Catherine Deneuve

The french actress Catherine Deneuve celebrated her 70th birthday on 22 October 2013. Her beauty has remained to this day.

Catherine Deneuve in 2013

The 60's

While browsing on YouTube, enjoying some great songs from the 1960's I came across this classic.  Enjoy!

Nancy Sinatra at her best.

Pearls

"Pearls are for Tears, the old legend says".  Gilbert had objected.  "I'm not afraid of that. And tears can be happy as well as sad.  My very happiest moments have been when I had tears in my eyes".

Excerpt taken from Anne of Green Gables.

Pearls certainly don't make me cry, they make me feel good in every way.   One of the first items I bought when I began work, back in the day, was a beautiful Pearl ring which I have worn for years and rarely take off my finger.  I love my single pearl, pearl earrings, strings of pearls and of course, where would we all be without those wonderful "Pearls of Wisdom".

"Pearls are always appropriate".  Jacqueline Kennedy

I must confess, I am a little bit superstitious about them, in case they bring tears of sadness. My sister was given a present of a pearl ring by her boyfriend, they were very much in love.  She was so upset. They never married as planned.  I agree with Shakespeare when he said that "Nothing is either good or bad, but thinking makes it so".  However, I have bought my own pearls.  So much so, that I had to buy special clear jewellery boxes to store them, which I really like because I can see them. I have many different sizes and colours of necklaces, bracelets, earrings and broaches. They make me feel good and well groomed.   

Below are some gorgeous examples of Pearls found on the Internet:

    

Hollywood leading ladies in pearls

The beautiful Elizabeth Taylor

Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffneys

Grace Kelly in Rear Window

Jacqueline Kennedy looking her best

Kiera Knightly as Anna Karenina

and of course a Woman in her Own Right - Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel who loved her pearls.

Coco Chanel




Gorgeous Chanel handbag!

I am still recovering from surgery and I really miss being able to sew and craft. 

Hence today's title : Pearls.

I have quilts to finish and gifts to make for Christmas, alas.  I am unable to do housework, which I miss, because I love it.   I also won't be able to take a table at the Christmas Craft fair this year. So, I must occupy myself with reading, listening to the radio, watching television and updating my blog with beautiful things I love, such as Pearls.  Every cloud has a silver lining!!  I am counting my blessings.

Happy 5th November.  

S.

If Music be the food of love - play on!

William Shakespeare "If Music be the food of love - play on", Twelfth Night.

I think this piece of music from the Furey Brothers is quite beautiful.  Today is a very rainy Wednesday, I am listening to music and thought I'd share this beautiful haunting piece with you.   I hope you enjoy it.

And for something completely different :  

Maria Callas sings "Vissi D'arte" from Puccini's Tosca.  Magnificent!

Autumn

To Autumn:  "Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness".   John Keats

 Blackberries and rose hips growing on the hedgerows at present.  
The photo is taken from The Country Diary of a Edwardian Lady. 

This delightful book on Nature has given me hours of enjoyment.

Vintage Laura Ashley fabric bedroom cushion for our yellow bedroom.

 Co-ordinating lampshade cover.

New light weight bag for carrying music to choir practice

One of my favourite poems:

The Wayfarer – Pádraic Pearse

The beauty of the world hath made me sad,
This beauty that will pass;
Sometimes my heart hath shaken with great joy
To see a leaping squirrel in a tree,
Or a red lady-bird upon a stalk,
Or little rabbits in a field at evening,
Lit by a slanting sun,
Or some green hill where shadows drifted by
Some quiet hill where mountainy man hath sown
And soon would reap; near to the gate of Heaven;
Or children with bare feet upon the sands
Of some ebbed sea, or playing on the streets
Of little towns in Connacht,
Things young and happy.
And then my heart hath told me:
These will pass,
Will pass and change, will die and be no more,
Things bright and green, things young and happy;
And I have gone upon my way
Sorrowful.

Last of the Summer flowers.

The sweet pea are still blooming and fragrant.  Our Agapanthus didn't bloom this year, we had 21 flowers last year. The weather is still lovely thank God.  Today is the 31st August 2013. I don't know where the year has gone.  The schools have reopened and next week my friends and I will start planning our autumn and winter pursuits.  There will be evening classes to select, hobbies to resume and in my case, back to sewing and choir and choir practice with routine for another year. 

I spent yesterday in the garden enjoying the late August sunshine.  I took a few photos on my Iphone, to remember it by.

Enjoyment doesn't get any better than beautiful late August sunshine in the garden.

Sweet pea in a jug, Oh the beautiful smell!

Fill the house before they're gone!

Even the ladybird was enjoying the sunshine, isn't she gorgeous. I love to see ladyybirds.
 They are a real sign of nice weather.