Yesterday I left you hanging... just like the little guy dangling from a thread on my dinner napkins! If you missed it...you might want to read it first. Here's how my tablescaping plan unfolded... In 2006, Longaberger came out with some fun Wrought Iron Spider Legs that held a small or a large Autumn Treats Basket. I have both baskets and with the Spider Legs, they have been a fun decorating option for me the past several falls. Whenever I went to my Longaberger (affiliate link) storage area those Spider Legs called out to me. Maybe that was in the back of my mind … [Read more...]
Day 30 There's no doubt about it. This has been the year of pumpkins. You might remember when I shared my excitement and pumpkin blessing here. Prior to my blessing, I had made up my mind that I was just going to try to be creative with the things I had in my house, and the little bits of fall stored in my "Fall Decor" box. I had pretty much thumbed my nose to anything from the Fall Decor Store. Of course, that's easy to do when shopping the aisles of the Fall Decor Store is not an option. I was enjoying the challenge until I experienced Pumpkins from Heaven! Do you hear the … [Read more...]
Day 27 The other day I had the privilege of sleeping until 9 o'clock in the morning. After staying up until 2 something in the morning writing a 31 Days post. Ahem. Always upon rising I walk to the great room window to look out on the world. That day, I could not believe my eyes. The light was exquisite! Immediately, I grabbed my camera, stuffed my feet into my red Sloggers, and dashed out the front door. The last thing on my mind was being concerned that my neighbors would wonder about me wandering around the front yard of another, taking photos in my jim jams. The … [Read more...]
Day 25 It's hard to believe. 25 days in a row. Writing. Blogging. Doing my best to inspire myself and you to live an extraordinary life. These 25 days have required a lot of discipline on my part. With just 6 more days to go...I am truly glad that I made the commitment and have stuck to the challenge. If you've been following along for a while, you might remember that I had two laptops that crashed. Despite that, I went ahead with 31 Extraordinary Days. I've been writing and editing photos on my husband's laptop in the evenings and his day off. It has been … [Read more...]
Day 24 October is an Extraordinary month. It's the month when my world is aflame with color. Mornings begin with fog and sometimes frost. Many mornings the sun shines bright and warm and the frost melts into gazillions of water droplets. Indian summer comes in the afternoon. The sun sets by seven o'clock and the moon shines clear and bright. As the night temperature drops, the fires burn bright in the hearth....resisting the chill in the air. Lurking around the corner is the season of gray and white. The dreaded frozen flakes may make an early surprise appearance in this … [Read more...]
Day 21 This morning I got up early. Living with a mountain to my East it's darker in the morning than anywhere I've previously lived. As I looked off in the distance I saw just a glimmer of light where the mountain dips a bit. Then, I turned away and went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Just a bit later I returned to look out the window. The clouds were pink and violet as the sun was beginning to rise above the mountain. It was glorious. I grabbed my camera and hurried back to the window.... In just those few seconds that it took me to crank open the window, … [Read more...]
Day 20 Today was Tim's day off. Generally we like to do something special....after a few chores are completed....like raking countless tarp-loads of leaves. Oh...no....raking the leaves wasn't the something special! Haha! After the chores we walked to a local Italian restaurant for a late lunch. I had been fretting that I didn't have all my 31 days blog posts planned and didn't know what to do. I wasn't feeling very creative. Then, Tim had a fabulous idea! Since he … [Read more...]
Day 19 "Creepy!" That's what I said when my friend handed me a sandwich bag full of fingers. Yes. Fingers! Later that day I called my friend to tell her I ate a finger. Ewwwww! I couldn't eat more. Not because it wasn't tasty. It was very tasty...almond flavored even. Have you ever eaten a finger? This was my first. Are you still with me or are you grossed out? I hope you're still here because I have a few fingers left to show you. And the recipe to make some yourself....if you're so … [Read more...]
Day 18 One of my new friends came to my home for a visit. While she was here I shared with her a few projects I have on the back burner. It was good to get a little feedback. Sometimes a gal just needs to know she hasn't jumped off into the deep end. I'm just teasing...sorta. While we were walking around I took her to the sun room where I recently hung a favorite seasonal wall hanging. I mentioned that in this small house I have limited wall space, but really wanted to put up that bit of artwork. One day I realized that it would fit perfectly over one of the windows between my (mini) great room … [Read more...]
Day 17 I love this quote by Aaron Rose... "In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary." Living an extraordinary life means training our eyes to see beauty in the ordinary. Have you ever spent time with someone who sees things you don't? My husband is intrigued by birds of prey. He'll notice Red-tailed Hawks as we drive down the road. I asked him, "How do you see them?" He reminded me that he had trained his eyes to see them. Isn't that the way it is? Whether seeing beauty in nature or bubbles in the sink … [Read more...]
Day 16 A few years ago I was surfing the web and looking for Fall Decor ideas. I was amazed at all the very talented people "out there." One of the websites I came across was The Inspired Room. I was very new to reading blogs back then and was fascinated by Melissa Michaels' blog. The Inspired Room lived up to its name. It was inspiring. But, not simply because of all the lovely vignettes and seasonal arrangements which graced her home and my computer screen. It's the honest and approachable spirit with which Melissa writes, and her virtual hospitality of welcoming her reader into her home and helping us … [Read more...]
Day 15 Several years ago, this very week, my dear friend flew in from Indianapolis to join me for a fun Fall jaunt. I don't know anyone who loves fall as much as she does. Not only is it her favorite time of year, but she revels in its beauty and all the stuff of fall more than anyone I know. My friend is the essence of being extraordinary. The phrase carpe diem I'm pretty sure was coined because of her. Not only is she a delightfully wonderful, thoughtful, kind, and considerate woman...she spells fun with a capital "F"! My dear friend had never experienced Fall in … [Read more...]
Day 13 Every year as Fall rolls around we make plans to go apple and pumpkin picking. But, most of all, my husband can't wait to sink his teeth into a hot apple dumpling at a local apple barn. When we lived in Michigan we often took a drive to Crane Orchards and Crane's Pie Pantry Restaurant & Bakery in Fennville. We joined long lines of people, standing out the door and winding around the building while waiting for a seat, there to enjoy a fresh-baked peach pie, or apple dumpling, and a 10 cent glass of sweet apple cider. We have since 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...]
Day 8 This post contains affiliate links. When you click on these links I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. Fall is about nesting. It's a time when we fluff and make our homes cozy for the cooler weather ahead. Some of us even change-up our decor and bring in the season's harvest of pumpkins and gourds and Indian corn. It's also a good time to do a little reorganizing. Most of us like to spend as much time outside as possible in the summer. (Unless you live where it was unbearably hot this summer, that is.) In our haste to get out the door, we may let the little … [Read more...]
Day 7 Why be ordinary when you (we) can be extraordinary! What can make a day extraordinary? One way... is to have a heart of gratitude. Earlier this year I started counting gifts. It was an intentional discipline on my part. As I undertook the challenge my eyes opened to seeing both the good and the not-so-good occurrences in my life as gifts. There's a verse in the Bible that I love... You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their … [Read more...]
