luck!!!

Debbie with Miss Aurora @ Mountain Breaths 

Emily with Miss Courtney Childs@ The French Hutch

 Patti with Miss Kenzie @ Pandora's Box. 

Jenna with Miss Coquille @The Painted Apron

Linda P with Miss Lola @ Life and Linda

Rita with Miss Luna C @ Panoply 

Sarah with Miss Merri Mac @ Hyacinths for the Soul

Jackie and Miss Madi K @ Purple Chocolat Home

Ricki Jill and Countess De Monet @ The Sketchy Reader@

CherryKay and Carrie Ann Hall @ Entertaining Women 

We'll return on June 1st to share our Spring adventures.and we hope to find you here again !

Tales of the Traveling Totes, #20 and Giveaway, Niagara Falls, 12.1.19

Welcome to another adventure of The Tales of the Traveling Tote. This is where my fellow Tales of the Traveling Tote friends and I share our latest travels, p
Welcome to the Tales of the Traveling Totes, where my fellow travelers and I share our latest adventures, projects, and current events. At the end of my post you will find links to visit our other members and learn about how to register for our giveaway. I'm so glad you've stopped by.

The last time the Tales of the Traveling Totes convened, I shared the day that I spent with fellow toter, Patti, in Clayton, New York. Prior to heading to Clayton, Sweet Mister and I took a detour to Niagara Falls for him to see the falls for the first time. I had seen them decades ago as a child, and I was equally awestruck this time. Carrie Ann and I were thrilled to be able to capture a ton of pics of the falls on the American and the Canadian sides. The first day we arrived on the American side shortly before sunset. I shot until I depleted my camera battery. I wanted to share a few of my pics with you...

"New York, New York, what a wonderful town!"

Niagara Falls, such a majestic jewel of our country.

Looking toward the Canadian side and our destination for the night.

Carrie Ann grabbed an early morning perspective of the American and Canadian falls before we boarded the Horn Blower for a ride.

From the mist which rose from the boulders at the base of the falls...

to the incredible vista of the falls as they came careening over the top, it was an unforgettable moment in our lovely time in Niagara Falls. If you haven't seen the falls, make plans now! It's not to be missed.

Thank you so much for stopping by for a visit. I appreciate each and every one of your comments. You make my day each time you touch base. Thank you!

  Our hostess for this episode of Tales of the Traveling Totes is Emily @ The French Hutch. Be sure to drop by to visit her and leave a comment to be entered in a give away for these precious MacKenzie-Childs holiday dish towels.

                                         

Find out where the rest of the traveling totes have been lately. These creative and talented ladies are so much fun, and you'll enjoy sharing each of their journeys.

                                   Debbie with Miss Aurora @ Mountain Breaths 

Emily with Miss Courtney Childs@ The French Hutch

Jenna with Miss Coquille @The Painted Apron

Linda P with Miss Lola @ Life and Linda

 Patti with Miss Kenzie @ Pandora's Box

Rita with Miss Luna C @ Panoply 

Sarah with Miss Merri Mac @ Hyacinths for the Soul

Jackie and Miss Madi K @ Purple Chocolat Home

Ricki Jill and Countess De Monet @ The Sketchy Reader

Cherry Kay and Carrie Ann Hall @ Entertaining Women  

Tales of the Traveling Tote: Where In the World is??? 2.1.19

I am so excited to be included as part of the group of talented, fun, and kind bloggers known as Tales of the Traveling Tote. Today is the second time that I am participating with these lovely ladies. For this episode we were asked as always to take our trusty totes with us on one of our adventures, be it near or far.  This time, we were also challenged to take along an additional piece or so of the treasures  created by MacKenzie-Childs and include it as a part of our post.

...the MacKenzie-Childs Courtly Check champagne bucket, flanked by a pair of MC's Courtly Check flower pots... and to ask the Traveling Totes Question of the Week: 

                                                         Where In the World Is???

 My tote, Carrie Ann Hall was insistent that I catch a shot of her with her little sister, Patches, another MacKenzie-Childs creation. I thought that this was the perfect spot to introduce Carrie Ann's contents...

...the MacKenzie-Childs Courtly Check champagne bucket, flanked by a pair of MC's Courtly Check flower pots... and to ask the Traveling Totes Question of the Week: 
                                                         Where In the World Is???

We're in the entry way, and I'm placing my bet that many of you can pinpoint the artist who created the fountain centerpiece. I thought it was the perfect spot for a champagne picnic to sip while pondering our location. Let's look up...

...and up...

...and up some more! Have you made your guess, yet?

Today I didn't have to travel very far to reach one of the treasures of this little city out here on the prairie. The Oklahoma City Museum of Art is always a pleasure to visit. One of the permanent collections, pleasing to so many, is a selection of the works by Dale Chihuly.

Next we travel upstairs to spend some time enjoying the Chihuly exhibit and capturing pictures for your viewing pleasure. I will refrain from commenting and allow you to form your own opinions. Here we go...

 Hopefully, these images will bring some light, whimsy, and definitely a shot of color to the grayest of winter days. If you've never viewed one of Chihuly's installations, I encourage you to seek one out the next time you visit a city where his work is on display. I think that you'll enjoy the time spent. Maybe your travels will even carry you to Oklahoma City!  Now, I'm going to go visit the rest of the Where In the World Is??? blog posts that have been published by the ladies who bring you The Tales of the Traveling Totes. I want to see how many of their destinations I can identify!


Debbie with Miss Aurora @ Mountain Breaths 

Emily with Miss Courtney Childs@ The French Hutch

 Patti with Miss Kenzie @ Pandora's Box

Jenna with Miss Coquille @The Painted Apron

Rita with Miss Luna C @ Panoply 

Sarah with Miss Merri Mac @ Hyacinths for the Soul

Jackie and Miss Madi K @ Purple Chocolat Home

Ricki Jill and Countess De Monet @ The Sketchy Reader

Cherry Kay and Carrie Ann Hall @ Entertaining Women  

Thank you for taking your time to explore my post. I hope that you'll take a moment to stop by for a visit and leave a comment. I love to hear from each and every one of you!

This week I'm joining:

Susan @ Between Naps On the Porch