A sparkle on the leaves

(Image Source: Pixdaus)

"How silently they tumble down
And come to rest upon the ground
To lay a carpet, rich and rare,
Beneath the trees without a care,
Content to sleep, their work well done,
Colors gleaming in the sun.

At other times, they wildly fly
Until they nearly reach the sky.
Twisting, turning through the air
Till all the trees stand stark and bare.
Exhausted, drop to earth below
To wait, like children, for the snow."
- Elsie N. Brady, Leaves

November has arrived. Pen in hand I sit by my window and try to collect my thoughts. I must try and concentrate and plan for the coming holidays... but I can't! The magic of Autumn continues to lure me and distract me. I use any excuse to go for a walk, to step outside and hear the leaves crunch beneath my feet, to wrap myself in a velvet cloak, to sit on a park bench,  close my eyes and soak the last bit of warmth the golden sun has to offer.

(Image Source: Bing)

Abby, who has also succumbed to the spell of the leaves pauses for a moment to model her black velvet dress :0)

 (Sorry, photo is a bit fuzzy)

   

November has not only brought golden leaves, it's also brought a lovely surprise which has added a sparkle to my day. I have received the Simply Lovely Award from my dear friend Paula, the talented creator of Tattered Gold.   In this amazing world of Blogging there are places that shine with a light of their own, places where magical feelings abound. Paula's place is that and more.

Thank you Paula, you are the best!

To continue with the "rules of the game" I should pass on this Award to 15 lovely bloggers. I do agonize everytime I am asked to do this, I TRULY feel that ALL the Blogs I visit and follow deserve this Award and more. So, my dear friends,  feel free to grab the botton and display it. I hope this brings as many special sparkles to your day as it has brought to mine!

 Sunshine is calling... I hear the distant sound of a tamborine...

 (Image Source: Bing)

"There is music in the meadows, in the air --

Autumn is here;

Skies are gray, but hearts are mellow,

Leaves are crimson, brown, and yellow;

Pines are soughing, birches stir,

And the Gipsy trail is fresh beneath the fir..."

(William Stanley Braithwaite, Lyric of Autumn)

Happy Halloween

(Image Source: Weheartit.com)

Here I am, perched upon my broomstick, ready to take off and enjoy my most favorite day...

Here I am, wishing you a magical Halloween. Let those secret wishes soar into the night and may nothing but good vibes sparkle your day!

Happy Halloween my sweet friends!!!

Under October's spell



"There is a path that leads to nowhere...

there is a path that leads everywhere...

I follow the path...

and the path follows me..."

Hello dear friends, it's been a while since I last wrote. I am so behind in catching up with everything!  I note that I am becoming more and more impulsive and very prone to let my thoughts meander. Dust bunnies are taking possession and multiplying in many corners of our house and yet here I am, totally lost in my own world!

The days are absolutely too fantastic. It would be a shame to waste them only to perform such banal tasks. The way I see it, no matter what, the dust will wait until I am ready. Don't you agree?

Our beloved country place will be closed in exactly two weeks. I have chosen the paint colors for the walls and have decided on the type of floors (it will seem very long till April gets here!) In the meantime, I have added a lamp I found at a local thrift shop and embellished with a beaded fringe for that romantic gipsy look I love so much.

From the moment we found the place I envisioned "the" lamp for the dining area. After a non-fruitful long search on the internet I found it by pure chance in a delightful shop located in Montclair. It was their last one and it was on sale!



 Meals really do taste so much better under the many colored "gems" that sparkle lending a touch of magic and romance...



Busy decorating with lamps and dealing with poor Abby's ear infection (don't have a clue as to how and where she got it!) but now that she is much better (don't let the puppy eyes fool you :0)





I have been able to find time to play. The lonely country roads covered with golden, crunchy leaves are full of treasures waiting to be discovered... I put on my best hat and set out to find them...



There is something about wearing a hat with a veil, I am suddenly a woman of mystery, in tune with everything around...



Wrapped within a cozy shawl... the witch inside me wakes up slowly...



I play with the fire and wish for good things...

Halloween has come early to the Purple Caravan, I dance and play with the Moon...

After the day breaks, the "witch" inside me goes to sleep, and for now it's just good old me, Abby, and this amazing sunshine...

 May all your leaves be golden and may all your dreams come true ...

Diamond Days



I had a very difficult week. I won't go into details but I will say this: coaxing a cold, wet puppy to go and do "her business" while holding on to an umbrella that seemed to have a life of it's own, while pushing away a poncho that kept slapping my face, was not easy. To make matters worse, once Abby realized there was mud to play with, my struggles took Herculian proportions!

But then, on Friday, after a rainy start, my favorite month arrived in full glory. I ventured out to check the damage made by the storms and was thrilled to find these survivors buried under broken branches and dead leaves:

The incredible light that seemed to come from within each and every branch made it's way into my spirit...

And so I spent Saturday morning re-arranging this...



and that...



and this too...

At the end of every season, I can't help but think on how the wheels of time keep turning and how important it is to live each day to the fullest.

I roamed about the house and felt the power of the sunlight filtering through...



In between changing and arranging I paused for a while and said good-bye to the pretty Summer blooms...



I also said good-bye to this little fairy that sleeps on the foot of my bed from Spring to Summer...

It got a little crazy as boxes were moved about and little witches started to appear...



There was a lot to be done but golden trees were calling...and so was Abby...

My dear friends, I wish you Diamond Days, full of magic sparkles, crunchy leaves, cool, brisk air and above all, a peaceful heart. Happy October! XO

Thoughts on a rainy afternoon

(Image Source: Bing)

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

the world offers itself to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting--

over and over announcing your place

in the family of things...

(Poem by Mary Oliver)

Subtle changes


After so many days lived without the ruling of the clock, days when the wish to go for a walk would arise and be followed, days when there was time to sit and enjoy the magical transition between light and darkness...

(Image Source: Bing)

 days when wearing “any old thing” was enough...

(Image Source: Bing)

days full of silence, deep thoughts and light laughter...

(Image Source: Magnolia Pearl)

After such holiday, I find it quite hard to get back to normal. I’ve been wandering about the house and everything feels heavy and complicated.

Having Abby in our lives has brought along many changes. The kitchen has been transformed from a quiet, orderly place into a mayhem of toys, a frenzy of activities and a constant source of wonder. As a new dog owner I am riding an emotional roller coaster. One minute I am stern, trying to teach her what is and what’s not okay to do, the next I am laughing, melting away with love and glee.

We spent the weekend at the Purple Caravan. In spite of the warm weather there was a subtle change in the sunlight.

The time to close down for the winter is approaching fast and I hold on to the last vestiges of this Summer which has been so special for me.

I watch Abby as she stands by the door waiting for "Daddy" (she loves him to pieces :0) and feel her wonderful energy touch and transform everything. I think of life in general, and I see "Joy" come in to silently hang her shawl on our coat rack...