I should have kept you posted sooner to let you know we got through Irene with only some fallen branches and such.
We were fortunate..though many were not. My heart goes out to the many who suffered loss, injury, and damage due to this awful hurricane.
Thank you for your kind wishes and concern. You're the best followers a gal could ever have. xo
Just a quick note to those on the path of Hurricane Irene. Please be safe and have all the necessities at hand! May the storm blow over swiftly and leave no damage behind.
I have cleared my backyard/garden of everything that can be blown away. My pantry is stocked and my hopes and prayers are for the storm to lessen before it reaches our turf.
I thought I'd stop by to make you all aware that today, August 17th, is National Black Cat Appreciation Day.
You must know just how much Mama appreciates me..as does her fella no doubt. My baby-sitter absolutely dotes on me as do all of Mama's friends who visit. It pleases me to no end knowing I have my very own day of appreciation. Actually..every day is Mr. Knightley day in Harmonie House. However, to have it proclaimed tickles my fancy. *purrrrrr*
I am so handsome..how can anyone not appreciate me?
Do feel free to appreciate me all you want. I am always ready to receive oodles of loving attention, petting, compliments, donations treats, sweet talk, more treats, a computer of my own treats, and anything else in the way of good stuff and such.
I think you get my meaning. *saucy kitty wink*
Anyhow, I guess I should leave this post before Mama gets here and catches me on her blog. I'm off to have the run of the house and of Mama too! Here's a picture of me taking a snooze on her legs. I'm quite cozy and comfy...can you tell?
I guess I better go and play cute around my Mama. No doubt she'll coo and give me some treats....did I mention I like treats?
To all of you with black kitties of your own...spread the love and appreciation. You are quite fortunate that they've chosen you. Now go and give them some treats. *Cheshire cat grin*
I hope this day finds you and yours in a most delightful way. I've been keeping busy and trying to keep my chin up during these dog days of summer. After all, you know I'm a winter gal at heart! However, I think I've been a good sport about it all and have kept my summer doldrums to myself..considering how Father Winter gave everyone quite the shaking this past winter.
I promised to write another "this and that" post..so I guess this shall be it. Heaven knows, my well has been quite dry on the poetic side and I haven't anything exciting to say...at least I don't think so. There is so much anger and negativity being expressed in our world right now. All I want to do is hide behind the curtain of bliss and think of happy things. Therefore, I shall share with you pleasantries that will put behind, even if only momentarily, the doldrums of the world. After all, it behooves us to see the glass half full and to find all the magic and good in our lives. If we didn't see it that way, what a sorry state we'd be in!
This is how I see it. I'm in control of how my day will turn out. If it's raining, I shall rejoice in the rain and take the time to do something productive indoors..even if it's just lingering blissfully over a good novel. If I have a lousy day at work, I shall seek the comfort within my home and put the workday behind. Should I wake up on the wrong side of the bed..I shall think of all the blessings in my life. Then I shall smile and be grateful. There isn't anything that can really take control over our lives and emotions...unless we allow it of course! We shan't..and that's that. *smiles*
Hmmm..let's talk about what makes me smile. You know...those moments of bliss. Most of you are aware by now it's my most favorite word in the world....Bliss. Say it out loud BLISS. Say it softly bliss. Doesn't it have a most beautiful sound? Doesn't it fall gently from your lips? Bliss...bliss. I so love that word. My goal in life is to surround myself in bliss..to seek it, find it, and make it my own. So without further ado...here are some images of things that have brought me bliss.
Thrice the bliss...my home Harmonie, winter, and snow!
Afternoon tea and an old magazine
in the comfort of my library.
Finding a very old pressed flower
in the 100+ year old magazine.
Dragonfly lights over my bed...simply dear and blissful.
...closeup of dragonflies.
My sweet bliss Mr. Knightley.
...music for the soul.
Watching the sunrise over Lake George alongside my fella.
Stopping the boat in the middle of the lake
and having a relaxing picnic with my fella.
The simple comfort of a pair of wellies in the rain.
...my garden.
Breakfast in bed...blissfully prepared by my fella.
...a fireside picnic.
Christmas...traditional bliss.
Bliss of my heart...in the arms of my love.
I may have to post a part two on this subject for there are ever so many other pleasures that have brought bliss into my life: the music of Al Bowlly, the laughter of my nieces, the hugs given by my parents, sitting by the fireside during the long winter nights, and losing myself in song. I do sing a little you know. As a matter of fact, I shall close this post with a lil' video of one of my tunes. I do hope you enjoy! Be sure to scroll down below and turn off the programmed music on the green player before you play the video.
I hope this missive finds you all in good health and keeping cool under these severe heat conditions. It's been quite some time since I've noticed your existence in my garden. At first I thought you were just passing by.. crossing from one yard to another on your merry way. I began to question your frequent visits, when my dear fella almost mistook one of you for a kitty...yes, he called you over and you gingerly acquiesced and approached him happily. Naturally he exited the premises, quite quickly mind you, upon noticing that you were not in fact a kitty cat.
Twas not long after that, when I went out one evening to water my flower beds. I turned on the lights in the tent/gazebo and just when I was about to enter, I heard some scurrying nearby. Lo and behold!! There were two of you making your way past me. Yes, I froze in place hoping you'd ignore me...thankfully you did. One of you was actually quite adorable and little. I guess you were the baby strolling with your Mama. Needless to say, I backed up slowly...farther into the yard...and watched you both disappear under the shed. Not far behind, near my fence was a third one in your clan. I believe it may have been Papa skunk foraying the premises for your evening meal. How good of him to take care of you so well. I hope he succeeded and brought home the bacon.
I've spied each of you at one point or another since that night. Just this evening I braved the very warm weather and went out to quench my flower beds. Hose in hand and humming a happy tune, I sprayed the flowers whose sigh of relief was almost audible. Mr. Knightley watched me from the dining room window...at least I thought he was watching me. *sigh*
No. I wasn't the subject of his attention for LO & BEHOLD, once again, I was accompanied by you...the cute family of skunks. No doubt you watched me while you did what you do when you do what you do in the yard. (I hope you all got that!)
You must've been quite amazed at my bravery, though some may call it stupidity, of not budging from my spot and continuing to water my plants. Oh don't worry. I kept an eye on each of you. One ran into the hostas and went right back under the shed. The other (I guess it was Papa) continued sniffing around for supper, and the third strolled into the tent/gazebo. You must've heard me loudly exclaim.."Oh No You Didn't!!!" *insert vexatious mutterings* Yes..I believe Mama skunk was making good use of my lounge chair. I decided to mind my business and quickly finish what I started out to do.
Twas then I decided I've had enough!
This brings me to the reason behind this letter. I am quite honored that you chose Harmonie House's garden as your home. It shows you have fine tastes..you are indeed skunks of quality and distinction. However, I can no longer risk the possibility of myself or my fella vexing one of you and getting sprayed. Please, do not take offense. It's not that I think your scent lacks in essence. Truly it's got the quality that's in a class by itself. It's just not for everyone...myself included. So I'm asking you to please pack your bags and find another shed in another garden...somewhere far away. Thank you for your cooperation and have a nice day. *smiles*
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!
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!
I do hope you've all been well. To all you fathers out there, I hope you had a most lovely Father's Day. Best wishes all around!
I know it's been almost a month since I last posted. Life has kept me busy...work-wise, and bliss-wise as well! I have loads of catching up to do, yet I'm still catching up with Mr. Knightley who missed me terribly while I was away with my fella on a blissful getaway to Lake George and Lake Placid.
So, hopefully I'll get caught up soon enough to post more often. I've missed you and I'm happy to be back in blogland.
We enjoyed a most delightful boat ride!
Oh..and by the way...I want to wish you all a most blissful Midsummer's. Enjoy the season..embrace the magic present in our lives.
