Preparing the Winter Garden

The garden is beginning to get that feel. You know, the feeling that it's slowing down, yawning and anxious to fall asleep. Or is that the feeling I have? Sitting in the gazebo, I'm noticing small things that are still lovely despite the shorter sunny days and cooler nights.

I cut some Endless Summer hydrangeas yesterday. Their bright blue flowers have turned to that spectacular green with tinges of dusky pink. They will dry in the house over the next few months, changing colors and gaining that wonderful vintage look.

A small posy to brighten a garden corner. I'm planning to plant more Spring blooming bulbs later in November when the earth has cooled.

As we know.........a garden is never finished.

Pink Saturday

The sweetest pink chandelier is hanging at SuzAnna's Antiques this week. Hurry over if you are anywhere near Raleigh, North Carolina!


I almost wish I had a little girl's room to redecorate. The chandelier has pink arms, pink and green roses and even pink ribbons, all delightfully illuminated by bunches of sparkling crystal beads.



Visit Beverly at How Sweet The Sound, our Pink Saturday hostess..................plenty of pink posts will be listed and awaiting your visit. Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

Cushy cushions.............

Sometimes a little lazy, other times a tad disorganized. Me. I put this sewing job off far too long. Last year I bought this gold and brown fabric, 'Zoo Toile'. Printed with monkeys and elephants in vintage zoo cages, trees in the background, thought it would look good on the porch wicker chairs, and stashed it away in hopes the sewing machine would soon be cranked up. Somehow, along the way, the birds discovered my cushions and pecked their way through to the stuffing, pulling out pieces to line their nests in the early Spring. I really didn't mind though, I love having feathered friends visit the porch.

Surprise...............today the cushions are looking so smart and crisp dressed in their toile covers at last! I hired my wonderful friend Vanessa to sew for me. She's so handy when it comes to creating pretty things for the home. Perhaps I will have to hide them away come Spring when the nesting instinct takes over again!

When Vanessa delivered the cushions this morning we gulped down a quick coffee, a fresh-baked Trader Joe's croissant, and headed out to a couple of Raleigh's finest............Pirate's Chest and Revival Antiques for some treasure hunting. More on that another time.

October Morning

Today, no cockerel crowed to start my day, but I did awake to a clear, cooler, sunny morning. The newly seeded grass is soaking up the night time dew.......and the little sprinkling I gave it last evening. The brilliant green of tiny new blades, so beautiful. The new coolness in the air refreshes the spirit and energizes the body. Soon the mosquitoes will disappear and I can get out and work in the garden again. Lots of work ahead........Autumn is a busy season. Aren't they all in their own way?

Welcome beautiful October. Month of my birth. Time of the year I enjoy most. This October will mark my forty seventh year in this amazing country. I will celebrate by heading to the North Carolina mountains soon, where I'll meet some special blogging friends, and just enjoy the beauty of Nature dressed for Autumn.

Illustration by Edith Holden from 'The Country Diary of An Edwardian Lady'.

Don't you love tassels?

My lovely friend Vanessa knows exactly what I like........and what will look perfect in my home. Last week she handed me a pretty gift bag holding a bottle of sweet smelling linen spray and this beautiful French blue tassel. Thank you so much Vanessa.

I knew where it would look great at home. Off came the dowdy beige tassel which had been dangling from the nickel and crystal knob. You can see this blue one is quite elegant here on the sideboard in the dining room.

Tassels can be used in so many ways around your home, visit here for some great ideas.

The beauty of burlap!

I'm sure you've noticed that natural fibers have become extremely popular for home decor lately. I've had an ongoing love of linen fabrics since I started sewing as a teen.......a million years ago! Linen has now been joined by hemp, burlap, and hessian which is made from hemp and jute.

Hemp is the gorgeous one - the one the French grain sacks were made from, the sacks we all swoon over when made into cushion covers or used as upholstery for chairs and sofas......the most expensive one of course, but it's soft, non-scratchy and washable.

Natural burlap generously shared by friend Vanessa.

But don't pass up burlap. Very inexpensive, even comes in colors although I prefer the natural shade. The softer version is being used now for drapes. Small sewing projects such as table runners and place mats are easy - very Autumnal with pumpkins and gourds - you can even glue the edges if you don't sew. One of my weekend projects was recovering one of the dining room chair seats with natural burlap - love the country French look.
One important tip, don't ever try laundering burlap in your washing machine as Vanessa did! Like her, YOU will be picking tiny fibers out of your clothes for a long, long time! I'm considering trying hand-washing a piece...............anyone know if that works?

No pitcher, but what a bowl..........

Isn't this a delightful old bowl? Creamy white decorated with pale blue-gray dandelions. Even weeds can look beautiful on china! One small crack, a little crazing, just perfect!

If you collect antique or vintage china you may well have an old washbowl and pitcher set. I've never considered collecting these as they are large............don't forget, my home is a small cottage! My largest pieces were the collection of white soup tureens that fit perfectly on my shelves. However, last week when treasure hunting with my Brazilian friend, Vanessa, my heart thumped when I spied this bowl, without a pitcher, in one of those somewhat redundant second hand furniture shops. Among some ugly plaid sofas and blond wood frame futons, there were a few really nice treasures tucked away in china cabinets or sitting on fifties style tables. Old silver, a couple of framed French music sheets, sets of dinnerware and this lovely old wash bowl. Marked $15 but actually 'on sale' for just $12, what a great find!

My bowl fits in well on the dining room table.

One never knows what treasure will show up in an unexpected place. No identifying marks on the base so cannot date it - my guess would be early 1900's as the design is a single color transfer. Any ideas as to age would be welcomed.

Before 'ROYAL' Doulton

Visiting with a friend at the Pirates Chest, the antiques mall where I recently purchased the fabulous chandelier for the dining room, I discovered a little stack of plates. Imperfect, somewhat primitive transferware. A little crazed and stained, but not chipped, obviously old. Creamy white with the prettiest blue-gray chrysanthemums.

You know the feeling. You're drawn to something, leave it behind, then think about it so often you just have to go back in hopes it's still there. I was intrigued by the back stamp on the plates, Doulton's Chrysanthemum Burslem.

They were still there, the price firm due to their age. I purchased three - they would work fine for decorative purposes, not going to eat off them because I fear their age means possible lead paint.

The Internet, ever the amazing education tool, took a lot of searching to discover more about Doulton prior to receiving the Royal Warrant from King Edward VII in 1901. A crown was added to the British lion and the classic brand name, Royal Doulton, became synonymous with the finest English china throughout the world.

In 1877, founder John Doulton's son Henry had bought a factory at Burslem in Stoke-on-Trent, a city known as 'The Potteries' and the home of English bone china. Other famous potters there were Wedgwood, Minton, Beswick and Royal Adderly. Henry Doulton's early success came from earthenware decorated in the limited colors available from lead glaze at that time, and it was then that he expanded into tableware. These, I believe, are what my dishes are so that would date them between 1877-1884 as after that period Doulton tableware changed from earthenware to bone china.

How amazing that household items such as easily broken dishes can last 125 years or more. These plates crossed the pond in the hold of a rolling ship, adorned a table perhaps in Boston or New York, then were carefully wrapped and brought South by road or railroad, to be used again and again until they crazed from hot water and daily handling. The stains on two of them look as if they were then used to hold potted plants. Whatever the history it is wonderful that they have lasted this long.

Next time you'll see that I'm on a blue-gray china roll...........I found something else when treasure hunting with another friend on Thursday............and I just love it!!!

More Autumn Touches

Dried hydrangeas from the garden.

It's still early, color has yet to appear in the trees here in the Piedmont area of North Carolina. Rain has run hard and fast, softening the Summer dried, cracked soil. Much of the new grass seed, which was to burst forth in a few weeks, has washed away down little rivulets curving through the clay mud. The robins stand about on the lawn, pecking hungrily at the seeds, maybe fueling up for their flight even further South.

Besides buying fresh pumpkins, I remembered these faux ones hiding out in the attic. Brought them down and set them out to add a little more Autumn decor around the house.........simple but nice.

Autumn Arrives

I'm busy collecting pumpkins, squash and gourds. My indoor decor for this loveliest season will be simple this year. The table laden with Nature's Autumn bounty.

September 22 - The hedges are full of berries now. Hips and Haws; Elderberries and Blackberries are the most conspicuous, also the bright crimson berries of the Bittersweet. There is a plentiful crop of Acorns and Chestnuts.

Edith Holden 1905 ~ The Nature Notes of an Edwardian Lady

Buttery taste.............

Aren't these petite butter pats adorable? If one wants to collect china but has limited space to display, perhaps this is the way to go.

These above look so French to me but are actually back stamped 'Hand Painted ~ Nippon' so are from Japan. They are in near pristine condition, no chips, cracks or scratches, and the gold is delicate raised embossing. Best part, a true bargain at SuzAnna's Antiques, $11.99 for all six!

Later, hunting through another antiques mall in town, I came across a dealer who obviously is serious about collecting and selling butter pats.....................she had hundreds including these above. The price points were much higher here, mostly per item, starting around $6 and up to $20 each. Loved the square ones but decided the round ones would be more practical.

I purchased these two because the design looks French and the color is a lovely blue-gray. Guess what, they may have been designed to hold those elegant little pats and curls of creamy butter, however I'm using one as the perfect coaster for my coffee mug as I sit here chatting with you.

I truly believe in using the things you love, not hiding them away awaiting a once in a blue moon fancy dinner party. Who has the time to curl butter anyway!

Pink Saturday

Playing with my new camera at SuzAnna's last Saturday, I managed to snap some bits of pretty pink to share with you today. Seems roses are still blooming despite that pre-Autumn morning nip in the air!

A pale silk blossom on a quilted satin box ~ keepsakes, jewelery, love letters, could be safely hidden here. Did you save love letters from the past?

A delicate porcelain rose on a china box. What sweet memories could one tuck inside. Perhaps trinkets and notes, any small items from childhood such as tiny toys, maybe even baby teeth. The rose garland on this vintage platter is pretty.

Be sure to visit our Pink Saturday hostess, Beverly, at How Sweet The Sound where you will find many wonderful blogs displaying pink today........and have a fabulous weekend.

Through a new lens..........

A few days ago, taking advantage of perfect weather before some much needed rainy days set in, I collected my thoughts, my papers, a cup of Earl Grey, and moved into the gazebo for a couple of late afternoon hours of study.

What fun to have a new camera. Double fun to receive this as a most generous gift from my best friend of 46 years! Thank you Paula, you spoil me. Hard work learning the intricacies of a fancy camera such as this. Manuals are obviously printed for non-technology challenged youth........and, unlike me, they must also have perfect eyesight to read such tiny type.

With reading glasses perched on my nose, large magnifying glass in one hand, mini-manual printed in micro-mini font in the other......and new camera slung about my aging, recently ultrasounded neck, I labored with some difficulty trying to get it all together!! While fiddling with all that paraphernalia, I missed a great shot when a large fox walked through the garden and passed within a foot of the gazebo! It didn't even know I was there........and I was so excited I couldn't see to get the camera adjusted for wildlife or any other type of life!

A good cup of tea helps keep one calm. I've started grasping the facts and know that one day I'll be able to shoot really great images. This 12-megapixels digital camera has an amazing 26X optical zoom - wow! Keep the wildlife coming - I'll be ready next time I hope.

Aged Beauty of Mirepoix, France

You can tell, can't you? I'm thinking Southwestern France these early, almost Fall mornings. We were so fortunate last year when a month-long visit enabled us to see the exquisite Southwest and Provence areas in perfect Autumn weather, day after day.


Looking back over my photos, I've felt the urge to 'play' with them even more, adding some effects to enhance the aging which is quite natural in that part of the world. The ancient buildings are not razed in order to fill in with modern glass and steel cubes. The wooden windows are not often replaced with PVC frames. The shutters are not fiberglass, they are heavy wood with iron closures. They have been painted many times and have hung forever on those stone walls.



The doors, ah, the beautiful doors. Hiding what? Families who have stayed, generation after generation. Each perhaps re-painting the original heavy door. Choosing their color carefully. Making it bright and welcoming. The iron door knocker, often a hand. Sometimes a sign to warn, 'beware of the dog'. A vine softening the hard, worn stone.




Entrance to the market square.

What is aging if not old. We should enjoy the process. The wrinkles, the crumbling, the bumps and crevices. The fading, muted colors. Why change what is history for the ages when it can be this beautiful?

All images from the picturesque town of Mirepoix, a late thirteenth century bastide built around one of the loveliest surviving market squares in France. The square is bordered by houses dating from between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries.

A lovely place to visit.

Friends from afar.....

Beautiful Autumn card from across the miles.

When I had the pleasure of meeting blogger/writer/lover of the brocante, Corey Amaro, in Aix-en-Provence last Autumn, that pleasure was doubled.....no actually tripled.....because I also met her cousin Judy with husband Chris who were visiting.

Funny how one sometimes gets the feeling an acquaintance may become a friend. Despite separation by vast continents and thousands of miles, we may be lucky enough to meet again the people who briefly crossed our path. This happened when we visited Judy and Chris at their lovely home in California in late July. An all too brief stop, full of warm welcome and hospitality, made possible on our way to stay with lifelong friends at Lake Almanor. Hopefully we'll meet again along the way some day.

Inside Judy's lovely card was attached a verse from

Keats' poem To Autumn.

This Time Last Year.................

...........I was getting ready for a trip to the South of France. This year no such luck, but I do have some Autumn travel plans closer to home, including meeting up with some dear blog friends in October.

Images taken last October in the quintessential French village of Caunes-Minervois where my English family now live.

The family house at dawn ~ Caunes Abbey in the background.

If you would like to visit this lovely area, close to the city of Carcassonne, see my sidebar for B&B particulars.