tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19026542205218123432024-02-02T02:36:52.652-06:00The Wrought Iron GateThe Wrought Iron Gatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18359508143927918004noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902654220521812343.post-41692663254270936332015-06-22T21:06:00.001-05:002015-06-22T21:22:14.395-05:00BEAUTIFUL YOSEMITE<div style="text-align: center;">
Back down to earth after spending time with my head in the clouds at beautiful Yosemite with it's breathtaking views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxsrTdXV_wFMiFKeFSIlPLjLft35pvdqoQ1OS9CBhRZnlxXpnODKHyomm43hDlXIyaD84qQ0fANEjJf6qw1mhCTxXyqzUl-HcSxqfyPUBIemrsViGQw93OYWcqNVT8AedsgLzlA6WKlY/s1600/DSC_4885A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxsrTdXV_wFMiFKeFSIlPLjLft35pvdqoQ1OS9CBhRZnlxXpnODKHyomm43hDlXIyaD84qQ0fANEjJf6qw1mhCTxXyqzUl-HcSxqfyPUBIemrsViGQw93OYWcqNVT8AedsgLzlA6WKlY/s640/DSC_4885A.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTVc4Vw7OGOnvOK_yu5KowvuyyjEOm0ShSlp9bpIK6YdZPlLkPv06LO6xS6h_P8dlz8Ev4dAFz0BLSCF6W_SFi24juW7ZP7YDEoBwoVP_TrjwM5qzG52XvsBnwkD8NUdQsOyTM0hQMavM/s1600/DSC_4899A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTVc4Vw7OGOnvOK_yu5KowvuyyjEOm0ShSlp9bpIK6YdZPlLkPv06LO6xS6h_P8dlz8Ev4dAFz0BLSCF6W_SFi24juW7ZP7YDEoBwoVP_TrjwM5qzG52XvsBnwkD8NUdQsOyTM0hQMavM/s640/DSC_4899A.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQutyhY86lQcWREZVTYNBEbU_UIJT-SbKWYlKstA6_QfB7oXOg1BXWNRgMGYkrpxP4K5tYsFLKJgnKFgBmlEzvZStwgwV0jtmTsYA-JP7gD8fR4ZjwIWnuP42fhoaQGbqsOxXOoKUNCik/s1600/DSC_4863A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQutyhY86lQcWREZVTYNBEbU_UIJT-SbKWYlKstA6_QfB7oXOg1BXWNRgMGYkrpxP4K5tYsFLKJgnKFgBmlEzvZStwgwV0jtmTsYA-JP7gD8fR4ZjwIWnuP42fhoaQGbqsOxXOoKUNCik/s640/DSC_4863A.jpg" width="422" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hiked through Mariposa Grove, home of the giant sequoias.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnXd06npKv3lOxL-ounD_FTmif0BdbXyyBO2M2OtpGAIUcRWlplgsvGln9w9SvMtYFs1Zc6r0spz5TIwwbE6QJyotWKT0fqm9E47Lkor725imSg4iR4AuRDq7N8XrrpDefHA5ktT5APs/s1600/DSC_4879B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnXd06npKv3lOxL-ounD_FTmif0BdbXyyBO2M2OtpGAIUcRWlplgsvGln9w9SvMtYFs1Zc6r0spz5TIwwbE6QJyotWKT0fqm9E47Lkor725imSg4iR4AuRDq7N8XrrpDefHA5ktT5APs/s640/DSC_4879B.jpg" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The smell of pine filled the air.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuHMbw-Uo6mz71umMipO7PY3lMjCDQOdA0HdKZWRa16kgsUObyJfJj6omitDhE1eqN2sYTsjIwJhviM6y15o4nkYkCbmTSIMXDB9rmQitqusf7GjWspwZYoVabt3t5Sbh_wHhOsQriSs/s1600/DSC_4814A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuHMbw-Uo6mz71umMipO7PY3lMjCDQOdA0HdKZWRa16kgsUObyJfJj6omitDhE1eqN2sYTsjIwJhviM6y15o4nkYkCbmTSIMXDB9rmQitqusf7GjWspwZYoVabt3t5Sbh_wHhOsQriSs/s640/DSC_4814A.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2NKCoNV5Z7_3i8Yv07qwwOGGS9LcFeOq2Zc5Mr6F49bd98OqbowBrgqlFWxrxPmuynSdYr4RAJRH9mCfz50U6ZYdd3JI3FyD0xCirBJMjhPMNrjO5iTgBUF-FejZ4z3yheogXwL-8gY/s1600/DSC_4797A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2NKCoNV5Z7_3i8Yv07qwwOGGS9LcFeOq2Zc5Mr6F49bd98OqbowBrgqlFWxrxPmuynSdYr4RAJRH9mCfz50U6ZYdd3JI3FyD0xCirBJMjhPMNrjO5iTgBUF-FejZ4z3yheogXwL-8gY/s640/DSC_4797A.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>" Climb the mountains and get their good tidings"</strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong>- John Muir</strong></div>
The Wrought Iron Gatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18359508143927918004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902654220521812343.post-1577257902570677652010-07-22T06:00:00.001-05:002010-07-22T06:00:04.700-05:00GIRL WITH FLOWER BASKETS<span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:180%;">Isn't she lovely?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:180%;">She's French, she's bronze, and she's mine.</span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:180%;">(An anniversary gift from my husband.)<br /></span><br /><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_1545T.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_1545T.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">She has sweet little round cheeks.<br /></span><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_1548T.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_1548T.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Filling her basket with colorful blooms makes her smile.<br /></span><br /><p></p><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_1551T.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_1551T.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Her hair is gathered into a ribbon at the nape of her neck.</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_1552T.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_1552T.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Her baskets have little flower details.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_1555T.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 700px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_1555T.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Is it obvious that I love her?</span><br /><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_1558T.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_1558T.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">KAY</span>The Wrought Iron Gatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18359508143927918004noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902654220521812343.post-75193138184346235532010-06-28T05:00:00.002-05:002010-06-28T05:00:02.001-05:00ANTIQUE STORE FIND<span style="font-size:130%;">It was too hot to do anything outdoors this past weekend. The weather here has been sweltering.....so, I decided to visit some nice cool antique shops.</span><br /><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Look what I found. It's perfect for storing all my small sewing items. </span> </p><br /><br /> <a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_1526A.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 600px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_1526A.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">The brass drawer knobs have such a nice patina.<br /></span><br /> <a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_1517A.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 600px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_1517A.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I lined the drawers with pretty paper.<br /></span><br /> <a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_1523.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 600px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_1523.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">The cut-out space in the middle is the perfect size for storing needle books.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_1533A.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 600px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_1533A.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I love my new <em>old sewing chest.</em></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Kay</span>The Wrought Iron Gatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18359508143927918004noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902654220521812343.post-42111328273537803452010-06-19T04:48:00.016-05:002010-06-21T09:06:25.271-05:00WHERE BLOGGERS CREATE II<div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">Karen at <a href="http://mydesertcottage.blogspot.com/2010/04/where-bloggers-create-ii.html">My Desert Cottage</a> has invited us to share our personal creative spaces. She has all the participants listed on her side bar, and there are a lot. So grab your favorite beverage, put your feet up, and enjoy.</span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:180%;">When</span> I first became interested in collecting and creating, I carried all my stuff around with me.</span></span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I was five. My Mother (who was trying to clean her closet) decided</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">that if she was ever to finish her project, she must create one for me, as well. She pulled a purse from the<em> to donate</em> pile, and handed it to me. MAGIC HAPPENED! Every treasure I found went right into that purse.</span></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">My best friend (and next door neighbor) was given a purse, as well. We'd run to our special corner of my backyard garden, and pour out everything our purses held. Then we would spend the rest of the day making something wonderful from the bits and bobs.<a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0016.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 700px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0016.jpg" /></a></span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Many different creative space scenarios followed, but my present situation is <em>by far</em> the best.</span></div><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0033.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 700px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0033.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I chose this room for it's close proximity to my garden. The view from my desk is lovely. I'm constantly amazed by how the garden informs my creative endeavors. </span><br /><div align="left"><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0009.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0009.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">My room is small, but very cozy. I've surrounded myself with things I love.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">Some </span><span style="font-size:130%;">are vintage, some are from my travels ( I found the screen with cranes in China), some are personal items, and some are frivolous, but they all make me smile.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /></div><div align="left"><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0034.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0034.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">I enjoy sewing on anything that will accept a needle, but my passion is re-purposing old textiles.<br /></div></span><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0026-1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 700px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0026-1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0025-1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 700px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0025-1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0035.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 700px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0035.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Aren't old linens beautiful?<br /></span><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0027.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 700px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0027.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0032-1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0032-1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0031-1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0031-1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I keep supplies tucked in boxes on the bookcase. Out of sight, but close</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">at hand.<br /></span><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0024-1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0024-1.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Some things are too pretty to tuck away in boxes, like bone buttons, glitter, pearls, and cabinet cards.</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0036-1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 700px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0036-1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0023.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 700px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0023.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0022-1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 700px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0022-1.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I gave this pretty old frame a new life, as a notice board. I replaced the dingy oil </span><span style="font-size:130%;">painting with a sheet of cork that I padded and covered with a pretty fabric.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Yeah, I still love an old purse.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0010.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0010.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">This old mannequin head reminds me of the nursery rhyme...... </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">the maid was in the garden, hanging out clothes,</span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">along came a blackbird, and snipped off her nose.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">She's obviously had a (not too attractive) nose job. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I brought her </span><span style="font-size:130%;">home and made her a QUEEN.<br /></span><br /><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0012.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 700px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0012.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />I'M MAD FOR LACE!<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0004.jpg" /><br /><br /></p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0003.jpg" /><br /></p><span style="font-size:130%;">And silver baby cups<br /></span><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 700px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0021-1.jpg" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">This purse is made from a tapestry fragment, found at the</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Paris Flea Market.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0029-1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0029-1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0019.jpg" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Treasures tucked into drawers.</span><br /><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 700px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0013.jpg" /><br /><br /></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 700px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0014.jpg" /></div><br /><div><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0015.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 700px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0015.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;">I love cheerful faces.<br /></span></div><div><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0006.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0006.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Shabby, but beautiful.<br /></span></div><div><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0028.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 700px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0028.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0005.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 700px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0005.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0018-1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 700px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0018-1.jpg" /></a> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">I'm older now. My collected treasures won't fit into a purse anymore, but my routine is much the same. I gather, I re-purpose, I create. I no longer sit on the grass in the garden to work, but the french doors at the end of my desk bring the garden inside, so it's still very much a part of the process. Then I switch on my computer and visit my friends, who are eager to share.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0020.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0020.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div>Thank you Karen, for arranging today's event.</div><div></div><div><span style="font-size:180%;">KAY</span></div><div></div><div></div><div></div>The Wrought Iron Gatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18359508143927918004noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902654220521812343.post-40197880789460752012010-03-26T23:42:00.008-05:002010-03-27T23:57:10.426-05:00VINTAGE EASTER BLOG HOP<div align="center">A few years ago, I found some vintage yard goods with rabbits printed on them. Remember these cut, stitch, and stuff items? Well, here's one I've sewn and placed in a basket trimmed with pink blossoms and butterflies.</div><div align="center"><br /><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/WhiteBasket.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 700px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/WhiteBasket.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center">A spring lamb rests in a vintage porcelain basket adorned with a single pink dogwood bloom.<br /></div><div align="center"><br /><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/LambinBasket.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 700px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/LambinBasket.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center">This old (slightly rusty) basket is the perfect place for timid little chicks to hide.<br /></div><p align="center"><br /><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/ChicksinBasketA.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 700px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/ChicksinBasketA.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><div align="center">This was my childhood Easter basket. The colors have faded, but it still holds happy memories. I love the shape.</div><br /><div align="center"><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/OldBasket.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 550px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/OldBasket.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center">When my three sisters and I outgrew Easter baskets filled with chocolate treats, my Mother replaced them with little porcelain figurines. One year I received these bunnies. I love the sweet expressions on their faces. </div><br /><div align="center"><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Rabbits.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 700px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Rabbits.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />Another year we all received sets of ducklings.<br /><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Ducklings.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 700px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Ducklings.jpg" /></a><br /><br /></div><div align="center">Trust me, I've had the bunnies and ducks long enough for them to qualify as vintage items.<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/YellowDuck.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 700px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/YellowDuck.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I've shared some of my favorite vintage items as part of <em><span style="color:#000000;">Anything Goes Here's</span></em> </div><p align="center"><a href="http://thepottingshed-anythinggoeshere.blogspot.com/">VINTAGE EASTER BLOG HOP<br /></a></p><p align="center">Be sure to visit Joan for links to more vintage Easter posts.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">KAY</span><br /><br /></p>The Wrought Iron Gatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18359508143927918004noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902654220521812343.post-33053404232958166872010-03-03T01:03:00.020-06:002010-03-14T01:55:06.698-06:00WE DISCOVERED TINY FOOTPRINTS IN THE GARDEN<div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Yesterday's weather was bone-chillingly cold with a </div><div align="center">rain/snow mix . Today, it's gray and cold with </div><div align="center">occasional flurries.</div><div align="center">Looking out the window into the garden, I see signs</div><div align="center">of spring's promise, and I long for the faeries' return.<br /></div><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Untitled-1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Untitled-1.jpg" /></a></p><div align="center">I long to see them dance amongst the impatients,</div><div align="center">scented geranium, </div><div align="center">Japanese holly fern, and purple cone flowers </div><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/PurpleConeFlowers.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/PurpleConeFlowers.jpg" /></a></p><div align="center">while wielding their wands, with tiny bells,</div><div align="center">made from Solomon's seal fronds.<br /></div><br /><br /><p align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 600px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/SolomonsSeal.jpg" /><br /></p><div align="center"><br />I'm eager to perch myself on a bench with my face behind an open book</div><div align="center">and smile my secret smiles </div><div align="center">as I steal furtive glances of tiny hands busily collecting dew drops</div><div align="center">from roses because "it makes the sweetest drink for the butterflies."<span style="font-size:0;"><span style="font-size:0;"> </span></span></div><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DewDropsRoses-1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 600px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DewDropsRoses-1.jpg" /></a></p><div align="center">They have their own names for things.</div><div align="center">This is "Leopard Tree" because of it's spots.</div><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/HollyTreeImpatients.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/HollyTreeImpatients.jpg" /></a></p><div align="center">They are drawn to fragrance. </div><div align="center">The tips of their tiny noses are quite often dusted with pollen.<br /><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/PurpleSplendor.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 600px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/PurpleSplendor.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />In the evenings, they sprinkle coreopsis blooms on their heads</div><div align="center">because it's name is "Moonbeam."</div><div align="center">Who doesn't like to wear moonbeams in their hair?</div><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/CoreopsisMoonbeam.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; HEIGHT: 600px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/CoreopsisMoonbeam.jpg" /></a></p><br /><div align="center">Come spring! </div><div align="center">Oh, do come soon.</div><div align="center">I miss my garden faeries.</div><div align="center">KAY</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:78%;">Note: Some have e-mailed with questions re: my faery photo. It's not a postcard but rather a photo I took of my own faeries</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:78%;"> ( Molly and Waverly) in my garden, to which I've added a Photoshop effect. The text: my observations of their make-believe play. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div>The Wrought Iron Gatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18359508143927918004noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902654220521812343.post-74432203634321297852010-02-14T11:07:00.004-06:002010-02-14T12:10:59.659-06:00HAPPY ST. VALENTINES DAY<div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Beautiful red and pink blooms<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Cherib.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Cherib.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><div align="center">and the sweetest vintage valentine, edged in old lace, </div><div align="center">help <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">dispel</span> the gloom of this overcast day.<br /></div><p align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/ToMyWifeB.jpg" /><br /></p><div align="center">A little cash surprise was included</div><div align="center">in the valentines for the children</div><div align="center"><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/img002.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/img002.jpg" /></a><br /><br />but,I folded them into heart shapes before</div><div align="center">slipping them into the envelopes.<a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_0949A.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 600px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_0949A.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center"><br /><br />I made <em>my special valentine</em> a heart shaped confection<a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/CakeB.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 600px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/CakeB.jpg" /></a>.<br /><br />then piped pink frosting around the edges and </div><div align="center">added fresh strawberries, because I know</div><div align="center">his appetite and heart are closely connected.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/CakeC.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 600px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/CakeC.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center">Hope you're spending a very <em>heartfelt</em> day with your loved ones.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">KAY</span> </div>The Wrought Iron Gatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18359508143927918004noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902654220521812343.post-41278501057114895432010-02-10T21:11:00.005-06:002010-03-11T21:24:41.883-06:00HEART SESSIONS<div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">A good exercise for the heart</span></span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">is to bend down and help another up</span>.</span><br /></div><div align="center">- John Andrew Holmes</div><br /><div align="center"><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_0960-CopyB.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 600px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_0960-CopyB.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Today I felt like stamping<br /><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_0953.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 600px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_0953.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div align="center">and stitching<br /><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_0957A.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 600px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_0957A.jpg" /></a><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_0960-CopyA.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 600px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_0960-CopyA.jpg" /></a><br />If you enjoy hearts, visit <a href="http://rebeccasower.typepad.com/rs_out_of_hand/"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Rebecca Sower's blog</span></a> to view more.<a href="http://rebeccasower.typepad.com/rs_out_of_hand/"><br /></a></p><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">KAY</span></p><p align="justify">NOTE: I made this piece over the course of several hours, working on it for a few minutes here and there as time allowed. The photos were all made in front of the same window, but in different light situations, as the day progressed. It made an interesting study of how light effects color in a photo. </p>The Wrought Iron Gatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18359508143927918004noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902654220521812343.post-76046663281472720492010-01-29T10:53:00.009-06:002010-02-10T22:56:05.447-06:00SIGNS OF SPRING ???????<div align="center">Look what I discovered in my garden this morning. HARBINGERS OF SPRING!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Heleboresjpeg.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 600px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Heleboresjpeg.jpg" /></a><br /><br />How thrilling to think that soon the garden will wake from it's long winters' nap.......but for the second time this month, snow is predicted for my city. We seldom see snow. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Sooo</span>........<br /><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/MiniDaffsjpeg.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 600px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/MiniDaffsjpeg.jpg" /></a><br />Just imagine how exciting it was (a few weeks ago) to learn that the heavy snows that had paralyzed much of the country were headed our way. Our local weather forecasters stood in front of maps covered in snowflake symbols, and numbers indicating how many feet of snow had already fallen on cities to the north of us..........and warned that the same front was scheduled to immobilize our city within 24 hours. Now news of an impending snow usually brings cheers from students, and groans from those who are compelled by responsibility to slip and slide their way to work......but this snow event would take place over the weekend.....so a giddy, lighthearted mood hung over the city. This was going to be fun!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_4451.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 600px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_4451.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Preparations began.............road crews immediately coated the streets with salty brine. The whole city rushed right out to stock up on food and bottled water. The lines at the market were a nightmare! News reporters interviewed people exiting hardware stores with their newly purchased sleds, some buying two or three so the whole family could whoosh down snow covered hills together. Like the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Whos</span>' of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Whoville</span> preparing for Christmas, everyone in my city was making ready for a deep snowfall whose beauty would surely rival any Currier and Ives rendering.<br /><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 262px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432242341716926002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzaDy7hO4lXszSLPePI6XmN6PW9YYU6KM6_V9WQfJWYMlYwCJEJSL-W_gGHc9rOPQViymm5AixRVr_yyZxQzzT4eDnSS9IN933ALk4pSgnvfiY2UspBmDppSMg7yEEIfqbp3C58CqahkY/s400/currier-and-ives+cropped.jpg" /><br /><div align="center">I've always loved this picture of my husband and his brother. I added a caption that reiterated the thoughts of everyone in town.....</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">LET IT SNOW!</span></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_0863.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_0863.jpg" /></a><br /><br /></p><div align="center">I hung it, in a prominent place, as a reminder of what snowy fun was in store.</div><br /><div align="center">I spent the afternoon in the kitchen making my favorite vegetable soup, whose flavor intensifies if refrigerated overnight. Could there be anything better than a warm bowl of soup after tomorrow's (much anticipated) romp in the snow?</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">During the course of the evening we found ourselves routinely looking out the window, hoping to catch sight of the first snowflakes. Around midnight.....white, fluffy flakes began to fall. They continued to fall throughout the night, which should have given us enough snow to build a snowman......or two....or an entire snow family. Right?</div><br /><div align="center">Actually, NO!</div><br /><div align="center">The snow that fell was very dry and powdery. It wouldn't hold together! OH <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Nooooo</span>! There would be no snowmen, or snow families.............no snowballs or sledding. Our total snow accumulation was less than one inch. The few flakes that did fall, were so feathery and ethereal that gusts of wind would swoop down, pick up large patches and swirl them away, leaving gaping holes in the gossamer white blanket that covered the ground. Currier and Ives would be appalled!<br /><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/IcyIvy.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 600px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/IcyIvy.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I managed to stick enough of the fluffy stuff together (by spraying with water) to construct a lovely 10 inch masterpiece. Yes, you heard me correctly........my snowman was 10 inches tall, and built at a rate of about an inch a minute.</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Snowhead.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Snowhead.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div align="center">So after about 10 minutes of unbridled fun in the snow, we called it a day and went out to lunch via our perfectly dry streets.</div><br /><div align="center">This time I'm curbing my enthusiasm.......fool me once etc. </div><br /><div align="center">Best Wishes</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">KAY</span></div><br /><div align="center">PS: As I wrote this post, snow began to fall. My enthusiasm has returned! </div>The Wrought Iron Gatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18359508143927918004noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902654220521812343.post-27664876039163256162010-01-20T05:00:00.002-06:002010-01-20T05:00:06.589-06:00JANUARY SERENITY<a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Snow.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 700px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Snow.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />All the glitter, sparkle, and vibrantly colored baubles, that made the house sing during the holidays, have been edited from each room, bringing things down several octaves to a familiar, peaceful hum.<br /><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">How strangely quiet the house seems.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">The children and their families have traveled safely back to their respective homes, taking their pets with them. (three dogs and a cat)</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Lady and I snuggle on the sofa......<em>me</em> with my feet tucked warmly under the afghan, <em>she</em> curled up on top.......dreaming, most likely, of her recent romps with the visiting animals.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">The silence invites <em>me</em> to reflect, as well. I'm struck by how spending time with loved ones tends to warm your heart and make you smile, long after they're gone.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">January is a lovely month........oh I know there are more vibrant months, but the fact that everything has been stripped away, inside and out, gives us a clean slate on which to write our plans. I don't make resolutions, but I do look forward and plan. </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">The weather drives us indoors where a warm hearth invites us to sit and read.......the kitchen beckons us to taste and create.......the barren garden invites us to envision and scheme.......and January allows us the time. Thirty-one quiet, peaceful days to cherish, and fill with all the little things that bring joy.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Kay </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /></div>The Wrought Iron Gatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18359508143927918004noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902654220521812343.post-4748282055275315972009-12-16T09:42:00.005-06:002010-02-11T11:00:19.382-06:00A SPECIAL CELEBRATION<div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">WHAT ?</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">IT'S MY BIRTHDAY ?</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">I'M FOUR YEARS OLD ? </span><br /></div><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Lady.jpg" /></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">WHAT'S THIS ?</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"> <a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/CupcakeToo.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/CupcakeToo.jpg" /></a></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">IT SURE SMELLS GOOD !!!!!!!!!<br /></span><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Cupcake.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Cupcake.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">MMMMMMM.............PINK FROSTING</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">IS THAT GOOD , OR WHAT ?</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/CupcakeTwo.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/CupcakeTwo.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">MORE PLEASE !</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Dec.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Dec.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY, SWEET</span> LADY.<br /></span><br /></div>..................................................................................................................................<br /><br /><br />I'm back from my break. The holidays are such a busy time......I'm finally realizing that quality trumps quantity......so a little prioritizing has made this season so much more enjoyable for me.<br /><br />Thanks to all of you who sent e-mails. I'm glad to be back.<br /><br />Best Wishes,<br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Kay</span>The Wrought Iron Gatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18359508143927918004noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902654220521812343.post-59513896984511110722009-10-31T08:11:00.005-05:002009-10-31T18:35:58.556-05:00COME THROUGH THE GATE....If you dare!!!!<div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">Legend has it</span>......... that every October 31st, something very <em><strong>mysterious</strong></em> occurs, in the garden, at The Wrought Iron Gate. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />As the shadows grow long, and daylight fades to twilight................it's said, that a beautiful princess can be seen wandering the pathways. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Although she speaks not a word, many have been lured into the garden by her </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">sweet demeanor.........</span> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 550px; DISPLAY: block" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0038.jpg" /><br /></div><br /><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">and winning smile.<br /></span></p><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 550px; DISPLAY: block" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0040.jpg" /> <p align="center"><br /><br />But, <span style="font-size:180%;">BEWARE!!!</span></p><p align="center">For when the full moon slips from behind the clouds, and shines upon the Princess.........</p><p align="center"><em>things begin to CHANGE</em></p><p align="center"><strong><br /></strong><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Her smile begins to disappear!!!</span></p><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 550px; DISPLAY: block" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0039.jpg" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Her sweet demeanor fades.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">There's a strange look in her eyes!!!!!!!<br /></span><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 550px; DISPLAY: block" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0037.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">and if you look very closely.......</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">something about her mouth seems different, too!!!!</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 550px; DISPLAY: block" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0041.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Her lips part and.....</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">C H O M P !!!!</span><br /></strong><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 550px; DISPLAY: block" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0036.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">I tried to warn you!</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Then she unfurls her wings</div><div align="center">and flies away, with a satisfied smile on her face......<br /><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 550px; DISPLAY: block" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0042.jpg" /><br /><br />as "HAIRY" the <em>WIZARD </em>looks on.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 700px; DISPLAY: block" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Baby-Boo-Too.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Have a SPOOK..tacular Halloween !!!</p><p><span style="font-size:180%;">Kay<br /></p></span>The Wrought Iron Gatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18359508143927918004noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902654220521812343.post-46820736894427018832009-10-20T23:06:00.006-05:002009-10-21T01:06:39.968-05:00FRUSTRATION AND PINK ROSESI had a nice relaxing break.<br /><br />Feeling rested, and eager to check on my blogging buddies, I turned on my computer and waited for it to boot. The screen lit up, but as it tried to load my programs it slowed down to a crawl, refused to respond, faded to black, and promptly CRASHED.........yes, CRASHED!!!!!<br /><br />The "Computer Wizards" were able to retrieve my data, but the computer (may it rest in peace) wound up in the trash bin. My new computer will arrive shortly. In the mean time, I'm destined to use this slow, ancient relic that barely works. GRRRRR!!!!!!! SUCH FRUSTRATION!!!!!!!<br /><br /><br />-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><div align="center">On a lighter note, the thermometer dropped below freezing for the first time this season, so I cut the last of the pink roses and brought them indoors.</div><br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/LastRosesinFrame.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div align="center">Au revoir, my pink beauties....................................until next spring.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">KAY</div>The Wrought Iron Gatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18359508143927918004noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902654220521812343.post-2066526271306251492009-10-03T12:10:00.008-05:002009-10-05T17:16:18.594-05:00MY BEAUTIFUL LEGS<div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center"><br /></p><div align="center"><br />NO.....NO......NO.....NO......NOOOOOO. NOT THOSE LEGS!!!!!!!!!<br /></div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388434700778595938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 192px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJgwz0VySHvl63czz282sj102cHoyIozHxbDW4UnMiyaaB5hSbviqOSFSk-cH6QDyaMrvUIemYnjNe9inhEFDR1ox25cCcQDzctW5yERVgO1Z8tnjqkoYGMAVoDLgkpwk1an0k8cOFcQ/s400/BettyGrable1943.jpg" border="0" /> </p><p></p><p align="center"><br />I'm referring to the beautiful, shapely, gams supporting some of the furniture pieces around my house. I think some are worthy of a whistle!</p><p align="center"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 450px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0022.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center">I'm an advocate of surrounding yourself with things you love..........doesn't matter if it's a piece of furniture, or a sea shell. If you love it......keep it close.<br /><br /></p><br /><br /><div align="center">I swooned, when I saw the sleek, sensuous curvy legs on these dinning room chairs......think Paris in the 1920's and 30's. I had them covered in a bold ROSE CUMMING floral print. I love the way they turned out. </div><br /><div align="center"></div><p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 450px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0024.jpg" border="0" /><br /></p><p align="center">A NOTE ABOUT LEGENDARY DECORATOR - ROSE CUMMING<br />Rose Cumming was born and raised on an Australian sheep ranch. In 1917, Rose and her sister left Australia on board a ship bound for England, to prepare for Rose's upcoming marriage. During a stop-over in the U.S., fate played her hand.........WWI was escalating. Although the U. S. hadn't yet entered the war, they certainly weren't putting women on ships, and sailing them in the direction of the conflict. The sisters, who were denied passage, found themselves stranded in New York City. </p><p>Great social abilities made the sisters New York society favorites, but they lacked funds. When Rose decided she needed a job.....she asked her friend (who happened to be the editor of Vanity Fair) what to do? He told her to become a decorator! Rose replied, "Perhaps I would, but first tell me what it is." </p><p>She learned quickly. She opened a shop on Park Avenue. Unlike her neighbors, her shop housed both her decorating office, and her retail shop for antiques and fabrics......very European! She artfully arranged her very favorite pieces, in her shop windows........then left the lights on all night, something nobody had ever thought of doing. Her rooms were theatrical sets, with unexpected elements, and fairytale qualities. She loved beautiful things........she loved pairing bold colors, and patterns.......and she loved very carefully thought out rooms with a random feel.</p><p align="center">Oh, and her hair color was "shocking-violet."</p><p><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388434424148918002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 307px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-DRbC3jJVqMYHejFN7JCEOCIb4jdguHaQxNa9r_EdpZ4OAOaQl8M2Z7OmmXpUD4HTRS_0eqKTeSTbmdqWK_JEFjW32tUpuPFXdfgZZIOM7uiuG_YJ_Ue1jgEZLaZSb5YQma6B1Fdd_Ek/s400/arsl01_cumming.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">picture from: Architectural Digest </span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></p><p align="center">The curvaceous chair legs are a nice foil for the heavier, more masculine, lines of my table's straight legs.<br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 650px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0021.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />I've had this tea table for a long time.<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Aren't the long legs, and dainty hoofs whimsical?</span><br /></span><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 450px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/RamHead.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I love the chippy, crackled paint mixed with gold leaf.</span><br /></span><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 450px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0029.jpg" border="0" /><br /></p><div align="center"><br />The legs on this antique Louis XVI chair (an anniversary gift from my hubby) are carved with the signature, rose inside a square, of the period.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 450px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0031.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">It still has it's original seat cushion............needs replacing, but I can't bear to let it go. Maybe I'll have a new one made and box up the original. The little envelope pillow is made from an old tapestry fragment, found at the Paris flea market.<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 450px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0032.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p align="center">I just can't resist a cabriole leg!<span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></p><p align="center"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 650px; TEXT-ALIGN: center; px: " alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0026.jpg" border="0" /></span><br /><br /></p><p align="center">My chippy, mirrored coffee table is kind of Coco Chanel........esque.......maybe.</p><p><br /></p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 650px; TEXT-ALIGN: center; px: " alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0018.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p align="center">And last, but not least, the legs..............er feet on this old bronze, French planter, that I've arranged with fall colors.<span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></p></span><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 650px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img0025.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Have a wonderful, early fall, weekend.</span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">KAY</span>The Wrought Iron Gatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18359508143927918004noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902654220521812343.post-72373740885534167212009-09-23T01:35:00.006-05:002009-09-23T13:18:05.477-05:00WELCOME FALL<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><br />It's official...................Fall has arrived!</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Image302.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 650px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Image302.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>He really is, as big as a house!!!!<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Image278.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 650px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Image278.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Image229.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 650px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Image229.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Thefallingleaves.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 650px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Thefallingleaves.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Image235.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; height: 600px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Image235.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Image237.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 650px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Image237.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Image171.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 650px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Image171.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Image264.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 650px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Image264.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Enjoy the season.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Kay</span>The Wrought Iron Gatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18359508143927918004noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902654220521812343.post-1726325494909786622009-09-12T16:54:00.008-05:002009-09-13T01:20:19.168-05:00THE UNINTENTIONAL WEDDING PLANNER<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">While perusing the magazine section at the book store, I noticed that there are a plethora of BRIDAL periodicals available. The cover photos were so lovely that I couldn’t resist thumbing through a few. There were articles covering every aspect of getting married....from, <span style="font-style: italic;">How to say YES</span>……to, <span style="font-style: italic;">How to pack for your honeymoon</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">flight.</span><br /><br />Styles seemed to fall into two categories……traditional, or contemporary. This set me wondering what style wedding each of my four grandchildren might choose? Would their choice be sleek and contemporary? A traditional wedding with lots of sentiment, has always been <span style="font-style: italic;">my</span> favorite.<br /><br /><br />I WONDERED.............<br /><br /><br />Will my granddaughters wear pearls?</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1295.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 550px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1295.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Or knotted strands of jade, or rose quartz? Might they choose clear azure beads, suspended by gossamer threads?</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1296.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 650px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1296.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Or a single strand of Swarovski crystal beads?</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1297.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 650px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1297.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Will Molly choose to wear her Mother’s veil, and gown…<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1298.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 550px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1298.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />and be photographed in a beautiful garden, like her Mother?</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1299.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 650px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1299.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Will Madison and Waverly want to wear one of my vintage rings, as a <span style="font-style: italic;">something old</span> element?</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1300.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 650px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1300.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Perhaps Bailey will want to toast his bride with his great-grandmothers crystal glasses………</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1301.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 550px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1301.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">And my Mother’s silver serving pieces would look beautiful by candlelight………….</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1302.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 650px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1302.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />The girls could carry a vintage handkerchief , from my collection…………</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1303.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 650px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1303.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Then after the wedding, the handkerchiefs could be stored away in a vintage hanky holder, for <span style="font-style: italic;">their</span> daughter’s wedding.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1304.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 650px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1304.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><br />STOP! STEP AWAY FROM THE BRIDAL MAGAZINES.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />My grandchildren are young….Bailey isn't even two years old yet. Marriage is years away, and they will make their own choices, when the time comes.<br /><br /><br /><br />Still………it doesn’t hurt to dream….does it?</span><br /><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1305.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 550px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1305.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Kay</span>The Wrought Iron Gatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18359508143927918004noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902654220521812343.post-3474733276377090292009-09-05T14:54:00.006-05:002009-09-05T23:40:53.682-05:00THE PATH LESS TRAVELED<span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br />It's a beautiful late summer day. The sun feels warm, but there's a faint hint of change in the air. The sky is such a brilliant shade of robin's egg blue, that it makes the your heart sing........a great day for a walkabout. We (hubby and I) headed straight for the countryside to explore a new area we'd heard about.<br /><br />We'd taken only a few steps, when the path we were walking,<span style="font-style: italic;"> split........</span>the two branches veering off in opposite directions. One path meandered into a grove of shade trees, before it disappeared from sight. Hmmmm.......green, lush and shady. <span style="font-style: italic;">Very tempting, on such a warm day</span>. But, the other path led straight into a wide, sun filled meadow, thick with wildflowers that were taller than me. We chose the wildflowers, and we weren't disappointed.<br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1289.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1289.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Our experience reminded me of this poem by Robert Frost</span>.<br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><table style="width: 601px; height: 94px; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" bg="" align="CENTER" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2"><tbody><tr><td align="CENTER"><span style="font-size:130%;">Robert Frost </span><span style="font-size:130%;">(1874–1963). Mountain Interval. </span><span style="font-size:130%;">1920.</span></td></tr> <tr><td><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><br /></td></tr> <tr><td align="CENTER"><span style="color: rgb(156, 156, 99);font-size:130%;" ><b> The Road Not Taken</b></span></td></tr> <tr><td><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><br /></td></tr> <!-- END CHAPTERTITLE --> </tbody></table> <!-- BEGIN CHAPTER --> <table align="CENTER" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><br /></td></tr> <tr><td><span style="font-size:130%;">T</span><span style="font-size:130%;">WO roads diverged in a yellow wood,</span></td><td><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="1"></a></span></td></tr> <tr><td><span style="font-size:130%;">And sorry I could not travel both</span></td><td><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="2"></a></span></td></tr> <tr><td><span style="font-size:130%;">And be one traveler, long I stood</span></td><td><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="3"></a></span></td></tr> <tr><td><span style="font-size:130%;">And looked down one as far as I could</span></td><td><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="4"></a></span></td></tr> <tr><td><span style="font-size:130%;">To where it bent in the undergrowth;</span></td><td align="RIGHT" valign="TOP"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="5"><i> <br /></i></a></span></td></tr> <tr><td><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><br /></td></tr> <tr><td><span style="font-size:130%;">Then took the other, as just as fair,</span></td><td><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="6"></a></span></td></tr> <tr><td><span style="font-size:130%;">And having perhaps the better claim,</span></td><td><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="7"></a></span></td></tr> <tr><td><span style="font-size:130%;">Because it was grassy and wanted wear;</span></td><td><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="8"></a></span></td></tr> <tr><td><span style="font-size:130%;">Though as for that the passing there</span></td><td><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="9"></a></span></td></tr> <tr><td><span style="font-size:130%;">Had worn them really about the same,</span></td><td align="RIGHT" valign="TOP"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="10"><i> <br /></i></a></span></td></tr> <tr><td><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><br /></td></tr> <tr><td><span style="font-size:130%;">And both that morning equally lay</span></td><td><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="11"></a></span></td></tr> <tr><td><span style="font-size:130%;">In leaves no step had trodden blac</span><span style="font-size:130%;">k.</span></td><td><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="12"></a></span></td></tr> <tr><td><span style="font-size:130%;">Oh, I kept the first for another day!</span></td><td><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="13"></a></span></td></tr> <tr><td><span style="font-size:130%;">Yet knowing how way leads on to way,</span></td><td><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="14"></a></span></td></tr> <tr><td><span style="font-size:130%;">I doubted if I should ever come back.</span></td><td align="RIGHT" valign="TOP"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="15"><i> <br /></i></a></span></td></tr> <tr><td><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><br /></td></tr> <tr><td><span style="font-size:130%;">I shall be telling this with a sigh</span></td><td><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="16"></a></span></td></tr> <tr><td><span style="font-size:130%;">Somewhere ages and ages hence:</span></td><td><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="17"></a></span></td></tr> <tr><td><span style="font-size:130%;">Two roads diverged in a wood, an</span><span style="font-size:130%;">d I—</span></td><td><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="18"></a></span></td></tr> <tr><td><span style="font-size:130%;">I took the one less traveled by,</span></td><td><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="19"></a></span></td></tr> <tr><td><span style="font-size:130%;">And that has made all the difference.</span></td><td align="RIGHT" valign="TOP"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="20"><i> <br /></i></a></span></td></tr> <tr><td><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> Bees droned, and butterflies fluttered all about. <span style="font-style: italic;">It was a magical scene!</span></span><br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1290.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 650px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1290.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The colors were brilliant, even in the harsh midday sun.</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1286.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 650px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1286.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The coppery yellows of the rudbeckia, gave a nod to the changing fall palette. </span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1292.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 650px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1292.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">This thistle, with it's downy purple seed heads, and sharp, spiny stems and leaves, stood tall and straight, like a sentinel keeping watch over the meadow.</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1287.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1287.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">We chose the path less traveled.......and that made all the difference.</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1285.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1285.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Then we rushed home for a a quick shower, and some dinner because ..............</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:180%;" >tonight we're seeing this!</span><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_MSf5CxXxdQZRkIZYgPWkBTInaP_A9DMNuF_Pt44prlpa-vwqd6yiExe-sMlaeA9nWkWaKEEMg5wgQh5kDpj3ehMuDjrOYV0Iu3VlwfKZ0nj_8h_wJ-OUFHiE_vQaf1djWb3FbWJAic/s1600-h/wicked.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_MSf5CxXxdQZRkIZYgPWkBTInaP_A9DMNuF_Pt44prlpa-vwqd6yiExe-sMlaeA9nWkWaKEEMg5wgQh5kDpj3ehMuDjrOYV0Iu3VlwfKZ0nj_8h_wJ-OUFHiE_vQaf1djWb3FbWJAic/s400/wicked.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378095026380033970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Have a wonderful, safe, weekend.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Kay</span>The Wrought Iron Gatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18359508143927918004noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902654220521812343.post-3664540312851159782009-08-30T22:15:00.011-05:002009-09-05T13:21:34.694-05:00M' LADY'S CARRIAGE<span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br />Have you heard it said that <span style="font-style: italic;">"one picture is worth a thousand words?"</span> Well, this one says it all.<br /><br />The local greenway is our favorite place to get a little exercise and enjoy nature at the same time, and nobody loves going for a walk more than Lady. When she sees me putting on my walking shoes, the tail starts to wag and she begins to dance around with anticipation. The problem is...........my husband and I also like to ride our bikes on the greenway, which means that <span style="font-style: italic;">La</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">dy doesn't get to go along</span>.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> THIS MAKES LADY VERY SAD !!!!!!!!!</span><br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1278.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 650px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1278.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /> <span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">POOOOOOF !</span><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Just like Cinderella's </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Fairy Godmot</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >her </span><span style="font-size:130%;">provided a coach to take her to the ball................we've</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">found a carriage to ferry our little princess along the </span>greenway<span style="font-size:130%;">.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> SHE APPEARS TO APPROVE OF THE IDEA.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1279.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 650px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1279.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">"Go faster , I love feeling the</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">wind in my hair.....er blowing my ears."</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_9994.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 650px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DSC_9994.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">"Oh look, there's Mom with the camera, she's always taking my picture,"..........."if I slump, maybe she won't see me."</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1281.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 650px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1281.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:180%;">"Whew!" "That was close."</span></span><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1282.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 650px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1282.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;">"WOW!"</span><span style="font-size:180%;"><br />"Taking a ride on the greenway, is even better than a walk</span>.<span style="font-size:180%;">"</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1284.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 650px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Img1284.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Kay</span><br /></span>The Wrought Iron Gatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18359508143927918004noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902654220521812343.post-20308988085077089272009-08-22T03:30:00.024-05:002009-09-05T13:18:55.416-05:00THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ GALA<span style="font-size:130%;">The old woman climbed the stairs that led to the attic. She moved quickly, reaching the top in less time than it would have taken someone half her age. She stopped on the last step and looked around. This room, with all it’s clutter, always had the same effect on her............she felt as if she’d just stepped back in time. Maybe it was seeing all the familiar objects. The things that had been such a part of her every day life as a young girl, growing up on the farm with Auntie Em and Uncle Henry. Maybe it was because there were so many memories tucked away in drawers and boxes, just waiting to be rediscovered. Whatever the reason, in this dusty old attic, the distance between the past and the present always seemed to disappear.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Something on the table by the window caught her eye. It was the little black hat that Auntie Em always wore when she was going out. Auntie Em wasn't a materialistic person, mind you, but when she saw that handsome little hat, in a storefront window in Collierville, her heart skipped a beat. Uncle Henry noticed how h</span><span style="font-size:130%;">er face lit up as she tried it on. She saw him looking at her and quickly put it back on the mannequin. He bought it for her the following week.<br /><br />The hat still smelled faintly of lavender...............Auntie Em's favorite fragrance.<br /><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/AuntieEmsHat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/AuntieEmsHat.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Now where are my .............the words trailed off, as she lifted the parcel onto her lap, and untied the faded ribbons. She carefully brought the small figures out of the box and lined them up across the table. Hickory had carved them for her, after the cyclone. She had described her friends to him, and he carved every detail to her specifications. She held them in her hand now, and studied them carefully, one by one.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Friends.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Friends.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />She finally found the trunk she'd climbed all those stairs for. Uncle Henry's straw hat sat on top. She picked up the hat, wrapped her arms around it and hugged it to her body. She closed her eyes and pictured Uncle Henry working in the sun, with a fringe of white hair peeking out from under that straw hat. He only took it off to eat and sleep.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">She missed Auntie Em and Uncle Henry.</span> </span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/UncleHenrysHatA.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/UncleHenrysHatA.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Then she pried open the trunk, lifted the lid..........and peeked inside. <span style="font-style: italic;">OH MY!</span> Had it really been seventy years since the cyclone had swirled the farm house right out of Kansas, and dropped it (with her inside) in that beautiful, yet sometimes frightening place, far, far away?</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/OpenTrunk.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/OpenTrunk.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /><br />She often dreamed of going back. There were constant reminders. Why, even the dandelions, growing in the lane, reminded her of the "Yellow Brick Road."</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DandilionRoad.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; height: 700px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DandilionRoad.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /><br />She began pulling things from the trunk. "My old picnic basket," she cried. It had been a favorite hiding place for Toto, her beloved dog.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">She missed Toto</span>.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/PicnicBasket.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/PicnicBasket.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />She shivered a little, as she uncovered the next two items. The broom and cape were the spoils of a quest, that resulted in life altering, self discovery for each of the four friends. </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Broomstick.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Broomstick.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />She found the testimonial that the Wizard had given the Scarecrow.......in recognition of his prowess as a deep thinker.<br /></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Testimonial.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; height: 700px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Testimonial.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />the heart medallion that the Tin Man had received, in recognition of his great capacity to love, but more importantly, to <span style="font-style: italic;">be</span> loved.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Heart.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; height: 700px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Heart.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Of course, his heart was so tender that tears would flow at the drop of a hat........necessitating the constant availability of an oil can, lest he rust solid.<br /></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/OilCan.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/OilCan.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />She unwrapped a little gold case. Inside she found the "Medal Of Valor" the Wizard had awarded her feline friend, the Lion................whose unflinching courage in the face of danger, had saved them all. <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />She missed her friends</span>.<br /></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/BadgeofCourage.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; height: 700px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/BadgeofCourage.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />She wrestled the Ruby Slippers free of the layers of old newspaper that covered them. Even in the fading light, fro</span><span style="font-size:130%;">m the attic's one small window........they </span><span style="font-size:130%;">still sparkled after all these years. </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/HerRubySlippers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; height: 700px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/HerRubySlippers.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br />As she gazed at the shiny shoes, the words she had spoken so many years ago, flashed across her mind<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"If you ever go looking for your heart's desire, look no further than your own back yard, because.</span>..............................................<span style="font-style: italic;">THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME!"</span><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">She had lived the last seventy years of her life right here, on this little farm, in the middle of Kansas. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />She paused, seemingly lost in thought...............</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Then the old woman eased herself into the threadbare old arm chair that used to sit in the parlor........pulled on the Ruby Slippers............closed her eyes.</span><span style="font-size:130%;">.................and<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/OvertheRainbow.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/OvertheRainbow.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />drifted off</span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">OVER THE RAINBOW.</span></span><br /></div><br /><br /><br />..........................................................................................................................................................................<br /><span style="font-size:130%;">The sepia toned pictures at the beginning of my story, are a reference to the 1939 movie. that was shot in TECHNICOLOR, with the exception of the opening farm and cyclone scenes, which were done in sepia. The film makes the change from sepia to color as Dorothy opens the farm house door, after the cyclone drops them in Oz. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">My pictures change from sepia to color when Dorothy opens the trunk.<br /><br />The movie "THE WIZARD OF OZ" was adapted from the book "THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ" written by L. Frank Baum.<br /><br />Here are two examples of early editions.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9H_6VDHH-6bznef6erjZiuf24aJeu8bhuGGz7pnNmdk80Ex9OANpuUeiSjdkzh0XWoNQurQ-bys4MNL43ihxLsDBl98qhrvQJwysPAuM52hhmWoxWLqxG8MWGanFnx0sv04QiS2ViSA/s1600-h/Blog+Background+Color.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9H_6VDHH-6bznef6erjZiuf24aJeu8bhuGGz7pnNmdk80Ex9OANpuUeiSjdkzh0XWoNQurQ-bys4MNL43ihxLsDBl98qhrvQJwysPAuM52hhmWoxWLqxG8MWGanFnx0sv04QiS2ViSA/s400/Blog+Background+Color.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372250253658169026" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BHHPcxb4BHtmdr1IsKNFk2jdDYqycLSJLE02LxtzKiZFpQ0qyoM6LPa-YCdoCpsE-Byua-K2dDeaoDnvpCyNKDxoPXvNBbwVFmvKlXyhobMdRpmDyIRGRQhSf3Dew3ceDtJttL_gZV4/s1600-h/p_wwoz_pg_01x.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; height: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BHHPcxb4BHtmdr1IsKNFk2jdDYqycLSJLE02LxtzKiZFpQ0qyoM6LPa-YCdoCpsE-Byua-K2dDeaoDnvpCyNKDxoPXvNBbwVFmvKlXyhobMdRpmDyIRGRQhSf3Dew3ceDtJttL_gZV4/s400/p_wwoz_pg_01x.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372248579632317042" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_RyogyRp8DGDkL1T9aN6OX7gxzS5grr-CbOk0ssrO4zP8uc0e_i74JUuX-PtuJpRW0NJq042Aviv2dV5rjWg58qFUrXzraAJa5Y4EG694HC-QCBI8dlw9b_2VBM-RL86BIIM0ENtbyk/s1600-h/dorothy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; height: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_RyogyRp8DGDkL1T9aN6OX7gxzS5grr-CbOk0ssrO4zP8uc0e_i74JUuX-PtuJpRW0NJq042Aviv2dV5rjWg58qFUrXzraAJa5Y4EG694HC-QCBI8dlw9b_2VBM-RL86BIIM0ENtbyk/s400/dorothy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372248022100907426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Judy Garland, as DOROTHY holding TOTO.</span><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtU89sHSicbQ2iDj542fc8CiUX5Fem_dziZlIXthw5ya0RxNzQtNRxi5pVCe0qiTjSAx_7damM9ZbySwidR0sTc0pfbzVJYI3Wb30WwPqL0P0mwusvC3DJrCs70k3fd99dll3VZBKRyQ/s1600-h/wizard_of_oz_poster.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; height: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtU89sHSicbQ2iDj542fc8CiUX5Fem_dziZlIXthw5ya0RxNzQtNRxi5pVCe0qiTjSAx_7damM9ZbySwidR0sTc0pfbzVJYI3Wb30WwPqL0P0mwusvC3DJrCs70k3fd99dll3VZBKRyQ/s400/wizard_of_oz_poster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372246842924653794" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Original movie poster from 1939.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">and</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Original 1939 cast.</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROwBkiLZ5uPHIM9jPXPbOj-R0if6UcNRpmGJmoKDUXBHkln4BwCPG9QYfzte7jAz1tRqNc00OOyAXlzQgd3Kdbd6dw0nmc-X4lniQVFoVuQNAZ5sK_T6bb2NRMTzprv3FEF3cfE2T05U/s1600-h/wizoz_credits.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROwBkiLZ5uPHIM9jPXPbOj-R0if6UcNRpmGJmoKDUXBHkln4BwCPG9QYfzte7jAz1tRqNc00OOyAXlzQgd3Kdbd6dw0nmc-X4lniQVFoVuQNAZ5sK_T6bb2NRMTzprv3FEF3cfE2T05U/s400/wizoz_credits.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372246613504327778" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Have a wonderful weekend,<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Kay</span><br /><br /><br />Many thanks to Twyla and Lindsey for hosting today's WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ GALA.<br />Be sure to visit <a href="http://twocrazycrafters.blogspot.com/">TWO CRAZY CRAFTERS</a> for links to all the Emerald City fun.<br /><br /></span>The Wrought Iron Gatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18359508143927918004noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902654220521812343.post-46828195933484100482009-08-17T22:06:00.004-05:002009-08-18T03:03:32.397-05:00SUMMER FUN<span style="font-size:130%;">I've been among the missing............because all of my favorite house guests have been visiting the</span> "HOLIDAY FLYNN."<div style="text-align: center;">MY SON, MY DAUGHTER, AND THEIR FAMILIES.<br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />We spent time feeding the ducks.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/FeedingDucks-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 650px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/FeedingDucks-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DucksInARow.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 650px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/DucksInARow.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/HereGoose.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 650px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/HereGoose.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> We ate sweet, icy cold, delicious, <span style="font-style: italic;">BLUE</span> sno cones.</span><br /></div><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/BlueSnoCones.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 650px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/BlueSnoCones.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />The guys were drawn to the vintage locomotive.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/AllAboard.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 550px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/AllAboard.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">We went hiking in the mountains..........and stood on the LOVE</span><span style="font-size:130%;">R'S LEAP overlook.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/LoversLeap.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 550px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/LoversLeap.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />All the girls screamed in terror, as my adult (and I use the term loosely) son made the swinging</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">bridge bounce, and sway erratically, as we crossed it.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/SwingingBridge.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 550px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/SwingingBridge.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />The mist from the waterfall feels cool and refreshing on a warm summer day.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Waterfall.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 550px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/Waterfall.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">The gnomes point the way to the ENCHANTED CAVERNS. They are especially helpful if you share your pastry.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/GnomeNibbles.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 550px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/GnomeNibbles.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">As we walked through FAIRYLAND CAVERNS, we discovered scenes from beloved children's</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">books displayed in every nook and crevice.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/FairylandCaverns.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 550px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/FairylandCaverns.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />This little flock of birds quickly took up residence in the brightly painted birdhouse that we found in a fir tree.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/LittleBirds.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 550px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/LittleBirds.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />One last look toward the horizon, where seven different states can be seen by looking </span><span style="font-size:130%;">through powerful binoculars.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/MountainOverlook.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 550px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/MountainOverlook.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br />Then it's down.....down......down, into the labyrinth of caves that run through the mountain, to the beautiful underground waterfall.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/TwoCousins.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 550px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/TwoCousins.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />I love going on an adventure with my happy group!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Kay</span><br /></span>The Wrought Iron Gatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18359508143927918004noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902654220521812343.post-42502232009559991442009-08-01T01:54:00.007-05:002009-08-01T02:50:21.517-05:00ROBIN AND ROSES<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />I HAVE A NEW NECKLACE</span><span style="font-style: italic;">!</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">My husband purchased it as an early birthday gift for me.</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/AngeliqueB.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/AngeliqueB.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">It was created by the extremely talented jewelry designer, Joy Jones of Cupids Charm. If you’re unfamiliar with Joy’s work, you should visit her <a href="http://cupidscharm.blogspot.com/">HERE</a>…….I know that you will fall in love with her beautiful jewelry pieces.......just as I did. </span><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/AngeliqueA.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/AngeliqueA.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />The <span style="font-style: italic;">Robin and Roses</span> heart, was fashioned from a shard of vintage Mt. Clemens china, and hung from vintage rose connectors, on a doubled chain......then adorned with a Swarovski pearl and crystal pendant.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/AngeliqueC.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 650px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/AngeliqueC.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Very lovely...........Yes?<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Kay</span><br /></span>The Wrought Iron Gatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18359508143927918004noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902654220521812343.post-32874962640124220332009-07-25T03:31:00.003-05:002009-07-25T04:26:20.112-05:00PINK SATURDAY - FRENCH CONNECTIONI LOVE PINK ROSES !!!!<br /><br />The name of this lovely rose is <span style="font-style: italic;">Old Paris</span>. I can only speculate as why it was given this particular name........maybe because the vivid shade of pink is reminiscent of the wonderfully rich colors used on the vintage porcelain pieces, which are also called <span style="font-style: italic;">Old Paris.</span><br /><br />This rose is a very prolific bloomer, so I'm constantly cutting little bouquets. I found this little vintage bottle at an antique store........I think <span style="font-style: italic;">Old Paris</span> roses should feel right at home in a bottle that says Paris down the side, don't you agree ? <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/OldParisRose.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 650px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/OldParisRose.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I plan to print gift tags from this photo of the Eiffel Tower, that I altered in Photoshop. I love the pink glow of the setting sun against the blue sky.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/ParisintheFall.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 650px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/ParisintheFall.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I had to include this photo of Molly that I took after one of her recitals. We looked around and there she was, white tutu and all, sitting in a bed of clover! The girl just can't pass up an opportunity to pick a bloom.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/MollyBallerina.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 650px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/MollyBallerina.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Many thanks to Beverly of How Sweet The Sound for hosting PINK SATURDAY. Be sure to visit her <a href="http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/">HERE</a> for links to other participants.<br /><br />Have a wonderful weekend,<br />KayThe Wrought Iron Gatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18359508143927918004noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902654220521812343.post-39407646977417508812009-07-20T02:16:00.001-05:002009-07-20T02:18:02.330-05:00TODAY IS OUR ANNIVERSARY<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/BrideGroom.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 616px; height: 803px;" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/BrideGroom.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Eighteen years ago today, a young widow, who was raising two children on her own, married her soul’s truest mate. For eighteen years he has been her partner in love and life, her refuge, the sharer of her dreams, the keeper of her heart, and her very best friend on this earth.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, MY LOVE.</span>The Wrought Iron Gatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18359508143927918004noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902654220521812343.post-27477007102799440562009-07-11T00:19:00.005-05:002009-07-11T01:32:08.713-05:00PINK SATURDAY --- ETCHED CRYSTAL DESSERT CUPSI love pretty serving pieces. <div><div>I found these little etched beauties on a recent antiquing trip.<br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/EtchedCrystalDessertCups.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 650px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/EtchedCrystalDessertCups.jpg" /></a><br /><br /></div><div align="left">What’s that? Yes, I know they’re not pink!<br />Just stay with me, I’m getting there.</div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div>I also found this sweet pink berry basket, and filled it with cherries. </div><div>I’m crazy for cherries! I love cherry lifesavers, and cherry limeades from Sonic, but my absolute favorite cherry treat, is Cherry Garcia ice cream. Hmmmm……</div><div><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/CherryIceCreamE.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/CherryIceCreamE.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /><br /></div><div align="left">I’m thinking……dessert in the garden tonight.</div><div align="left"><br /> <a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/CherryIceCreamB.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/CherryIceCreamB.jpg" /></a><br />See! Here are my pretty etched dessert dishes, filled with delicious (pink) cherry ice cream.</div><div align="left">YUM! </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/CherryIceCreamD.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 700px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/CherryIceCreamD.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><br />Have a wonderful weekend,<br />Kay<br /> <br />Many thanks to Beverly of <span style="color:#ff6666;"><a href="http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/">HOW SWEET THE SOUND</a></span> for hosting, yet another, PINK SATURDAY. Be sure to visit her blog for links to more wonderful pink posts. <br /> </div></div>The Wrought Iron Gatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18359508143927918004noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902654220521812343.post-54631259586997885392009-07-04T00:06:00.004-05:002009-07-04T02:41:39.682-05:00PINK SATURDAY --- PINK BABY SLIPPERSIt's been said that <strong>good things come to those that wait.</strong><br /><br /><br /><div align="left">It's been a year since I first saw these adorable pink baby slippers at one of the antique stores that I frequent.</div><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/PinkShoesB.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 600px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/PinkShoesB.jpg" /></a><br /><br />It was the color, that first caught my eye. I loved how the white fur, over time, had turned a soft grey, which perfectly <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">complimented</span> the quilted pink satin. The little shoes had soft leather soles, as well. I was smitten. I lingered in front of the glass case where the shoes were displayed, and agonized over the price tag...........but, in the end, decided that I couldn't justify the price.<br /><br />I've been back to the store several times over the past year. Each time I was elated to find the slippers were still there, behind the glass........................waiting.<br />No one had purchased my pink slippers.<br /><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/PinkShoesC.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 600px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/PinkShoesC.jpg" /></a><br />Last week I visited the store where I first saw the dear little shoes. When I rounded the corner I saw a sign that read......................................... EVERYTHING IN THIS BOOTH -HALF PRICE.<br /><br /> My pace quickened, as the question formed in my head. Would they still be there?<br /><br /><br />As I approached the glass case, my question was answered.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/PinkShoesA.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww263/kaytybugalug/PinkShoesA.jpg" /></a><br /><br />There they were, the little pink slippers, behind the glass......waiting......for me!<br /><br /><br />Happy Pink Saturday and Happy Independence Day,<br /><br />Kay<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Please visit Beverly at <a href="http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/">How Sweet The Sound</a>, for more wonderful PINK SATURDAY posts.The Wrought Iron Gatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18359508143927918004noreply@blogger.com22