Beautiful Oral Gratification…

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© Khrystyna Kazakova

Oysters on the half shell, arranged on a large platter of shaved ice, one by one polish the woman’s tongue with silken saltiness. – from A Natural History of the Senses by Diane Ackerman

Preparing for a weekend of sampling delicious exotic cuisine…

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Crown of flowers…

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Tears, idle tears, I know what they mean, 
Tears from the depth of some divine despair
Rise in the heart, and gather to the eyes,
In looking on the happy autumn-fields,
And thinking of the days that are no more.
from Tears, Idle Tears by Lord Tennyson

The yellow flowers in my front door wreath evoked vivid memories of buttercup, daisy, and dandelion crown making not only with my daughters but also with my childhood friends – almost forgotten.

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Decorating Tip

I made the wreath from a Pottery Barn “Bittersweet” garland I found at my local store yesterday. I fixed it into a round shape with picture frame wire and then added some vintage amber buttons that looked like berries for more color (using embroidery floss to tie them to the grapevine). A lovely striped grosgrain ribbon worked well for the bow.

Beautiful Radiance…

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© Khrystyana Kazakova

You show the lights that stop me turn to stone
You shine it when I’m alone
And so I tell myself that I’ll be strong
And dreaming when they’re gone.
lyrics from Lights by Ellie Goulding

I trust my inner light to lead me out of the darkness…

Our happiness…

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© Joan Currie – Mixed media

The stars will be watching us,
and we will show them
what it is to be a thin crescent moon.
You and I unselfed, will be together,
indifferent to idle speculation, you and I.
The parrots of heaven will be cracking sugar
as we laugh together, you and I.
In one form upon this earth,
and in another form in a timeless sweet land.
from A Moment of Happiness by Rumi

I love to linger in our own sweet, sweet world…

Model: Lauren DiMarco

Scrumptious velvet pumpkins…

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© Joan Currie – Velvet pumpkins

And the prayer, which my mouth is too full to express,
Swells my heart that thy shadow may never be less,
That the days of thy lot may be lengthened below,
And the fame of thy worth like a pumpkin-vine grow,
And thy life be as sweet, and its last sunset sky
Golden-tinted and fair as thy own Pumpkin pie!
from The Pumpkin by John Greenleaf Whittier

I love to decorate for the harvest season!

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Decorating Tip

Thanks to YouTube videos (check out EAB Designs), I sewed some beautiful velvet pumpkins to add to my collection of bought ones. Inspired by the new Restoration Hardware catalog, I also dyed a beige vintage tablecloth given to me by my favorite aunt (who passed away several years ago) a light grey color for a more contemporary look. I think she would approve!

Leaving town blue..

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© Joan Currie – Blue bridge in Dublin, Ireland

Our last impression of her as she turned the corner was that smile, flung backward like a handful of flowers.  Wallace Stegner, Crossing to Safety

Trying to make every parting a beautiful memory…

© Joan Currie – Morning blues – I will miss the lattes and banana bread!

© Joan Currie – My favorite antique store…

Sucker punch…

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© Khrystynana Kazakova

She wasn’t exactly sure when it happened. Or even when it started. All she knew for sure was that right here and now, she was falling hard and she could only pray that he was feeling the same way.
from Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

Is the love that takes your breath away too painful to bear?