Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Sunporch Shenanigans

There's a little more fun going on in the sunporch this week that I wanted to share with you.  I always have an ivy that sits in my wicker floral container, ok...funeral basket. I hate saying funeral basket. Is that the only time anyone ever had one of these delivered? I guess they were the closest thing to "disposable" back then. so anyway... back to the funeral basket...




I like to keep mine "upbeat" with some seasonal decor thrown in for fun.


So this month it's been an "ode to black cats".
I love any color cats, 
but in my lifetime I've had several of those sweeties
all named...

wait for it...



"Blackie"
I also had an adorable white kitty named "Whitey",
but today we're talkin' black kitties.
I think they get a bad rap.
My last "Blackie" was one of the sweetest girls around.


hmmm...this one could be a tuxedo.
but we'll just say it's black.




My girls were out here helping with the photos and trying to get a nibble
from the Angel Vine I just brought indoors.
They're naughty that way.



I found a wonderful little Elementary Reader a few years ago and used it to make some fun prints. That's a copy of the original 1920's page with another black cat and pumpkin image on top. I've always loved children's book illustrations from the 20's and 30's. When I was a kid, my grandmother had all my dad's childrens' books from the 30's. It broke my heart that someone cleared out the attic stash and threw them all away.
















In just a few days, we'll be gearing up for Thanksgiving and the turkeys will take over. So for this week the owls and black cats, are still on the loose. Even one of my lambs wanted to join the festivities out here by sporting a new scarf...


don't tell him it's just a ribbon with a little glitter...



This is my second post today, the first one was "unscheduled" when I got these photos and texts from my daughter. Just wanted to share them and have a laugh, if you haven't read that post, CLICK HERE

Linking up with these wonderful parties:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Inspiration Gallery at Ella Claire



Here's a Note from Lucy, owner of Bel Monili:

Hi Everyone, Tomorrow is my end of the month sale AND it's my birthday! I'm running the sale Thursday, October 31 (my 33rd birthday! eek!) through Sunday. Use coupon code birthdaybel20 at www.belmonili.etsy.com through Sunday, November 3, 2013 to receive 20% off of your ENTIRE purchase of $10 or more. Since it's Bel Monili's birthday, purchases of $50 or more will receive a FREE 3 pack of pearl bobby pins as a gift, and purchases of $100 or more will receive a FREE quote bracelet of your choosing! This is the perfect time to get your holiday shopping kick-started at bel monili, where you always enjoy free domestic shipping. Happy Halloween!



42 comments:

  1. Love the owls in the birdcage and the cloth black kitty. The framed readers are fun too.

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  2. So pretty! Love the "funeral" basket with all your kitties :)

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  3. Debra, your black kitty decorating is absolutely gorgeous.
    Hugs,
    Kerryanne

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  4. Beautifully done Debra!!! Your kitties are adorable!
    Have a great week and
    Happy Halloween!
    Diana

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  5. hi debra...i just wanted to congratulate you on your gorgeous feature in ArtfulBlogging. I just picked up my copy this evening as my beloved friend, "ParisGal 56" has a feature in it as well. i so enjoyed your article. your words spoke to my heart. well done.

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  6. I love your kitties. Both real and stuffed. I have made stuffed kitties before. I wonder where they are???
    Brenda

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  7. Hi Debra
    Love all your "blackies"! All so cute.
    Kris

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  8. I don't think there has ever been a post that you have made that doesn't inspire me! I have had to breeze by the halloween and fall decor and stay focused on Christmas because of the Christmas tour here so I am enjoying everybody's fall post. Your kitties are adorable. I love your sunporch!
    Happy Halloween!
    Becky

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  9. Love the sun porch - I am afraid that I would never leave there. Love all the decorations and the black kitties.
    I saw the post on your family at the World Series - how fun. So glad that they got to go.
    Have a Booooooooooooo Halloween.
    Mary

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  10. Oh, Debra! You touched my "black cat lovin' heart"!! My sweetie in real life is a delicate, jet black kitty named Luna. Even her pads on her paws, her lips and nose are all black. I love your collection and appreciate the funeral basket as it changes with the seasons. Happy All Hallows Eve!! V

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  11. I love your kitties. Love the vintage jack-o-lantern. I have searched for one for years. Such a wonderful find.

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  12. Love how you tie your collection together with black cats. Perfect for this week!

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  13. Love your porch, 'blackies', and all the kitties!!! Even when they munch on the plants, they're still so cute!!! As a child I had a beautiful black cat with white paws, seven toes on each paw, and a white flash on his chest, his name was Figaro, which my mom thought was so cute since my name is Cleo.......he was my best buddy and lived to be 22!!! My next two black cats were named Sugar, the last one who passed last year was Sam. My aunt had a huge black cat named.......Snowflake....!!! Love the funeral basket, been looking for one for years now....

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  14. Debra,

    You have redefined the black cat! Yes, they have been misjudged, (I wonder if it's just the colour?!), but your little lovelies here today are the cutest, not to mention that sweet, seasonally scarfed lamb!!

    Happy Halloween!

    Poppy

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  15. I love the basket idea and next year I will have to make me one. Thanks for the idea.

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  16. i've said this before, but i just love your sunporch. it's such a fun place to decorate seasonally + change on a whim, and you do it so well! i'd love to have a space where i could do that.

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  17. I always love seeing your sunporch decorated for the seasons and many special occasions...love the basket and how you decorated the birdcage....just bought one at a yard sale and can't wait to decorate it for Christmas!

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  18. Debra, I enjoyed your post a lot! I love all the details, that cloth black cat..., the lamb...and that reader...! I love old children's illustrations too and the way you display it is lovely.
    Besos and congratulations!

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  19. Debra, you are the queen of vignettes and displays! Your 'funeral basket' is certainly much more cheerful than its' original purpose and your feline friends are adorable.
    How fun about your daughter being 'famous', too!

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  20. Great ode to the black cat, Debra! They do suit Halloween so well. Love your cat doll sitting in the basket. You always do such a great job decorating this space. Lots of inspiration and ideas.

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  21. Looks like a lovely place to spend some time. I agree, my black kitties have been very sweet. Not so much my new gray one. ~Roberta

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  22. I love how you mixed your cats with the regular décor. Wondering if you made those adorable kitties?

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  23. Debra,
    A D O R A B L E Black cats all dressed in their finery!!!
    Your Sunporch looks amazing!
    Loved see one of your "girls" caught in the act of nibbling!!!
    EnJOY your porch while we're still having a few warm Autumnal days!!!
    Fondly,
    Pat

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  24. All so very cute!! Love all your sweet Halloween decorations!! Happy week to you! xo Holly

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  25. Sunporch envy once again! I feel the same about those readers. . .

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  26. Love that little cat that was trying to eat the vine--with that face, she could talk her way out of any trouble! Love it!

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  27. Love the sun porch decor and the lamb with the scarf is too cute. Do you think it would be too much to ask for sports teams to dress in seasonal colours to match our posts? (Cute pics.) :)

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  28. You have the cutest things for this holiday! It makes me want to do more....and it's a little late! Just wonderful ideas! Happy Halloween!

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  29. cute, cute, cute! when i was growing up, my easter basket was a funeral basket?!!!!! ohmygosh. happy halloween, debra:)

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  30. Oh I love your back porch and your decor is always so fun. I totally adore you sheep. Don't forget you can still link up to my Inspire Me Tuesday party at www.astrollthrulife.net. Hugs, Marty

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  31. You know I love love all funeral baskets but am opposed to sending actual flowers to funerals.

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  32. How fun to see your daughter and hubby at the game!! What fabulous seats they had!! Wow!! Love the kitties on the sun porch, and those really unique names you came up with!! He he!!
    Hope you're having a good week. Tonight is family night, so I am off to start dinner prep!! Chicken Cassoulet is what's on the menu! It's always so much fun to have the grandies over at the same time. They're a hoot!

    Big hugs, my friend!
    Becky

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  33. Your porch looks fantastic all decked out for Fall and Halloween! Thanks so much for stopping by!!

    Hugs,
    Debbie

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  34. LOL I just laughed through all of this cuteness! :) FUN!

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  35. LOVE LOVE your vintage pieces form the 20s and 30s, and your Halloween sheep.
    Happy Halloween!

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  36. Everything here is just adorable and so up my alley. I love vintage Halloween decor. It's so cute! You have the best knack for bringing it all together perfectly!

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  37. Everything is just charming- love all the little details and of course anything Cat!

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  38. I loved every little bit of your decorating, of course I love the black cat, cause I have a black cat and your decor makes him such a cutie...Those vintage pieces are just so wonderful, such a great collection....

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  39. I love your sunporch, and it looks like you have a good helper kitty!

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  40. You have quite a nice collection of black cats and I can see why you like them so since you've had black cats. What a wonderful way every Halloween to remember them.
    Cindy

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  41. I love your kitties Debr!. Especially the cloth one holding the pumpkin. I love old readers and that's a fun idea to copy and frame a page. The owls in the birdcage are wonderful too! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  42. Please, pretty please, can I come over and just sit and take it all in???? I love your sunporch and LOVE how you have it decorated with the SWEET Black cats. What a shame that your Dad's books got thrown away!!! I don't have anything from MY childhood either, I always wonder where it all went: dolls etc. I am hoping your turkeys are out now so I can come see them too. XO, Pinky

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