Rule, Britannia: The Royal Wedding, Blogging Friends, A Pearl of An Earl, And The King of Kings

After a splendid whirlwind time spent with our very DELIGHTFUL English guests last week (I plan on sharing more of their visit with you in a future post), I am more eager than ever for the Royal Wedding this week. How about you?



Just for the record, I've been looking forward to a wedding between these two young people for a long time as evidenced by this post HERE from last year. See? Mrs. Magpie has good taste, and obviously Wills does, too, as he listened when I told him to marry Kate! ;-) Just look at those beaming smiles...



They are a blue ribbon team for sure!



Knowing our love for all things English (and yes, I would have a nest there if I could!), our lovely English guests from (The Cross Stitch House) made sure that Mr. Magpie and I were going to be decked out in royal style beginning with the fun blue ribbon above and continuing with this adorable gift bag that came filled with red and blue tissue paper hiding treasures within. Isn't it cute???



And the bag was chocked full of shiny objects, beginning with this Royal Wedding shopping bag that will no doubt make me the envy of all the magpies in America!



And speaking of magpies, we also received this sweet vintage vase to hold a special nosegay in honor of the bride and groom...



And it's made in England, Eastgate to be exact...



The bunny looks a bit like Thumper, don't you think? Though it says "Fauna" on the bottom...



And that's not all! Tucked inside the gift bag was a cute little tray on which I plan to serve chocolate bon bons to a group of bloggers who are dropping by this week on their way home from a flea market/craft show (can't wait to see them!)...



And won't I look spiffy wearing this precious apron Linsday's mother MADE for me???



Yes, be jealous, because this is a very, very shiny object, indeed. Just look at the ribbon on the pocket. Swoon!



Thank you, Cross Stitch Mum, as I absolutely adore it! :-)



But I'm not the only one wearing something fancy...



These two little English bears (also cherished gifts from the Cross Stitch Family) are sporting their special English uniforms (one is a beefeater, one a palace guard), and I've dubbed them Wills and Harry after our two favorite royals...



And the big bear? That's a present to Mr. Magpie from our sweet Addie and Cece this past Christmas. The big fellow's name is Chuck, and notice that Chuck has pinched the hat that Camilla wore to her own wedding. Just don't tell. Somehow I fear she's a force to be reckoned with! ;-)



Lindsay even remembered that I enjoy playing with our youngest godchild and gave us this fun paper doll set featuring Catherine and William. Check out the Union Jack boxers...oops, I mean the Union Standard boxers! See, you can teach an old magpie new tricks as I learned something new from Linsday's DH this week. Union Jacks fly on ships, and Union Standards fly elsewhere, including on boxers, unless, of course, the boxers are also on board ship!



There are several outfits in which to dress the royal couple, like this formal attire...



Now, here is something I can pretty much assure you that no one else in the Kingdom of Blog has...



What, pray tell, is this??? Well, the Cross Stitch Family also gifted us with some wedding bunting, and with my friend Jody's encouragement, I fashioned a wedding tree out of it (the tree was still lolling about in the corner, a refugee from "Christmas in February")...



Ever heard of a Royal Wedding Tree? No??? Well, be the first on your block to copy it! LOL! (You know how crafty I am NOT!)...



And yes, that is a little "silver" crown on top. I made that. Don't laugh...



The chicks who are dropping by to visit this week are in for something different as I'm planning a combination Spring Fling, Royal Wedding, and Run For the Roses (aka Kentucky Derby) lunch, so it should be interesting to say the least if not a bit startling...



And we will all be wearing some sort of bonnet of our choice: sun hats, visors, and tiaras all count! Mine is a twenty-year old Laura Ashley bonnet, and I don't think you can get any more English than that...



I will be hauling out the English china, both the Royal Worcester...



And the Royal Doulton...



While the table will be set for spring and with roses in honor of the Kentucky Derby...



Of course, all of that could change, and I could do a beach table (in honor of the beach girls who are coming over) or an "Out of Africa" table (in honor of the place where Kate and Wills got engaged) or something else entirely. A magpie reserves the right to change her mind on everything but the wearing of hats! ;-)



Hats are de rigueur ...



Stay tuned, and know that I am busy hopping around, hunting and gathering for the next set of company (some of whom I've never met eyeball to eyeball) and visiting you in between cleaning and cooking (well, hunting and gathering at any rate!) and attending a banquet and some other things...



Wish you could be here, too! If you can, come on down! Just be sure to Rsvp in plenty of time!

And Lindsay, to you and your darling family, many thanks from across the pond for these treasures and the treasure of your friendship! Both are dearly loved. And come back SOON because we miss you already! Claudie and Julie, same for the Canadians and our other bloggy friends, too!

Now, I had told Laura of Decor To Adore that I would join her Royal Wedding Party, and I have something to add to the fun...



As some of you may know, Mr. Magpie and I were thrilled to meet Charles Spencer, the Ninth Earl Spencer (and a host of other titles), who is Princess Diana's brother. We met him several years ago at a reception in Florida. Let me assure you that Charles Spencer is T-A-L-L! Mr. Magpie is six feet, and the Earl just towered over him and made me look like a shrimp! ;-) What is the Earl like? Well, he is warm, yet dignified, witty and engaging, and he has the most beautiful voice I think I have ever heard. He has eyes that look like Princess Diana's, reddish hair, and a peaches and cream English complexion. I also think his youngest royal nephew looks just like him. And no, I am not pinching him despite what it looks like with my arm in this shot! ;-)



Mr. Magpie and I were invited to the reception because we had purchased two very special chairs for our anniversary from the Althorp Living History Collection, a collection of fine furnishings reproduced from pieces found at Althrop and whose sale benefits Charles Spencer's and Princess Diana's ancestral home, Althorp, where Princess Diana coincidentally is buried. Here's a look at the chairs we bought that are currently being stored until a future date when they will make their proper debut...



We had no idea when we purchased these chairs that we would one day get to meet the Earl, but that was truly the icing on the cake and such a delightful surprise. Not only is he handsome and dignified, so is his furniture line which is not one bit surprising after meeting him. Here's a closeup of the fabric that is a beautiful, soft shade of blue. That being said, I believe the latest version of these chairs is executed in a different fabric...



This silk fabric features tiny embroidered crowns. Hopefully you can see it a little better here...



I adore the painting on the chair, though the blue on the back is so much more striking in person. And while I think these chairs and the other pieces from the collection are very good-looking, there's the added plus of how good it feels, even in a small way, when helping to fund the preservation of this very special architectural landmark, Althorp. After all, it is also the ancestral home of a future English king...



One of my other cherished posessions belonged to HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. This was a gift from a wonderful blogging friend, Ruth (Everyday Adventures of a Suburban SAHM). Ruth has been so generous and kind in also sending me various magazines that have kept me up to date on what's going on in the royal circles of England. Since I'm a history buff, you know how much I have loved these gifts, but not as much as I love the giver! Thank you, Ruth! xoxoxox



And speaking of royals, I hope that everyone who was celebrating had a lovely Easter. I had prepared a post, but something came up which I will get into later. In the mean time, may the incomparable sacrifice of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords fill you with all joy in the knowledge of His redeeming love and rescurrection power! I am so grateful for the passion of the Lord and the gift of His love for me and for all of us. What an amazing thought that He overcame death and that we can, too...



Thank you for visiting me, and I look forward to visiting you! :-)

Warmly,


Mrs. Magpie (Sheila)