The Picnic

My Dears,

I hope you've all kept cool these past several days...what a scorcher it has been! Thankfully I've kept comfortably cool in air conditioned rooms. As much as I love the days of old I still cannot fathom how those dear folks got through the dog days of summer without AC. *sigh*

So here I am tapping away on my very modern keyboard to share with you a very vintage event. Two posts prior I made mention of my annual Independence Day picnic. Well, needless to say it was truly an affair to remember. The weather cooperated, the food was plenty, and the guests were as ever delightful. To add to the fun of our day, we had reporters for the Star-Ledger drop by to do a story for their "Munchmobile" feature. What is the Munchmobile you wonder?

Well get a load of this!!!

 TA-DA!!

Yes...a van with a large wiener on top graced the driveway of Harmonie House.  No really dears, this is truly on the level! The Edwardians were not scandalized...that I know of. *winks* Anyhow, the reporter and his munchmobile companion of the day were quite lovely people. They seemed to enjoy taking a stroll back in time with us. They sampled the food, toured Harmonie House, watched the croquet match, and snapped many pictures. I was even interviewed on video. How fun!!

With Munchmobile reporter Pete.

Tables laden with delicious fare!

Sweets are on the left!

How pretty!

Of course lemonade was served along with other soft drinks and water. However, what most of these dear, proper ladies and gents preferred was the ever popular frozen gin & tonics! Oh indeed!! Our sweet friend Heather made sure to keep those glasses filled with this refreshing brew. Not one to skip a beat she was there, pitcher in hand, ready to greet the reporters with a frozen cup! These gin & tonics have become the signature drink at this annual affair. 

My dear Heather..sans the pitcher.

Naturally there was music to be played. Tunes from the teens, 20's, 30's, and 40's kept us tapping our toes and singing along. What about our game of extreme croquet? Well of course we played! As usual, the flowers were not too happy when a ball would land in their bed....and as usual, I kept on hollerin' "Stay away from the flower beds!!!" *sigh* Even I, yes, I too was guilty of this faux pas. *shrugs* I guess it wouldn't be called extreme croquet if we weren't challenged by the garden's inhabitants. Bless their sweet lil hearts. I made sure to water them well and give them some extra TLC after all was said and done. Thankfully my friends know to treat my plants gingerly at all times during a croquet match.

These lovely gents tenderly held back the plants
so that I could knock the ball out of the bed.

When evening came along, my fella brought out the grill and put on the burgers and hot dogs! We sat under the night sky and feasted on our yummy, grilled food while the stars twinkled high above us. We chatted away until it was time for everyone to return to their homes. 

It was a memorable affair. How can it not be when in the company of dear, beloved friends?

By the way...there isn't a picture of me and my fella at this event. Why? I don't know. I guess we slipped the camera's radar. Needless to say, I pouted fretfully when I realized that my honey and I were not photographed together. *sigh* So in lieu of a picnic picture, I shall share of picture of us together at a friend's wedding this past June.

 I think we make a cute couple....don't you?

Well my dears..tis late and I'm tired. Another day of work beckons for the morrow so I must bid you all a good night. Oh and just to let you know...I'll have another "This & That" post coming up real soon! 

Blissful tidings!!

xoxo

Miss Sandra

Tis That time Again!

My Dears!

It's that time again when I, my fella, and the rest of our "vintage" friends gather together for our annual Independence Day picnic at Harmonie House!

I've been working diligently on getting everything ready. I do find that I never seem to have enough time to prep for these gatherings, but by the same token I tend to become giddy as a child while I get the house ready, and spend oodles of time in the garden weeding, mulching, and just making everything pretty. On the day of our picnic I never lack help, for my fella and some of my closest friends make all the early prep and work flow smoothly.

The lists have been made (food, linens, outdoor accessories, etc). I still have shopping to do, food tent to put up, and finding something to wear. Shall I go Edwardian or perhaps 1920's? Hmmmm..I do have a few Victorian outfits as well as a 30's style summer dress. *sigh* Who knows? My guests always look fabulous in any era they choose.

Needless to say, we are all excited and ready for a trip back in time, a wonderful gathering of dear friends old and new, a most enjoyable game of extreme croquet (do avoid the flower beds), delightful vintage music, delicious food, and pitchers of frozen gin & tonics. Yes my dears, we also serve lemonade.
Oh indeed....this party is the "bees knees"!!

Here are a few images of picnics from years past....

That's me all the way on the left in the red and white.

 

That's me sitting at left with the hat.

 

I was trying to avoid the flower beds...not sure I succeeded.

Pondering...

No..that is not a frozen gin & tonic in my hand. *winks*

I hope each and every one of you has a most lovely 4th of July weekend. May bliss follow you wherever you go!

 Hey! What am I doing in the flower bed??

xoxo,

Miss Sandra

It's My Blogiversary & a Giveaway!

My Dears,

Today marks my 2nd year in blog-land. Yes, on that Tuesday April 7th, 2009, I took a chance on sharing my world with all of you out there. I had no idea how it would be, or if anyone would be interested to read my musings at all. Well as of today I have 75 followers, and many of you have become dear to me.

I am honored that you have taken the time to read my scribble, my thoughts, and my poetry. You have followed my journey of rediscovering myself after the loss of my husband. You have advised me, sent me hugs me when I've been blue, and expressed your joy when good, happy times came into my life. I may not know most of you personally..or even met you...but I'm sure glad to know you! I may not always comment on your pages, but please know that I do read your posts, and look forward to each one. It's like visiting family from afar.

So to honor this day I am hosting a giveaway!!! Yay! What am I giving away you wonder? Hmmm...whatever can it be? Well, you all know I'm an old fashioned gal, living in an old fashioned world, filled with pretty old fashioned things. *smiles playfully* So therefore, my gift to one lucky reader will be a most lovely Victorian inspired hanging, double picture frame.
Do take a look at it!

This is how it will look on your wall.
Sorry about the fuzziness and the glare.

This is a close-up.

...an even closer look.

If you'd like to take a chance on winning this pretty frame, just leave me a comment and let me know you'd like your name entered. Please feel free to share this giveaway on other blogs with a link to my page. I will give it a week's time. I will draw the winning name from a pretty glass bowl and announce it next Thursday the 14th. Good luck my dears!

Oh, and if you happen to be curious..here is a link to my very first post. Just click HERE.

So my dears, I want to thank you for sticking around and making my blogging experience ever so special. I raise my glass to each and every one of you and make a toast...
Here's to our blog-land journey! May each experience yield a most rewarding return...that of new friendship and new discoveries!

Hugs!
xoxo
Miss Sandra

Autumn Musings & Then Some

picture source

My Dears...

I'm back...and happy to be so.

It's a rainy evening..one with a chill in the air. This is the kind of night that invites cozy fleece pj's, a roaring fire in the hearth, the company of a loved one, a fuzzy-soft pet, and a good book. Naturally one must add some mood music (for whatever mood you may be in) and a beverage that may suit the occasion. I'd say some nice mulled cider with just a wee bitty piece of butter and a splash of bourbon might be just what the evening calls for here at Harmonie House. Ahhh..the pleasures of the autumn season!! There is nothing like the cozy feeling one gets when breathing in the crisp air as the leaves, majestic in their jeweled palette, tumble softly toward the ground. I have to admit, Autumn is the perfect prelude to winter!

...and you all must know, I can't wait for the first snow fall! *smiles*

snowstorm 2006

All right...I'll not wax poetic about winter until December. Then again, I may not be able to hold back my enthusiasm for the upcoming season. * sighs as visions of sugar plums dance in her head*

picture source
Mmmm... sugar plums!

So my dears...no doubt most of you have been wondering where I've been since July. I must admit I suffered another bout of blogger's block. *sigh* Mind you it wasn't for lack of material, for Heaven knows I've had plenty. My summer was filled with many wonderful, memorable moments. My calendar was constantly filled! Needless to say, my sweet fella shared these moments with me as did Mr. Knightley!

...and speaking of Mr. Knightley, my dear rapscallion fur ball has been up to his own tricks of late! Noticing all the hubbub surrounding the election this week, Knightley decided he should have a part of the action. I should know better than to turn my head when he has that strange gleam in his eyes. I mean really...one minute all is quiet and normal at Harmonie House... and the next minute I find my cat is running his own election!!!

No mice were injured during this campaign.

Thankfully, my dear sweet kitty has abandoned all hope of running for office...yet another "cat"astrophic idea averted. *chuckles* Then again, perhaps it wasn't such a crazed notion. After all, the world could use the wisdom of a fine feline...n'est pas?

Well, as I was saying a couple of paragraphs earlier...I had a delightful summer and so far, a most blissful autumn. Though the work week takes up a lot of our time..my fella and I have made the most of the weekends! We make sure to live moment to moment...and we add loads of laughter, song, family, friends, love, and bliss to our agenda.

Here's a photo recap:

Some of you in blog-land may be familiar with the witty blog called Something I Wanted To Tell You. Well here I am with the one and only Kim,my dear friend who happens to have a flair for wit in her writing. As you can see,she was with child when this shot was taken late summer at her shower. She and Will are now the proud parents of a precious baby girl Fay. Congratulations! Be sure to visit her blog by clicking here! Tell her I sent you!

My honey and I at Monticello..the home of Thomas Jefferson


My brothers and I during a summer visit.


My fella & I at the popular Dirty Dick's restaurant in Myrtle Beach

We all know that October cannot come and go without a Halloween Party! This year's party was a smaller affair at Harmonie House, but filled with oodles of merriment and the warmth of friendship.

This was before the "rest" of the food was added. Yes my friends,

we almost ran out space.We sure are a bunch of hearty eaters!

Arrrgh! The pirates have arrived! Doesn't my fella look fierce?

Discarded UPS package costume.
I do hope the wearer didn't catch cold. *chuckles*

The smiles and the joy...priceless.

So there you have it my dears! The long...and definitely not the short of it! I'm back and I shall try to keep up with my musings as often as I can. I really appreciate the warmth I've received from my blogger friends. To those of you who sent a note of concern while I was away..I thank you from the bottom of my heart. It feels lovely to be missed.

Now I'm off to make myself a nice cuppa of something warm....perhaps hot cocoa with melting Peeps? Such a treat...and a favorite of my fella. I shall sit by the fire for another hour, then I shall call it a night. To you my friends, I bid sweet dreams and days filled with bliss.

pic source

Nite nite!

xoxo
Miss Sandra

Summer Recap

My Dears,

How has the summer been treating you? If you are anything like me, then you're certainly counting the days till the autumn equinox. The summer heat does not become me, but I must make do with Mother Nature's season of warmth..and believe me, I have.

This year's annual Independence Day Edwardian/ Vintage picnic was truly a blast. My darling friend Heather came over the night before to help me prep. When morning came around Heather and I wasted no time. Sandwiches were prepared as were other edibles for the party. My fella arrived early enough to lend a hand. Together we three got the tables set up in the canopy/gazebo and readied the garden for an afternoon of vintage frolic and bliss. By the time our first guest arrived, we were dressed and ready to entertain.

My sweetheart and I

The absolutely lovely Heather

Lost in time...

Our sweet friend Jenn who looked lovely in her 20's frock, set up the wickets around the lawn for our usual game of extreme croquet. Heather made sure to keep everyone's spirits high by her steady supply of frozen gin & tonics. *smiles* The tables were laden with yummy picnic fare and the mood in the air was bright and festive. Music from the teens/2o's/30's/& 40's kept us tapping our toes and some of us even tripped the light fantastic.

Aptly named extreme croquet due to the non-traditional
way the wickets are placed around the flower beds.

Pondering my next move..

A view to the past...

Indeed it was a wonderful party..a moment in time...the days of old. My thanks to Bill whose lens always captures our parties beautifully...and to Zaida who makes sure these photos get to me. *hugs!*

So you see, I am trying to enjoy the summer as best as I can. My fella and I even decorated the canopy/gazebo and created an outdoor room. A small table with two chairs..a wicker sofa..dragonfly lantern lights and a curtained wall make for a cozy retreat. The coffee table and chaise lounge will follow in a week. We have spent many a lovely time inside our outdoor retreat, listening to music while enjoying candlelit dinners and nitecaps.

My sweet and humble retreat rests under the shade of the linden tree. This is where I go to relax with a book and a nice cold drink or perhaps a soothing cup of tea. I keep adding plants to my surroundings and also a plethora of solar lanterns to light my way in the evening. ..especially the breezy evenings when I can just lie down and linger languorously, watching the light bugs as they twinkle brightly in the garden and listen to the crickets serenading me through the night.

...lingering languorously.

Ready for company..


That's Sir Twigginham on the right near the fence.
My fella gave him that name. *smiles*
He's also responsible for setting up this corner of the garden.


My garden crystal ball...


...and my handsome fella who captured this lovely set of photos.
Thanks honey! ~~x~~

So until the first autumn breeze places its crisp kiss upon my cheek, I shall just grin and bear the rest of the summer. I guess it isn't so bad when such fun is to be had. What say you? *winks*

In the meantime, how about a cup of tea?


Enjoy the rest of this summer....blissfully!

xoxo
Miss Sandra

Happy New Year!

My Dears,

A most wonderful, blessed, and happy 2010 to you all!

I welcomed the New Year within the comfort of Harmonie House, in the company of dear friends. It was a joyful evening filled with music, laughter, dancing, good food, and lots of bubbly! Midnight kissed us with smiles, hope, wishes, love, and dreams.

Good friends...good times.

My dear girlfriends looking so lovely in vintage attire.

Waltzing

Swinging good time!

The slipper fits...the coach didn't turn into a pumpkin at midnight...
Two out of three ain't bad. *smiles*

I wish so many wonderful things
for you all.
Make this year one to remember! Do not be afraid to take risks for they may lead us to new adventures,
unlike any we've ever dreamed. Find your bliss and absorb it into your soul. Life is too short..live to the fullest and have no regrets. Continue to dream and hope. Never forget that life is ever filled with unexpected surprises and that the road to possibilities and happiness is never
..never too long.

I raise my glass to each of you and say...Cheers my dears!!

xoxo
Miss Sandra