A Night at the Opera - Madama Butterfly

A much enjoyed season opening performance on Saturday evening of The Atlanta Opera - Madama Butterfly, at the Cobb Energy Centre.  A memorable experience with beautiful costumes and stage settings, along with the moving music performed by the orchestra as the voices sing out the tale.  The stage was enhanced by the motion picture backdrop with soothing ocean waves, sunsets on the water, a moon-lit sky, and a ship coming into harbor.  A stunning vision with beautiful Kimonos worn by the female cast members, and there were also many Kimonos on display in the lobby.  A much anticipated opera on the 'want-to-see' list and one to remember!

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Madama Buterfly

"For more than a century, audiences have been moved by Puccini’s haunting story of passion, honor, and sacrifice. The tragic tale of lovely Butterfly touches us all, as she experiences a metamorphosis from trusting girl in love to grown woman faced with dismal choices.

Fresh from her triumphant role debut at English National Opera, Russian-American soprano Dina Kuznetsova sings the title role and tenor Adam Diegel debuts as the faithless B.F. Pinkerton. Debut artist Nina Yoshida Nelsen sings Butterfly’s devoted servant Suzuki, and baritone Corey McKern performs the role of Sharpless, the American consul. Music Director Arthur Fagen conducts this extraordinary new production, directed by Atlanta Opera General & Artistic Director Tomer Zvulun. The evocative sets are designed by Erhard Rom with lighting by Robert Wierzel.

Sung in Italian with English Supertitles

New co-production with Castleton Festival & New Orleans Opera"

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The Atlanta Opera Madama Butterfly Synopsis

The ship moves across the water on rolling waves.  This is the view from our seats!

Ready for the performance of "Madama Butterfly"

One of the many beautiful Kimonos on display in the lobby.

A night at the Opera to remember!...

Show and Tell it - Closer Faraway Friends

We had the pleasure of having some old friends from New Zealand, Michael and Iona, come visit with us over the weekend while they were in the U.S. for a few weeks.  They're a great couple we'd met many years ago while we were all living in England, as he and my husband were working together.  

- Photo from their anniversary this year -

The most important reason for their trip to America was for

Welcome November

Here we are at the beginning of November, and looking back over the past year is seems to have come around quickly.  Time now to plan the turning of our clocks back an hour, and making plans for the up coming holiday season.  Time for warmth by the fire and enjoying comfort foods, and gatherings with friends and family.  

Hello November, hello!...  

AND

Speaking of comfort food ...You might enjoy my recipe for:

 Steak and Italian Sausage Chili 

We like it served-up with all the fixin's!  Yum!

That's a big ole bowl of comfort right there!...

Hello Halloween

Happy Halloween!  

Ghosts and goblins and witches too, a night of trick-or-treat-ers, warm Chili and Brunswick Stew!

We shared our Halloween night at the home of our friends with their family, along with more friends.  Our night was warmed by delicious food goodies of homemade Chili, Brunswick Stew, and Pumpkin Bread Pudding, as well as good company.  A little rain and a lot of cold wind, halted much of the Trick-or-Treating, but it did not take away from the evening as we were all warmed by good food and friendship. 

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Sharing a few Halloween memories of my family...

Monday Message

~ My Monday Message ~

We never know if we have a tomorrow. 

Treasure today, and always tell those whom you love

that you love them... 

A Taste of Atlanta

We had a tasty day at "Taste of Atlanta", a day of food and fun!  Always a great event, held annually, with lots of good foods to sample and enjoy, from many new and old restaurants.  We have attended for several years now.  A three day event with ninety restaurants preparing over three hundred delicious bites.  Taste tickets get you tasty tastes of foods and beverages of your choice.  A variety of tastes to satisfy your taste buds and your hunger.

-Taste of Atlanta-

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-Sights and sounds of Taste of Atlanta-

Me and Hubs taking a little break before rounding up more of the good eats, nibbles and tastes!

Our youngest daughter with her very significant other.  We had a great time sharing the experience with the two of them!

This might be thee photo of the day!  Definitely the biggest pretzel I've ever seen!  He did share it with us too.

And, it's always nice when someone offers up their services to take a group photo for us!  We were all feeling quite full at this point and chose sitting for a spell, after enjoying sweets and treats as the finale.

It was tasty day!...

Embracing Fall and all!

With it being Fall and all
...I offer you a glimpse at what I describe as my *embracing* Fall.  I'm growing a little more fond each day of the Fall touches I've added to our decor.  I usually like to keep it simple when it comes to seasonal decorating.  Pulling together objects I already own and displaying them in different ways is how I get started.  I did a little dressing up of our mantel by adding a few goodies.  Now the mantel and I, are both saying  "Welcome Fall" ...I think I just may have caught the Fall-fever! (touching my forehead as to see if I'm feeling okay?).

I made just a few small changes by adding a few items, such as the Fall-colored leaves that I simply attached to my candle sconces, which also got a touch of jute-twine tied into a little bow.  A pair of dressed-up pumpkins, that I already had, fit in perfectly too.  

I especially love my beautiful new Fall floral arrangement and I'm so pleased with how it turned out!  Love those sales items!  From a bundle of faux-flowers, along with the new gorgeous urn ...that I totally fell in love with recently.  I now have this beautiful arrangement that I feel justified in purchasing, with the bargain that it was!  The bronze mirrors, candles and other items are favorites I already had on hand, and were all perfect for adding color, and balance.  A few more of those cute little petite pumpkins nearby and I had the look I was going for.     

A closer view of my Fall floral arrangement, and the sconces all dressed-up for Fall.

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The Breakfast area has a bit of Fall now also.  The table wears a tablecloth dressed with a new Fall table-runner that I happily scored from Tuesday Morning!  You can also see my Baker's Rack off to the right which I shared in a previous post.

Over on the sofa table I've placed in front of the window, a little Fall happened there too!  I thought these sweet little petite pumpkins I painted to lighten them up ...and that were originally bright orange, would be perfectly displayed on the wrought iron candelabra.  I added some pretty burlap and lace ribbon I had on-hand to my flameless pillar candles, which already had some sparkle ribbon on them.  I also added a bit of jute-twine and a bow, of course.  Next to these I have a new candle cage/lantern that I added pine cones to, along with some other Fall flare, an unexpected find and I love that I'll be able to add other seasonal goodies to it as well!  

The candle cage/lantern has a flameless candle inside it. And, I discovered I was able to open the bottom for easy access and can add or change items inside.  I absolutely had to have this after I realized I could do that!  Another great find from the At Home store!-(formerly known as Garden Ridge)

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I added a bit of Fall in the Kitchen too!  Just a few things.  I found the glass canisters recently at Hobby Lobby and thought they were perfect for adding seasonal goodies, and even work for non-edibles as well.  A simple photo frame with leaves inside adds a nice Fall touch, and so does the cute little wooden leaf with acorns that I simply hung from my apple plate.  In the corner is a slate cutting board that also serves as a chalkboard, which I added leaves and the word 'Fall' to.  Fruits and vegetables are natural color choices and fit into the decor.  A tall glass jar of golden acorns adds a little glitz!

I simply added faux leaves to the inside of the photo frame!  I used a little jute-twine to hang it. 

Glass canisters are an easy way to display seasonal goodies, and non-food items too!  

I wasn't looking for much color here, so rice and pistachios worked well, along with the grapevine ball.  More working with what you've got on hand decorating!

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I couldn't resist adding a few Fall touches to the dining room.  I love how this room sparkles, whether it's day or night.  The light dances around the room as it bounces off the chandelier.  Some of my favorite crystal and cut glass items add to the sparkle as well.  

I dressed up my Glittery Gold & Gladiola Wreath with some Fall goodness.  I tucked in Fall colored leaves and pine cones, and in a snap ...it changed with the season!

The Fall color goes well with the bronze color that I have all around my dining room.  I found the square placemats at Bed Bath & Beyond.  I knew they would look just right on my table, with their perfect bronze(ish) color.  A garland of leaves, pine cones and grapes, loosely wraps the centerpiece and crystal sconces, and also adds an extra touch of Fall.  This will also do nicely for a Thanksgiving setting, with little to no changes if I so choose.

I've learned that you definitely don't need a lot of items in order to make an impact, and to add beauty to a space.  When decorating, thinking creatively is my guild to using objects that inspire me, and to play with different groupings until it feels right to me.    

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Usually it's not so easy for me to *embrace* Fall, even when the calendar says it has officially begun, more so because the days are still cranking out eighty degree temps.  And, admittedly I am a warmer season admirer.  But, at late there has been a change, and the 'feel of Fall' is more apparent as the days have been quite pleasant, with cooler evenings.  The colorful transformation into Fall is quickly becoming more visible outdoors, and inside I'm ready for the Fall ...and all! 

Not so ordinary Fall Wreath

I took one look at the wrought iron piece and it screamed "I'm half off, you want me and you know it!", and I knew we needed to be together!  Then instantly in my mind I was planning something out of the ordinary ...crafting a wreath using it!  It was perfect for me.  Not only do I love just about anything wrought iron,  I also love wreaths and making them.  I see this having great potential for many different looks and changes in the future too.  It's one of those gifts that keeps on giving!

I wanted to decorate it and add to my Fall decor, but I didn't want to over do it!  I made a bow for it first.  You may recognize the material I used for the bow ...it's from a mesh bag, the type that contain oranges or grapefruits-which is what mine contained originally.  I can't tell you why I saved that bag, but I'm glad I did and I think it made the perfect Fall bow!  It works perfectly too with the Fall floral picks which I simply secured to the wrought iron with craft wire.  And also the pretty clip-on sunflower, which completes the look.  I added another bow too, one made from jute twine, because that jute twine just works so well with all things Fall!

I love my new 'Not so ordinary Fall Wreath', and I now have it hanging on my front door for all to see and to greet my visitors.  

Something out of the ordinary to extraordinary!...

A Touch of Fall

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I've been having a little fun adding a few Fall touches at home.  This is when my Summer lovin' heart gives in to Fall as I convince myself to just go-with-it and embrace it!  I enjoy changing my Baker's Rack with seasonal and holiday decor.

I suppose it's mostly because it has more space than the mantel, so I can do more with it!  Although sometimes less is more, or even subtle is better.  I purchased just a few inexpensive things, but for the most part I used items I already had on hand ...I love free decorating!  Or as close to it as I can get!

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A gathering of pine cones to fill the cream ceramic bowl dressed with a checked ribbon sits up top, along with a fall assortment with more pine cones, berries and leaves on each side of it.  A few more pine cones to sit perched next to my little white pumpkin and glittery box.

The bronze charger plate rests high above.  My flameless candles already had a sparkle ribbon, I also added a leaf to each then tied them on with jute twine and a bow.  A few more petite pumpkins, and some gold accessories make this feel Fall. 

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I picked up the pretty felt leaves in colors of Fall at Bed, Bath and Beyond for a buck ninety-five, they're actually coasters!  I strung them with jute twine, then I stamped the letters spelling F-A-L-L with gold ink, cut them out and attached them to the leaves.

My daughter and I, while I was visiting her recently, had a quick look-see for some other trash-to-treasure goodies in G Will's-[my name for Goodwill],  and that's where I got the small apothecary jar.  It was a real find at only forty-nine cents!  I had been wanting one too.  A few pine cones, acorns, leaves, and some petite gourds that I painted gold, are all on display inside the jar.  I like it, and think I may have to look for a big sister to go with it.

A trip to the At Home store had me FALLing in love with ...guess Whoo?  Yes, Mr Owl!  He looks right at home here now.  I think he's perfect, and very worth the small cost of seven dollars.   Woot-Woot!  Some other gold touches along with a little sparkle, and this shelf says Fall ...Literally!  

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A few wine accessories are displayed here with the grapes wine bottle holder and wine stopper [a gift from my In-Laws from years ago, and I still love it!]  A round glass cylinder I added wine corks and a candle to, as well as a ribbon and bow to dress it up a bit.  A bottle of wine [one of my favorites] in the wine-carrier.

The wine cork trivet, which I purchased earlier and put together, sits in a pretty serving dish, and topping those is the sweet little *handmade* pumpkin I recently featured with a tutorial and you can learn how to make one here, if you like.

I tucked in my dish towel that has one of my favorite phases on it, Live, Laugh, Love!  All of the above, along with a few other items, I already had on hand!  So no extra cost for this ...free decorating!  Yay! 

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This bottom shelf is home to a picnic basket, I threw a little cover on top of it using a Fall floral table runner, folded in half.  Beneath the covered picnic basket, sits my beautiful gold tray, it's also a favorite of mine and a treasured gift from my youngest daughter.  A set of gold sconces sit to each side adding to the color scheme, and actually I haven't decided where to use them yet and they are too pretty to put away, or out of sight!

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Here's one more look at it all put together!  I think I did a nice job of adding some Fall, and Fall color to enjoy throughout the Fall season.  And this will take me right into Halloween and Thanksgiving, when if I choose to, I can add or change just a few things easily and inexpensively.  I like easy, and inexpensive...That's my kind of decorating!

I've fallen for FALL!...