Hello! Welcome to Ivory Pumpkin. Here you'll find snippets of things that I like and, hopefully soon, of things that I've created. Please stay awhile and browse.







Friday, November 11, 2016

Fairy Friday - The Song of the Wayfaring Tree Fairy

The Song of the Wayfaring Tree Fairy



My shoots are tipped with buds as dusty-grey 
As ancient pilgrims toiling on their way.

Like Thursday's child with far to go, I stand, 
All ready for the road to Fairyland;

With hood, and bag, and shoes, my name to suit, 
And in my hand my gorgeous-tinted fruit.

~Cicely Mary Barker~

Tuesday, November 1, 2016




Autumn in the Garden

When the frosty kiss of Autumn in the dark
Makes its mark 
On the flowers, and the misty morning grieves 
Over fallen leaves; 
Then my olden garden, where the golden soil 
Through the toil 
Of a hundred years is mellow, rich, and deep, 
Whispers in its sleep. 


'Mid the crumpled beds of marigold and phlox, 
Where the box 
Borders with its glossy green the ancient walks, 
There's a voice that talks 
Of the human hopes that bloomed and withered here 
Year by year,-- 
Dreams of joy, that brightened all the labouring hours, 
Fading as the flowers. 


Yet the whispered story does not deepen grief; 
But relief 
For the loneliness of sorrow seems to flow 
From the Long-Ago, 
When I think of other lives that learned, like mine, 
To resign, 
And remember that the sadness of the fall 
Comes alike to all.


What regrets, what longings for the lost were theirs! 
And what prayers 
For the silent strength that nerves us to endure 
Things we cannot cure! 
Pacing up and down the garden where they paced, 
I have traced 
All their well-worn paths of patience, till I find 
Comfort in my mind. 


Faint and far away their ancient griefs appear: 
Yet how near 
Is the tender voice, the careworn, kindly face, 
Of the human race! 
Let us walk together in the garden, dearest heart, 
Not apart! 
They who know the sorrows other lives have known 
Never walk alone. 


Henry Van Dyke 


Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Haunted House by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow



All houses wherein men have lived and died 
Are haunted houses. Through the open doors 
The harmless phantoms on their errands glide, 
With feet that make no sound upon the floors. 

We meet them at the door-way, on the stair, 
Along the passages they come and go,
 Impalpable impressions on the air, 
A sense of something moving to and fro. 

There are more guests at table than the hosts 
Invited; the illuminated hall 
Is thronged with quiet, inoffensive ghosts, 
As silent as the pictures on the wall. 

The stranger at my fireside cannot see 
The forms I see, nor hear the sounds I hear; 
He but perceives what is; while unto me 
All that has been is visible and clear. 

We have no title-deeds to house or lands; 
Owners and occupants of earlier dates 
From graves forgotten stretch their dusty hands, 
And hold in mortmain still their old estates. 

The spirit-world around this world of sense 
Floats like an atmosphere, and everywhere 
Wafts through these earthly mists and vapours dense 
A vital breath of more ethereal air. 

Our little lives are kept in equipoise
 By opposite attractions and desires; 
The struggle of the instinct that enjoys, 
And the more noble instinct that aspires. 

These perturbations, this perpetual jar 
Of earthly wants and aspirations high, 
Come from the influence of an unseen star 
An undiscovered planet in our sky. 

And as the moon from some dark gate of cloud 
Throws o’er the sea a floating bridge of light, 
Across whose trembling planks our fancies crowd 
Into the realm of mystery and night,— 

So from the world of spirits there descends 
A bridge of light, connecting it with this,
 O’er whose unsteady floor, that sways and bends, 
Wander our thoughts above the dark abyss.

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

41 Days Until Halloween

It's been so long since I posted I just about forgot how to change my blog background!

The last couple of years I tried to do a "100 Days Until Halloween" and failed. Work always got in the way and it still is! So now we are down to 41 days til Halloween. Yay!!! What are you looking forward to?

I've already been to Michael's and Target to check out their Halloween stuff. I still need to make it to a Spirit store though. I've prowled around Pinterest too. Unfortunately, we won't make it to Disneyland this year for Halloween. I don't think I even posted my pics from last year. I'll have to get those up.

I really just want to curl up on the couch and watch Halloween movies with a big bowl of popcorn!

Here's a little witchie from Paulina Cassidy to get us started.

Happy Haunting!
Ivory Pumpkin

Monday, January 4, 2016

Winter Reflction


"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for talk beside the fire: it is the time for home."
- Edith Sitwell



The holidays are done and gone. It's time to reflect and look forward within ourselves. What have we done and what can we give?

Happy New Year!