Ready For Your Dining Pleasure

This is the time of year that I not only enjoy cooking more than usual but I also enjoy setting a pretty table...hope I have some company soon! Until then, this is what is going on in the dining room. Pretty much the same in this direction ...

...but, oh so different this way! I love how this very simple...and totally free to me...change opens up the other side of this room. I know it wasn't rocket science, but it makes me happy. I've been complaining about decorating the mock fireplace for so long, I really don't know why I didn't do anything sooner. Maybe it was the free console that finally pushed me over the brink. Lol

The console table doesn't allow me to use as many decor items but it does allow to use larger ones and for that, I am grateful! I love that big burst of leaves and the fact that I can display yet another of my favorite urns!

The niche still needs some help. I don't know why I have such a difficult time decorating this area. I am trying not to just use "stuff" and simplify but in so doing, this area seems to suffer the most every time. I think I might need to head over to Pinterest and see if I can find some inspiration.

 

 I do love that I can use my dough bowl here full of those faux pumpkins!

And, I'm glad that I do this blog as a reminder of things that I not only own but also love. I had this side board completely done when I caught a glimpse of a picture of it from last year when I found the light green urn on a terrific sale sometime in September and added it to the mix. I really never thought of it this year but it plays so nicely with the old green balustrade that my daughter gave me. Since green is about my favorite color...and to me, a neutral, I love to use it for almost every season and holiday.

 

So, that is it for this year's dining room. It is pretty straight forward...open and simplified. I think I can live with that. Stay tuned.

Let's Eat

We are moving into the kitchen today. This is actually the time of year that I really enjoy my time in the kitchen. I love making home made soups, pastas, casseroles and anything pumpkin! And so, of course, I am even happier when it has a touch of the season.

All of the usual dinner ware is out and ready for some company.

I'm always happy when this beauty is on my stove!

This little oil painting was a gift from my mom. When my grand daughter gifted me with a clay horse she sculpted, I knew it would look just like part of the scene on this shelf over the sink.

 This bouquet of mums was made from the ones that broke off of the 6 huge pots of mums I bought the other day as I was getting them planted in their urns.

So that is my quick post for today. I just got home from a weekend in Gainesville and St. Augustine. I headed to G'vlle. on Friday and got to spend some time with my brother and sister-in-law before meeting up with daughter #2 for a pedicure and then back to her house for the night and a visit with my son-in-law.

Early on Saturday, we headed to St. Augustine where her daughter (my grand daughter #3) is starting her senior year at Flagler and moving in to her first apartment. Her first two years were in the dorms so this was an exciting step!

After visiting for a bit, we were off to downtown for a wonderful lunch and a stop at a local cupcake shop.

And, when you get three women together-at least three in my family-there is bound to be some shopping. Can you guess where my favorite stop was ?

We had a lovely visit but had to make it back to Gainesville in time for the Gator game. And, of course, while I was gone I missed both of my grandsons' football games. Guess there's always next week. Lol Stay tuned.

Ahhhhh Autumn!

I swear I get down right giddy the first time I can label a post "autumn"! Summer is just not letting up around here so I just had to pull the plug and now, I've got the best of both worlds. It is still plenty hot enough to enjoy the pool outside but it is twenty degrees cooler inside-or at least it feels and smells like it is!

So, welcome to autumn 2019. We'll catch the front porch and living room today.

Look at these gorgeous mums! The only place in town that has them yet is our local garden shop but they are beauties so well worth the extra effort and cost!

I had forgotten to put out the velvet pumpkins I made for the last couple of years until a friend of mine sent me a picture of some that she is making and I went and found where I had stored my "patch". I had forgotten how many I made but they are out this year and you will see them around the house as we move to other rooms.

I had also forgotten about the old jugs but when I needed something for this lower shelf, they were sitting on the garage shelf yelling "take me", take me"! I bought them many, many years ago at a local antique shop and have used them in many ways ever since.

It must be the tin and rust but that little pumpkin still speaks to me.

So that is it for the living room. Nothing new but some things moved around and a few "oldies" brought back out. We've got lots more to go so stay tuned.

Back-To-School

All of the "kids" are officially back to school and we have finally had our traditional lunch/dinner. Because we did it after the "littles" already had a week under their belts, I got to hear all about their teachers, classes, friends, schedules, schools, etc. And, since both of the boys were in new schools this year (high and middle), there was lots to hear. I missed our pre-prep activities but I did enjoy hearing all of their thoughts so we might have come up with a new tradition.

The table was decked out in red, black and yellow-don't know why but those are the colors I think of for back-to-school...I guess red for apples and school houses, yellow for pencils and buses and black for chalk boards? Lucky for me, between my Halloween and Valentine dinnerware, those colors are super easy to pull off.

I use a lot of school supplies for decor and then let the kids take it all home. One can never have too many pencils, crayons or composition books...in fact, a trip to Staples was saved when Harrison saw the composition books. And, let's just say the book (gummy) worms were finished before they left!

Whenever I do a "real" from-scratch meals to serve a number of people, I wonder how I ever did this every night the whole time we were raising our family! Now a days, it is a PROJECT for me to get such a meal on the table. It took the better part of Saturday to get the tetrazzini made and all of the other things prepped for easy assembly on Sunday.

The tetrazzini is a Giada De Laurentis recipe and it is GOOD...many more steps than I am doing these days but definitely worth it for a special meal. I also made a large panzanella salad, broccoli ( 5 heads of broccoli for this gang and it was almost all gone. I think I'm glad I had girls because these boys can eat!), Paula Deen Brownies and Moose Track Ice Cream-their favorite. I will say, it made
 my heart happy to see how much they enjoyed the meal-worth every minute!

So now that all of the summer things are finished-even though summer isn't-I am moving on to autumn. My house is decorated and I am ready to begin sharing. Thought I might give you just a sneak peek of what I found this morning.

Aren't they gorgeous? I found them at a local garden shop. Right now, they are the only place in town with mums. They are HUGE. I bought 6 but if I could have fit any more in my car, I would have bought more. Once I have my mums, I feel like it is really coming and there is no going back! No matter what the thermometer says, it will soon be autumn! Ahhhh. Stay tuned.

One Week Down

When the kids were younger, we always had a "Camp Nana and Papa the week before school started and the kids would come for a few days of crafting, baking and cooking culminating with a lunch or dinner where their parents were invited as well. But, now that the boys are playing football and having practices and conditioning literally every day the last number of weeks during the summer, those things are just not possible any more.

And, me being the flexible person I have had to turn into, I am OK with that. This year we were just coming back into town on the traditional day so we switched things up a bit more and we are doing it this Sunday. I actually think that will work perfectly as I can hear all about their first week and, since Harrison just started high school and Hud middle school, I am sure there will be lots to share...as well as Presley now being "big man on campus" at her elementary school!

I am finally getting everything together. Since I will be doing the cooking, I decided to go with a family favorite, Giada DeLaurentis' Chicken Tetrazzini. This stuff is a bit of a pain to make but since it is so decadent and delicious, it is worth every minute it takes. I'm also going with a big Panzanella salad, the kids' favorite broccoli and Paula Deen's Brownies with Moose Track Ice Cream. I think everyone will be happy...and, if not, I grabbed some Bob Evans Mac & Cheese just in case "someone" gets picky. Lol

I decided to still make little goodies bags for the kids just because I always have but, with schools using more and more technology, a lot of the old stand by essentials are no longer needed. I grabbed some hand sanitizer, Kleenex, mechanical pencils, M&Ms and Smarties. They will also take home the supplies I use to decorate the table so I think we're good.

I wasn't sure how I would present the goodies but, on looking through my craft closet, I came upon a package of small yellow bags that I must have picked up last year. A few black lines and we are good to go.

I found this M&M download at oh!rubbish!blog and it was a simple matter of printing, cutting and attaching! And, believe me, they would rather have the edible stuff than any of the school supplies. Lol

 

Here is what I have so far. If I don't need an ark to run out tomorrow, I may grab a few more things. If not, we're good to go.

I will try to remember to take some pictures and I'll be back soon. Stay tuned.

This year's back-to-school photos. The "little" kids started on Monday...

Harrison's high school on Tuesday...

And Olivia's high school in St. Pete on Wednesday. I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that this is her last "first" picture! Sob!!