Friday, May 25, 2012

My Red & White Romance: Part 2

my kitchen

Welcome back!

Let's move into the kitchen, shall we? If you haven't already noticed, the chickens have fled their coop and decided to plump themselves cozily in front of the pastries! I have to admit that I wasn't the least bit hesitant about letting them keep me company... me and half the female population. Cliché or not, I love these gals and they can hang out with me anytime.


But back to my romance with red and white! As you can see, I am deeply involved, illicit, to the point of displaying this passion in red gingham table runners, checkered teacups and jam jars, red crested roosters and plaid tea towels, all red and all within a 3 foot radius!


And speaking of passion, it would be a huge oversight on my part if this brilliant colour's contribution was not mentioned with respect to Valentine's Day. I remember my very first Valentine's day celebration in primary school. Mr. Smith, my grade four teacher always threw his class a party and presented us with the most delicious delicacies prepared by his wife. I never met Mrs. Smith, but I always pictured her to be a sweet and gentle woman who spent her days in a charming little kitchen baking the most perfectly frosted little cakes for her husband's boys and girls. I can still taste their heavenly richness, characteristic of homemade goodies.


Of course just as prominent a position does red and white take with yet another holiday. Christmas characterized by red and white, in decorative terms, is a joy in itself. From candy canes to candles, stockings, snow, Santa's suit and beard, red and white puts the ''merry'' into this festive season with warmth, fun and tradition. And let's not forget Rudolph, without whose glowy red nose none of this would be possible! 

 

This little memoir of me and red today just wouldn't be complete without noting my nostalgic attachment to my native land. Canada remains my country of birth, the beautiful place I hold dear to my heart, the country that taught me to honour and respect all nationalities and cultures, indeed to celebrate them. It instilled in me a deep sense of devotion to heritage, be it my own or my neighbour's, and today I choose to celebrate a most worthy one, the Canadian: many heritages in one! Red and white in all its glory.


Thanks for visiting,

50 comments:

  1. You are a natural, my friend.
    Brenda

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    1. "Ditto to you, mon ami!" is what I meant to say earlier!

      That Latin can be confusing!

      Poppy

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  2. Hello Poppy - Your kitchen is charming! Would love to see more photos. I love and collect white ironstone hen-in-a-basket pieces. They are ceramic kitchenware. Your collection reminds me of mine. Have a wonderful weekend, Loi
    Tone on Tone

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    1. Hi Loi,

      Thanks so much for stopping by; I really appreciate it! It's been a hectic 2 days, writing posts and editing pics, but it's all been worth it to have been able to join such a wonderful community.

      But, time for some R & R and hope to visit some of by favourite blogs this weekend, yours included!

      Hope you have a fantastic weekend.

      Poppy

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  3. Hi Poppy! Congratulations on being featured at Brenda's Cozy Little House Blog. Love your kitchen and your red and white. I love the yard birds too - the Roosters and Chicks! :)
    We were in Crete last year. We took a cruise out of Venice and spent a day there and just loved it!
    Hope you'll come and visit me sometimes.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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    1. Hello Sheila!

      Thanks so much for all the kind words. Just came from visiting you and you are definitely one of that half a million women, including me who just can't do without our red crested gals. Your breakfast room must be a joy to wake up to!

      Have a great weekend.

      Poppy

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  4. I love love the colors of your kitchen! It reminds me of colors of Provence!

    Saw your lovely kitchen from Welcome Wagon Friday. Would love if you could link this at the linky party I am having right now!

    Have a great day!
    xo
    Myric@ Petites Passions

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    1. Hi Myric,

      Thanks so much for inviting me to your linky party! Being a blogger for only a week, it's the first one I've ever linked to. How exciting!

      Have a great weekend!

      Poppy

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  5. Good Friday morning, I, being another lover of the color Red, have enjoyed seeing the pictures that you've posted and reading all about you.
    I send my best wishes for a wonderful weekend where you are, from me in Virginia, USA. Smiles, Charlotte

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    1. Hi Charlotte,

      Thanks so much for stopping by and all the kind words!

      Hope you have yourself a fantastic weekend, too!

      Poppy

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  6. Hi Poppy...I hopped over from Brenda's blog. I am your newest follower, and will be back soon and often. Your blog is making a delightful start!!! Welcome to blog land.
    XO Kris

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    1. Hi Kris,

      Thanks so much for the warm welcome! Just dropped by Simplify and got my first real fix of summer! You are one busy lady! I may not be your newest follower, but I'm surely the latest!

      Have a great weekend!

      Poppy

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  7. Congratulations on being featured on the Cozy Little House Blog! I am so happy to find your blog. I LOVE red, it is my favorite color. I can't wait to read your whole blog. I want red gingham everything too!

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    1. Hi De,

      Thanks so much for the kind words and congrats to you, too, for being featured on Cozy Little House! Just stopped by Everyday Home Girl and love all the colours you are using...so cozy! I have them in my kitchen and they are great to wake up to with that first cuppa.

      Off to explore your neck of the woods...

      poppy

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  8. I too am a lover of red. Love your kitchen and would enjoy seeing more pics. You are off to a great start! Have a great weekend.

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    1. Hi Pat,

      Thanks so much! Will try to get more pics of the kitchen up soon.

      Have a great weekend, yourself!

      Poppy

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  9. Hi Poppy! Nice to meet you! I came over to visit from Cozy Little House....I also have a real love affair with red and ....any color! Please come by and say hello! I ADORE your couch! Sandy from 521 Lake Street.

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    1. Sandy!

      Wow!Just stopped by at 521 Lake Street and all I have to say is: WOW! Love!Love!Love! your colours and patterns in your background and in today's post, which was meant for me to visit on this day!So simple and dainty and innocent and sweet. Look forward to more visits.

      Thanks for all the nice words.

      Poppy

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  10. Visiting from Cozy Little House, and very glad I did! I happen to love red and white as well considering it is my countries national colours....hello from a fellow Canadian! Love your blog. Following you my friend. Diane

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    1. Hi Diane,

      So nice to meet a fellow Canadian, and one from Ontario, to boot! Just stopped by your cozy blog and loved the Gingham Love post and the feature on Laura Ashley! Very inspiring! Am following you too, my friend (à la De Nero).

      Poppy

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  11. Hi there. I am here by way of Cozy Little House. What a sweet blog. Like your touches of red. Welcome to the blogging world. It is wonderful. Following you.

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    1. Hi Debby,

      So glad you stopped by and thanks for the welcome! Just hopped over to Cozy Blanket and stayed a while! You are one busy lady! Love the fact that you have access to all those antique markets. It's something I really miss here in Greece. Following you too, my dear!

      Poppy

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  12. Cute cute kitchen. I have a lot of red in my house, too. Welcome to blogging.

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    1. Hi Kim,

      I feel like I've known you for years since your gorgeous house was one of the first that attracted my attention in this blogosphere! When I first stepped inside I was in awe! Such attention to detail and the colours and the textures and the warmth!! It's finally nice to say this to you personally! Thanks for being such an inspiration!

      Poppy

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  13. Poppy,
    I just found you on Cozy Little House and I love all your red. Red is my favorite also.
    I don't have a blog but I do so hope to have one some day!
    Good luck with your blogging!!
    Linda
    Kennesaw, Georgia, USA

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    1. Hi Linda,

      Thanks so much for all the well wishes and I hope you get that little blog up and running soon. It's been a fantastic experience for me so far to have met such lovely people!

      Poppy

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  14. Gorgeous post...I so love red and white too! I just found you thanks to Brenda at Cozy Little House...and I'll be back to visit again soon.
    Have a great weekend.
    Helen x

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    1. Hi Helen,

      Thank you so much! I just stopped by your lovely blog and I am smitten with all your colourful and charming creations! You are so lucky to have such pretty peonies! We used to have a garden full of them in Canada. Sadly, they aren't available here on Crete and I long for their heady fragrance!

      Enjoy your weekend!

      Poppy

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  15. i too am visiting following brenda's post & love, love, love your home. i'm a red girl too, however, blogless still. i love the ones i follow tho. look forward to enjoying my visits to crete!!! hugs from burleson, tx pam

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    1. Thanks so much for all the kind words! I, myself was blogless for a long time and simply followed, and there's nothing wrong with that!

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Have a great weekend!

      Poppy

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  17. My lovely Poppy,

    The only problem with the pic you've posted showing your kitchen is that it only shows a fraction of the reality. I have been in your kitchen, and KNOW how utterly gorgeous it is. No picture can really reflect the warmth, love and special aura you get the moment you walk in. The smell of your delicious food, the presentation on your dinning table, your perfectionist way of doing everything, and your lovely smile and presence - you need to be there to really see that!
    Beautiful homes are not just about colour, taste and the right arrangement - they're about having warmth, soul and aura which only someone special can create.

    It's been hot and sunny here in England. Wish you were here.

    Love,

    Mxoxoxo

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  18. My sweet friend,

    If one is lucky enough to have friends like you, so generous in spirit and vitality, it really is all one needs to set a perfect table and warm up the house!

    Can't wait to spend some time with you and your lovely family here soon!

    Love,

    Poppy

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  19. Ahhhhh.....Your kitchen is such a delight! I love your cheery little chickens resting on the red striped cloth. You have created such a friendly pace to gather friends and family.
    How I'd love to pop in for a cuppa and a chat, my friend.
    Blessings,
    Carolynn xo

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  20. I am a new follower. I found your blog through Hooked on Houses. She linked us to this post. Love your kitchen, all the reds and white! It is so cozy and pretty.

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  21. Hello from Canada. I just found your lovely blog through Hooked on Houses. What a fabulous kitchen you have. Just became your newest follower.

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  22. Hi from Canada. I came to your blog thanks to CBC's Steven and Chris. They covered Hooked on houses during one of their shows, where I found the link to your blog. I absolutely love your kitchen, it is very unique and inviting.
    I just wondered, is there a special local dish you could recommend to cheer up a snow bound Canadian in January?

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  23. What a cute blog! Love your kitchen with all the red and white! New Follower!

    Jody

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  24. We think alike love the red and the chick-a-dees have invaded my kitchen too.
    Excited to have you in Blog land as I call it, I am new follower.

    Cathy Cupboard Calamity <;)

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  25. Another beautiful post on red, Poppy - love your kitchen - all the tributes to red - I do appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

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  26. What a pretty kitchen!
    Like you, I love our red and white flag and I'm old enough to remember watching, as a little girl, as it went up the school flag pole for the first time.

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  27. I'm loving your romance with red. I'm visiting from the Home Acre Hop. It's nice to meet ya!

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  28. The red & white combination seems to brighten and embolden almost any décor or celebration. I love the red & white chicken fabric, but then, I am kind of partial to chickens.

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  29. I've always had a romance with red and white, also red and aqua. Love your kitchen.
    Stopping by via Kathryn's.
    xoxo's

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  30. I especially like the chickens :) Thanks for sharing on The HomeAcre Hop!

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  31. Sweet kitchen chickens Poppy. Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY...
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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  32. Your splashes of red are darling! As a side note, we went to Canada on our honeymoon... to Victoria Island and stayed at the Empress Hotel and had high noon tea... It was a beautiful time :)

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  33. Ahhhh Poppy, this post was dear to my heart for two reasons...Red (my favorite color) and the tribute to Canada (my homeland). Sending you hugs from Canada!
    Marie@The Interior Frugalista

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Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. I really appreciate hearing from all of you! Have a great day!