It’s full-on summer in the Cape, and that means the hydrangeas are at their glorious peak. Whoo-whoo could ask for anything more?
“Not me”, said the owl on the plate.
“Nor us”, said the wide-eyed pair.
It’s all ruffles and curlicues on this summery table. The plate is one of the Nature Table series by Anthropologie, which features an eclectic assortment of creatures. From the Anthropologie website:
Artist Lou Rota has long been drawn to the beauty of the natural world. Her passion for entomology was piqued during the early days of her career, which were spent producing science and natural history documentaries. Today, from her West London studio, Rota designs the whimsical bugs, flowers and birds that grace her ceramics. This set’s vintage-inspired curves exhibit a biologist’s dream assortment.
I like them individually but have yet to figure out how to put them together in one table.
There is a tiger (one of the tables in the Summer Quarterly).
And a bee (one of the tables in Entertablement—The Four Seasons).
There is also a ring-tailed lemur, but you’ll have to wait for that one. 🙂 For now, let’s enjoy our little hooters.
I dug out my wheel-cut goblets.
The chargers and the napkins are both from Pier 1 in happier days. The ruffled edge dinner plate is from Williams Sonoma, and the wooden handled flatware came from World Market (all discontinued).
One final shot of the table in all its glory.
On to more sombre topics, I’m afraid. It’s been a sad week here as we said goodbye to Taylor, our golden matriarch. After sixteen years of cheeky smiles and an endlessly wagging tail, her heart finally gave out.
Ever patient, she was the source of much comfort to Dundee in his early days…
and adult days.
Her incredible woolly coat earned her the nickname “the sheep”.
She loved cavorting on the beach (though it took hours for her coat to dry out!)
When we lost her littermate, Burton, a couple of years ago, we dreaded her loneliness, but she took it in stride.
There is much comfort in knowing that they’re together again.
Godspeed, Taylor. Give our love to all the pets who are there to greet you.
Dear Helen,
My deepest condolences on the passing of your beautiful, beloved Taylor. Our loving furry family members are never with us long enough. May your many loving memories of Taylor help you during this very difficult time.
Thanks very much, Rachelle. She was a real trouper–cheerful to the end. Her breathing had been very laboured for several months, but her appetite was as keen as ever, and she came bounding in from the backyard. We figured as long as she was game, we were ok with it. Her end was mercifully very quick.
Beautiful table Helen! Those little hooters are darling and the yellow and blue look so good together! I’m so sorry to hear about Taylor – I know she had a good life but their time with us always seems too short. My condolences to you and to all whose heart she touched.
Thanks, Kim. We miss her a lot. Seems crazy in a house full of dogs, but her absence is palpable. And it was time. She was plain worn out. Thanks for your understanding. It’s just sad. Right, and sad.
Dear Helen, Thanks for producing such cheerfulness in the face of loss. She looked very tired in one of your last posts, but 16 is a good innings, even for a golden. Don’t we all miss Pier 1? I still have some mushroom plates I got for $1 there…sometimes the odd piece was very cheap. Enjoy the hydrangeas, just as we are. Europe is set for a major heatwave, and there are already forest fires in Portugal. Yikes.
Funny you should use that expression, Beatrice. That’s exactly how we described it – good innings. We miss her, but goodness, she had a great life.
We do all regret Pier 1’s demise! Their online version is a hollow shell of the original. And I haven’t found a replacement. Grrrr.
Soak up the heat while you can get it! Looks like Europe is in for a chilly winter – even talking fuel rationing. Yikes.