The last of summer

"Try to remember the kind of September
When life was slow and oh so mellow

Try to remember the kind of September
When grass was green and grain so yellow

Try to remember the kind of September
When you were a young and a callow fellow

Try to remember and if you remember
Then follow--follow, oh-oh."  

-  Try to Remember, Lyrics by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt  

A small section of our back yard

Bench purchased in El Paso, Texas

Quilt - Family heirloom

Book - of your choosing

Glass - unknown maker

Pillow created by moi - instructions to come.

Linking to Artie's Vignette Fridays! Be sure to visit the rest of the wonderful party people!

Santa Fe - the dishes

 

I was really hoping to find lots and lots of dishes to show you from Santa Fe.. It wasn't to be. Partially because the city was crowded for Fiesta and the main reason, there weren't that many out on display. But I'll show you what I found...

 

These beauties come from a Santa Fe pottery company called Rainbow Gate. I first saw these at a bible study friend's house. She had the fruit plates. Wow. The pattern you see here is called Rainbow Ware. Note the handpainted napkins, the turned handle silverware and coordinating glasses to all. I think my favorite pieces are the cup-like candle holders.

We saw these in a store called ACC. It is most certainly one of my favorite stores there. I love the antiques, the new items and the unusual. Amazing is that they all blend so well together. I love the charm of Quimper faience pottery from France. And I have no comment on the little cookbooks.. they were just there and I just don't have the nerve to redecorate stores whilst I grab a shot here and there.

And then we went into Simply Santa Fe! They don't have a website, so you'll have to take my word on the wonderfulness of this store. They have clothes (Double D Ranchwear), dishes, furniture, home furnishings.. so just anything I truly love. 

Loved the color of these dishes. And they were all half off... I am so kicking myself for not purchasing any. We were headed to eat and I wasn't in the mood to carry and we never got back there. Drats, next trip, or I'll just call them!

I hope you enjoyed the brief sojourn to Santa Fe once again. Thanks for visiting, thanks for your comments (I do read each and every one)... and on Thursday, I'll be linking to Susan's at Between Naps on the Porch. Grab a drink, find a seat and browse all the goodness of those beautiful dishes that pop up there every week!

Santa Fe - Fashion Forward

We made another pilgrimage to Santa Fe. This time for Fiesta! Viva la Fiesta. Santa Fe is celebrating it's 400 years and it happened to fall during the annual fiesta celebrating taking the city back from the Indians by the Don Diego de Vargas' peaceful re-occupation of the city of faith in 1692. 

Fiesta starts with the burning of Zozobro on Thursday evening and continues through Sunday. Events include the pet parade on Saturday morning, a Mariachi extravaganza, the Entrada de Don Diego de Vargas, continued entertainment in the plaza, and an arts and crafts venue with lots of food vendors.

Today, I want to share with you some of the fashions I saw. Of course the price tag was in direct proportion with the number of visitors to the city.

Breakfast is said to be the most important meal of the day. And if the day is full of stores, parades, music and a New Mexico sunset, then it's most important. Fresh croissant that will rival any made en France, from Cafe Paris.

My most favorite morsels served along side a regular breakfast.. garlic, butter and parslied potatoes. I could live on these alone.

Netting seems to be the rage of the day. Not fine English netting which is cotton. No this is fine polyester netting. See the large flowers along the hem? And all the delicate stitching?

It's a shame that merchants aren't more agreeable to taking pictures in the stores.. but here's a close up of the hem.

Beautiful bronze fountains and they were all going at the same time.. I have no room, I have no room.

Simple boards with metal rings through which the wine bottles are threaded. Be pretty neat in a wine cellar to display those favorite vintages.

Bejeweled and glitzed tights. I think everyone needs a pair.. or two, ha ha. But you did see them in lots of places and on lots of bodies.

This is Poem. A favorite place to shop in a little courtyard off of the main shopping trek. Do you see anything on this display you wouldn't love to have???

In the chocolate store next door, the gentle man had a blessing chain hanging on the back door. It's his personal tribute as a thanks for all the blessings having been bestowed on him.

Everything was all about layers.. skirts where in layers and tops were layered. The skirts had the base longer skirt and then the layers got progressively shorter as they neared the outer layer. This was a beautiful skirt with lost of lace.

I think the metal decor are grave markers. They were pretty cool while being a bit morbid. Love those belts on that chair!

One of the many beautiful leather jackets we saw in the stores.

Leather pillows with a Western flair.

This is the most incredible skirt. embroidered on guess what?  Tulle. I told you it was everywhere.
Yes there, was an underskirt under the tulle, but leggings would have done as well.

Beaded embroidery on - yup you guessed it.. Tulle.

This wasn't on tulle, but on another very lightweight cotton. You would think that all this embroidery made the top very stiff and uncomfortable. Nope, it floated and the embroidery was certainly not stiff.

The most looked at jacket on the square. It garnered more than it's share of window shoppers.

Another - you guessed it! Tulle embroidered skirt...

Another layered skirt..

I hope you enjoyed the shopping.. I'll be back later in the week with some more updates from the City Different!! Hope to see you there.

Afternoon Coffee

Welcome to an afternoon on the patio. The weather is agreeable, only about 75 in comparison to the 100 degree norm. Table is set for 6, so there's a perfect place for you too. Come make yourself comfortable.

Table is set with traditional "Sammeltassen". Oh, let me explain. In Germany, these are given as gifts or collected. Trios consisting of a dessert plate, cup and saucer. Each one different. Each one unique. There are six sets on the table and I probably have 12 or 13 more sets. Some of which, I've collected. Some of which came from my maternal Grandmother. These are the direct reason I love dishes!

I've layered a crochet edged tablecloth under a German damask tablecloth for a bit more interest.

  In the center is an antique lace runner. And I spot a silver rattle used by my boys! A silver coffee pot.

Spooner filled with a gorgeous shade of almost antique pink roses. Creamer and crystal sugar.

 Gold flatware on crochet edged napkins.

Spooners make great vases too!

A crystal sugar.

The dishes:

Chair back covers home embroidered:

I think I left one out - oops!

The cast:

Ralph Lauren crochet edged tablecloth

German damask tablecloth belonged to my grandmother

Antique table runner scarfed up at an Estate sale

Dishes from German manufacturers courtesy of ebay and my grandmother

Gold International Flatware

Silver from grandmother and mother-in-law

Sterling rattle of unknown maker

antique keys collected over the years, monogrammed key gift from a dear friend

Crochet edged napkin blanks from Germany, crocheted by my mother

Chair back covers - embroidered in 60wt cotton thread on tea towels from Martha Pullen Co. 

click here to get detailed instructions on making the chairback covers

Thanks for dropping in. I'm always up for a visit from friends and LOVE to read your comments. Be sure to check out the delightful tables at the magnificent Susan's Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch. Just click the graphic below!