Le Dernier Des Roses ~

 

 

It seems rather strange to be featuring a post on roses just a week before Thanksgiving but a couple of days ago I went out into the garden and picked a sampling of some of the roses that are blooming here now.

 

 

This will be the last bloom cycle before I prune the bushes back in January and as you can see it is almost...

 

...as if they are trying to out do themselves.

 

Maybe it is the cooler light or the fact that these are the last of the last, but they are unusually beautiful.

 

 Just about all of my roses are what is referred to as 'antique roses' with a few David Austin roses mixed in. I am particularly fond of old fashion tea roses, they do well here and I like the softer look both in the form of the bush and the bloom.

 

 

 

For the past few years I haven't put in any new roses and in fact took quite a few out, but this year I have decided to plant some additional bushes and I am keeping myself entertained making my selections.  I will order most of them from The Antique Rose Emporium.There are many, many plants I like but roses are my favorite: that is why I thought the perfect name for my house was Rose Arbors.

 

I hope you have a blooming, beautiful day!

 

Thank you for visiting.

 

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

 

 

 

Un Peu De Beauté Pour la Journée

Oh, the beautiful glories of Autumn!

 

Liquidamber trees bring wonderful fall color to our warm Southern California gardens. They are also used as street trees and you can imagine how amazing that looks. This one shades a little sitting area along my driveway. Every year I look forward to this display, when like a lovely lady it puts on it jewels to come to the party and I can sit at my computer and gaze out on it.

 

 

 

 The world is filled with so much beauty; we are very lucky.

 

Thank you for visiting, I hope you have a wonderful day. Come back soon.

Plaisirs Simples ~ Bulbs

 

 Oh dear...it's almost too late!

 

After a very busy past few weeks filled with necessary obligations I realized that it was getting woefully late to plant fall bulbs.  Here in my warm Southern California garden they optimally should be planted in September, and here it is the first week in November!

 

 

 

So I made a determined effort that they would all be planted this weekend. 

 

 

 

 Bulbs that need winter chill don't do well for us,but daffodils, freesias, lilies, spraraxis and many other spring blooming bulbs not only do well but naturalize

 

So if I want additional beauty in my garden this spring like these glorious

lilies...

 

I needed to get busy!!!

 

 

 ...and I am happy to report that by this evening the basket you see below is now empty and I can sit back, relax, and look forward to spring when all of this beauty will be revealed.

 

 

I hope that you have had a chance to tuck a few new bulbs in your garden this year.

 

Thank you for visiting.

 

 

 

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/