What, you say? It’s already time for A Favorite Thing? Again?
Yes, an enthusiastic yes, indeed!
Let’s take a look at a few of the wonderful contributions from last week’s get-together.
Judy, of 20 North Ora, shared her sweet fairy garden with us. If you know Judy, you know that she loves Coca-Cola collectibles, so it seems oh-so-perfect that her garden is in a collectible Coca-Cola crate.
Mary, of A Breath of Fresh Air, shared her one of her favorite things – a sunset safari camel ride on the beach in Broome, Australia. Mary has been traveling quite a bit and has lots of adventures to share on her blog. This looks pretty amazing to me.
And Sandy of The Wonders of Doing, shared such a touching story. This sampler was stitched by her mother and given to Sandy and her husband when they moved into a new home many years ago. Sandy’s brother died in 1986. She asked her sister-in-law if she could have her brother’s lithograph from Boy’s Town – something he had always cherished. She was turned down. Sixteen years later, during a move, the frame for the embroidery pictured above was broken and some damage was done to the embroidery. But when Sandy looked at the damage, she discovered her brother’s favorite lithograph behind the embroidery. Amazing.
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I had something else picked out to share with you this week, but we suddenly have a frost warning for tonight. It’s one of those one-night-only things and I’ve been cutting my remaining flowers and preparing to cover some of my plants.
But what makes me the saddest is that my beloved catalpa tree (photo taken today) with its large green heart-shaped leaves will suddenly drop those leaves overnight. Whenever we have a hard frost, the catalpa sheds its leaves en masse. My catalpa tree is one of my favorite things here at the cottage and as I was looking out my bedroom window this afternoon, I spent some time gazing at my tree trying to memorize its beauty. All that lush green growth will be gone tomorrow.
Now it’s your turn! What do you have to share this week?
You can link up anytime from this evening through Sunday. Make sure you enter the URL of your post. If you’re unsure how to do that, just click on your post title after you’ve published it and copy the information in your browser address window. Come back here, paste the URL into your link entry and there you go! If you have any problems, drop me an email and I’ll help you out. Please link back to this blog on your post. That way, those that read your post and are interested in reading more can do so.
One of my concerns about link parties is that the very reason for them has somewhat gone by the wayside. They’ve become so big and there are so many of them that many bloggers don’t take the time to visit any of the other participants. Link parties are a way to meet new bloggers and share with each other and the only way to do that is to visit each other. So, please, take some time to visit everyone over the next few days. No rush. Stop by, introduce yourself, and leave a comment. It’s the neighborly thing to do.
I read Sandy’s story earlier. Isn’t that something? And that camel photo is amazing. Our ornamental magnolia drops its leaves the same way. It’s like a big plop all at one time. A few more days and it will happen. But don’t be sad. They will be back in just a few months. Have a wonderful weekend’1 xo
You, too!
Hi Claudia, another favorite thing is joining in with your party. Thanks for hosting.
Joy
My pleasure, Joy.
Hi Claudia! Didn’t this week just fly by? Sure did for me. I sooo want to go on a beach safari. That looks like so much fun and I know I will be dreaming of it tonight. Thanks for a wonderful party Claudia!!
Big Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
You’re welcome, Susan!
Thanks bunches for hosting again this week! I am not familiar with the catalpa tree, but I have seen a tree in my area with heart shaped leaves but don’t know the name of the tree. Repurposing vintage jewelry is one of my favorite things, so chimed in again this week.
Enjoy your weekend.
It just might be a catalpa, Glenda. Are the leaves large?
That is such a beauiful tree.
One of my favorite things is the oak in front of our home. It’s a live oak and several hundred years old. It’s also a playhouse for a group of scampering squirrels who keep us entertained. But another favorite thing is days like yesterday, when the cool of fall finally kisses us here in Florida. It was a GLORIOUS day in every sense of that word. Chamber of Commerce weather, and I cherished every minute of it.
XO,
Sheila
I’m so glad that Florida is getting some fall weather. I know my sister loves it when it turns cooler down there.
In our former house I used to sit and watch the neighbor’s catalpa denude itself within an hour. I’d love to sit there and watch it drop the leaves. I also loved to sip a cup of cocoa while doing it. But our catalpa tree was in our vegetable garden and we’d have “baby catalpas” in no time so they don’t leave a fond memory in my heart. Hubs was always pulling them out to save the green beans or rhubarb or the tomatoes. Not a fond memory at all, honey. ;-)
xoxo,
Connie
We have some baby catalpas, too. I just let them be – or cut them back. But they aren’t in a vegetable garden!
Wonderful features Claudia; I need some time to zip back to check them out. I love my trees too… we don’t have as many as you do, but every window I look out has trees and I love them daily, so I know what you mean. :)
Trees are one of my favorite things – we have a lot of them on the property and I’m grateful for that.
Claudia, it is FREEZING here in New England, too. Literally. We’re supposed to drop to below 32 this evening. Hope you show us a photo of your beautiful catalpa tree tomorrow, sans the foliage. I’m sure it’s stark, leafless silhouette will still be beautiful!… Donna
Interestingly, it dropped to freezing last night, and there are leaves falling from the Catalpa but it wasn’t a big dump of leaves. Maybe some will hang on for a while? I’ll keep you posted.
I just love your tree ~ I can see why it brings you so much pleasure. Thanks for hosting this lovely party. :)
You’re welcome!
Okay, so I’ve been wondering what you do with all the leaves after you rake them up?
Thanks for hosting A Favorite Thing. It makes me realize how blessed I am to be surrounded by so many things I love.
We rake them onto a tarp, carry the tarp to the edge of our woods and dump them there.
I’ve never thought of Australian beaches with camel rides – I’ve got to go read all about that!
Soon all the trees will have dropped their leaves here. It’s getting colder and colder every morning (still war in the afternoon though).
I think it’s supposed to be warmer for the rest of the week, but I can see the writing on the wall. Winter is on the way.
Hi! We have Catalpa trees in my area too. Some are VERY tall! Is yours?
Yes, it’s very tall, indeed! We have 3 other Catalpas on the property but they are back in the woods.
Hi Claudia…I’m adding my favorite thing this week. Thanks for hosting this very fun event each week.
Balisha
You’re very welcome, Balisha!
Good Morning, Claudia. Lovely party. I’m delighted to be here. Have a good time and a belated happy anniversary.
Thank you for the the kind words. I’m so glad you’re taking part!
Ahh, a frost. How lovely that would be to experience! (It’s still in the 90’s around here). I gather you get snow where you live? If so, I hope you’ll post lots of photos when the time comes. I’ve never seen more than half an inch of snow before, and that’s only for a few hours….. every decade or so. Lol! I wouldn’t want to experience the white stuff all winter long, but frosty days would be nice.
Kristin, you can rest assured I will share photos of snow. Oh yes. Here’s hoping there’s not a whole lot of it to share, but if we get some, I’ll post photos.
Hi, Claudia, I was going to write a specific blog post to link up to your party this week but then realized the one post I had already done was about one of my favorite things – fall! Thanks for hostessing, I’m back to blogging after a three-week vacation :)
Welcome back, Mary!
Claudia I love your tree! I am enjoying this party while at my Mom’s and finding favorite things here!!
hugs, Linda
I’m so glad you’re enjoying the party, Linda. Have fun at your Mom’s!
Hi Claudia, love that huge tree. Happy I could join in this week.
Rob
Thanks, Rob. I love that tree, too. The leaves have been falling all day long.
Hi Claudia, than you for hosting. I enjoy all your posts. Glad I could join in this week.
Denise
So glad you could join us, Denise!
Claudia – Thanks for featuring my Fairy Garden!! I keep finding things to go in it! My latest is a little copper wheelbarrow. It’s fun to keep collecting.
Have a great weekend.
Judy
Oh goodness, where did you find that wheelbarrow, Judy?
Hi Claudia, thank you for hosting! Can you believe this weather-20’s last night and 70 tomorrow?! Crazy. My leaves have NOT dropped yet-they always wait until it’s very cold!
Wait a minute – it’s going to be 70 tomorrow? Cripes, I cut all my flowers yesterday to save them from the frost and it’s going to be 70??? What the heck is going on?
Hi Claudia,
I can see how it’s one of your favorite things. It’s a grand tree!! Thanks for being a great hostess.
You always come up with such great ideas. I hope you get a chance to relax some tomorrow ;)
Have a great Sunday,
xxx Liz
Hi Claudia! I enjoyed my stroll through your blog this evening. I’ve added your blog to my blog-list and will visit you on a regular basis from now on. I adore your sister. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
I know how you feel about your Catalpa tree…I feel the same way about my Sycamore just outside my window. It’s good that you took the time to photograph it and store memories.
This looks like another lovely party Claudia. I’m anxious to follow these links to some favorite things …Thank you for hosting such a unique party!
Blessings!
I’m sorry I couldn’t participate this week, Claudia, but I wasn’t near a computer on Friday or over the weekend. I love your Catalpa tree! When I was small I would pick up the huge pods that fell into our yard and shake them to hear the seeds rattling.. My grandchildren like to do the same thing with the Catalpas near their house. I hope you’re had a lovely week. I intend to submit something tomorrow for your Favorite Thing part on Saturday. Take good care.