Thursday, October 13, 2016


Yesterday I lost my best friend in the whole wide world. He was my rescue dog Coco. A beautiful red long haired Australian Shepherd and proud of it.
He was my side kick, he went everywhere I went and when I say everywhere I mean every where.
He was a wonderful watch dog, he wouldn`t let any stranger near us, especially me and Nick. He was always very protective of us, and we found that to be one of his best traits. He was totally loyal to us.
He did his job proudly. It was like we were his herd and he was protecting us and guiding us, like any wonderful sheep herding dog would do.
He was the epitome of loyalty, if I went upstairs or back downstairs, he went right along side of me. When I went to bed he would lay on his own quilt at the end of my bed, on my bed. He was my own personal foot warmer. As he got older he took to sleeping right beside me on the carpet on the floor next to my side of the bed. Any room I went to in my home he followed me. I couldn`t of asked for a better friend in the world.
I am totally lost without him. My heart is broken, it`s as if a piece of my heart has been ripped out.
Every where I go in my home I expect to find him taking a nap here or there. 
He loved to get his treats, all I had to do was say Coco want a treat and he was right there waiting. Even though he was a rescue dog someone had taken the time to teach him the trick of sitting and giving you his paw for his treat.
When I went to work every day he just slept in his favorite spot upstairs until I returned. I would barely get inside the door and he was always bounding down the stairs to greet me, jumping up and giving me a wet kiss. This I will probably miss the most. I was always so happy to be greeted by Coco with his unconditional love.
I know they say time will heal, but there will always be an emptiness in my life without him. He was truly that special. He had the most beautiful brown eyes, that when I spoke to him I really believed he had some sense of my feelings.
He loved to go for walks and walk proudly he did. As he got older it seemed there just wasn`t enough time for walks as there should of been. Life can get too busy sometimes. But when I was able to take him, he would be so excited, it almost looked as though he was smiling. He would walk along so dignified and if I wanted to run with him he loved it.
When it was time for his meal, he couldn`t eat it fast enough. He lived a happy life here with us and I miss him dearly and always will. I don`t think I could ever know such unconditional love then what my Coco offered throughout his life again.
He beat Lyme disease and was extremely ill and bounced back, it was short of a miracle. He was doing well and suddenly had a few seizures which were prevented by medication. For three months no seizures and then suddenly the other day he had one slight one at night. The next day he seemed to be back to his old self. But suddenly a seizure struck again during the day and he never came out of it. I didn`t want to loose my best friend. I selfishly wanted more time with him. But it wasn`t meant to be and I had to say goodbye to him for his own good. He had a tear in his eye when I said goodbye, I knew he understood. 
Until we meet again, and I know we will, I hope you are running through beautiful fields herding your sheep.
Rest In Peace
You Are Always In My Heart...

Saturday, September 17, 2016

The Last Few Days Of Summer In New England And A Prelude To Fall

 Last Few Days Of Summer In New England

The first day of Fall is September 22nd at 10:21 A.M. EDT. Summer has gone by so fast. I wouldn`t live in New England if I didn`t love all four of the seasons. But I have to say this past Summer has been a real uncomfortable one to say the least. Extremely unbearably humid quite often leaving one to endure a sweat festival outside or pure air conditioned bliss inside. Most chose pure air conditioned bliss. Whether working or playing, unless you had to be out most weren`t. A lot of credit goes to those who make a living working out in the elements, especially the brutal heat and humidity.

According to the Weather Network.
According to NOAA’s latest monthly climate report, June 2016 was the warmest June on record for the contiguous United States dating back to 1895. 
The June temperature for the contiguous United States soared in at 71.8°F, or 3.3°F above the twentieth-century average, surpassing the previous record of 71.6°F set in 1933, experts noted. 
The year-to-date (January-June) temperature, meanwhile, was 50.8°F, 3.2°F above the twentieth-century average, making it the third warmest on record.  

Now Fall is of course my favorite season, I also love Spring, but Spring brings bugs and rain along with the flowers. So Fall is the winner in my book.

Fall makes you want to curl up with a good book, take a few steps back and relax a little. The air is cool and crisp. The earth is turning on its own color show with the beautiful colors of the leaves on the trees, the grass seems a bit greener and the water more blue.




 Here are some of my takes on the Season. Some of the sunflowers from my back yard that my son and his girlfriend planted. Aren`t they just beautiful!
A straw pumpkin in my dining room with a carved wooden leaf.

A sunflower that had a broken stem that I saved in a ironstone dish of water. So delicate...



Three colored sunflowers in matching antique containers in the kitchen

 And of course couldn`t forget a favorite scarecrow sitting on the porch to greet anyone who stops by for a visit.



And my favorite of all. 
My dried birch bark pumpkin with a beat up wooden calendar and date keeper. What better way to keep track of time then to set it yourself every day. It seems to make time more valuable that way.









Hope everyone enjoys the cooler more colorful days of Fall.

 Time goes by so very, very fast.



As Always Keep It Clean!

Monday, September 5, 2016

September 5th, 2016

As we near the last few weeks of Summer, you can feel Fall is knocking at the door. The air is a bit cooler then its been, the humidity is gone. The last of the Summer blossoms are beginning to fade.

The only flowers holding out are the begonias`and the marigolds. But don`t count Summer out yet, it will still make a few more appearances before it leaves us for Fall. I`m sure we`ll have a few more humid days and 90 degree temperatures before it fades away to Falls` brilliant displays of color in the trees and a nip in the air.




Just can`t help but enjoy Fall, the colors are beautiful and uplifting. The cool crisp air, the leaves falling, the smells of apple crisp and pumpkin pie.....



Any way have I helped to put you in a Fall state of mind? Well be patient its coming! 

Any way I used to feature a shop of the week every week on Etsy, so I`m going to do that again. Starting this week with Must Love Junk, https://www.etsy.com/shop/MustLoveJunk

What a wonderful shop featuring a great selection of vintage finds. All unique and special in their own way. You really need to check out the shop! It will be one of my new favorites when searching out unique vintage finds!


Finally today please check out my newest product in all natural body care.





Available in a four ounce container of only all natural ingredients. Wonderfully scented with all natural rose essential oil.

Instead of using body scrubs with harsh chemicals, coffee scrubs like my Coffee Rose combine coffee grounds with sugar and oils that leave your skin nourished and moisturized rather than just cleansed.

My coffee rose scrub has several benefits that include: exfoliating and anti-inflammatory properties, temporary reduction of cellulite, improved circulation, reduced eye puffiness, and smooth skin.

All Natural Ingredients Of;
Coffee (Coffea Arabica)
Sea Salt (Sodium Chloride)
Sugar (Sucrose)
Sweet Almond Oil Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis)
Glycerin
Coconut Oil (Cocus Nucifera)
Purified Water (Pure Aqua)
And
Rose Essential Oil



Please check out my shop for all natural skincare, body care and all natural soy candles scented with essential oils and high quality fragrances.


https://www.etsy.com/shop/aunaturelle?ref=hdr_shop_menu

Thats it for today, but as always!
Keep It Clean!
Au Naturelle