#100: The Story Behind the Pattern

YAY!!! I can't believe that this is my 100th post! I wish I have a giveaway to do but I did one to kick off this blog back in February, before I found all of you through Susan at Between Naps on the Porch. But I still can't believe it! Woohoo!

Hosted by Susan and Sally
My Met Monday post is just minor. I gardened with my children over the weekend as a break from all that writing. Remember my white petunias by my front door? Well the pot they're planted in actually has a twin, so...



I cleaned it out and filled it with new dirt (Miracle Gro) and planted the pink Asiatic Lily in there and surrounded it with my fave very purple petunias! You can tell it's a new transplant as the gaps in the dirt are still visible. I also planted seeds of Moss Rose in there to make it really full. I changed up the pattern of the pots! Plus with summer coming, I'm again ready with my red, white and blue color scheme! (ok, purple but it's more blue violet so it passes) :P

Now, this is what my front window looks like. That wagon carried three children to the grocery stores, the park and sometimes just around the neighborhood in both CA and AZ. Now, it's serving as our planter box. I do want to put it out of its misery soon, but I haven't sketched out what I want the front window to look like, plus another move is imminent in the next year, so I'd probably leave it like that and just swap out the plants. That's why I mostly have annuals, that way I don't feel bad if they die down...

Now on to some other pattern...

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Courtesy of The Dinnerware Depot

It tells of Knoon-shee, a lovely Chinese maiden, whose affections were bestowed upon her father's secretary, Chang, but who was commanded by her parents to wed a wealthy rival suitor.
She refused to comply with their wishes, whereupon her enraged father locked her up in the little house just visible on the left of the temple. From here she contrived to send a message to her lover, 'Gather thy blossom, ere it be stolen.' Thus encouraged, Chang succeeded in entering the apple orchard and carrying off his beloved. So we see them hurrying over the bridge. Knoon-shee with a distaff, and Chang carrying her box of jewels, while the angry father follows hard after them armed with a whip - in some patterns also accompanied by the discarded lover.
The couple made good their escape in the 'Chinese ship sailing by' and landed on the island, which can be seen on the left of the picture, where they took refuge in the little wooden house. But the father and discarded suitor tracked them and set fire to the house while they were sleeping; and so the lovers perished.
Next morning, from the ashes rose their spirits, in the forms of two doves. And so we see them with out-stretched wings flying off to the realms of eternal happiness.
No one knows the origin of this story. It was told in China more than a thousand years ago and brought over to our country from Eastern lands by the Crusaders.

Compliment of The Potteries

TABLESCAPING IDEA: ("Brain" loves this pattern!) To those that share millions of people's love for this pattern, the possibilities are endless! Formal or casual Blue Willow presents well in any table. Try this: use yellow chargers and yellow orchids on a blue and white pot. Honor its legend by having a formal Chinese menu: soup, a meat dish, rice, veggies and tea for afterwards. Have mooncakes and orange slices. Use lantern or chinese lamps to illuminate the table. Even get two doves. Invite your children, family or guests to join you and regale them with the legend. You become famous for having a great spread and owning a pattern worth of their admiration.