Through the looking glass....

Hello friends!
I'm so happy you're here... it promises to be quite the Mad Tea Party this year.
(Thank You Vanessa!)

The Mad Hatter and I would like to invite you to have a walk in the garden with us.
Smell the air, so fresh after Midsummer rain...


We'll stroll through the wild roses..
This pale pink beauty has arrived in my garden through mystery.. it was not planted here.. it simply grew out of the ground one year.
How lucky!


Daisies make me happy.


The self-proclaimed queen at the moment is the peony.
She shines.


But let us not look down on those flowers just past their prime, I find beauty in them too....

Oh the rain....

It brings us looking glasses, let us show you...

Get close.

Very close.
And peek in....

There is a whole new world in there.

One that calls you name... listen to its whisper....

You never know... you can find your way to a secret garden...

What might grow in this garden?

My guess is teeny tiny toad stools...

Leave me a comment and this tiny treasure could head your way ;)

I'll randomly pick the lucky winner next saturday, that should give you partiers enough time to travel the distances sipping some tea and enjoying cakes (I saw some delicious pink ruffled ones earlier...)

The Mad Hatter and I would like to thank you all for stopping by!

Please grab a small cake with you before you leave.. right by the looking glass there.. you can't miss them.. they have little tags that say "Eat me"...

I have a feeling eating one can take you on an adventure...

Get your teacups ready...

It's time for some fun soon.

I missed Vanessa's Annual Mad Tea Party last year as we were in France, but this year I have someone eagerly waiting....

I wonder if Alice will show up?

An October day...

Welcome my friends!
It is once again time for Miss Vanessa's magical Halloween Bloghopping Party!
I thought we could enjoy some fresh air.

There really isn't anything like October... it really feels like magic.
Magnificent colors,

clear crisp skies.. a nippiness in the air.

It's that time of year when in the city you might come across a pine all dressed in red..


There are berries in the rowans waiting for the birds.


And you feel like skipping through the leaves just to hear the rustling sound :)

At home you notice the hostas have donned on the most beautiful shade of yellow,

as has the chestnut tree.

Would you like to join me for a walk?

We couldn't have better weather...
Put on a scarf and bring your gloves, ok?

Isn't it pretty?

I think we'll take the path in the woods..

Oh but lets get off the path and wander in the woods..

A much better idea!

Because you can always find magical things in there.. just look at this..

It looks unreal.. I don't even know what it is called..

It cooled down as soon as we walked off the path.. luckily we can still catch a few warm rays of the sun. I'm putting on my gloves now..

There is so much magic in nature if you just get close enough..

Don't you think?

This must be where fairies come to drink.

Aaahhh...see these were what I was hoping to find!
Fly argaric mushroom..

Some are feeling bashful and are trying to disguise themselves..

Poisonous but oh so beautiful.

Wait...

Did you hear that?

I swear I heard a giggle...

Seems we are not alone here..

Meet Miss Emmeline Ghoulé.

She wants to send Halloween greetings to all my blogland friends.
Now however she will quickly run home before the sun sets.. she's quite afraid of the dark, poor thing.

Look at that..

The setting sun is giving everything a pink glow...

And once it gets very late and very dark, a new misty kind of magic takes over my street.

And magical it is...

Because only if you believe in magic are the misty webs zig zagging the branches of the silver birch revealed.

How lucky are we?

Tea party of surprises and adventure (plus a give away!)

A beautiful day.
The sun is shining as brightly as sunflowers.



Under the sun, next to the lilacs and apple tree is a table set up for a tea party.



Tea cups brimming with sugared delights.



And teacups brimming with.. teacups.
Lovely mismatched teacups.
Not one alike.



It was a small teaparty for a Girl With Stripey Socks..




..carrying a sunbrella...



Who is she having tea with?
In stripey cups...



It is the Queen.
Why is she scowling so?
Is the tea too hot?
Or the sun in her eyes?
Or is her ruffle tickly?




The Girl is smiling though.



There is lovely cake.




Aaahhh.. good...
The cake makes the Queen smile.



But what is this..!?




A White Rabbit has appeared carrying a watch... muttering to himself how very late he is.




"Late late late... my wife will not be happy"




The Queen finds this very silly, as she has noticed the watch has no hands..
What is he late for?



The Queen decides to use her magic ring to follow the silly White Rabbit.


Three taps and she finds the watch again.

Perched on a sweet little house.

With the White Rabbit and his wife greeting them on the porch.

It seems we have been invited to a party!

Wishes of happiness are cast.

Lanterns adore the trees in bloom.

The guests have arrived.

What a delightful party it is.

Just look at these tables.

Cakes.

Donuts.

Cookies.

Pies.

Sweets.

Waffles.

Mrs Beagle with her best summer hat on...

..Mr. Fox has his party hat..

Miss Black Cat put on her best pearls and is discussing the price of geraniums with the Bunny girls.

The White Rabbit is offering Colorful Cat some chocolate cake.

Such laughter.

That magical sound has carried far...

..even more guests from far away are arriving.

How lucky there are picnic blankets set up, plenty of room for everyone.

Won't you sit down?

Have some cake and tea?

There is space next to Mr. Crocodile.

Don't worry he is a vegetarian.

Mrs. White Rabbit has been baking all week.

Aaahhh.. an empty blanket for us.

Let's rest our legs.

Prop up a pillow,

Smell the roses.

There will be fireworks later tonight.

Oh what fun we will have!

Mr. and Mrs. White Rabbit hope you have enjoyed the tea party as much as Girl With Stripey Socks and the Queen have.

In fact they have eaten so many goodies that they can barely move.

A nap might be a good idea on this soft grass... under the trees.. watching the clouds.. mmm...

I have... I mean Mrs. White Rabbit has two prizes to give away. Names will be drawn next Friday, July 3rd.

Both prizes are dollhouse size (1:12). One includes two mugs of coffee and blueberry puff pastries...

...and the other is a box of fruits.

Both have been handmade by me, the dishes have been handmade by a friend.

To enter the drawing, please leave a comment and your email.

And now that you've found me, do stop by again :D