fairie tale

My granddaughter, Olivia, believes she is a princess...(and indeed, so do I!)

She adores wearing princess dresses and princess shoes

and, of course, a crown!

 * 

So, while enjoying some time by the campfire awhile back,

 

I made this fairy princess crown.

 

Now she keeps asking for wings! :)

 *

  So her mom and I are planning a fairy princess birthday party in November.

Olivia doesn't know I already picked up several pairs of wings at the dollar store the other day.

("Gotta get 'em while the gettin's good," my Mom would say! )

Olivia's mom knows I love to plan a party with a fun theme; so she indulges me.

Oh, it's going to be so much fun!

*

Do you have a childhood birthday party that you remember as your favorite?

Blooms I gathered from "up on the hill."

~*~

May your week-end be filled with

the sweet delights of Springtime !

in the pink

Flowers seem the solace of ordinary humanity.

~John Ruskin

There's something

quite appealing about

tulips in the snow...

 and mini cupcakes

frosted to look like

pink roses

for a valentine party...

But the sweetest little flower

I've seen lately is the

most recent addition to our family.

Introducing my 

great niece...

 God bless you, sweet baby.

happy thought

The world

is

so full

of

a number of things,

I'm sure

we should all

be as

happy

as

kings.

R.L.Stevenson

for the beauty of the earth

For the beauty of the earth,

for the glory of the skies,

for the love which from our birth

over and around us lies;

Lord of all, to thee we raise

this our hymn of grateful praise.

For as the soil makes the sprout come up

and a garden causes seeds to grow,

so the Sovereign LORD

will make righteousness and praise

spring up before all nations.

Isaiah 61:11

"No eye has seen,

no ear has heard,

no mind has conceived

what God has prepared

for those who love him."
~1 Corinthians 2:9

what is it about white?

apple blossoms

white lilac

white bleeding heart
sweet allysum

bright

fresh

clean

pure

simple

*

*

*

it

just

soothes

my

soul.

happy may day

I'm off to deliver a may basket to my sweet mom.

Wishing you a May Day that's filled with delight! "The May-pole is up,

Now give me the cup;

I'll drink to the garlands around it;

But first unto those

Whose hands did compose

The glory of flowers that crown'd it."

- Robert Herrick, The Maypole, 1660

come to the party!

 welcome

to my

pumpkin inspiration party!

So glad you're here!Can't wait to see what you've created!

Would you care for a drink?

I have mulled cider, a variety of soft drinks,

and you've gotta know I love a theme...

because I've got

jekolantern pumpkin wine

and

jones pumpkin pie soda!

(I don't think that the lizard on

the label looks very appealing, but...)

Does he look

familiar

to

anyone?

pumpkin paper lanterns just for fun!

Love this chandelier!

I'd like to set out some goodies on this table.

Can I interest you in a generous slice of

Chocolate Pumpkin Cake (Country Living)?

Maybe a Mini Pumpkin Cake (Martha Stewart)?

Or Gramma's Famous Peanut Butter Squares

dressed up in pumpkin candies and butter leaf cookies (my own!)?

I'll post the recipe later.  So easy and a hit at every family party!

Perhaps a Fancy Caramel Apple?

Mmmm, delish!

There's Fall Party Mix, too! 

On the table by the window...

Grab a handful!

Fall Party Mix
Mix together:
5 cups of Chocolate Chex(tm) Cereal
1 bag Brachs(tm) Autumn Mix
2 cups of lightly salted peanuts
You can also spread this mixture out on a cookie sheet,
or waxed paper, and drizzle it with melted chocolate,
or white chocolate. Let it cool, then break it apart.
Yum, I love sweet and salty snack mixes.

"Mumkins" on the cofee table in front of the fireplace...

Oh, a person can dream!

I must go to attend to a few family duties

as we prepare for my dear Dad's funeral,

but I will be checking on each of you at some point today. 

I didn't want to cancel the party as it's been so long "in the works."

 I know you'll be understanding, my blogger friends. 

Mingle...I'll be back!

pooh and his honey pot

for O-----

lightning mcqueen

for D-----

Thanks for coming!

Come again! 

Good night!

Most of these inspiring ideas are from Martha Stewart, Country Living, Better Homes and Gardens, and Southern Living.

the blessing of flowers

Flowers for my daughter...

...the same flowers after enhancing them with picnik

kinda "artsy"

flowers for my Dad in the hospital...

and for me...

When you have only two pennies left in the world,

buy a loaf of bread with one,

and a lily with the other.

~Chinese Proverb

lovely flowers and pretty packages

I have a Bluebird Hydrangea that did quite well this summer.
My Endless Summer Hydrangea, on the other hand, had one bloom, and I think my husband ran over that one with the lawn mower! I've heard that some people feel they haven't lived up to the hype. I guess I'd have to say I'm one of them. I thought I'd have lovely bouquets of hydrangeas all summer long and extras to dry for wreaths in the fall...not happenin' this year!
Heather Bullard's recent post got me thinking about hydrangeas. Hers reminded me of the arrangements that were at the bridal shower I attended a couple of weeks ago.



The mother of the bride made one for each table. They held 2 small green apples, 1 large hydrangea blossom, a couple of pink roses on picks, and that cool, stringy stuff she picked up from a florist. Does anyone know what that's called? She bought the glassware at TJ Maxx or Marshall's. Aren't they beautiful?

I helped my friend, the mother of the groom, to wrap two stunning packages for her son and future DIL.



It took us about 5 hours to cut, fold and glue, but they were pretty impressive when they were done. Don't you agree?