‘If you look the right way, you can see the whole world is a garden.’ Frances Hodges’s Burnett – author of the classic children’s book- ‘The Secret Garden’
In my garden, some of the best views can be found behind the scenes. These beauties are almost out of sight… If you look the right way, beauty can be found. I hope you’ll will look for it all around you. Have a blessed day!
Love y’all, Camellia
Rivaled only by Biscuits, Cornbread is the classic Southern Comfort Food. Make a pan of Iron Skillet Cornbread and somehow the day gets better; it’s one of the basic joys of Southern cooking. Served alongside Homemade Soup, Chicken and Dumplings, even a Vegetable Plate of Crowder Peas, Coleslaw, Stewed Summer Squash and Onions, and fresh Sliced Tomatoes, Iron Skillet Cornbread is always welcome. Now, I would never encourage anyone to use a Cornbread recipe that calls for sugar in the Batter- however, for Breakfast or Brunch, try drizzling hot Cornbread with:
Oh my goodness! You don’t need another thing! Honestly, Cornbread is good at any meal- though most of us forget how good it is for Breakfast or Brunch. My grandmother is the only person I’ve ever known to elevate humble Cornbread with Orange Marmalade but it also adds an amazing flavor. Here’s how you do it- keep that Iron Skillet seasoned by cooking Bacon in it regularly! Heat Bacon Fat in an Iron Skillet in a hot oven. Meanwhile stir together Self Rising Cornmeal, a couple of eggs and milk- when the Iron Skillet is hot- pour some of the sizzlin’ Bacon Fat into the Cornbread Mixture; Stir carefully, then pour the seasoned batter back into the Iron Skillet and bake in a hot oven. What you’re looking for is a Crisp Crust and a Moist Crumb on the inside. Sizzling hot from the oven, slather with butter- for a real treat, drizzle with something sweet and sticky!
Love y’all, Camellia
* A wonderful resource for cornbread recipes is Southern Living magazine; the recipes on bags of Self Rising Cornmeal are good also. If you can’t find Self Rising Cornmeal in your local store, it can be ordered online. *Photograph of Cornbread drizzled with Yellow Label® Syrup- made right here in Alabama- is mine.
Our Mother received Mother’s Day flowers early this year… She was surely born with a smile on her face, we are not alone in this observance- ‘Always had a smile on her face.’ The most common refrain. 
She was always beautiful, delightful, happy, funny- incredibly talented and truly loved by so many. She loved her home in Alabama, she loved her church, her community and she loved her family- imagine! Five grandchildren, five great grandchildren- why, that is double grace. In the Scripture she loved so well- Five is representative of Grace. I like to think those grandchildren were the Grace Notes of her life!
Her life wasn’t always easy, yet she lived with love, grace, peace and joy. She stepped into Heaven’s Balcony along with the others who have gone on before us, watching those of us who remain- as we ‘run the race set before us’. I know this- Mother ran Life’s Race and finished well. When her sweet body had worn out, I am convinced that the Lord called forth His Strongest, most Beautiful Angel and said ‘Go get Betty, bring her Home to Me.’ With a heavenly escort, Mother slipped the bonds of earth- up thru the stars, the galaxies and the heavenlies- the Angel delivered Mother into the Loving Arms of our Savior. She will be missed. She will not soon be forgotten. 
Mother loved flowers- she received Mother’s Day flowers early this year- surrounded by her family and so many friends. To honor Mother, a favorite part of the yard here at the Cottage- which is filled with my grandmother’s Spiderwort, Hostas along with ferns and big blue Mophead Hydrangeas- Mother loved that part of the garden, so it will be re-worked and dedicated to her. Sorrow and gardening tends to bring me to my knees. Hopefully, in the succeeding years, when the flowers bloom- memories of Mother and my Grandmother will return every Spring..
May she rest in peace. Alongside others we have loved and lost, I hope Mother enjoys her seat in Heaven’s Balcony, no doubt she is still smiling.
‘Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses who have gone on before us, let us run with patient endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith’.
Love y’all, Camellia
*all photographs belong to the Camellia’s Cottage Community- we are thankful for all of the blessings and acts of service, love and kindness afforded to our family during this time. Scripture is from Hebrews 12:1-2
Betty Holmes Watts 1929-2017
Whatsoever Things are True, Pure, Beautiful and Worthy of Praise…
Here’s what’s Blooming at Camellia’s Cottage… Have a Blessed Lord’s Day!
Love y’all, Camellia
Spring is a time of renewal and hope…there is nothing quite like nature to inspire us here at Camellia’s Cottage. The use of natural materials for Spring table settings, home décor and even in the garden brings the Earth’s best inspirations. As the Earth renews and indeed is resurrected, the arrival of Easter coincides. I was inspired by Easter’s proclamations…
for our natural Easter décor here at our humble cottage. Now, we don’t believe in scavenging a real bird’s nest unless it has been abandoned for several years, however we love tucking a moss tufted nest in flower arrangements, filling a bare spot in potted plants or even a resting in a natural wreath, but the use of a Nest itself, though hand wound…brings a sweet whimsy to home and garden. We hope you will be inspired by a few of ours and try them too! We’ve used a large nest of grapevine, angel vine, mosses, twigs and well, whatever we could find to make an oversize Nest! This oversize Nest can be left in place for birds who are feathering their nests now! 
The oversize Nest was also laid in a Bird Bath and among some Bearded Iris, down low like this- it would be fun and whimsical for an Easter Egg Hunt.
We wound wicker baskets with vine and other dried materials to make up cute Easter baskets with faux eggs and added a touch of Easter by the front door.
Twist up a big handful of angel vine- tuck it into an iron container, add natural shred around egg shaped soaps to enhance a small Easter gift or use some excelsior in a whimsical container like our White Chicken bowl.
Turn a hanging basket base over a moss nest like ours propped against a lamp base for the look of a houseplant but easy care!
All of these projects took very little time, even little hands can help scavenge for natural materials. One of our favorite real nests is also one of our most pinned photographs- we call it the Empty Nest!
It was found abandoned more than four years ago. Nature is like that- It gives… a reminder of Easter’s Promise… ‘For God so loved the world that He gave…’ We are so grateful for The Resurrection and the blessings of Springtime! 
From our Nest to Yours… we wish you all a beautiful Spring and a blessed Easter!
Love y’all, Camellia
*photographs are obviously mine!
Camellia's Cottage 