Witches and Wreaths ~

 

 One of my favorite children's books is, Old Black Witch. I read it to my children when they were little and then when I was teaching, I read it to scores of first and second graders. It's just such a cute Halloween story! So, a few years ago when I saw this little witch, who was almost a perfect replica of the heroine in the story...well, I had to bring her home.

 

 

 This year I decided to put her on the shelf under the big window in the library-media room, I needed a little something to complete the vignette so I put together a new fall wreath.

 

 

I love making wreaths because the are so darn easy. And this one was very inexpensive: two garlands on sale for 50% off at Micheal's and a grapevine form that I bought with a 40% off coupon. It looked so pretty that I didn't need to add anything more and the colors go great in this room.



Miss Twiggley decided to come, investigate and spend a little time playing with the bells on the witch's toes. She was very good though and didn't knock anything awry.

 

 

After Halloween I will put my little witch away, but the wreath can stay until Thanksgiving.

 

 



 

I think my little witch likes it here, but who knows maybe next year she would like to visit another room.

 

 

Wishing you all a fun, and not too scary Halloween.

BOO!

This post has been linked to: http://indesignerjeans.blogspot.com/

 

 

Plairirs Simples ~

 

Fostoria's American glassware pattern is an old one. first produced in 1917. Although it is glass and not crystal the faceted surface gives off a wonderful rich gleam, but unlike crystal it is sturdy enough for everyday use.

 

 

I have been a fan of this pattern for a long time, but never got around to acquiring any...always thinking, maybe some day. Meanwhile it has become harder and harder to find.

 So when I decided to slowly replace my everyday glasses with it you can imagine how excited I was when my wonderful brother gifted me with these:

 

 six stemmed sherbet glasses and six footed tumblers!

 

 

Aren't the pretty?  They look great in the kitchen cabinets.

 

 

 

Hopefully, I will eventually be able to get the juice glasses and the tall tumblers. It is fun to have a new collection under way and...  

 

 

...not only are they pretty, but  useful as well. I guess I am a real push-over for anything shiny. How about you?

 

Thank you for visiting I hope you have a wonderful day.

 

This post has been linked to: http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/ 

 

The Fall Kitchen ~

Miss Twiggley decided that it was time for us to do a little kitchen decorating for the fall holidays. So, down in the basement I went and brought up some things to add an autumnal flair.

 

A few pumpkins, grapes, some foliage, and a little witch are perfect in the china cabinet. After Halloween I will replace the witch with a very cute turkey.

My daughter gave me this gorgeous china pumpkin a few years ago. 

Since I spend a lot of time at the sink I wanted something pretty to look at.

 



 

 Across the room, on the shelf in the eating area I gathered together: pumpkins on the vine, a few sparkles. more squash, and of course some lace. I wanted it to look very abundant.

 

I like it and I think that Miss Twiggley does too (she has promised to be a good girl and not knock it all down!)

 

 

 

Now we're all set in the kitchen for Halloween and Thanksgiving. How about you? 

 

 

This post has been linked to: http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/. http://www.primpjunktion.com/, http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/, http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/

Changes ~

Now that autumn is here it is time to spend a little time thinking back about the summer garden and what changes I will make next year.  The first thing that comes to mind are Zinnias.

 

Early in summer I found these packages of Zinnia seeds in a variety of soft colors, with a preponderance of pink shades; just what I wanted!

 

 

I was thrilled with the results. They bloomed through most of the season and stood up well to the heat, and in fact they are still blooming.

 

 

I love these happy, easy to grow flowers that sprout so readily from seed.

 

 

 

 

And that is one of the major changes I will make in my summer garden next year...

 

I will plant a lot more Zinnias! I have come to the conclusion that  I simply can't have too many.

 

 

 

 

So much joy and so easily come by.

 

Thank you for visiting, I hope you have some flowers in your day.

 

This post has been linked to: http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/, http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/, http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

 

Autumn Rose ~

It has been so hot here this past week that I have postponed the fall clean-up in the garden and instead started the fall clean-up in the house. I take one room at a time and do what I call a 'deep cleaning' then I can sit back and relax for a while with just a little dusting and vacuuming. It takes a while but it is so satisfying when the whole house is clean. 

 

 

On a short break from all the cleaning I paid a visit to Marshall's and this box caught my eye. When I lifted the lid and a the wonderful fragrance wafted out I was a goner.

 

 

 Inside was soy wax candle: Autumn Rose, perfect for the season.

 

 I immediately decided that this would make a great reward for all of my hard work

 

 

I have promised myself not to light it until the entire job is done...but it is so tempting. It will be so nice to have the house not only clean, but softly rose scented.

 

These lovely roses are one of my favorites: Bewitched a perfect name for the perfect pink rose. 

 



Miss Twiggley does not like the noise of the vacuum but she does like sitting next to me on the bathroom counter and advising me when I am applying make-up. She says, "less is more"~ spoken like the natural beauty she is!

This post has been linked to: http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/, http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/ 



Grow ~

When I put this sign in the garden I didn't realize that it would have such a good effect.

But it seems that these Black-eyed Susans really took the hint.

They have been so abundant...growing amongst the Gauras.

And in at the end of a very, very hot summer they are adding a welcome bit of color to my otherwise scorched garden. Oh, how wonderful it would be to have some rain!

Meanwhile I will be happy enjoying this wonderful performance...and next year I will definitely add more.

I also think I should try to find a few more of these signs! Grow indeed.

Thank you for visiting. I hope that you have some 'grow power' in your garden.

This post has been linked to: http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/, http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/





 

Un Peu de Beaute' Pour la Journee'

I have been very busy this week, I am in the final stages of renovating my Mother's house,  I didn't have the time for a lengthy post...so instead I am offering you a "little beauty for the day". The nice thing about fall is that it brings another flush of roses and who can complain about that!

 

Have a happy day. 

Links to the Past ~

Some of you might remember when I shared the story of this little chair in my entry hall with you. Well, in a niche across from this chair hangs a clock and it has a story as well...

 

 

 

 Many, many years ago my Grandfather brought this clock with him when he immigrated to the United States. It came to me along with the chair after my Aunt Ann, his oldest child passed away.

 

 

 How they managed to get it here is a bit of a mystery to me. But it must have had a great deal of value to them because not only do I have the clock, but the receipt of purchase as well; amazingly though tattered and worn it is still complete. The clock was purchased in Whitechapel, England in 1904 for just over two pounds...on payments.

 

 

 I never met my Grandmother she died several years before I was born. But my Grandfather lived to a great age and was a significant part of my childhood. When I look at this marriage photograph it is hard to imagine the courage and strength it took this young couple to immigrate all the way from Poland... first to England, and then to America...all to seek freedom from persecution, and a better life.

 

 

 But this is not all, because along with the clock I have my Grandmother's wedding ring, which she is wearing in the previous photo. Today many people wouldn't care for it because of it's design: two snakes intertwined, but in Edwardian times it signified eternal love and was very common. 

 

 

 It is very heavy gold and...fits my ring finger perfectly! I don't wear it because with all of the gardening my hands take a lot of abuse and I would hate for anything to happen to it.

 

 

I am so fortunate to have these tangible things from the past linking me to bygone years

of family now gone but still remembered. 

 

 

 Thank you for spending this time with me. May the minutes and hours of your day be filled with joy, happiness and fond memories of bygone days. 

 

This post has been linked to: http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/, http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/