Monthly Archives: March 2017

Sitting Pretty

Posted on March 30, 2017 by Marcia Ren

The birds have been tweeting and I’ve been busy tweaking… Designing a room that is both functional and pretty involves time and some serious thought processes to make sure that everything works together. Today I’d like to share with you a room in the cottage that I now call the sitting room. I refer to it as the sitting room because this room’s purpose seems to be a place to entertain guests playing piano enjoying that early cup of coffee and another place to dine. I’ve learned that each room no matter how large or small needs to have a purpose. Naming a room helps me design it.  (you might be interested in reading these older posts read more, or here, or even here) not surprisingly this room continues to evolve. Choosing lamps, tables, chairs, rugs, & then discovering that they don’t all come together in the way as you expected. Accepting that a rug or chair … Continue reading →

Posted in Our Cottage | 3 Comments

Spring Awakenings

Posted on March 16, 2017 by Marcia Ren

“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant” ~Anne Bradstreet One week of daylight savings has passed and I think I’ve adjusted to it no doubt it helped that my husband turned the clocks forward the day before  (yes…no doubt) This has been an exceptionally wet winter. I loved the rain, and I’m very grateful for the beauty that surrounds me.  Spring is just around the corner and I’ve been anticipating it’s arrival. Just thinking about the glorious sunshine and pretty colors that are popping up is quite exciting. I notice the birds feathering their nests and get inspired to do the same here. Today I”d like to  share with you some of the new featherings in the cottage living room. After this very rainy season and spending more time inside than out I realized it was important for me to have more color I also wanted to make this room feel a little … Continue reading →

Posted in Coastal Living | 9 Comments

The VeRy L-o-v-e of Spring…♡

Posted on March 14, 2017 by Marcia Ren

Hello, Welcome to Marcia’s Cottage by the Sea.  I’m so happy to see you today my friend. ♡ Shall we have a cup of tea. …♡  I love tulips.  This adorable tulip teacup came from a tearoom in Redmond, Oregon. That particular visit, had marked  my 37th Tearoom.  Amazing! And what is even more amazing….that afternoon was nearly 25 years ago.♡ There have been many “Springtimes” since then. Many happy new BeGiNnInGs and a few bittersweet EnDiNgS. I do love the Springtime. It reminds me that we can always BeGiN again. And when we begin again… there’s “HoPe”. In the garden, it’s exciting to watch, and see things coming up again. Plants that you’ve had for many years. It’s like seeing an old friend.♡ These are my poinsettias from December.  They are still flowering….♡ Isn’t that extra-ordinary! In the summer I plant Hollyhocks, Foxgloves, and then Delphinium. ♡ We have … Continue reading →

Posted in Coastal Living | 6 Comments

Foggy With A Chance Of Clearing

Posted on March 9, 2017 by Marcia Ren

 Hello… I hope that you had a nice week. Anything out of the ordinary going on?  Mine has been a little interesting. foggy I just returned from a walk to the bluff. The rain has stopped and the fog is lifting. I’m on the mend from a recent head cold. perhaps a little brain fog going on My computer phablet crashed this week ( I do most of the work for my blog on this) and consequently ended up losing some of my data and many of my contacts. (most)        fog is lifting…  after lots of research etc…  I felt informed enough and purchased my next phone/computer/camera/ I’m now a student again learning how to operate it. exciting, fun, stressful, frustrating, joyful! learning anything new takes time   walking through the fog  sometimes you don’t know what you are doing or where you are going. . but I’m going for it anyway (new … Continue reading →

Posted in Coastal Living | 4 Comments

Coasting Into March

Posted on March 2, 2017 by Marcia Ren

The twelve months… Snowy, Flowy, Blowy, Showery, Flowery, Bowery, Hoppy, Croppy, Droppy, Breeze, Sneezy, Freezy,…~George Ellis The middle of this past week began with a new month. March. Any chance you celebrated Mardi Gras? I enjoyed a Mardi Gras dinner at the church I attend. During the dinner I met a couple who had recently moved from Southern California (very close to where I use to live) to the Oregon coast. such a small world isn’t it… The madcap month of March has arrived. Here on my fabulous coast I’ve seen wind, rain, sunshine, hail, light featherings of snow, and several rainbows.🌈 I know without a doubt that Winter is trying to say goodbye, and I’m ready to bid it farewell! The first signs of Spring are forcing themselves into new beginnings hello. However what I’m also very much aware of is that Mother Nature can’t be rushed. March is a month of indecision. It can’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Coastal Living | 8 Comments