Tea and Sympathy in France

Some of you have already found the French husband ~ you know who you are ~ and you kindly share the ups and downs of your exciting lives in France. Actually the ups seem much more prevalent than the downs. Life in Provence, Paris, small villages, and little towns, make many of us envious to have that romantic life too - but difficult to persuade these American husbands to up sticks and move "across the pond".

Recently, while treasure hunting, I found these French lovers enjoying a spot of tea. Apparently French tea is disappointing, especially to the English! My family now living in France take pounds of "real tea" across the Channel, by boat, plane, hovercraft ferries, and through the "Chunnel" (the tunnel which runs under the English Channel). Oh yes, the wine goes to England but those Brits make sure their tea gets to France.

The jug was displayed in another corner of SuzAnna's shop - I just had to borrow it for this picture so a second French couple could join them for afternoon tea. Notice even a French poodle came to the party!

These are two pages from the scrapbook I made following my trip to France last year.

We're all dreaming about and imagining how romantic life can be be living in France. Please keep telling us about it and sharing your great photos. We love it all and want more.

Friends, fun and frivolity

Another fun blog thing..........................one gets to meet new friends in person..........and not necessarily wearing fancy hats or pinned with notes like this gal. Yesterday I spent a delightful time with Deborah from Pictures, Pots & Pens . We met online and found we live a couple of miles apart. She'd been wanting to visit SuzAnna's so we made a date to shop and eat.

We spent time browsing and shopping - SuzAnna's treasures become more exciting and interesting each visit. Here we are chatting over lunch at "Cafe Capistrano" - great freshly prepared TexMex food. Aren't we angelic looking!!

Discovered we both love chairs - here's a cute white child size rocker - perfect for one of those pumpkin displays, and that iron bed would be great in the garden for real vines to twist and climb. This Sunday ALL the chairs will be pulled down from the rafters, placed outside for a huge "chair sale". What fun - will try to get back for that event. Those gals really know how to entice treasure hunters.

This chair is adorable!

Deborah came bearing a delightful and thoughtful gift - this very lovely and unusual chrysanthemum which is now keeping my pumpkin company on the front porch. Thank you so much Deborah - it's so pretty.
I believe that friends are quiet angels who sit on our shoulders and lift our wings when we forget how to fly~~~~~~~~~~Unknown

Inspiration Friday - Autumn Gold

This weekend the sun and heat will return after two days of clouds, drizzle and a heavy downpour last evening. How the gardens loved it - how we the gardeners loved it too.

Yesterday I bought a big, fat orange pumpkin for the front porch - I'll show you later when I've done a little seasonal decorating. Meanwhile I'm sharing these striated and nobbled beauties someone else was lucky enough to find. There must be special areas in the country where these are grown. We only have the garden variety....................old fashioned, run of the mill, big 'ole orange guys.

Want to make a good harvest golden soup this weekend - maybe butternut squash. Some moist, russet shaded, pumpkin bread would be tasty - warm from the oven served with a steaming cup of Earl Grey tea on the front porch..........in the late afternoon.

The turning leaves, gold in the late day sun.

Enjoy your weekend.

Autumn Greens

Before the shorter days take on Autumnal hues, remember the greens............they are still here in different forms.
Traditional orange pumpkins, golden butternut squash, Indian corn, rusty gourds, rosy hips and berries - all brighten up the Autumn landscape................but I'm almost green with envy for these!

Pull up a chair, sit and ponder awhile.................watch the early morning mist rising up from the Autumn garden, hear the fresh green acorns falling through the russet oak leaves. Can this be the one.....................will it become a mighty oak?

Today in the Garden

...................Opossum "playing possum".......................

We're catching feral kittens this week - stray mom put them under my neighbor's shed about a month ago - now they are old enough to leave mom, three of the four were tempted into captivity by "kitty tuna" and "turkey with rice" - nothing apparently tempts mom, she's still on the loose with the other kitten.

However, this morning that little can of cat food was just too good to pass up for this little guy. People say they're so ugly, they're cute. I thought it was just too sweet. It curled up quietly after it's breakfast and never made a sound, it's tail around it's toes, still and silent. Went quietly with the humane officer who promised he would set it free in a wild area somewhere. Opossums do not carry rabies but they can give a painful bite with those big teeth.

Then it was on to the watering as today is our allowed day for sprinklers during this long water restriction by the city. Luckily the night time temperatures are dropping a little so that is helping bring back some life to the struggling plants and shrubs.
The coleus are still doing well and these colors are great for Fall.

My gourds have been stored away since last year and seem none the worse for all those months in a hot attic - they are perfect on the back deck with hydrangeas which dried to a rusty brown.Hope your garden is taking on that lovely golden Fall look - our trees will be turning soon and then not long until leaf raking time.......and jumping in the piles. I assure you we do get a lot of leaves here in heavily wooded North Carolina......just wait and see.

Before "the Fall"

The early Fall garden still blooms. Despite lack of rain and and high temperatures, the Southeast has survived.........just. The Flying Saucer morning glories are truly glorious this week after some wonderful rain last Friday. The slow to mature peppers are almost ready to pick - is this a red or a green pepper plant?

The kitchen window box is showing off new blooms and fresh leaves now the nights are cooling.

........................and soon she will make her long flight back to Mexico, this tiny Ruby Throated hummingbird who has visited all Summer along with her mate. She buzzed my head if I sat on the porch, chirping noisily - this was her territory for the season.

Safe journey tiny wonders..........see you next year.

Sunday Morning in Spain

A brief sojourn in Northern Spain - June 2006. The small Catalan town of Castello D'Empuries.

The beauty of the colors in the old tiles, the stones carved by ancient hands. The buildings each told their story.

Catedral de Santa Maria

Our hotel looked down into the small square - bustling later in the morning but so quiet at the early hour after dawn.

Travel is more than the seeing of sights;

it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the

ideas of living ~~~ Miriam Beard

Inspiration Friday ~ For The Love Of Old

Does anyone have this book by Mary Randolph Carter? Reviews are mixed so don't want to order it sight unseen. I do love the "ruined villa" look but somewhat difficult to pull off in a cottage style home - and no chance of moving to the villa any time soon. Love a touch of the baroque - chipped faded paint, ballroom sized trumeau mirrors, mossy damasks and velvets, rusting wrought iron, faded roses. Meanwhile I'm finding some vintage items are working for me and I'm beginning to feel that "love of old".

Stopped by SuzAnna's yesterday - those creative girls are doing such a fabulous job with their shop. So much treasure to hunt through and amazing prices - one can really leave there with so many wonderful items and not feel held up and robbed by highwaymen! I didn't buy this beautiful wash basin, pitcher and vase set but was tempted - if I just a had a place for it.

Lots of lovely china.

I did give a home to this small evening purse with the sweetest violet pin (silver or perhaps pewter) attached, trimmed with pearls - black velvet lined with silk, beautiful faded pink brocade. This appears to be handmade and has an embroidered label inside "Berta Justabe" with two dots above the u which makes me think it's Scandinavian.

This stunning old frame with the beautifully dressed woman was lovely despite some damage to the picture. I'm thinking perhaps a return trip to look more closely - I do love the oval shape.

Tucked away in a corner of the new "bedroom" in the shop, vintage undergarments looked almost ethereal among the chandeliers. The child's petticoat I noticed before was waiting on it's twig hanger - brought that home to hang with those pink ballet slippers.

Yes, I know, no more shopping for a while, need to save to buy some English treasures when I get home - problem is the dollar is so weak against the pound right now, shopping may have to be kept to the bare minimum this trip.

If the shoe doesn't fit....alter it

I took that old wood shoe last home, remember? I loved that there was a long history behind it. Modern lasts are made of ugly plastic. I promised to make it pretty. Even the wood worms had given up on it. It didn't fit anyone.............even Cinderella would have had a problem with this one!

I painted it red...............I gilded it with gold leaf............I antiqued it with a glaze of Baroque bronze..............the insole became smooth under golden leaves...........the music asked "Will There Be Any Stars?".........................and a handmade pin with ladies bathing became a buckle.

I think it's pretty now. It sits alongside the glowing old gold and pewter leather dancing slippers.......waiting to go to the ball. Until then it may be a paperweight, or sit on a chair in a quiet corner. It will not be hidden away in a shoe box I can assure you.

Remembrance - September 11, 2001

Today, many people will do something special to remind themselves and their neighbors of the September 11 tragedy. We will burn candles this evening, placing them on our front porch and steps, lighting up the darkness a little as today's beautiful skies turn into night, thankful that we and our loved ones are safe. All those who are no longer with us because of that tragic day six years ago, their families, friends, co-workers and acquaintances, will remain in our memories always. September 11, 2001................we will not forget.

Words in Place

Those of you who have known me for a while will remember my penchant for the written word in all it's many forms and guises. My recent new blog friends are hereby informed that I really LOVE words, type, lettering, calligraphy, signage, and you may often find them displayed here as I add to my collection.

Today I've been busy so I'm just sharing some recent photos of words and signs that caught my eye during my Summer travels. It has been another scorcher - 96 degrees by noon - but I was chilled to the bone from 9 AM until 2 PM in the freezing cold county courthouse! This is the third month of my six month Grand Jury term and I have to serve two Mondays a month. In a way it's better than being stuck on a long drawn out case as a regular juror - one can plan life around these Mondays.

This was a window display in Asheville, NC. Such exquisite handcrafted vases.

Wonder if the local hot shots really hang out in this neighborhood eatery?

Yes, life is definitely worthwhile. Don't you just love it?

My dear friend Loretta doesn't own this little bakery but I loved seeing her name across the window. Yes, those are snowflake decorations - taken this Summer - guess they won't need to decorate for Christmas! And now I'm off to indulge myself - an early to bed night with my new book, Anne Patchett's award winning "Bel Canto" - because I had to get up extra early today to drive into town, find a free parking place (Grand Jury only pays $20 a day so don't want to spend half on parking), and then sip my morning wake up coffee at the Port City Java.Goodnight moon...........................................

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