~Summer Luncheon~

The invitation went out

Plans were set in place.

Of course I'm always planning my luncheon at least a year out. I get a little idea here, a thought to tuck away there...for future use. Planning is half the fun.
I so look forward to the girlfriends luncheon.
It's just the two of us, BFF's .........but I still want everything to be just right.
This year, it's a Summer luncheon on the porch.

'Summer afternoon ......summer afternoon, the two most beautiful words in the
 English language'
                                                                                   -Henry James

Now let's set the stage, shall we?
It all started with these lovely little plates I found on ebay. I am a sucker for fleur-di-lis. So they had me at hello. Once I got them, I knew I wanted to incorporate them into my luncheon this year. So I decided on a blue and white theme. Plus, blue and white is just so summery.

So now I have my color theme, and off I go.

Love these blue glasses I found at a flea market (where else?)

woven wicker chargers,

Soft blue hydrangeas and white roses, in a rustic Italian pot.

My collection of mis- matched vintage silver flatware

Some blue birds decided to join the feast.

Speaking of feast, what's on the menu?

Relaxing on the porch swing with a full tummy.
Ahhh, life is good.

Best friend, beautiful, inside and out.

We are two peas in a pod.

These luncheons are my little gift to a wonderful friend.

Is it worth all the work, you might ask?

You bet.

~Forever Young~

7:05 am on this very day, 31 years ago

Four little words changed my life forever.

"You have a son"

  A boy who filled our hearts with joy, who grew into a man who still lifts my heart at the sound of his voice.

But in between then and now were years filled with happiness and joy
and learning every day just what unconditional love looks like.
I'm forever grateful for all , that little 6lb 9oz baby boy brought into our lives.

a long long time ago, in a galaxy far far away

I am not blind,
I see the man standing before me.
 I see the husband and the father he is today..

But my heart
ahhh.......
now that's another story.
My heart sees the boy

Heart of my heart
and soul of my soul .

Indulge me dear reader, as I am always sentimental on this day, as my mind goes racing back over the years.
Back to when He and I were brand new and just finding out about one another.

And I linger over the memories tucked safely away

waiting there,

 for a spark

or a special day

 that brings them flooding forth.

So I call my boy at 7:05 am this morning, as I do every year, and  I shout out to the world.

" It's 7:05 am. My son is born"

So Happy Birthday Son,

and you know that in my heart

you are

Forever Young

 

           

~On the hunt~

If you have hunters in your family you may easily recognize the
 'hunting fever' when you see it.

Although when we ladies are gearing up for a full day of antiquing /fleaing we may display some of the same signs as our male counterparts.

In search of that special item, we plan our hunt.

We have scouted out our favorite hunting spots and we know just where to look for that elusive item.

The planning of the D-Day invasion has nothing on us.

 Some of our best spots may even be kept secret... from our closest friends.  Shhhhhh!

If we are lucky we just might might sneak up on our prey,

aha, lovely blue and white plates

darling little red transferware tea pot

Be still my heart, a case full of vintage silver

Isn't this a darling booth?

treasures looking for a home

I love shopping at Flea Mkts, and little antique stores. You just never know what you will find around the corner.

 Excuse me, Ma'am, do you know where I might find some more blue and white china?

And when we find just the right item,

We pounce

 and proudly set off for home

Once there, we want everyone to come see our latest trophy.

Be it a giant rack of antlers or a tiny silver pot............we hunters are all the same.

Here are a couple of lucky finds I was able to bring home recently.
And of course I'm proud to show them off.

I found this adorable picnic basket at the Salvation Army flea market for only 2.00
I love the wine bottle holders on the back.

Here she is sitting on a side chair in the dining room, and I decided to tuck a little bouquet in the wine holder

and this little silver beauty, which I have plans for.

I adore vintage silver plated flatware.
Unfortunately I adore a lot of things....ha ha
Oops...look closely, that looks like another hankie to add to my collection.

I do believe I feel a little fever coming on again.

Stay tuned

~A morning in May~

The Silver Maple ( Queen)

who holds court in the yard

A Morning in May

by Terri Mueting

If one can sit quietly out of the way

one may just be rewarded a sacred glimpse of life in the garden.

It's a hustling bustling morning

trees and bushes alive with nature's version of rush hour.

Everywhere, life, sweet life.

The Silver Maple Queen

stands regally in the center of it all.

She is the giant skyscraper, that many diverse neighbors call home

so filled with birds all singing their own chorus

that at times it seems as if the tree itself is bursting with song.

She is host to the symphony

adding her own music, as the morning breeze rustles through her leaves

like a languid beauty running her fingers through her hair.

Birds chatter, news and gossip exchanged

as they flit from floor to floor in this leafy apartment building

Sounds of splashing drift up from the birdbath in the piazza  below.

Mothers busy gathering bits and pieces to fluff their homes.

A twig here, a morsel to take home to baby there, like mothers everywhere.

Pairs of butterflies dance on the breeze

then briefly, oh so gently, break from the tango

to sit as softly as a breath

on the petal of a flower.

A hummingbird dips her long slender nose deep into the sweet bounty

of the Million Bells flowers

hanging in a basket
like a banquet, she's been invited too.

All this swirling, beautiful, blessed, life

right outside my door

on a deceptively quiet

morning in May.