Changes....

I am sure

 I have mentioned Fall is not my favorite season...

 

This year

with the changes in my life I see it differently...

 

instead of only seeing the browness and the death,

I see the energy going into the revitalization,

the preparation

for rebirth...

 

I find myself

looking inward,

ready for my metamorphosis...

 

the stages of the lingering roses,

backlit by the soft low sun...

 



the final stage

 hips...

 

 

my morning view of Mount Rainier

out a bedroom window...

 

the valley cozy

snuggled under the soft hazy morning light...

 

the Mountain hidden,

but no less grand...

Anemone

hold the garden together in the Fall,

abundant and cheerful...

 



the girls,

exploring in the tall grass...

 

we are all feeling a little unkempt these days,

wild...

 



my little family,

wild hearted

and

joyful...

 



 

Ever since the spider had befriended him,

 he had done his best to live up to his reputation.

When Charlotte’s web said SOME PIG,

 Wilbur had tried hard to look like some pig.

When Charlotte’s web said TERRIFIC,

Wilbur had tried to look terrific.

And now that the web said RADIANT,

 he did everything possible to make himself glow.”
― E.B. White, Charlotte's Web

 

 

 

radiant,

the sunset reflected on a rose...

 

 my favorite backyard destination...

a little iron bench

under the now old Cherry Tree

I planted as a wee sapling...

 

an obvious place for contemplation...

 

***

When she transformed into a butterfly,

 the caterpillars spoke not of her beauty,

 but of her weirdness.

 

They wanted her to change back

 into what she always had been.

But she had wings. 

  
     Dean Jackson

 

***

 

I am so grateful for the time you share with me...

Lace on the Line...

As we step into Fall

I think of the Summer things that got away...

 

like finding time to paint the fence,

or a million other tasks...

 

as I build my newly single life

I have a million things in a new bucket list,

things I want to include in my new life...

beaches with aqua colored waters,

concerts...

I want to learn to surf,...

 

then there are just the small

oversights of Summer...

like the photos for the following blog post...

 

 

 

sometimes the small oversights

bring with them a little thrill...

 

like seeing the Roses in full bloom...

 

 

finding bits of old lace

at garage sales is always a little thrill...

 

 

I like to hand wash them and line dry them...

 



 

scraps of lace fluttering in the Summer breeze...

 



romantic,

a nod to a simple era,,,

 



a day

when there was time

to sit on a porch like mine

enjoying a Summers day,

hands busy crocheting lace trims...

 



 

I like the peacefulness

of those daydreams..

 

Thanks for stopping by today,

I always enjoy seeing you...

InstaSale... Transferware and Rachel Ashwell...

I'm hosting another Instasale

 over on Instgram tonight...

Link here

 

I thought

I'd give you a peek

at the goodies...

 

 

 

Victorian Transferware Bone Dishes

set of 6 in mossy green...

 

Big Brown Transferware Platter...

(it's fall ya all)

 

this wonderful

retired Rachel Ashwell Teapot

from her Treasures Collection....

 

all item are shipping for free...

 

Thanks for stopping by...

Thank You....

Thank you all

so so much for the love you have sent my way,

your kindness warms my soul...

 

blogging has been

one of the most rewarding adventures

of my life...

 

because, of all of you...

 

as we sit behind our key boards

all around the world,

sharing bits of our lives...

 

sharing love and sorrow,

I always know you will be here to hold my hand

and offer a hug...

 

much love to you all

my friends...

 

Thank You!!

 

 

 

Thank You...

Blu Berry...

 

 

It is with the very saddest of hearts

that I share the loss of my sweet boy Berry....

 

 

 

I know you have seen him

here around my blog a lot...

 

he always played a background character,

always curled into a little ball, napping...

for he has been old forever...

 

he left me just shy of his 17th birthday....

 

 

 Frank on the left

was my first Italian Greyhound...

 

when Berry was added to the family

a few years later...

 

Frank was beside himself

Squealing....

Love at First Site...

 

he was the best big brother,

I have never seen two dogs more bonded...

 

I love the thought

 of Frank meeting Berry at Rainbowbow Bridge

once again squealing in delight to see his brother...

 



 all my boys...

Randy, Twiggy, Cosmo and Berry...

(Frank must have been hiding somewhere?)

 

all but Cosmo gone now...

 

“Dogs come into our lives to teach us about love,

they depart to teach us about loss.

A new dog never replaces an old dog,

it merely expands the heart.

 If you have loved many dogs your heart is very big.” 

 Erica Jong

 

 

In the Spring we took our last road trip together....

 

to my childhood home of California...

 

my sweet boy

road on my lap the whole way...

 

his nearly blind eyes

soaking in the sites

 

purely delighted...

...

 

although my heart is broken,

I am so thankful for the many many wonderful years

we shared...

he was a pure delight.

 

 Thanks to you all for sharing these bits of my life with me...

Late Summer Tea on the Porch....

 

 As this Summer fades,

I am trying to find moments to

appreciate its beauty...

 

Taking time to smell the roses

you might say...

 

a beautiful late afternoon

on the back porch,

the sun is low and shadows

are long...

 



 

 

I am feeling a little French...

 

 so I bring out some pretty Limoges China,

my absolute favorite pieces...

 

the dainty florals

thrill me to no end...

 



 

have you yet noticed

my new lovely iced tea glasses?

 



 

the beautiful raised

Fleur de Lys ...

 

dreamy...

 

 

I have a complete crush on them...

 

they are wonderfully thick glass,

substantial in your hand...

 



 

these beauties

are made by

  La Rochere

they have been creating beautiful stemware

since the 15th century in France...

 

si joile... 

 

you have probably seen

 their lovely French Glassware

featuring bees...

 

I have never partnered with a company before,

because I have been very choosey...

 

but I am thrill to have partnered

with La Rochere

 

and I have a code so you too can enjoy

their lovely glasswares...

 

simpily visit La Rochere here

 

make your selections

(this is the hard part)

 

and enter BellasRoseCottage

in the code box at checkout

and you will receive $10.00 off your order

offer expired 10/31/16

 

if you make a purchase

and have an Instagram account

I would love for you to tag

them larochere_na

and me bellasrosecottage

 

so I can see what you chose!

 

 

 

on with the tea....

 

the Roses are David Austin's

James Galway...

 



 

 as the shadows are getting longer

and the days shorter...

 

I hope you are finding moments

to soak in

the fading Summer days

 

I am so grateful for the time we share...