Monday, Monday!

 Usually I don't venture out on a Monday. I prefer to use the day to catch up from the weekend and do what I need to plan the coming week. But, I am notorious for acting once something is in my head no matter how much I really might not want to. And so, that was the situation today! When I was at daughter #3's house on Saturday she was showing me some candles she had picked up at Michaels when she had to kill some time waiting for a framing order for a client to be finished. Now, she is not one to usually have the "flameless" candles. She prefers "real" ones in beautiful vessels. So do I actually except that I am at the age now where I might very well forget about a real one and even if it is in a vessel, it doesn't need to continue to burn if no one is watching...but, I digress.

She showed me two beautiful, large green fluted candles that she found and loved and I was immediately taken with them. They are not from Luminara-which is the company I prefer because they just look so much more realistic and even though I have used mine for many, many years, I have never had one stop working-and I'm not totally in love with the flame but, for whatever reason, I loved those candles and decided that I "needed" them in my life. And so, off I went on a Monday morning!

And then I found that pumpkin. I have a smaller one from HL but I couldn't pass this beauty up...one can NEVER have too many pumpkin candles. Lol And then I spied the gold turkey. I don't have a lot of Thanksgiving decor so another turkey is always welcome. And, all of this autumn goodness was 50% off. 

I'm off to find homes for the candles and you will see Mr. Turkey back in November-which will be here before we blink! Stay safe and stay tuned.

Just Checking In

 I really didn't plan on dropping in but, I had a change of plans-well, several changes of plans. Lol

I have been out in the yard catching up on some chores and was really going great guns until I got to trimming the jasmine going up the post on the front porch. Just as I really got into it I felt a number of stings on my upper arm and then saw wasps coming at me from all over the place. Those darn things HURT! I have never had an issue with them in this plant before. You can bet that I grabbed my can of spray and covered that thing but I really wasn't able to see where the nest was so I'm not sure if I got them or not. I was going to go on to something else but every time my shirt sleeve touches the stings it hurts all over so I came in the do something a little less active...and here I am.

So that is my first change of plans. My second is my date for my Halloween decorating. I was planning on doing it next week but I have a leak in my roof that needs attention and the "guy" will be coming some day next week to look at it and hopefully address the issue. He will need to be able to not only get through the house but up into the attic and, if you've ever seen any of my posts where I show you the behind the scenes of a holiday decor swap out-particularly Halloween-you know that for at least four days my house is barely navigable. Then granddaughter #1 is coming on Friday to visit and go to Hud's football game so that pushes me pretty much into the next week. That makes me nervous because daughter #1 is coming that week either on Wednesday or Thursday so I would have to work really fast. Of course, if I don't do it then I won't be home until well into October. Wow. Decisions, decisions! I'll figure it out...and you'll be the first to know. Lol

Since my autumn decor will be out a bit longer than expected, I didn't have any trouble making a change when I got another surprise. As I stepped out onto my front porch yesterday afternoon to water the potted plants I spied this.

And, the minute I saw the "target", I knew what it was. Daughter #1 had found a beautiful landscape at Target while we were shopping last weekend and bought it to do her Halloween "ghost" painting on. I loved it and was going to get one but, alas, there was only one. I was fine with that because, honestly, I thought it was too pretty to use for the ghost additions. Anyway, I guess she felt bad so she ordered me one. Like I said, I am spoiled. Of course, once I had it here I realized that it is much closer to what I really wanted for the autumn decor in the living room under the shelf-where I had "settled" for the church picture. 

The church picture worked but it wasn't really what I wanted so once I had this beauty, I decided to go ahead and give it a try.

I love it. It actually echoes all of the colors from the shelf in the painting. It will be up probably for my autumn and Thanksgiving decor from now on. And, the church found a home in the family room.

While I was outside enjoying our beautiful weather I got a good look at this beauty.

Considering that I do absolutely NOTHING to this plant, the show that it gives is amazing!

It is one of the species of Blue Sky Vine-I have two others that are blue sky vines but another species. They're pretty but nothing like this one. It reminds me of the orchid trees that grew down in Vero Beach. They lined the street of our church there and are very visible in one of my wedding party pictures when I got married. They really were so pretty.

That's it for me. Just checking in and not sure when I'll be back. Stay safe and stay tuned.

Tempus Fugit!

We are having a beautiful start to our week. The temperatures are definitely going down-more so overnight and into early morning-but, I will take what I can get! The two dogs are still here so I'm not doing any large projects right now. The biggest thing on my list is to make another big pot of my favorite soup-Martha Stewart Veggie Vermicelli. So, as I was planning my very laid back day, I actually caught a glimpse of the calendar and realized that I don't have much time left with my autumn decor and still haven't finished showing you everything. All we have left are the bathrooms but, never-the-less, I want to get them immortalized on here so I can look back when I need to.

Let's start with the guest bath. I always use this small arrangement here for autumn but, honestly, I am missing the lantern with the timered candle that I have used for the last few months so I think next year this will be changed up a bit.

And my nod to autumn in the primary.

I did swap out the every day candle for an autumn one but forgot to take another picture.

That's all that I have for today. I will need a day or two after the dogs leave to catch up on inside and then I think I will hit outside so, the rest of the week is probably spoken for. Guess that means I will start my Halloween decor next week. I have plans with granddaughter #1 for the weekend of the 25th and then soon after that daughter #1 and I are going up to Gainesville to take my granddaughter out to finish buying some of the smaller pieces of furniture that she still needs for her apartment. When we return from that, I am off to St. Pete. The tickets to see Steve Martin and Martin Short that were Christmas gifts but had to be rescheduled are now scheduled for early October so I will go to that with my daughter and then spend the week at her house until the next weekend when she is hosting an early Halloween get-together with her friends and I am invited. She's talking about possibly doing one of the Halloween painting parties where everyone brings a landscape picture of their own liking and then we will "Halloween" it up by adding ghosts, pumpkins, bats, cats, etc. That sounds like so much fun to me. I don't have a landscape that I would want to use so, somewhere in my very few free days I will have to head out to find one. If all of that plays out, I won't be home again until October 11th or 12th and I can't just be doing my decorating then so next week it will have to be! I am going to try my hardest to soak in every last bit of my autumn decor until then. Once autumn comes down and Halloween goes up, I realize just how quickly my favorite time of year always seems to go! SIGH Stay safe and stay tuned.

I'm Back!

 I'm back before I thought I would be. Just when you think you have a plan, something comes along and changes it. I truly thought I would be here next showing you my vintage image results. But, alas, that is not happening. I thought I had enough foam core to make the two images but, I found that I don't-only have enough for one. And, likewise, the wooden round. I have played around a bit with what I do have but I am finding that not knowing where these will be used or even how-hung? leaner? in a wreath????-is really complicating my thought process. And so, I have decided to wait until next week to readdress the issue.

Daughter #2 is coming this afternoon. She and I are covering-along with my son-in-law and granddaughter #5 grandson #2's first home football game tonight while daughters #1 and 3 are up north covering grandson #1's first game. Phew!!! Got that straight? During sport seasons-especially with three kids that play-the logistics get a bit complicated!

Tonight's game here is going to be a BIG one. We are not only playing a local team-and it's private school vs public school so that makes a difference-but, the coach of the other team was our coach for many years and he just left. He is now coaching at his high school alma mater so I get it but the anticipation is already running high! And with both teams being local, a sellout is expected!

That being said, I am hoping daughter #2 and I can run to a few stores tomorrow and maybe I will find just what I am looking for to finish-or at least get a coherent idea-for my images. Here's where I am right now! Lol No judgement!

I was thinking of a black crepe paper ruffle around the outside and then some vintage tinsel but, again, that may not work if this is going to hang. I spied that witch and she's another image I remember from my childhood so I printed her out...hoping I can find somewhere to use her this year as well.

In any case, since that is all I have to share with you on that front, I thought we could go back and pick up the porch. I was really hoping that by now all three mums that I bought maybe two weeks ago would be open and blooming but the only one really showing off so far is the purple one and it was a bit open when I bought them. One of the oranges is JUST beginning to open and the other is still totally closed. I know these are garden mums and will go for a long time once they start so I'm OK with this but, long story short, we're just going to go with the photos I took back then because no sense in new photos if there is no change.

And that is it for this year's porch. I didn't hang the autumn leaf garland around the door as usual. I actually kind of miss it and have headed to get it a few times but then I stop myself. I'm trying to go by the "less is more" theory...sometimes I can, sometimes I can't. So far on this issue it seems that I can but I'm betting that when the Thanksgiving decor comes out it will make a reappearance. Lol

That's it for today. I just heard from granddaughter #4 who will be coming down this afternoon as well. She is going to "borrow" my grand dog-her canine brother- and take him back to her apartment in Gainesville for an overnight visit and introduce him to her new room mates who seem to have heard so much about him that they want to meet him. These two are bosom buddies so I know he will have a good time and she will enjoy her time with him!

I'm off to start thinking about tonight. Not sure where the rest of the weekend will take me but I'll be back soon. Stay safe and stay tuned.

It's Happening!!!

 I'm still not quite believing it but, when I took my grand dog out early this morning, the air had a bit of a chill-well, maybe more just a bit of a crisper feel...more crisp than it has felt in a very long time! If I didn't have so much to do inside today, I might have just spent the whole day out there. I did get in a bit of bush trimming and weeding before we came in.

So now I am here with you. I thought we would go into the family room today. I think it has to be my favorite room in the house-especially in the evenings when all of the candles come on and I actually light a few others for their fragrance. I only changed up a few things from last year because I can't come up with anything I like better just yet.

Daughter #1 bought me that large round candle in Target when we were there the other day. I don't usually buy multi wicked candles because they burn down so quickly but this one smells so darn good and, once the candle is gone the remaining bowl will be used for other things, so I am OK with it.

This is where I moved the sign from HL from many years ago. It was on the console in the front entrance but now that I have the raven in the dough bowl there, this cutie needed a new home. I still like the pumpkin and I especially like the smaller personalized sign that I made to add to it.

Once again, this mantle was a doozy to get right!! I REALLY need to find a thicker garland so I don't have to add so many picks to give it the "oomph" I want. And then there is the drama adding those Mercury glass pumpkin lights that I got at PB years ago. They are SO delicate that the first year I had them two of them barely touched and broke. They were quite expensive so I called PB to see if I could buy extra bulbs and they don't sell them like that but they did send me a new strand and told me to keep the other for future replacements-which I have had to use over the years. I always hold my breath when I'm hanging these-especially here because if they fall off of the nail while I'm maneuvering other things, they are sure to break! And, I'm sure I told you how much I still love that pallet sign that I made-also many years ago. I added the ranunculus a few years back after I made am arrangement in a pumpkin that featured them and since then I have added other autumn things in this room that feature the flowers.

On the top shelf of this side is where the new lantern ended up-and, I did have to switch out the large lantern that I originally used because it just wouldn't fit here...or anywhere. I loved it the way it was but it just didn't work for this decor. I'm thinking maybe it will find a spot when I put out Thanksgiving because I don't have as many decor items for that theme so there might be room.

Ahhhhh!

This is my view most every evening and I love it. Autumn can never come soon enough or last long enough for me!! I'm off to enjoy this day! Stay safe and stay tuned.

:Sunny Day"

 Let's head into the sunroom. As always, there is pretty minimal seasonal decor in here because so much of this room gets used and it is just easier to use when there are not many things that need to be moved.

I LOVE this piece given to me by daughter #3. She used it for quite some time in her home and then it went out on the porch where it took a "hit" from something and lost a corner. I had always loved that piece...so much so that I almost ordered it from Grandin Road not knowing that she already had it but, in the end, I held off because it was not inexpensive. When she offered it to me because she was ready to toss it, I snapped it up and, quite honestly, did my jerry-rigging magic! If I remember correctly, I used wood compound and spackling to "build" a new corner and then a mix of acrylic paint colors to cover the fix as well as touch up a lot of other spots. If I do say so myself, you almost can't tell where the fix happened. I was quite reluctant to move this piece from the dining room but, when daughter #1 offered me a piece from her house that I also loved-and which would literally fit nowhere else in my house- I swapped places and I actually love it here.

That's about it for this room. I do have an autumn pillow on the couch, a vase of autumn foliage on my desk and an autumn candle and vase of orange flowers on the chest by the door to the garage...and that is it.

Not sure what our weather is going to do this afternoon so I'm off to grab some lunch and then I will decide what the rest of the day will bring. Stay safe and stay tuned.

Next Stop

 Let's move on into the dining room. I think this room is basically the same as it was last year except that I hung a new picture and, of course, had the new piece of furniture to decorate. 

I'm really so happy that daughter #3 gifted me those olive branches because I think in the past I have used autumn leaves in all of these vessels and, quite frankly, even for me, that is too many autumn leaves in one place! Lol

I love this cross stitch that I did so, so many years ago as a gift for my mother. After she passed away it came back to me. Every time I look at it I wonder why I didn't add the year. I did on almost everything else that I made but, for whatever reason, I skipped it here.

This is where I moved the winery sign that my girls got us years ago. I still love it but wanted to use the still life picture that I have had for a long time as well. It just kind of read "moody" dining room to me but, the only place I could hang it is where the barrel sign had been. With no other wall space that would work I decided to try the barrel on the bottom shelf of this piece. Because the space is so large, I think it works well and it will probably stay there until I take down the other picture.

The weather is co-operating nicely today so I am off to do some weeding and edging. It is amazing how quickly the weeds appear after a few good rains! Stay safe and stay tuned.

Just need to add a photo of grandson #1 on his first day of classes as a junior at the Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut.

. The Academy photographer caught this picture of him walking to class.

Chill in the Air...

 Really, a chill in the air? Well, not quite but there has definitely been a slight change in our temperatures-for the better in my opinion! So, even though the outside doesn't quite fit my inside, I can tell that autumn really is beginning to creep in a bit!

I did wake up to some rain this morning so the things I wanted to do outside are once again on hold but, that gives me time to visit with you a bit. Let's head into the kitchen.

It appears that up to this point I pretty much kept things as they were last year. I did change up this area a bit. I moved the "Eric Carle" inspired autumn tree that my granddaughter made down to the bottom, I moved the "fingerprint" tree that daughter #3 made me years ago with my three youngest grands prints out to the sunroom where all of their photos are and I added the water colored autumn tree canvas I made last year here. It is just a bit more simple and I like it.

That's pretty much it for this year's autumn kitchen. I'm off to get some things done. Looks like I might have a quiet week ahead so I'll be back again soon. Stay safe and stay tuned.