On Days Like These

Pale amber sunlight falls across
The reddening October trees,
That hardly sway before a breeze
As soft as summer: summer's loss
Seems little, dear! on days like these.

Ernest Dowson

photo by Vintage

I can imagine the steam from hot tea spiraling up from this gorgeous leaf-strewn teacup, can't you? It is a Royal Chelsea Red Leaves  teacup and matching saucer. The trade name Royal Chelsea was used from c.1943 especially on teaware for the North American market. Marks do not include the company name, but have the script ‘Chelsea’, ‘New Chelsea’ or ‘Royal Chelsea’ trade name above an anchor.

photo by Vintage at zibbet

On this crisp, foggy morning what would be better than scrambled eggs, fresh berries and hot cinnamon rolls?

 

I even dusted the freshly iced rolls with a sprinkling of more cinnamon. Mmm! While we ate breakfast I decided to do some gardening afterwards, which meant a spruce up for the waning Fairy Garden. A sweet friend of mine recently sent me mini pumpkins and I knew the perfect place for them.

Some of the Irish Moss has dried up and the flowers have shrunken since our North facing yard is getting less sunlight now. A scarecrow has taken up residence near the pumpkin patch to keep the Fairy company!

Are we not better and at home
In dreamful Autumn, we who deem
No harvest joy is worth a dream?
A little while and night shall come,
A little while, then, let us dream.

E. Dowson

Enjoy the last of October~

sharing this post with:

Antiques And Teacups 

Rose Chintz Cottage 

Martha's Favorites 

Artful Affirmations 

You're Going To Love It 

Share Your Cup 

Time Travel Thursday 

Favorite Things 
Cottage Style Party 

Have you met Blanche?

I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it 

all to myself than be crowded on a velvet cushion.  

Henry David Thoreau

 

Here we are in the midst of October and the Girl Scout in me says I better start Christmas shopping. I picked up a few items this past week and need to pull out my holiday binder to start writing down my shopping and to do lists. 

Meanwhile, all the fall decor filling the stores makes me happy. I love this time of year! Our temperatures are still summer-ish, however, and I can't wait until after Halloween when it'll be cooler and I can wear boots, scarves and jackets. Although I drink tea year round - but, you knew that! - it will be nice to clasp a warm cup in my hands on a chilly afternoon. I just became aware that I don't own any Halloween themed teacups. How did that happen? I spotted this charming handmade cup on etsy.

  I like the vibrant orange web on the saucer and the crisp white porcelain teacup with dangling spiders....eeek!

And speaking of orange, have you bought pumpkins yet? Because of the heat we don't purchase pumpkins until the third week of October. I'm buying pumpkins from Trader Joe's this year as they are only $2.99 each! My sister lives in the mountains where it is much cooler and already has pumpkins displayed in her yard. Here is a photo of her Garden Witch~

My sister is quite crafty and likes making the outside of her home as festive as the inside. I wonder what the local bears think of 'Blanche'? 
Look at all those leaves on the ground! The leaves are only beginning to turn color and drop in our neighborhood. I love walking through them and hearing them crunch underfoot. 

Clothes make a statement. 

Costumes tell a story.  

Mason Cooley
 
 

sharing this post with:
Make It Pretty Monday 

A Return to Loveliness - http://www.adelightsomelife.com/

Tuesday Cuppa Tea - http://antiquessandteacups.info/

Tea In the Garden - http://blog.bernideens.com/

Share Your Cup Thursday - http://jannolson.blogspot.com/

Home Sweet Home - http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/

Tea Cup Tuesday - http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/ Rose Chintz Cottage - http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com/

You're Going To Love It Kathe With An E
Cottage Style Party 

October~ Days of Indian Corn

The sunlight is different - that's how I know. It's Autumn! For me it is the time of year that is filled with delicious scents and welcome sights, like fresh nutmeg and crimson leaves. I revel in the cooler weather, adore snuggly sweaters and enjoy pulling on classic equestrian boots or sassy high-heeled boots. I rarely go a day without wearing a scarf, one of my favorite accessories, even if I'm just wearing jeans while running errands. The kitchen smells of warm cider and there is woodsmoke in the air outside. We have so many Fall-related traditions that we continue to do even though College Girl is not a child anymore: carving jack-o-lanterns, going to Oak Glen for apples and baking pies afterwards, watching our favorite spooky movies, listening to Monster Mash and Thriller and dancing around the room, looking forward to a visit from The Great Pumpkin (he stops by our house on Oct. 31 and leaves a surprise), sewing a home-made costume (Avenger theme this year), watching the birds enjoy the seeds from our sunflowers planted last Spring, and decorating. I must admit I am a nut when it comes to seasonal decor. I change the hand towels, put up festive pictures, set out my Fall dolls, write seasonal messages on the kitchen chalk board - oh, I have fun! When I come downstairs each morning it makes me happy to see old and new decorations that get me in the mood for the days ahead. 

 
The "Pumpkins" sign is new. I placed it on small blocks of wood to lift it up. The mantle is a work in progress - I think I need to add some varying height to the center but don't know quite how to do it without blocking the sign. I'll work on it! Handyman got out the Autumn boxes and I have yet to place the mice silhouettes scampering up the stairs, but did fill the glass pumpkin jar with Indian Corn. Brach's Indian Corn is the chocolate version of Candy Corn...I can't resist it with a cup of tea.

 

Meanwhile, sorority initiation is just around the corner for College Girl. She has been busy with Kappa Alpha Theta activities the last couple of weeks, and this week is one of the most exciting! It's Big-Little Week! The current members -Bigs - are paired up with new pledges -Littles - and do fun things like leave little surprises for them, but the pledges do not know who their "Big" is until the end of the week. I have been making a few sussies, or fun gifts, for College Girl to give to her Big once the reveal happens. 

 

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Mosaic Monday