Today I turned over the page on the calendar. A day late. The funny thing is that my life is like that lately. A bit behind. Do you remember my Christmas Decorating Inspiration post last week? I'm here to report....though it was very inspiring...I was having trouble pulling off the decor in the sun room with the vintage blue Ball jars. I love. love. love. those things. They just plain make me happy. But, my sun room is a very small room and lining the jars up on the window sill just didn't seem to work. Yes, they stood there like good little soldiers. Let's just say my ideas … [Read more...]
I've had my ear to the ground and it seems that people are saying Thanksgiving is their favorite holiday. There are no gifts involved, no fireworks - though I'm sure it's pretty deserving. It's a holiday reserved for gathering and gratitude. Really...that makes it pretty special. Unless you're spending it alone. Most years I'm too busy to do more than think about what my Thanksgiving table will look like, let alone plan what will be eaten from the plates on the table. But, not this year. I have had time to do a little tablescaping....and exercise that thankful heart muscle while doing … [Read more...]
A sweet dear friend inherited a mahogany sideboard, china cabinet, and table several years ago which really weren't her style. After I moved out-of-state, she asked me if I would like the furniture, saying that the pieces would look great in my "new" house. After a 4-hour trip her heirlooms easily made themselves at home in my house. The sideboard fits perfectly in the dining area of my great room and the table opens out so I can seat 14. Perfect for all my entertaining. Happy me! This furniture, though good quality, was not in perfect condition. And the sideboard, in all its … [Read more...]
Just 10 days ago I woke up, sleepily walked to the great room where my husband was doing his morning reading, and said, "I decided yesterday that it would make me very happy if we could paint the trim in here." Now what guy doesn't want his wife to be "very happy?" Fortunately is was his day off, so we drove to the "big" town and secured our paint. Along the way we even saw the most amazing American Bald Eagle I've ever seen perched in a tree along the greenway. I wrote about it here. What a great day! Nature and decorating. My heart sings! Back at home, we rolled up our sleeves, moved … [Read more...]
Day 12 A year ago today the movers pulled up to our house and loaded all our worldly possessions onto their long blue and white truck. In the midst of a driving (make that...monsoon) rainstorm. How everything did not arrive all wet and moldy is a mystery. After a good sleep, we pulled out-of-town with the cats and drove to our new home. One of the first things I was excited to do at my new house was to fill the front window box. With pumpkins. But, there was no time, or extra money, for plumping with pumpkins. Instead we were on a mission to clean, and paint several rooms, before the … [Read more...]
Day 9 Wow! I can't believe that I am already nine whole days into 31 Extraordinary Days! Are you having fun wondering what I'll have up my sleeve every day? Me too. :D Whatever in the world is Fall Fluffing? It's my term for taking what we have and making it a bit more, well....extraordinary. Kind of like when you walk over to the sofa after guests leave and pick up the pillows and fluff them....nestle them against the sofa back...just right...and smile. Fluffing. Recently I acquired a buffet or sideboard. Is it the same thing? Does anyone know? Anyhow....I've … [Read more...]
Hello! If this is your first time here, scroll down to read day one. Otherwise, here are the current links to the rest of the series:: 31 Extraordinary Days…. {Day 2} 20 Extraordinary Little Things...I Love About Fall! {Day 3} October Dining...Outdoors! {Day 4} Autumn Inside Outside {Day 5} Just a little kindness... {Day 6} Autumn....where every leaf is a flower {Day 7} Joy Day! | Intentionally Developing a Heart of Gratitude {Day 8} Organize the Nest for Fall {Day 9} Fall Fluffing {Day 10} Breathe {Day 11} think about such things {Day 12} Fall Window Box ~ Plumping with … [Read more...]
It's leaf peeping time! Right now the trees are just beginning to turn color. It's my favorite time of (F)all. The mostly green leaves provide the perfect backdrop for the riot of yellows, oranges, and reds. I'm sure you'll agree...it's extraordinary!! Just a few days ago, I spied these leaves when out for a walk and shared about it here. But there's more to the story. Several of you have commented that some of those leaves looked almost unreal. They certainly were striking. And I'm certain that I've never seen any quite like them. So, when I finished my photo session with the … [Read more...]
Fresh-Picked Pumpkins in our Home Decor What did you do today? Me? I had one of those very fun girlfriend kind of days. The kind where you both pick up pumpkins, go back to her house and create a magical moment with your stash? Yes, one splendid day. And what a nice afternoon it was. The temperature was perfect. To take advantage of the sunshine, we flew out to her patio and engaged in the grown-up version of playing Barbies. Only we used fresh-picked pumpkins in our home decor. Did I tell you we had fun? We arranged a little sitting area and filled it in with all kinds of fall … [Read more...]
When you hear the word wedding what immediately comes to mind... Prince charming and his fairy tale princess vowing to love each other, dancing the night away, and finally stepping into their coach on their way to living happily ever after? Perhaps your mind goes to the expense and planning and expense and details and expense which consume the engaged couple for a year or two or more? We know that many weddings don't fit either of those categories. But, we do know that every couple wants to have a wedding day that is memorable. And maybe even a bit … [Read more...]
This morning, after watering and fertilizing my porch pots, window boxes, and hanging baskets, I took a stroll around my "garden." Really all I have is a rolling, bumpy, rough-around-the-edges yard. It isn't really a garden, yet. Though I do have a small but lovely island of various Sedums, Euphorbia, Goat's Beard, Iris, and Geranium in the middle of my backyard. In the back corner, someone, long ago, had a garden. I've pulled multitudes of weeds from that corner, leaving behind strawberry plants which I had hoped would bear lots of fat juice red berries. Ha! Unfortunately they are not that kind of … [Read more...]
A few weeks ago I did a bit of entertaining. As I was preparing my home I looked around and thought, "That 4th of July decor has got to go!" I had been noticing it. It was sort of sticking out like a sore thumb. But, if no one was coming over, I could put it off. And I did. It's not like I didn't have a plan up my sleeve. For nearly two months I've been wanting to get out my old blue canning jars and play around with them. Finally I did. My guests came. My guests left. And the clouds came and I didn't take any pictures. I need a sunny day in order to make pretty photographs for you with my pocket … [Read more...]
Copy Cat Challenge ~ with a twist! When DebbieDoos announced the challenge and added..."With a Twist"...she had me!!!! Generally I'm not one who gets into copying something or someone. I like to take the essence and do my own thing. When I read the challenge, I immediately had something in mind. Back in May, Kristi of Addicted 2 Decorating did a series of posts about transforming her community patio into a restful and colorful place to relax. She did a great job. One of the things she did was to create her own Outdoor Rug with Painted Stripes. I'd been thinking that my porch needed a facelift. … [Read more...]
Are you getting excited for the 4th of July? Yes, I am. This week I plan to do a little flag waving. At this point, I still can't find my small American Flags (Which box from the move are they still hiding in?). But we do have Old Glory flying on the front of our house. Today I discovered an old bolt of American Flag ribbon. (A garage sale cast-off!) After staring at it for a few minutes, there were fireworks. Haha, just a little creative thinking going on in my heard. I started playing around with the ribbon and came up with not just one wreath, but TWO!! After all the fun of making the … [Read more...]
