CHAPPIE HAS A GARDEN

Recently I made a new friend.  He comes to my garden every day.  His name is "Chappie" and he loves to just hang out here:

As you can see Chappie doesn't know this is for birds!

Chappie reminds me of a cat we had years ago in Texas who would suddenly bite you.....not hard but unpredictable.

When not in my garden, he lives somewhere
 on the street behind us....

FINDING TREASURES

I can hardly believe October is almost over!  Where does time go?  And friends, I can hardly believe I am telling you this but we are still waiting to get the replacement windows put in at our house.   Hopefully they will be put in later this week.  Last week it was raining on the day scheduled.  Life requires patience.  

This morning I am sharing a few treasures we found yesterday while out antiquing.  It was a beautiful day so we drove up to Denver.  I was looking for one last old wind up alarm clock for my mantle display I will be doing for a New Year's mantle/2016.  I looked back at Jann's blog "Have A Daily Cup of Mrs Olson" so I could show you her idea last year which I plan to copy for a whimsical mantle.  Isn't she clever.  Whimsy isn't for everyone but I think it will be fun!

I also found this very old Victorian compote and in my mind I see cookies in it at Christmas on the buffet or mounded with whipped cream or trifle or ?????

And since this is after all a tea related blog party - how do you like this old cup and saucer I found yesterday?

During the winter months I plan to sew in the basement.  I wonder if you know how things have changed in terms of the cost of fabric and really the unavailability of 100% wool.  Back in the day when I sewed a lot it was everywhere but now what you see is blends and cotton.  If you do find wool it is incredibly expensive.  I have found you can find these old Pendleton throws and others from Scotland and Ireland inexpensively and they are 100% WOOL!  Besides using them as throws for warmth you can cut them up and use them in sewing projects!!!  If a throw has holes you can pick it up cheap and I mark the holes with large safety pins and cut around them.

The quality of this fabric below is incredible!

My last treasure is the beautiful white LACE vintage tablecloth!

INA GARTEN'S FRENCH APPLE TART

I think I have too much time on my hands this week because I have been baking up a storm.  I saw Ina Garten's recipe on face book yesterday and went right to the kitchen.  We had a basket of apples that needed to be used for something.

This was the smaller of 2 tarts that I made. (larger one now in the freezer)  Ina's recipe called for using a large baking sheet but I used a 4 x 12 tart pan and an 8 x 10 tart pan.  These were the type with removable bottoms.

Click - Here is the recipe so you can make your own:
Ina uses a large baking sheet where as I made 2 using French Tart Pans!

We were supposed to get new windows today but rain is forecast so we shall see.  If this is canceled again we wait 1 1/2 more weeks.  The Lord is teaching me a lesson in patience!  Furniture and everything else is pulled away from every window in the house in a "holding pattern".  We will be waiting though - raining like crazy here!

Have a lovely weekend!

PUMPKIN SWIRL BREAD TASTES YUMMY

Early in the week I baked this bread and it makes a total of 3 loaves so 2 went in the freezer:

This was before they were glazed:

Here is the recipe: 

here

This Ellsgreave teapot was 

a recent bargain find:

IT'S A LITTLE GIRL'S TEA

Welcome to a little girl's tea in the garden:  this is my childhood bride doll "Sweet Sue" which I had restored about 22 years ago.

I am a great fan of Beatrix Potter so today's tea has a theme:

Last year we had already had snow by this time (and the year before that) so we are happily enjoying a longer fall this year.

A while back somewhere on an antiquing journey I found this darling vintage linen set with embroidery

 and applique doggies on it and 4 little napkins.  See how the napkin just fits right in:

 We thought we were going to be getting new windows in our house last week - but guess what?  False alarm......they don't come until later this week.  That means we have everything piled up away from the windows everywhere.  Can you see why I'm happy to be outside today?

The little doll with the green hat below is porcelain and I got her in Toronto, Canada back in the 1980's:

THE DAY IN ESTES PARK, COLORADO

We hadn't been to Estes Park, Colorado for quite a while so we drove up into the mountains just for the day and enjoyed ourselves.  I created some collages here:

We had Afternoon Tea at the Moon Kat Tea Shoppe & Cafe which was fun.

There were flowers still in bloom and an abundance of elk around:

 This was the historic Stanley hotel:

 (remember the Stanley steamer)

My hubby loves Estes Park!

I PROMISE - THIS IS THE LAST ONE

Since I no longer have a shop for which I need to buy resale cups and saucers and teapots, I am much more selective and I'm just buying something I really "must have" for myself. 

 How many times have you repeated THESE words while out antiquing, flea or thrifting? 

(Repeat slowly):

 "This is 

my l a s t  one"!

A few weeks back we ventured up to Denver and beyond to some of our favorite spots:  Fort Collins and the antique row and on that day an outdoor show called "The French Nest".  I found a couple Sadler teapots that day and a lovely cup and saucer (below):

As you see, the teacup matches so well with one I shared

 recently that I only paid $5.00 for in Victor, Colorado (below):

 You probably wondered why I have this blog party posted so early - well I really had to get it done early as we will have messes everywhere beginning today because we will be getting new replacement windows in our house over the next week.  This means lots of work but our house has many cracked windows and I'm sure the original were poor quality,  so it is time!

I would like to wish our Canadian

 friends a Very Happy Thanksgiving on Monday! 

Lastly, isn't this old music sheet dreamy?

Pour yourself a cup of tea and have a great week!  Late note:  after moving everything away from and on all windows Monday morning came and went only to be told they won't be coming after all until October 22nd.  I guess you know what my house looks like.