Halloween Garden Party

Let's Make Halloween 2020 Beary Special

Rabbit, Rabbit!

Here we are leaping into a new month again!

Welcome November!

October was truly a delightful month here in Austin.

A dear, long time friend sent me the beautifully calligraphed rendering 

of a favorite poem, October Gave a Party, by George Cooper.

It pretty much sums up our beautiful October.

October definitely gave reason for a party in the garden.

A Beary Special party!

A very talented and generous friend, 

Bobbie of Rollinghill Cottage and Studio

mailed me a package for a Halloween gathering 

she knew I was planning for my little great nieces.  

Making memories with these two precious girls

 in my life is a priority for me.

Definitely treats in these bags!

No tricks in sight!

Our cooler sweater weather was perfect for 

hot chocolate among the profusion orange zinnias.

I added lots of pumpkins to give the feel 

as if we were in a pumpkin patch.

\

Caramel corn, chocolate Jack-o-lanterns, and 

Halloween Oreos were tasty treats.

I used a special Halloween kit from Bobbie 

to add hats and masks to baby pumpkins.

Bobbie packages up  and sells wonderful themed 

kits for making holiday decorating a snap!

Marshmallow ghosts were an added fun touch.

This charming duet look as if they 

are off to a masquerade ball!

With all these whimsical touches, I couldn't 

resist setting up a little tablescape.

I simply used my placesettings and flowers from my previous

table here, and added a black plate to hold the baby pumpkins.

Take home treats for the girls were cute ceramic kitty bowls 

filled with chocolates, a stack of the Oreos, a cute face mask for school, and their special bears from Bobbie.

I packaged it all up in a gift bag 

along with the baby pumpkins.

And that, my friends, made 

Halloween 2020 Beary Special!

Our lone Trick or Treater!

Sadie is always ready for a treat!

Love Your Creativity @ Life and Linda  Sundays on Silverado @ House on Silverado 

You're the Star @ Electric Red BarnHappiness is Homemade @ Bluesky at Home  Inspire Me Monday @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia    Celebrate Your Story @ Celebrate and Decorate  Keep in Touch @ Let's Add Sprinkles  Over the Moon @ Marilyn's Treats 

Tuesday Turnaround @ Bluesky Kitchen 

All About Home @ Common Ground  Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop @ Electric Red Barn
Share Your Style @ French Ethereal  Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch
Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner Charming Homes and Gardens @ Shiplap and Shells  Embracing Home and Family @ The Everyday Farmhouse   Farmhouse Friday @ The Painted Hinge

Black Hat Society Breakfast

It's the last week of October 2020, and

I've noticed a lot of activity around here.

The girls, as I call them, you know, 

members of the Black Hat Society,

have flown in to gather round the table.

They each have their own personality, and

rest assured, each one is a good witch, 

ready to help with Halloween fun.

I was asked to style a Halloween table with elements 

from my collection of French Quimper pottery.

19th Century Quimper Plate Marked HB Only

Photo Courtesy of Lucy Williams

Quimper pottery comes in various forms and decor,

though Halloween isn't a typical motif.

The antique witch plate is not in my collection, but it inspired this pair of

limited edition witch plates which were produced in 2010.

Join me for breakfast with "the girls".

Let's eat, drink, and be scary!"

We can start with a pumpkin muffin.

A mug of coffee or tea?

Sit and visit with these sweet girls 

while I prepare our breakfast.

You might note the plates are not as detailed as the antique version,

yet I find them  charming for a touch of whimsy on the table.

A different witch and border on each plate.

Do you have a favorite?

I used my favorite black and white ruffled linens from 

Crown Linen Designs as my base and layerd them 

with a smaller ruffled black placemat, green rimmed charger,

and orange and black buffalo check napkins.  

Silver flatware. with French ivory handles, is vintage.

Our dining room table is a dropleaf that opens to an oval.  

It is not easy to find table linens that offer a good fit, 

so generally I simply use placemats.  

For this table, I wanted to repeat the orange and 

black buffalo check, but my round cloth was too small.

What I did was lay it crosswise on the center of the table and then folded it to make pleats on either side of the center line.  

I liked the look, especially the ruffle effect that was 

a nod to the ruffled placemats and napkins.

My friend Rita @ Panoply  taught me how to

make these cute witch hat napkin folds.

You simply roll a ruffled napkin, slide down a ring,

and then fluff out the ruffle at the base to create the illusion of a brim.

They stand up perfectly and make the cutest witch hat!

Be sure to pop over to visit Rita where she shares beautiful tables.

Waffles with berries and whipped cream and 

a side of sausage is the menu for the morning.

You will find previous posts on this group of ladies below.

Eat, Drink, and Be Witchy

Tea For Two and Witches Brew

Witches Tea Party

To read more about the Quimper witch plates go Here.

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃 Happy Halloween! 🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

Love Your Creativity @ Life and Linda  Sundays on Silverado @ House on Silverado 

You're the Star @ Electric Red BarnHappiness is Homemade @ Bluesky at Home  Inspire Me Monday @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia  Make It Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House   Celebrate Your Story @ Celebrate and Decorate  Keep in Touch @ Let's Add Sprinkles  Over the Moon @ Marilyn's Treats 

Tuesday Turnaround @ Bluesky Kitchen 

All About Home @ Common Ground  Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop @ Electric Red Barn
Share Your Style @ French Ethereal  Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch
Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner Charming Homes and Gardens @ Shiplap and Shells  Embracing Home and Family @ The Everyday Farmhouse   Farmhouse Friday @ The Painted Hinge

Celebrating the Black Cat ~ National Black Cat Day

~ National Black Cat Day ~

October 27th

Welcome Friends!

Black Cat, Black Cat

Author Unknown

Black cat, Black cat

Looking for a witch.

All around the

Night is dark as pitch.

You can see because

Your eyes are green.

Black cat, Black cat

This is Halloween!

Black cats and witches seem to go together at Halloween, and we've a few who have taken up residence here at HFTS.

Little Miss can usually be found 

in the the pumpkin patch.

While Cyrus gleefully bounces about in 

Miss Sadie's basket. No brooms for this pair.

Many of these guys like to lounge around on 

the bare branches of this spooky tree.

A Halloween Tale

Nancy Russell

Black cat prowling, stalking slow

Its shadow appeared in the pumpkin's glow.

Arched and stretching its silhouette,

It gave a yowl I can't forget.

On Halloween night, frightened as could be,

That sight and sound sent chills through me.

I still remember and it makes me smile,

What happened next put me in denial.

For there on the porch, as cute as could be

Was the neighbor's kitten for all to see.

We have costumed kiddies

and rolly polly kitties.

Black Cats on wheels and Black Cats that sing.

There is the Witch Cat found among the 

pages of this old English tale and . . .

This precious little Black Cat creeps through the pages 
of this charming little Cuddle and Read story about 

Halloween Night. 

 If you have little ones at home 

I highly recommend this precious story.

Dapper Sam likes to mingle 

among the pumpkin people.

Bella, Birdie, and Boo 

can be seen popping up in the nearest pumpkin patch.

Along with their friends, 

Muffin and Cupcake.

Miss Sophie will be 

practicing her latest circus act.

Rosie is our scardy cat!

We are Over the Moon about our Black Cats.

Oh, my! It looks as if Cleo and her black cat 

are having a spot of afternoon tea to celebrate 

National Black Cat Day.

Cleo likes to sip a cup of her special witches brew 

tea in the late afternoons before her nightly activities. 

 All you need is one glance at Cleo to see that she is a sweet, friendly witch. She came to live on the premises over 20 years ago. Cleo is known for her good deeds.

Mr. Barnaby, Cleo's "Cat Friday" is quite the gentleman, 

always attired in his silk vest and best bow tie. 

 He is ever present by Cleo's side to 

help her with her every need.

All the black cats in the neighborhood usually 

 like to "hang" about in the trees in envy of this pair.

A fresh steaming pot of 
witches brew tea is Cleo's favorite.

Mr. Barnbaby 
serves it up with style.

Cleo enjoys a bit of handwork during the "off season" 

and has spread today's tea table with one of her hand appliqued linens. 

 This one depicts the haunted house that sits on the hill across the creek. 

 Too spooky for Cleo and Barnaby though!

Care to join this delight pair?

Looks like Witchy Wanda and 

her green eyed cat are still hanging about. 

 They must be so envious!

Yes, you can see it in his eyes 
that he is "green with envy"!

Is that a scowl 
on his face?

Cleo and Mr. Barnaby don't seem to be a bit 

bothered though as they relax and enjoy the witches' 

brew tea among the flutter of falling leaves.

I wonder what good deeds 
they have planned for tonight?

Gazette94: Le Chat Et Les Corbeaux   The Cat and the Raven

Perhaps a little stitching before the nights end.

It is a full moon!

Wishing everyone a 

Happy National Black Cat Day!

Also Joining

Dishing It and Digging It @ Life and Linda  Mosaic Monday @ Normandy Life
You're the Star @ Electric Red Barn

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings Make It Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House
Over the Moon @ Marilyn's TreatsThe Scoop @ Cedar Hill Ranch Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru LifeWow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olsen Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome LifeShare Your Style @ Vintage NestVintage Charm @ My Thrift Store Addiction, Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound