My late-summer hutch

Well, now that summer is nearly over (by the calendar, anyway) I finally am getting around to posting a photo of how I had decorated my hutch for summer. In the next couple of days I’m going to be working on decorating it for fall, so it’s time for me to post this if I’m going to! You can read the story of how I acquired this hutch at my Christmas blog, Mrs. T's Christmas Kitchen in a post titled (if I remember right) “My Christmas Hutch”. 

 I have been having fun decorating it for the different seasons! The top shelf holds some special gifts from friends. The “tea for one” pots with an angel motif came from a dear couple with whom we have shared many cups of tea. The cross-stitch picture in the center was done by my dear friend Marilyn and features a verse from Proverbs 31 -- “Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.” (Proverbs 31:31) 

The next shelf down features a moose pitcher from my grandmother’s collection; a sugar and creamer -- not matching; one is from the “Colonial Homestead” set and one from the “Old Curiosity Shop” set -- on a vintage hand-crocheted doily; a “Smile” wooden sign (97¢ at Walmart, but worth much more in the amount of smiles it has provoked!) and a yard-sale maple-leaf teacup. 

Next shelf down: 2 Gooseberry Patch cookbooks, a set of Yankee Candle strawberry votive holders ($1 each on clearance), and a sugar bowl from my husband’s uncle’s place. In the center, though you can’t see it well, is a sand dollar painted with a Prince Edward Island theme by my daughter. Also in the center was a colorful cookbook -- Cook & Tell, by Karyl Bannister. I had taken that cookbook down and was using it at the time I took the photo. 

Bottom shelf (with a definite “tea” theme): In the corners, 2 Mother’s Day cards given me by one of my daughters at different times. The one on the left features a quote from Louisa May Alcott, and the one on the right is a bunch of chipmunk & squirrel ladies having an outdoor tea party. On the left of this shelf is an old Fiesta ware teacup and saucer, along with a napkin I cross-stitched *many* years ago. Over on the right there is a pale yellow “new” Fiesta ware sugar & creamer on its own little tray. In the center is a lovely teapot given me by a friend, and a little Celestial Seasonings tin with the legend “Celebrating Tea Time”. A couple of tins of loose tea and a Marjolein Bastin tea bag holder complete the look. 

Well, that is it. Hope you’ve enjoyed this peek at my summer hutch. I will try and be a bit more timely sharing my autumn decorating!