Tag Archives: simple living

Downton Inspired/A Battenberg Cake

Posted on May 18, 2022 by Marcia Ren

“I do think a woman’s place is eventually in the home, but I see no harm in her having some fun before she gets there.” – Dowager Countess Hello, sweet friend… I hope you are doing well… Joe and I are heading out of town for the weekend. I am looking forward to this little getaway since it will include a movie date to watch the new Downton Abbey film ‘A New Era’. In anticipation of this excursion I ordered the Downton Abbey cookbook and selected a recipe to prepare. I love the cookbook and plan on baking more recipes … Read the full blog post →

Posted in Cooking, Garden/Tea Time | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Music…My Father…and…The Piano🎶

Posted on June 17, 2021 by Marcia Ren

  “Dads are most ordinary men turned by love into heroes, adventurers, story-tellers, and singers of song.” -Pam Brown Hello, sweet friend… These past few days the weather has been beautiful… I’ve been enjoying the garden…  The ‘Doris Day’ roses Joe planted in memory of my father’s 100th birthday… are blooming beautifully!  That being said…and with Father’s Day just around the corner… today I would like to share a re-edited post written several years ago…dedicating it to my father a.k.a.… ‘Captain Ed’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Original post published June 2015   One of the reasons I love to blog… is that I … Read the full blog post →

Posted in Coastal Living, Garden/Tea Time, Our Cottage | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

Navigating Into The New Year

Posted on January 12, 2017 by Marcia Ren

  It’s mid~day, mid~week, and close to being mid~month as I sit down and write today’s post. Since our last visit together I’ve built a snowman and seen it melt,  Experienced raindrops come and go pouring down rain  hung the new 2017 calendar🎉 halfway through January already!  and the Christmas decorations have all been tucked away  The rainy weather has provided a perfect backdrop for staying inside and getting organized again. When the sunshine is out, I have to be outside. credited to my SoCal roots (most likely) riding a bike, walking the beach, gardening or running around discovering new wonders on this beautiful coast  … Read the full blog post →

Posted in Coastal Living | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Do You Know What You Love?

Posted on August 11, 2016 by Marcia Ren

  “Today a new sun rises for me; everything lives, everything is animated, everything seems to speak to me of my passion, everything invites me to cherish it.” ~Ninon de l’Enclos More than likely as you read today’s post I’ll be in another country. Yep. I’m on a little vacation. I promise to share about it in a future post. However, today I have a question for you. Do you know what you love? Have you ever written it down? If you haven’t I would like to challenge you to take a little time to do it. You might be surprised … Read the full blog post →

Posted in Coastal Living | Tagged , | Leave a comment

La Petite Maison

Posted on March 31, 2016 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 little tea. ♡ It’s a new month, and I’m thrilled to see you today because of course I have a most delightful story to share. At first blush the “house” was just a worrisome project to be undertaken. And, not unlike any new relationship there was no  attachment. Similarly it’s a mystery as to when relationship shifts to attachment.  Or, as in this case a house becomes a home. Suddenly my soul was captivated by “this little … Read the full blog post →

Posted in Our Cottage | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

A place to hang your hat

Posted on October 5, 2015 by Marcia Ren

  Not to long ago one of my friends introduced me to someone who does wonderful woodwork. He agreed to build a shelf for me.  I wanted something simple to hang a hat, coat, or scarf on, when the weather gets cold. I drew a picture of what I had in mind. It’s all complete,  and I’m so happy with how it turned out.    

Posted in Our Cottage | Tagged , | 3 Comments