Hedge Rows and Horse Apples

Bois D'Arc Tree with Fallen Fruit Below on the Right

On a recent visit to Dallas I learned about something new. My friend, Susan, introduced me to the Bois D' Arc or Osage-orange tree. Seems this tree is native to the Red River drainage areas of Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. It is also widely grown in many parts of the US. Originally these trees were planted to create a hedge row or wind break.

Yellow-green Fruit of the Bois D'Arc Tree

It's the fruit that made me take an interest. The Bois D'Arc tree produces the most interesting lime green spherical fruit in the fall. Susan calls them horse apples, though horses don't eat these. They are basically an inedible fruit. Once these balls of green ripen, they fall to the ground. If you look closely in the first photo you can see some lying just to the right under the tree.

Clusters of Fruit on a Bois D'Arc Tree

Susan and I gathered up a sack of the ripened fruit with the thought that it would make a colorful fall display in our homes. I was surprised at how heavy these balls of green were. Most of the balls I picked up were the size of a large grapefruit and weighed over 1.5 pounds each. You can imagine how heavy a bowl full is.

More Horse Apples Ready to Fall

The fruit of this tree is filled with a sticky sap, so they feel a bit sticky to the touch. Unlike a smooth grapefruit, the horse apples are bumpy. They are covered with clusters of rounded bumps which make them rather distinctive.

Wooden Container of Horse Apples and Ceramic Acorns

I first lined this wooden box with wax paper because of the stickiness of this fruit. Then I piled them in on one another and added some ceramic acorns that I found at Tuesday Morning for $1 a piece.

Close Up View of a Horse Apple

You can see the distinctive covering of this fruit in this close-up view. It almost looks like clusters of kernels of corn on a cob.

New Fall Decor For Our Sun Porch

I'm thrilled to have discovered this new organic decor. I think the punch of lime green is perfect with the rich earth tones of the fall season. Thank you, Susan, for introducing me to the funny fruit of the Bois D'Arc tree.

Click here to read more about the Bois D'Arc tree and horse apples.

Hope you enjoyed my contribution to Outdoor Wednesday this week. Please leave a comment to let me know you stopped by today. Then join Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer to see more photos of the great outdoors.

It's a Camïeu Blue Monday

Hanging French Shelf with Camïeu Blue Quimper Pottery

With the exception of a small blue willow tea set, which you can read about here, we don't have the typical collection one thinks of for blue and white pottery. Ours is not Chinese, nor is it Delft or English. What we do have is a small group of French faïence done in the camaïeu blue technique.

Unmarked Quimper Secouette or Snuff Bottle

It's once again time for Blue Monday with Smiling Sally so a perfect opportunity to share a group of French faïence done in the camaïeu technique. Camaïeu is a technique where by an object is decorated in varying shades of one color. In this case blue. Pieces are often outlined or shaded in a darker shade and then accented with lighter shades of the same color family.

HB Quimper Doughnut Shaped Teapot with Missing Lid

Though beautiful examples of entire scenes painted in camïeue blue were produced, we unfortunately don't have any in our personal collection. Our pieces painted in this technique are in the fleur de lys decor, of which this doughnut shaped tea pot is a classic example. You can see the outline done in the darkest color and then the use of two lighter shades of blue. All this done on a white glaze blackground.

HB Quimper Porte Bouquet on Rectangular Base

HR Quimper Tri-Lobed Footed Saucer with Three Small Feet on the Base

Most of our pieces in this decor were produced by HB Quimper. The above saucer is of HR Quimper production. One can see that the decor varies little between these two faïenceries.

HB Quimper Secouette (Front on Left, Reverse on on Right)

This little secouette or snuff bottle was quite a find. Often these small pieces were not marked, but this one bears the mark of HB Quimper on the reverse seen with the ermine tail. It also retains the original cork with wire pull. It is rare to find a secouette with its original cork in place. I've not attempted to remove the cork because of fear it would pull apart, but I can shake the secouette and hear that it indeed has something inside. I suspect it is extremely aged snuff.

Pair of HB Quimper Shell Shaped Dishes

with HB Quimper Heart Shaped Secouette

In Brittany one is never far from the sea, so these little scalloped shell dishes are the perfect shape to reflect a life tied to the sea. The pair shown on either side of the secouette are very delicate in feel, and they are very small in size as you can see compared to the small secouette. They are less than 3.5" x 4.5".

Reverse of HB Quimper Shell Shaped Dish with Mark

The reverse side is also interesting. These little dishes sit on a rimmed base, and the mark includes a G, which I suspect is an artist signature.

HB Porte Carte

This little porte carte was made to hold a small card, perhaps to mark one's place at the table or to hold a small menu card. I have to confess that I've a passion for both porte carte forms and those of secouettes. I like the textural feel of holding these little treasures of the past in the palm of my hand. I'm particularly pleased we have this one because it is done in camïeue blue, and it is the only example in our group of camïeue blue that features a figure.

Reverse of HB Porte Carte

The reverse does feature the fleur de lys, but the feel is very different from the typical fleur de lys pattern shown in the above photos.

Unmarked Perfume Faïence Flask

This last piece doesn't qualify as a camïeue piece, but I have it displayed with the group because it seems to fit in. This is a perfume bottle, much the size and style of a secouette.

Reverse Side of Perfume Flask

You can see from the wording on this side that this was made for Guy Parfumeur. Coeur de Bretagne indicates the heart of Brittany, but perhaps this is simply a reference to this piece being a souvenir of Brittany. I've had no success tracking down any information on this parfumeur. The piece is unmarked other than the references on this side. If anyone has any ideas or knowledge of this piece, please share.

If you enjoyed my contribution to Blue Monday, please leave a comment below to let me know you stopped by for a visit.

Then click here to go over to the QCI blog where Cerelle has been sharing an ongoing story of her youth spent in France. Today's Blue Monday post features pieces in her collection that were produced with this camïeue technique.

Then click here to go to Smiling Sally's for a list of other Blue Monday posts.

Pink Inspiration Barbie

It was Halloween and who should appear, but Barbie in PINK!

Personalized purse and all the elegance . . .

of long white gloves, pearls and a pink fur capelet. Not to mention her very own pony!

Barbie and her pony trotted off on their trick or treat journey through the neighborhood. Before leaving they left this message to give to each of you,

Happy Pink Saturday!

With that in mind, you should trot yourself on over to Beverly's @ How Sweet the Sound for a list of the other Pink Saturday posts.

Amazing Pink Sight on Halloween Night

Once in a blue moon, Halloween falls on a Saturday. These little creatures flew in to give a little scary pink for a Pink Saturday Halloween.




The above photos were taken by my brother-in-law's friend, Karen Moore. She just happened to look out her window to see these night feeders at the humming bird feeder.

Since today is Halloween, I'm also linking this post to Fiberdodles Halloween Blog Party. Click on the Smile Box below to "Trick or Treat" at my place.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Best Witches and

Happy Halloween from my web site to yours!

Join the parade to go on over to Beverly's for a list of Pink Saturday posts and to Fiberdoodles to find more sites with Halloween treats.

Thanks for stopping by. Don't forget to leave a comment below so I know who was here.

Tea for Two & Witches Brew

Oh, my! What's this out on our terrace? It looks as if Cleo and her black cat are having a spot of afternoon tea. They must have heard that Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch likes to celebrate on Thursdays and set a special table in her honor.




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!

The table this afternoon is set with 

a sweet set of cups and 

saucers from ppd Porcelain.

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?

Whooooo do you think

 is looking down on these two now?

You guessed it, and this little hoot owl invites you to fly on over to Susan's @ Between Naps on the Porch where an abundance of fabulous tablescapes awaits your viewing pleasure.

You might also want to visit Fiberdoodles for more Halloween fun.