Spring Awakenings

“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 larger and open yet keep the cozy cottage feel.

First I brought in the drapes from the  sitting room and hung them in the living room. I hung the curtains about an inch from the ceiling which helps to draw your eyes upward  and visually makes the room appear higher than it actually is.

The diamond shape in the drapes assisted in this visual effect.

By keeping the walls white and adding a few pieces of whimsy art I brightened up the room. The furniture is unique and fits nicely in this room.

The newly painted end table adds to the warmth and coziness to this now happy nest.

What changes are awaiting your nest?

I’d love to hear about them…

And on another note do you have any plans for the weekend?

Here’s a yummy recipe I just discovered. It’s a winner if you love avocados, salmon, and rice. like I do! The good thing is that avocados & salmon are healthy. Salmon is an excellent source of omega-2 fatty acids and protein. (which is great for me since I don’t eat red meat or chicken)  Salmon is also a great source of B12 & vitamin D. I usually prepare some kind of salmon dish at least once a week. This recipe is so easy you just might want to prepare more!

Prep time 10 mins. Cook time  30 mins. Total time 40 mins.

For Rice———

Ingredients: 1 cup jasmine rice

1 1/2 cups of water

Salt

Juice from 1/2 lime

2 Tbsp minced fresh cilantro

1 Tbsp honey

3 Tbsp chicken or vegetable stock

For Salmon —————

2 8oz. salmon fillets, skin on

1 Tbsp line juice

1 Tbsp honey

2 Tbsp minced fresh cilantro

Salt

For Avocado —————–

1 ripe avocado

1 tbsp lime juice

1 tbsp minced fresh cilantro

1/4 tsp chili powder (less for milder topping)

Instructions

Cook rice in salted water per package instructions. Remove from heat when cooked. Preheat a medium cooking pan over medium-high heat. Mix stock, lime juice, honey, and cilantro together. Pour the mixture into the preheated pan and let it simmer for about a minute. Take the pan off heat and mix rice into the liquid. Season with a little bit more salt, mix well, and set aside.

Salmon:

Preheat oven to 425 and cover a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and grease it. Rub the salmon skin with some oil and place the fillets skin down on the prepared baking sheet. Mix lime juice, honey, and cilantro together and rub salmon fillets with it on all exposed sides. You can pour more glaze over the top and season with some salt. (Some glaze will likely run down onto the baking sheet)  Bake salmon for 12-15 minutes, depending on the thickness of your fillets.

Avocado:

Cut avocado in half. Remove the pit & skin. Slice avocado into small slice & place into small bowl. Add lemon juice, cilantro, chili powder, and salt. Mix everything gently together. Divide rice among two bowls, top it off with a salmon fillet, and top each bowl with half the avocado mixture.

 

Marcia
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9 Responses to Spring Awakenings

  1. Joseph Kuehner says:

    Thank you for helping me to ‘awaken’ Spring inside me.

  2. Jane says:

    Hello Marcia,
    Top of the morning to you! I hope you are having a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day…. I so enjoyed your post. I loved seeing how Spring is springing up inside and outside your darling cottage. The flowers are so pretty and you have brought so many of those colors inside. I love your rug.. the color really grounds and ties all the colors together. You have made your cottage so inviting. I feel like I could just jump into the photo and sit down in that darling wing chair… I started my morning with some Irish Soda Bread and it was yummy with a cup of cinnamon tea. I am off to put away my seasonal decorations in the garage. I had a mishap with my car and it decided to drive itself into the garage and take down the cabinets and a wall. I just had the wall repaired and new cabinets made so now it is time to put away what survived the crash.
    Then I have to go back to packing. We leave next Saturday but I like to start early so I do not forget anything. I hope you have a wonderful weekend and I look forward to hearing more about you, your cottage, garden and lovely Oregon Coast. Blessings to you… Top of the Morning!!!

    • Marcia Ren says:

      Hi Jane! Happy St. Paddy’s Day to you! That cup of cinnamon tea along with the Irish Soda Bread sounds lovely. I also had attended a St. Paddy’s Day dinner at church earlier in the week. They served the best cabbage! Thank you for loving my Spring Awakenings here in my sweet cottage. Yes…just come on in and have a seat! Oh my…. sorry about the mishap with your car and the garage….ouch! Glad it’s all taken care of. It sounds like you pack like me. I begin at least a week before I go. Even at that I’m embarrassed to admit I usually forget something. Glad you plan on taking me along on your trip. I love adventures! Take care my friend. Blessings on your travels. xo

  3. Jo McCready says:

    Hi Marcia, Love your cottage. My spring feathering includes painting my living room a beautiful blue and adding roman shades in a bright Waverly fabric beneath floor length white curtains. I am so over the beige walls! In my part of Pennsylvania we have many, many gray days and I want some color! I am also having a white faux fireplace built over a large radiator in the room all the way to the ceiling which will also house my flat screen tv. I am adding folding doors to conceal the tv when not in use and plan to add an original painting to it.

    • Marcia Ren says:

      Hi Jo! Nice to meet you. Wow!!!! you are working on some amazing featherings in your home. They all sound fabulous. I love the color blue. I’ve also been thinking about having a faux fireplace built in the bedroom. Your plans sounds extremely creative & functional. I bet you are so excited. If love to see a photo. Any chance you are part of The Romantic Home group? Thank you for sharing your inspiration. I enjoyed your visit.

  4. Janeen says:

    I’m going to make this for sure! I love salmon and love everything you put on it, especially the cilantro and lime! The pop of pink in your living room is the perfect touch! The room is so inviting! Thank you for sharing your home with us! Have a beautiful Spring! ❤️

    • Marcia Ren says:

      Good Morning Janeen! So nice to see you. Yes the salmon recipe is delicious. (Especially when you love salmon & cilantro) Thank you for your wonderful comments on my cottage. I really hesitated covering the flooring. But when I saw the rug in Wayfair I knew it wouldn’t take away from the floor… It would brighten the whole room up. I’m really happy with the results. Thanks for stopping by for a visit. Hope to see you soon.

  5. Jenny Bonynge says:

    Color=cheerful!!!

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