Need to put this on the back burner for a while...

I'm sorry for not posting much these days. I'm busy getting ready for my wedding on October 2nd and it's been a crazy amount of work since I'm doing all of the decorations, favors, and most of the planning and setting up myself and we only have a little over a month before it happens.

So... I will say, ta ta for now and I'll be back now and then and most definitely after the wedding.

Thank you!

Jazzy Girl

Jazz, my Mom's toy Cockapoo. Isn't she adorable?

Celebrating Sunflowers

Sunflowers are such a beautiful site. I love their beautiful petals in the rising or setting sun.

They seem like nature's stained glass windows to me.

GARDEN OF SUNFLOWERS

A garden of Sunflower beckoned to me -
Come join us, my lady, and joyous you'll be!

We're large ones and small ones, some dainty and fair,
And even some delicate to wear in your hair.

We follow the sun, swaying slowly without a care,
We have a new dance that with you we will share.

Gently hold onto our leaves, allow us to lead the way,
To our Sunflower two-step, dancing throughout the day.

I couldn't resist them, so dandy a sight!
So off I did go in my Sunflower flight.

What a glorious time, right up til twilight,
And then I had to bid my Sunflowers good-night.

So happy were we, a long day filled with fun,
Upon leaving I kissed them, each and every one.

So tender the moment, as I turned to leave.
With eyes brimmed with tears, could I truly believe?

OH! It was so true!! I then knew it to be!!!
I had to smile, 'cause they were all winking at me!!!!

~Author Unknown~

It's no wonder I've been making them up all week long. I've even put some up at CluckleBees.

Sunflowers remind me of Fall.

Autumn is coming! Autumn is coming!

"Keep your face to the sunshine
and you cannot see the shadow.
It's what sunflowers do."
by Helen Keller

Sunflower, sunflower, standing straight and tall,
Sunflower, sunflower, you're the tallest flower of them all!
Sunflower, sunflower, when your seeds fall to the ground,
Sunflower, sunflower, by the squirrels they'll be found!

I wanted to make my sunflowers in a whimsical likeness of nature's gorgeous stained glass blooms.

They're a wonderful simple beauty, I think. And I surrounded them with Sweet Annie. A lovely, heavily scented herb that just whispers country and autumn to me.

"Delicious autumn!  My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth
seeking the successive autumns." -   George Eliot

I can't wait until the leaves turn and I can walk through the many colored papery leaves dotting the ground.

Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away; Lengthen night and shorten day; Every leaf speaks bliss to me Fluttering from the autumn tree.

Oh, I'm ready for fall.

"I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house.  

So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air.

-  Nathaniel Hawthorne

"A few days ago I walked along the edge of the lake and was treated to the crunch and rustle of leaves with each step I made.  The acoustics of this season are different and all sounds, no matter how hushed, are as crisp as autumn air."-   Eric Sloane

I know it's just a tad early for Autumn, but I'm in the mood. The heat, well, I've had enough. I love this season, too, don't get me wrong. But there is something utterly beautiful and magical about the fall. And we're having our wedding this fall, so I really have a lot to look forward to! Sunflowers, to me, not only sing of summer, but they definitely sing of fall. Our wedding will have an abundance of them, too.

I hope you have all enjoyed my Sunflower post.

A very happy week to you all,

Susan

You want me to do what?

"Come here, kitty, kitty, kitty. Come on... Come here, Brandon."

"Brandon, sweetheart, come to Mommy."

"Brandon, come here. Come on, sweetie. Come on kitty, kitty, kitty."
"Brandon. Come on. Brandon. Brandon? Brandon!"

The only thing he did was shift once.

Ah..... yup.

Good Morning y'all!

Currier and Ives Blue Transferware

Today I'm joining Smiling Sally for Blue Monday.

I have always loved transferware. I have only, until very recently, had a few pieces of it, and one of them is chipped up pretty badly. But last week, as luck would have it, that all changed.

Behold! Ta Da!

I was out and about doing some second hand shopping and thrift store hopping when I came upon this gorgeous blue sight. 

Currier and Ives blue transferware from the 50's.

(okay, not all of that up there is Currier and Ives by Royal. They also threw in blue transferware from Cavalier!)

I love this. It's so Americana. I just love it! Love it! Love it!

How beautiful blue can be.

Berry Bowl

Cup and Saucer

(the saucer reminds me of Mark Twain~ The Mississippi, don't you know.)

This is a serving platter.

And I believe this is a plate for serving bread.

The entire set of Royal Currier and Ives came to 110 pieces. There are enough plates and bowls to serve 20! So wonderful. And then there were 45 more pieces of the Cavalier. I couldn't believe it when I got this, and trust me, it was a very, very, very good deal.

Now I'm on the look out for the butter dish, tea pot, casserole, soup toureen, salt and pepper shakers, etc.

I just don't want to pay 60 to 60 bucks a pop for each (or more). Heck, that would run me more then I paid for all of these lovely dishes.

This was an incredible find. I can't believe it. I'm still doing my happy dance and humming my happy song.

I hope everyone has a fabulous Blue Monday.