“In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It Goes On.”
Robert Frost

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Summer Sizzle Winter Wonderland Mashup

It's Hot, Hot, Hot!

Why is it so hot? Because the State Fair just started and it's always hot this time of year. I'm hoping to go, but I'm not sure I can stand the heat and the crowds and the heat...   Anyway, I found some cute how hot is it quotes for you off the internet. Take a look at some of these.


It's hotter than....

a pig on a flapjack.

a firecracker lit on both ends.

the Devil's armpit.



It's so hot.....

you could fry an egg on an ice cube.

the trees are whistling for dogs.

you could roast marshmallows on your belly.

you could eat hot peppers to cool off your mouth.

you can make Instant Sun Tea.

the chickens are laying hard boiled eggs.


It's so hot and humid....

it's like walking through butter.

the mosquitoes are wearing snorkels.

I've been taking showers to dry off.

I had to cover the fish tank to keep the fish in.





Remember when it was like this??? I would love to have just a 
bit of this coolness right now!








Maybe these snow scenes will help get you in the mood for a few fun Winter/Christmas things I picked up at some estate sales a few weeks ago. Here is a little sneak peak at what I found. These pictures are not the greatest quality but just a little preview.  My husband was holding up some of my finds, those are his fingers in a few of the photos.







Most of the books and art posters where picked from an estate of an elderly man who had been a Pastor. He and his wife had traveled to Sweden and Norway several times and had an 
enormous collection of items.


These are poster prints of Swedish artists such as Jenny Nystrom, Erik Forsman and others. I am still researching these. They were purchased between 1955 and 1990. I like to get background information from the estate sellers as it always helps to authenticate items. I think we picked up about 18 of these posters!








I found a few more punch out books and other unusual children's books.











Neat sheet music with fabulous graphics!





At a different sale I found a sweet little salt shaker reindeer 
and a darling pink sleigh!





Hope you enjoyed my hot summer sizzle/winter wonderland mashup! As always thanks for visiting!



Have a wonderful and hopefully cool week! I will be inside enjoying my air conditioning until this heat moves on! ~~~ Diane



Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Cats in Hats

While researching on the net for information on some cute kitten prints I picked up a while back at an estate sale, I came across the blog post about something we are all familiar with.  We may not be familiar with the actual name for this phenomenon, so I thought I would share a bit about this not-so-new style of art and photography.




Cats Wearing Hats - available in my Etsy store CraveCute now!


It's called anthropomorphism, or in simpler terms, animals dressed or acting like people.  I found this fabulous blog post about the history of this strange but utterly cute art form. We owe much of this fun form of art to illustrator Louis Wain (1860-1939) and photographer Harry Frees (1879-1953).




Louis Wain



Apparently these type of pictures gained popularity when an American photographer named Harry Whittier Frees began using his own pets and the neighbors to created some silly and adorable pictures of cats and other animals which were used in postcards and children's books.




Harry W. Frees



The story goes that Frees was celebrating a birthday dinner with friends and there was a paper hat involved.  Each member of the dinner party took turns wearing the paper hat as it was passed around the table. When it got to the cat, the hat was placed on his head and he sat dutifully while Frees grabbed his camera and started taking pictures. The silly cat photo has been with us ever since!


One of my all time favorite books from my childhood came to mind when I started writing this post.  I had to go digging through my bookcase and I found it.  The book is called Captain Kitty, written by Godfrey Lynn and illustrated by Elizabeth Webbe.





Captain Kitty looking sharp in his nautical attire.









Captain Kitty with his adorable family!







Queen Kitty looks quite regal in her pearls!







As Captain Kitty said, "We've really had a lovely time.  Alas, it's time to go!"

See you next time! ~~ Diane



Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Look Closer


It's hard to believe we are half-way through August! Where did the time go?
With the family reunions behind us and the garden getting back in shape, I plan on taking some time just to enjoy what is left of the summer. I have found a way to make summer last though. Photos!

I love taking these macro photos and I especially enjoy having them to look at now and then during our long winters. It's nice to be able to spend a few minutes examining their intricate designs in a way that isn't always possible while in the garden. 

The Dianthus flower above looks as though it has been clipped with a pinking shear.  

The flower color as delicate and lovely as if painted by angels!















Why this is called a Tiger Lily and not a Leopard Lily I'll never know! It has spots after all, not stripes!











The whirled beauty above is the seed head of a clematis flower.


















This pink delight is called Queen of the Prairie and it reminds me of cotton candy!









































As you can probably tell, I love the dark pink flowers, as in the Bee Balm above. I am always searching for more flowers in this color!










I hope you enjoyed taking a closer look at some of my garden flowers. Thank you all for visiting and leaving your lovely comments.
 ~~ Diane





In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.
                           ~~~ Aristotle ~ Greek philosopher




Linked with:


Preview


Shine the Divine


Sunday, August 11, 2013

Shhhh! Sleeping Angels!



A Service of Song
Some keep the Sabbath going to church
I keep it staying at home,
With a bobolink for a chorister,
And an orchard for a dome.

Some keep the Sabbath in surplice;
I just wear my wings,
And instead of tolling the bell for church,
Our little sexton sings.

God preaches, ---a noted clergyman,
And the sermon is never long;
So instead of getting to heaven at last,
I'm going all along! 

~~~Emily Dickinson






Early Morning
Angels in the early morning
May be seen the dews among,
Stooping, plucking, smiling, flying:
Do the buds to them belong?

Angels when the sun is hottest
May be seen the sands among,
Stooping, plucking, sighing, flying;
Parched the flowers they bear along.

~~~ Emily Dickinson

 

Hello Friends... I found this wee angel sleeping in my garden a few days ago. He must have been worn out from all his tasks, because he didn't even notice when I snapped his picture! The kitties also wanted to 'Thank You' for all your sweet comments last week.
 
I hope everyone has a blessed and magical week! ~ Diane


Wednesday, August 7, 2013

This is what We Do in the Garden


Dot, Ginny and Guy have taken over the blog today while I finish a few more chores. Hope you enjoy their antics. ~ Diane



Hello, I am Ginny, I am 16 years old. My mom says I am a senior cat, I don't know why, most days I still feel like a kitten. Mom carries me up and down the stairs now 'cause I have trouble doing that now. She also gives me pills and treats every night before dinner. I have a bed in her office during the day and at night I have my own bed close to the food and bathroom. Mom says I have the loudest purr she's every heard and that I am sweet and the best kitty ever. I was born on a farm and went to a shelter,  I was there for a couple of months until Mom took me home.  She says someday I will see my best friend Cocoa again. The other kitties are OK, but Mom and Cocoa are my bestest friends ever!

My favorite things to do are sit in the sun or on the lawn chair outside with Mom, or on the ottoman in the house next to Mom while watching TV. OK, now it is time for those other two cats to take over, Guy is licking on my head....*purr..purrr**



Hey, I thought she was never going to stop yakking! This is Guy here, I am just about a year and a half old and I have lots of energy. I love to chase Dot around and sometimes she spits and hisses at me. I think that is very funny and she plays tricks on me and plays with stuff and runs around to get my attention and then we play tag, you're it!! Hahaha! Oh, I am on the left side of the picture and the black and white cat is Dot. Ouch, Dot just wacked me on the head!! Hey!!





Scram little Guy, I think I heard Mom going outside, why don't you run over and see if she will let you out? Dot here... let me tell you about Guy. He is really a spoiled little brat!! He has always had it made. He was born on a farm and then went to a shelter and was adopted right away. He has always been treated like a little prince!!

I on the other hand had a rough patch in my life until Mom and Dad adopted me over five years ago! I lived with an older guy and he took really good care of me, and he would let me outside everyday without a collar to run around and play. One day in the spring I went home and cried and scratched on the door and no one came.

I waited and waited for days and he never came back.  I hunted for food on my own for a while and I found a canoe in a yard and I lived under it. After a while the people in the house where the canoe was saw me and brought food out for me. Finally I let them pick me up and they took me to a shelter and I was there for a couple of months until Mom and Dad brought me home. It was hard getting used to a new home and I like Mom but I LOVE Dad.

Guy and Ginny are OK, I actually like to play with Guy, but don't tell him! I have to be the top cat around here!



Move over you!! It's Guy again!! Mom was Not going outside either you tricked me again! Anyway, look at the picture of Dot, doesn't she look like a big Oreo Cookie!! My Dad sometimes calls her Double Stuffed and laughs, I don't get it.



Hey!! Very funny little Guy, it's Dot again. I am sure Dad meant it has a compliment because of my beautiful tuxedo coat. You are just a goofy kitten who still doesn't know what is going on! Look at Guy below, loafing on the camp chair and then sitting by that hole in the ground for hours, what a silly boy!

I am sure Mom enjoys having us out there with her when she works in the garden, we help out as much as we can, but we get tired and all the birds sounds and the warm sun makes us kind of sleepy. *Yawn* Just thinking about it makes me want to take a nap...









Dot went off for a nap, I guess that's what happens when you get old and look like a big round cookie!! YHou have to take a bunch of naps! Back to me, here I am next to a chipmunk hole.  I wait and wait and wait and never see a chipmunk, but I know he's in there 'cause I can smell him...





So I wait and sometimes I fall asleep...




But I wake up again and I use my ears to hear everything around me
and sometimes I look up into the trees at the birds and then sometimes...



I just take another nap. And then... oh I'm supposed to tell you Mom will be back with garden pictures in a couple of dayss , ....*yawmn*...
I so sleepy....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz