Cameo Pendant, Charming Charlie

Today's Joy: Combining Two Things I Love--Photography & Anything Charming Charlie.

Those familiar with my blog will know all about my love affair with the fab jewelry and accessories available at that loveliest of boutiques, Charming Charlie. But if you are new to the wonderment, dear Reader, be forewarned, here there be serious jewelry junkies.

While visiting the Yorktown Center store in Lombard, IL with friends & family to celebrate my birthday last month, we found out about the Fall Fashion's Night Out Photo Contest and I knew I couldn't resist a chance to put all the great jewelry & scarves we bought in front of the camera. If we won, we'd get a $300 gift card to CC. If we didn't, who cares? We had a chance to dress up, look fabulous and have a marvelous time.



V in a gorgeous blue-green scarf, Charming Charlie

So, I called a few friends and they jumped at the chance to get involved. A few days later, we met up in quaint, downtown Geneva, IL near the 3rd Street Shops and had a ball scouting locations to go with our theme and striking a variety of poses. I happily snapped it all. Here are some of my favorite shots from our just-for-fun Charming Charlie Photo Shoot. Thanks to the folks at CC for having fun contests & giving us a chance to show off why we love your fashions so much!

K, wearing jewelry from CC.

Cheetah Boots from CC

V in a Charming Charlie scarf & silver cuff

K in vintage CC jewelry.

K loves those Cheetah boots!

V is all kinds of dramatic in CC accessories

Mmmm, the flowers smell nice & her CC jewelry is fabulous!

We just can't get enough of those CC Cheetah Boots!

V in lovely CC clip-on earrings.

She turns heads wherever she goes...

Yellow, Red & Chocolate Cherry Tomatoes

One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it provides. ~W.E. Johns, The Passing Show

Today's Joy: Dinner Right Out of the Garden.
I am in heaven, Reader. After this morning's amazing church service (a concert of worship music performed by the band Newsong), everyone at Christ Community left in tears and feeling so uplifted! Then I headed over to spend quality time with Mom and later, came home to help Aunt do farm chores. We gathered eggs and fed pigs, cow, chickens and our favorite equine critters. Then, we decided to raid the garden.

Aunt Chef & Uncle's garden is a cacophony of joyful and exuberant growing things. There are bright gladiolas and bachelor buttons mixed in with herbs and broccoli and rows of tomatoes. So many varieties--from wee tiny cherry tomatoes in three colors, to sections of plump, baseball-sized orbs clustered so heavy, they bend the plants to the ground. I oggled and picked them all, piling them in a milk crate to take home. Then the incredible scent of basil drew me over to a whole row of the fragrant herb. I plucked several stems while Aunt dug up potatoes and did some weeding. Nothing like an herb bouquet to awaken the senses!


Gorgeous Potatoes Dug Up This Afternoon.

I had forgotten what a delight it is to be out in the garden picking what you'll eat for supper that same evening. I relished the scent and feel of each warm, fleshy tomato as I twisted it in my hand and felt the stem give way. Later, at home, they all looked so good as I washed them, I had to snap a few shots to share.

Paired with burgers made from our own beef, we enjoyed an entire meal of homegrown deliciousness. What a blessing to have such an abundance! Thank you, Lord, for all that you provide.


Luscious Large Red & Yellow Tomatoes with a Few Heirloom Green Zebras Thrown In.

Earth is here so kind, that just tickle her with a hoe and she laughs with a harvest. ~Douglas William Jerrold, about Australia, A Land of Plenty

Quotes courtesy of The Quote Garden.