Autumn Beauty On The Island

Wild grasses turn a pinkish color each autumn.

The day I took this photo, the wind was

blowing and along with all the wild flowers,

the sea of pink grass was swaying back and forth.

It was a sight to behold.

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Have you had a good weekend so far?

I hope so.....

Lord bless....Dee Dee

Watercolors, Pencils and Alice

Rabbit

 "Oh my ears and whiskers,

how late it's getting."

-

Alice

"It was much pleasanter at home,

when one wasn't always growing

larger and smaller,

and being ordered about

by mice and rabbits."

-

Alice

"It would be so nice

if something made sense

for a change."

-

Have a great weekend,

and by all

means.....

stay away from rabbit holes.

-

Dee Dee



Children's Fantasy....Belief In The Possibility Of The Impossible

....he fetched the books, volumns of

illustrations of eighteenth-century merchant

vessals and ships of the line.....

-

"I sailed here," said Jeremy, when he was once

more seated on Mr Hepplewhite's knees. "I sailed

in my little boat from my big ship to your ship."

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.....Mr Hepplewhite turned over the printed part of

the book before them to find the pictures, but when

the pictures were reached,

he fell breathlessly silent.

Such marvelous sails rising one above another

 like towering white clouds,

such splendid figure-heads,

carved poops, flags flying in the wind and seas

 with curling waves

like the edges of pastry on a tart.

 And  what wonderful names like Neptune, Victory,

Mermaid, Garland and Illustrious. 

~Elizabeth Goudge's "The Scent Of Water"

-

 Elizabeth Goude has

become, yet ever so quickly, a favorite writer.

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Have a blessed day.....Dee Dee

All That Is Lovely......

She is refined gracefulness and the

vase is marked by elegance.

-

Have I said before watercolors and pencils

are both enjoyable and relaxing.

-

I hope your having a good week.

Blessings.....Dee Dee

Growing Along The Path

Just a couple  more photos taken yesterday

while we were on the island.

A national park, Honeymoon Island

is in a constant state of renewal.

More recently, these vining plants

appeared along a pathway

leading to the waters of the Gulf.

I'm not sure what they're called

but the blooms remind me of the

Morning Glory. Perhaps

they are somehow related.  They do

seem to thrive in the sand and

hot Florida sunshine.

You can see that the south side

of the island, has been designed

to look uninhabited....unspoiled....

so that the birds and other

creatures can live in what

appears to be their natural habitat.

I do so love it here....

-

Blessings.....Dee Dee

Out To The Island Today

We took a ride out to the island today,
and as is the usual thing,

I took lots and lots of photos.

 I've selected a few  to show you,

so that you might see what a  fall day
looks like here in Florida.

The cool wind was coming out of the west

blowing straight into the shoreline,

creating quite the commotion with

the waves.  I don't think I've ever seen

quite so much activity before.
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The umbrella photo was taken as

we crossed over the causeway.

The fisherman was out in the

water up to his waist, and doubt

that  he minded that I was taking

photos of his very fine set-up. 

I call it "designer fishing" noting his

 Tommy Bahama umbrella...

love the colors.

After driving all over the island,

we parked in our usual place

near a wooden swing.
 A choice place for watching sunsets,
at mid-day it was un-occupied.
We walked a short way down the
beach, doing the usual beachy thing
"shelling."
The lone bicycle (in photo) we've seen there before....
a frequent visitor to the island...just like us.

 I can never resist taking a photo, always

hoping that  one day the owner might

have fresh island flowers in

the  basket.

Lovely wild flowers do actually grow

in the beach sand, and can be found in
random places.  These I found today...
so beautiful, don't you think?
Got those fall colors going on....

-

I'm so glad you stopped by today, so now

you too have visited  Honeymoon Island.

I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

-

Happy Wednesday.....Dee Dee

Tea and Unhurried Conversation

.....oh yes.....tea parties are a sweet

time with my girl friends.

And I do especially enjoy

the unhurried conversation.

-

Enjoy the day.....Dee Dee

Martha Stewart images

My Kind Of Autumn

Cool ocean breezes and

salty air...all coming off of the

Gulf of Mexico.....

my kind of autumn.

-

Blessings.....Dee Dee

Autumn In Our Tropical Garden

We'll miss seeing the fall leaves up north this year....

The email from my sister-in-law had said they

will take a train ride through the

Great Smoky Mountains, to see

all the beautiful and colorful fall leaves.

Much of my childhood was spent

in those mountains and  I

remember the beauty of it all.

Maple trees lined our street and

nothing was  more beautiful than the

yellow, gold and red maple leaves.

-

I suppose I'll just have to make

do with the autumn showing in

our  tropical garden this year.

All looks mighty prettty, as you can see.....

  ......the  tall Hawaiian Ti plants,

beautiful striped Crotons and

the Nandina's are  spilling over with pretty orange berries.

-

Have a lovely week....Dee Dee

A Walk In The Woods

Last fall, the Mister and I were back in our

old hometown....Aiken South Carolina.

During our visit, we took a walk in the woods,

just because they were there and we could.

Having lived in Florida for over

twenty years, we've missed the

woods and, the changing of the seasons.

I can recall even today, the cool air on my face,
the rich woodland smells and 
how my surroundings seemed all so  familiar.

It was as though my world

was somehow back in order.

I suppose feelings like that surface,

from my having left a beloved  home,
and long ago settled in a new place. 
-

We miss our old home

and all the connections.... the people

the places and the customs.

We still refer

to Aiken  fondly, as "back home."
-

Today I came across a photo
I took while walking
in the woods...the reason for my post.

I remember

looking up through the trees,and thinking 

how surreal, dreamlike and magical it all seemed.......
I remember wanting to keep those good  feelings forever and ever.

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Lord bless you this day dear family and friends........

DeeDee

Good Things....by Martha

I know were all busy decorating our homes

for the upcoming holidays.

But have you thought of visiting

Martha?

Her website is awesome and does

she ever have some great fall craft ideas.

The small wreath in the top photo, is made from

an old book.  I want to make this. The instructions are

at   http://www.marthastewart.com/ .  You

might want to fix yourself  a nice cup of

tea before visiting...you'll want to hang
out there for a while.

-

You had to see Martha's Bittersweet wreath 

 and  her  beautiful orange cashmere scarf.
The scarf....I just happen to have

one like it.  Macy's..... last year's winter

sale. Can't wait to wear it!!

-

Have a great weekend.....

Blessings.....Dee Dee

Apples and Autumn

Pears, wild crab-apples, yellow delicious apples and cherries....yum......

My idea to paint a box of fruit...

mostly apples,

came to me this morning

while preparing

sweet Gala apples for breakfast....

A favorite ......

stir-fried in a little water, sugar,

butter, raisins

and cinnamon. 

My oh my....

served along

side ham and eggs....

an Autumn specialty.

Notice the little crab apples in the box? 

They are

a part of my pre-teen

memories. 

They grew wild in the woods

by our home in Pennsylvania.

We had cherry trees and pear trees....

Loving autumn

completely and hoping  

you are too.

Blessings.....Dee Dee

 

So Pretty and Fall Colors....

Earlier in the day, I was at The Fresh Market.

I've posted before about their beautiful

fresh flower department.  No place in

the area can compete with them, in my

humble opinion.  I suppose the nice

lady I see there, doing all those gorgeous

arrangements has lots of experience

in what appeals to the lady-of-the-house.

I do know she exceeds my expectations

and then more.

And so it was, that I found these

tiny orange roses surrounded by all

sorts of lovely greenery.

Oh, they were pretty all right

when I put them in a white

pitcher vase and placed them

on a table in the living room.

But it wasn't until  the afternoon sun

splashed on them that they

became extraordinarily beautiful.

Thus, an afternoon post....

because I couldn't wait to share them with you.

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Blessings sweet friends and family.....Dee Dee

Looking Over My Shoulder

This little scarecrow sits on a shelf

right up over my shoulder when

I'm sitting at the computer.

He's been around a long time

now, and comes out of the

box, becoming part of my fall/autumn

decorating, at this time each year.

-

I love to walk October's fields,

with the smell of Autumn in the air...

corn cobs lay scattered on the ground,

Mr. Scarecrow still stands proudly there....

~Barbara Cagle Ray

-

A land which the Lord, your God, looks after;

His eyes are upon it continually from the

beginning of the year to the end.

Deuteronomy ll:12

-

Have a blessed day.....Dee Dee

A Pleasant Surprise......

"The leaves fall, the wind blows, and

the farm country slowly changes from the

summer cottons into its winter wools."

~Henry Beston

-

This particular tall and slender

Nandina plant is

located in an inconspicuous

location in our tropical garden.

We hadn't noticed what

was taking place,

until today, when the

Mister was working

on our sprinkler system.

"Come look, and

bring your camera," he said.

Now, we have quite a few of

these planted around the

garden, but none of the

others have beautiful

red and golden leaves.
Pause....
For those of you living in
northern states...really
living with beautiful fall
foliage, you are by now wondering
"what's all the fuss?" Please keep
in mind, I live on
the west coast of Florida,
where "fall spectacular"
just never happens.

This sweet ole transformation of the Nandina
is a rarity and as you have noticed,
a most  pleasant surprise.
-
Hmmm..... takes so little to bring a smile to my heart.
-

Blessings....Dee Dee

Have times changed? Maybe just a little.......

1867 First Harper's Bazaar Magazine

Swim Suit Issue 1876

Chain evening bag...1876....still in style today....love it!

Audrey Hepburn 1956....

Harper's Bazaar today.....with Ms Drew Barrymore

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I bought the new Harper's Bazaar magazine this

past week.  The cover had Drew Barrymore

on it.  For the first time I actually noticed

this pretty young "movie star,"

having gained a healthy "performance  respect"

for her acting in "Grey Gardens."

Funny, we never hear those words

these days...."movie star"....perhaps they

only apply  to so few. 

 I'm an old movie fan kind of

girl  myself, and most of what I see  on TCM,

I can actually call the  actors and actresses "movie stars."

-

But, I've gotten off the subject.

-

As I turned through the pages of my new HP

magazine, it occurred to me that women are

pretty much the same today as they've always been.

We like to look pretty and the way we

 appear to others is very important to us.

Getting compliments are great for our self esteem.

-

In looking over these vintage magazine covers,

I thought of the styles back then and

how the magazines pointed to looking your best.

Women then learned  from magazine pages

 how to wear their hair,

style of dresses to make, shoes to wear

and all their needs to be in style.

-

In looking at my new HP

magazine I realized, as in the past,

today's magazine had  instructions for making
women over.
 Don't we all feel we need help

at some time or another?
Without question,

the magazine publishers have always counted on that.

-

HAIR & MAKEUP must haves & easy how-tos.

FABULOUS at every age....fashion to flatter you.

GET perfect skin.

UPDATE your look......

BEST BAGS & SHOES!

It's all there, page after page of gorgeous clothing,

worn by pencil thin models. New ideas to update my look. Wow!

-

Well, there you are .....expect to see me soon

with the perfect skin, looking fabulous with my

new hair-do, wearing great shoes and carrying

the best ever handbag!

-

Smiles.....Dee Dee

-

In all seriousness...I love the magazine and you will too.

Photo Credits go to Harper's Bazaar....thank you.

Things That Make Me Smile

Finding little things I can actually use

at an antique fair,

makes me smile.

Today is change the linens on the beds day.

So, while hanging them on the clothesline to dry

using a  hand full  of old fashioned

clothespins,...it made me smile. It also made

me smile again, while  hearing the Catholic Church

bells and chimes ringing out a favorite hymn....

Amazing Grace.  And, oh how sweet was the

sound....

I am partial to pretty porcelain pottery.

The little blue pot shown, has already

earned it's keep by holding a

"pumpkin cookie" scented candle.

Made me smile when I stood

watching the flame flicker back and forth.

-

A small turquoise colored antique

medicine bottle now sits in my

kitchen window.  Recognize

the little flower?  I clipped the

 stem from the basket

by the front door.

Now, each time I'm standing at

the kitchen sink....it makes me smile.

-

You might notice, it's just

the simple things in life that

somehow make me the

happiest. I suppose you

would call it contentment, or
just being downright thankful.
-

I hope you've all found that place in life....

-

Blessings.....Dee Dee

Happy Days!

Have a blessed week.....Dee Dee 

Autumn Tapestries....

While red-gold leaves swirl all around,

Fall's beauty stretches far and wide

Across October's countryside.

I watch, spellbound, as Nature weaves

Bright tapestries of tinted leaves.

~Beverly J. Anderson

-

October is a painting,

A scarlet leaf display

Framed by a sky of sapphire blue

And wrapped in an Autumn day.

~Nora M. Bozeman

-

This morning I was out and about bright and

early.  I'm loving October and it is

everything the poets say.

I listen to the words in their poems more closely

these days.  It is a good time to

think about God's handy work and take it all in just how

amazing nature is.

-

I wore a light sweater and had a new

scarf around my neck.....the cool morning air

felt so good.

The annual Antique's Fair was taking

place in our little village. 

"The early bird gets the worm!"

And so it was that I found

Winslow Homer's

"The Herring Net" for the Mister.

Not an original,  but beautifully

reproduced on stretched canvas

and framed in an old oak frame.

He was so pleased with it as he

placed it on the wall  in the "man room."

-

I hope your enjoying autumn

as much as I am.

Have a blessed Lord's Day.....Dee Dee
photo Google Images

My Favorite Place For Fall

Otesaga Hotel and Resort

All during this month of October, while celebrating changing

of the seasons, I will 

show some of my favorite fall photos taken

through the years.

The photo shown, was taken on

our first trip to Cooperstown New York....

home of the Baseball Hall of Fame and.....

our very beloved daughter and her sweet family.

-

We were not at all  prepared to fall in love with this lovely place

located high up in the Catskill mountains,  but it very easily

won our

hearts and almost instantly.

From day one,  we were quite overwhelmed

by the town's beauty, it's history, it's museums and it's people

and their customs.

Each time we visit, and that is as often as humanly possible,

Cooperstown has held that very same first time appeal to us.

-

So, be prepared for some pretty fall photos

 throughout the remainder of the month.

I hope you enjoy them.

-

Fall Blessings.....Dee Dee
click on photos to enlarge