Child(ren) of the Corn

So after an up to date blog post yesterday, here we are back to summer clothing.  I absolutely love this dress.  It's got a twirly skirt, sweet little buttons, and a sailor-ish sort of back.  I also adore the watercolour print of the blue and white flowers.  My mum bought me the necklace at a Titanic Tea Party we went to back when the film first was out.  We got to dress up in clothing inspired by the 1910s and have tea and scones.  It was really lovely.  I saw the necklace, and of course had to have it.  I don't wear it often.  It usually stays in the dark green velvet pouch with the white star on the closure.  I must make it a habit to bring it out more often.

You will notice that these photos are not taken at my usual location.  When I went to the Conrad Weiser Homestead, they were having some sort of Frisbee tournament all over the grounds.  I didn't want to be there awkwardly taking photos.  It might be a different story if I had a proper tripod for the camera I use.  Since I don't I use a stool and then put the lid of my typewriter on top of the stool with the camera on top.  It's definitely an interesting sight to see me running back and forth to that contraption.

I drove around through the mountains nearby until I found a place that I could use as my backdrop.  The title of this blog post is inspired by the location (and obviously a pun on the film).  It turned out to be a really nice place to take photos, despite the grass and weeds getting into my shoes.  Thankfully since it was in the mountains, the road is less traveled, but there were still a few cars to slow down as they passed and give me funny looks.  I'm just glad the farmer didn't come at me with a shotgun or something.

 

Outfit Details:

vintage 1950s dress, belt {thrifted}

vintage handbag, Le Cœur de la Mer necklace, Baker's shoes {gifted}

Princess Diana/Catherine ring {Boscov's}

Lastly, there's dear Tucker.  He looks quite depressed in that photo.  I took it the day after we had to put Harley down.  Tucker lost his best friend, and I lost my best furry brother.  It was a sad day, but I thought maybe doing something normal like taking outfit photos would help.

Do you have any interesting stories to tell about taking photos of yourself?  How about ways you cope through difficult times?

Want to see what photos didn't make it onto the blog?  Head over to Facebook for a gander.

My Week According to Instagram

Wow, time flies...  So this past week was the Emmy's.  I didn't get to watch it since I had to work, but that didn't stop me from admiring the fashion!  There were some really stunning dresses there, below I document some of my favourites.

It was a bit of another tough week.  Yesterday was a week since we had to put Harley down.  Then I found out my cat, Midnight, has cancer.  The 26th was the 21st anniversary of my grandmother passing.  I went to visit her on Friday when I had off which was very emotional, but I felt like I needed to do that.

I do have some things to look forward to this coming week.  I'm taking a trip to NYC tomorrow.  Then, this weekend I have some family coming down from Maine for a visit.  We will be going to the Renaissance Faire around here.  It's really swell.  Sort of raunchy, lude humor, but still a blast.

1. Holding Harley's paw

2. Emmy time! Here are my favourite dresses: Kat Denning

3. Ginnifer Goodwin

4. Tina Fey

5. Zooey Deschanel

6. Kelly Osbourne

7. Sarah Hyland

8. January Jones and Jessica Pare

9. Christina Hendricks

10. Whitney Port

11. Michelle Dockery

12. My kitty, Midnight

13. My grandmother's necklace from the 1940's

14. My grandmother wearing said necklace

15. My grandparents shortly after they were wed

16. A Renaissance painting

17. Friday photoshoot

18. Fall weather at last!

19. Visiting my grandmother's grave

20. Smudger after a bath

21. Handmade velvet pouch

22. Watching Mad Men and girl crushing

How was your weekend?  Anything interesting happen?

A Halo for Harley

As many of you may know by now, we lost our beloved Golden Retriever, Harley, on Saturday.  For more about what happened, read this post.

Harley was one of a kind, which I'm sure you could say about all pets.  He was loving, loyal, unselfish, generous, just the best companion anyone could have ever asked for.  Even though he was truly my mum's dog, he and I still had a special bond.  He was my ginger twin.  When I still lived at home, he would come into my bedroom for comfort during thunderstorms.  From now on, every time there is a storm, it will make me think of him and how he would seek comfort with me.

It's never easy to lose a loved one.  Someone who has been there and has seen you at your best and worst and loved you no matter what.  It's going to be a hard road ahead, trying to get over this horrible bump in the path.  Harley may be gone physically, but he will always be with us in spirit and in our hearts.  It makes me nervous for the future, all of our pets are getting older...

Relaxing after a swim in his younger days.

Mum and her best friend.

Treat time!

Tasha and Harley, friends until the end.  It's sad they are both gone.

Harley and Cocoa.  She was my baby, but she passed away last year.

Tucker and Harley.  Best buds and brothers.  Tucker is lost without him.

Time to go for a hike with Mummy!

But where are you going to sit...?

Enjoying a bone.

In his element.  Harley loved nature.

Who could resist that face?

Doggy sitting and giving treats.

Now this is my kind of afternoon...

I love you!

Man, I could get used to this Christmas thing...

Taking my ginger twin for a walk.

Hanging out with Tucker.

Surrounded by love on his last day.

Cuddling with Harley.

Thirsty?

I will miss that chubby paw.

Mummy's boy until the end.

The best companion.

Harley Davidson

16 February 2001 - 22 September 2012

I will miss your beautiful eyes.  I will miss your kisses.  I will miss your hugs.  I will miss celebrating our birthdays together.  I will miss seeing you tear open presents.  I will miss your bark.  I will miss your unselfishness.  I will miss your loyalty.  I will miss your silent comfort.  I will miss your companionship.  I will miss your unconditional love.  I will miss you.

My Week According to Instagram

This week has been a tough one- full of highs and lows.  The week started off like any other normal week.  I made some muffins because my mum gave me ripe bananas.

All week I was excited for the concert on Wednesday.  But then on Wednesday my mum called me to tell me she was taking her/our dog Harley (I grew up with him so even though he was technically hers, I loved him so) to the vet because he was still not acting like himself after a week or so.  I carried on with my day expecting her to call me, but she didn't for quite awhile.  So I phoned her and she was upset.  They were going to take Harley into emergency surgery because his spleen and liver were grossly enlarged.  The doctor said he might not make it.

I sped my way to the vet's and got to see Harley before they took him back for the procedure.  He got through the surgery fine, there were no tumors on the organs.  But they did a biopsy and were giving him a blood transfusion because he was severely anemic.  My mum got to take Harley home the following day, Thursday.

It was difficult but Mum and I went to the concert on Wednesday.  I told her I would go alone if she wasn't up to going.  She was very worried about Harley who had to stay overnight at the vet.  We went and had lots of craic.  It was good to get away and keep our minds busy.  The show was wonderful and meeting all of the fellas was beyond amazing.  For more about the concert, read my post here.

Then I got a phone call waking me up yesterday morning.  It was my mum phoning to say that Harley's condition was worse and that he had an incurable disease.  She was contemplating putting him down because his condition deteriorated overnight.  I went over straight away to spend time with them.  We talked about it and agreed that poor Harley shouldn't have to suffer.  We spent several hours with him before we took him to the vet and let him have his peace.

1. I made chocolate chip banana muffins for work.

2. This lot was for me.

3. Lovely lace sweetheart neck wedding gown

4. Getting excited for Celtic Thunder

5. Getting everything ready for Celtic Thunder.

6. Bought Keith Harkin's solo CD.

7. Really getting geared up for CT.

8. Harley on a walk when he was healthy.

9. Cuban heel back seam thigh high stockings.

10. All dressed up and ready to go!

11. & 12. Wednesday outfit photos.

13. Ready to see some Irishmen.

14. The truck that holds all of the stage equipment, etc.

15. The day is finally here!

16. The view from my seat.

17. The final song of the performance, "Caledonia".

18. My signed tour program by all of the members except Keith.

19. My signed CD of Keith's solo album.

20. Myself and Neil Byrne.

21. Myself and Ryan Kelly.

22. Myself and Colm Keegan.

23. Myself and George Donaldson.

24. Myself and Emmet Cahill (I was most excited to meet him!!!).

 25. It's officially fall- I broke out the hot chocolate.

26. Just finished reading this, it was quite good.

27. One of the last photos of my beloved Harley, before he passed away yesterday.

It's been hard, and it will be for quite some time.  It still doesn't feel real at all.  I just keep expecting it to be a dream.  And that the next time I go to my mum's house, there will be my dear ginger friend.  It's so difficult to lose a loved one.  At the time it feels like you will never recover from the loss.  But I'll just have to take one day at a time and leave it at that.