Beautiful Day in the Pumpkin Patch...

Still hot and dry!!! This weekend is going to hit triple digits, but then next week we should

start getting into just warm days and cool nights. 

For all the heat I still recognize beauty. I live in an arid agricultural town in Southern California

not anywhere near a big city. There are many dairies, chicken farms, orange groves and acres

of mass produced vegetables. Mainly potatoes.  

This particular acreage is right across the street from me. About every other year they do pumpkins. I am always excited when it's the pumpkin patch. This is very green right now but very soon it will be filled with orange

round pumpkins as far as the eye can see.

Here is one little guy growing next to the road.

Another little guy in the shade of a leaf next to the road.

This guy all ready starting to turn orange.

This is where I live at the foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains.

I will keep you posted on the pumpkin patch progress with pictures!

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Autumn Dreaming...

Really can't stand the heat anylonger here in Southern California. It's been so humid, we are not used to that!

I usually wait until later September and early October to start seriously decorating for fall, but this year I can't help myself.

Found this awesome entry way vase and autumn leaves at Joann's for 40% off. I can change out the leaves each season.

I love the color combo and it looks wonderful with my entry way decor.

Came home from church yesterday and found this surprise on my door step. A terracotta planter filled with fall flowers and this sweet little pumpkin.

Just added some much needed color to my front porch.

I knew right away it was from my garden wizard friend.

I have a different wreath for October, couldn't resist this one on sale at Joann's for 40% off. Sunflowers always remind me of September.

Going with the trend and creating an "Ornie" bowl. In my case I chose a basket. I bought the sunflower ornies off of Etsy. They smell delightful too. I got the little crows at Joann's. This basket really brightens up the kitchen. I look forward to changing the ornies out each season.

   

Vintage Entry Way Vingette Finished...

We finally moved!!! I've been planning this vingette for weeks now. This is in our entry way and looks so lovely when you 

come in the door.

I am displaying my vintage English transferware hunt scene plate, along with my three vintage spaniel collectible dogs.

On the right side I'm displaying three of my Franklin Mint Classics, more vintage collectible dogs and my wise old owl book box.

One of my favorite paintings Woman in a Boat by James Tissot

I am so happy and grateful that the short sale went through. It took a long time. 120 days to be exact, but we are in now and I'm enjoying decorating my new home and blogging again.

I look forward to this autumn season on the horizon. Like many of you it's my favorite time of year and like many of your I'm truly sick of the heat and look forward to the chill in the air. Sweater weather!!

     

A Westie Birthday Cupcake...

My Birthday was this past weekend. My married daughter, mother of 4, always makes our birthday cakes. She just loves doing and we love her for it. With the size of our family that is

6 adult cakes and 4 child cakes in a year. She is a very creative girl and always wants to put a personal touch on each cake.

She really hit a home run for me with these darling Westie cupcakes!!! They were so cute I couldn't eat them. She also made them diabetic friendly. Seeing what a great mother, wife, friend, and daughter she has turned out to be just warms my heart.

I love her for it!

Stuck in the Before Waiting for the After...

Haven't posted anything for a month because I keep waiting for the

opportunity to post pictures of my new house but guess what

we are still waiting to close.

These are all the online realty pictures of our house taken in April.

These are the befores.

We are set to close by August 31. It's a short sale. It will be a little over 120 days from start to finish.

It has been a real test of patience !!! Would I do it again? Yes, for a house like this one.

Now it's just getting the review through underwriting and signing the loan docs.

Could close as early as end of next week. Oh I hope so.

I feel like I'm living a half reality. I mind and heart is here at the new address. I have decorated and redecorated each room a 1000 times in my head. I just want the chance to do it.

Hard to pack because we still need to have the things in our current home (which has already been sold and closes in 60 days).

I just had to post something today. I don't like going too long without posting.

I have 2 weeks and I will be moving if not sooner!!

Then I will have lot's of after pictures.

Vintage Tudor Rose Teacup...

While packing up my china cabinet for our move I came across this lovely teacup given to me a few years ago by my very dear friend.

My friend's aunt whom she had been taking care of for quite awhile died and left a gorgeous collection of English bone china teacups. Her aunt was actually from England and moved to the United States in the early 60's. So all of her collection was pre-60's. My friend's sisters swooped down on the aunts home to grab the teacups. They didn't really want anything else. This was all done while my friend was arranging the funeral, etc. 

When Jackie (my friend) got to the house she noticed that all but a few of the teacups were gone. She was livid!!! She was in charge of the aunt's belongings. She didn't want all of the teacups and was willing to share, but seriously three of them left. Jackie was able to reclaim them and go through all the teacups and pick out the ones she wanted. 

She picked out this very special Tudor Rose cup for me. She knew how much I loved roses (my mother's maiden name is Rose), loved the Tudors and anything involving the English pastime of tea.  I treasure this cup, I think it's beautiful.

Tudor Rose~ Collingwoods

Back stamp was printed between 1937-57

Happiness is not so much in having as sharing. We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. 
~ Norman Macewan.

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Vintage Canine Porcelain Heaven...

In our new home we have an entry way that I am

gathering pieces for a vintage porcelain canine vignette.

Here are some of the pieces I have collected. Can't wait 

to get them all together and take pictures 

of it all together for my blog.

Vintage hunt scene brown transferware from

Nancy at Nancy's Daily Dish etsy English Transferware Shop. 

I just purchased this and received 15% off

Nancy is doing a $50 gift certificate give away over

at French Country Cottage check it out.

Nancy has some wonderful transferware pieces. Over 1000

to select from in her etsy shop.

I fell in love with this one to go with my porcelain canine vingette

I am planning for when I get in my new house.

Here is a wonderful vintage Wire Haired Fox Terrier made in occupied Japan which make it a collectible.

He's really in great shape for being over 50 years old.

Here is a little Vintage Springer Spaniel made in Japan in the 50's

A vintage Lefton made in Japan Beagle

Sweet little vintage Cocker also made in occupied Japan.

Great deal on Ebay

These setters are probably my most collectible piece of canine porcelain. They were made in Thuringia Germany which is a region in Germany known for its many porcelain makers. I just purchased this off of Ebay for $16. The seller knew nothing except it is stamped Thuringia Germany. I'm sure this was made sometime

between late 30's and early 50's. I will know more when I receive it.

This is another price from Ebay. A sweet vintage English Cocker Spaniel made by Gort Porcelain pre WWII.

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                                                 Open House Party!No Minimalist Here




Feathered Nest Friday