A Look Back

While the clock ticks down the final hours 
of 2014, I thought it might be fun to look 
back over the past year at some of my
 activities and tea times. 

January - Tea at 221B

Ireland and England Weather Map teacup 

by Ali Miller of London

Moriarty carves a somewhat sinister message into an apple when he comes to see Sherlock at 221B in The Reichenbach Fall. "I owe you a fall, Sherlock."

February - Cup And Pansies

Birthday cup by Kent Pottery- a present from a dear friend. She also baked teacup cookies for me!

March - Inspired by Violas 

This cup and saucer inspired me to create a Viola greeting card

March - Leprechaun Lane

home made Irish Soda Bread and tea. Slainte!

April -  Yellow Flowers, Yellow Birds

Daffodil Time by Shelley

May - Meteors, Mice and Memorial Day

Enesco musical teacup party with mice

June - Oak Canyon

Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world. 
 John Muir

July - Stars and Stripes

The Whistling Kettle's 1776 Blend

August - Queen's Seagull

Queen's Centenary Seagull Cup and Saucer

September - Kelos - It's Hot!

Fairy Garden in our old tiered fountain

October - Little Capotain Mug

Boo!

Halloween countdown

November - Autumn's Gold

December - On The Fourth Day of Christmas

I'm going to see how many more tea times I can squeeze into the remaining moments of 2014!

sharing this post with~
Tea Time Tuesday
A Return To Loveliness

Tea Cup Tuesday
Friends Sharing Tea
Tuesday Cuppa Tea
Martha's Favorites

Summer's Whimsy

Each fairy breath of summer, as it blows with loveliness, inspires the blushing rose. 

 ~Author Unknown

Summer is winding down and I decided to make a scrapbook page about the two fairy gardens I planted weeks ago. I stamped bricks near the photos, and used decorative scissors and stitching to embellish the edges of the white card stock. 

I used Heidi Swapp Primrose mist on the Scrap Fx fairy and K and Company mushrooms. To make the banner I used a circle punch and folded the small circles in half over bakery twine. 

 Next, I used a calligraphy pen to write the title.

While working on the page I tried to keep my mind off the fact that summer break is nearly gone. I don't particularly care for summer's heat, but do enjoy having our daughter home. College Girl begins classes on Monday and I am already feeling that old familiar sadness of back to school.  "Alarm clock mornings", I call them.

Trying to keep a positive attitude, I went outside to water the backyard. That is when I spotted one of the season's last roses.

 

Great, I thought, even the roses are taking their leave. But then as I showered the plants with water, I noticed buds on the Camellia tree. 
 

photo from growing a greener world

Somehow that made me feel better. 
We'll have less time with our special girl, but the coming season holds so much joy. 
I love autumn and all that goes with it, like cooler temperatures, spicy scents, fresh picked apples, family birthdays and the holidays.

 


 Happy Pink Saturday - the last weekend of the summer for our household. Wishing you a little whimsy and magic as autumn approaches.

sharing this post with:

Pink Saturday
Share Your Cup 

Smile

Smile~ it's Saturday! Yesterday I worked for a bit in the backyard, then headed inside to clean and trim some strawberries my husband and I bought at a small farmer's market. We also picked up some more sunflower seeds to plant because the batch I planted in April (which were doing so nicely) were devoured by some little critter....slugs? Grrr! Even though it is a bit late in the season, our summer weather lasts well into October, so I am hoping the newly planted sunflower seeds will thrive in the above ground planter I put them in this time. I love seeing those sunny yellow faces each year in the backyard. The birds enjoy them too. 

I have two things to share with you today: my Fairy Garden, which is a work in progress, and a new greeting card I made.

Every summer I refresh this little saucer pot with some kind of grass, herbs or flowers. I also like to include a tiny marble bird bath, a bee skep, a trellis, pebbles and, of course, a fairy to watch over it.  I used pieces of a broken terra cotta pot for a garden path, and installed a 'Bees Welcome' sign next to the skep. Notice the Lavender fairy hanging onto the trellis? Sometimes she appears next to the birdbath, and often she has company...Yarrow Fairy, Geranium Fairy or perhaps a butterfly or bird.

She is so sweet! And although she holds a special place in her heart for the color lavender, she also likes pink.

             The bees share garden news with her~

I'm sure she must have thought I was a curious sight taking photos of some of the pink flowers in the yard.

There are soft blush colored pink petals in the compost pan, tiny Geranium blossoms, deep pink roses, pink and white trumpet shaped Penstemon,  hydrangea and more.

Can you imagine what it would be like to climb inside this gorgeous bloom?  Or nap between rose petals?

 Here is the card I created~ I went for simple and clean, and included a pink flower.

Wishing you plenty of reasons to smile today!




sharing this post with;
Share your Cup Thursday/Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson 
Beverly at How Sweet The Sound





Uncommonly Yours