I Smell Pumpkin!

Everything pumpkin is beginning to arrive in stores. I am looking forward to getting into the stores this week and giving myself time to just walk up and down the aisles and see what there is to see...and smell. Right now the kitchen just smells of the Autumn Leaves candles from Yankee Candle, but I'm hoping to remedy that soon. One of my autumn "must dos" every year are the baked pumpkin doughnut holes. They are so simple and really fill the house with the wonderful aroma of fall!

While I'm thinking of all things autumn edible, let's head into the kitchen. Looking at those little bowls and the pumpkin tureen makes me think that I need to make some soup soon also!

I still love the fingerprint tree made by our 3 youngest grand children and the autumn tree collage made by another.

Seeing the sandwich plates in this picture reminds me that I need to add WalMart to my list of stores to peruse. Each year Better Homes and Gardens puts out autumn dinnerware-a little different each year-and reminiscent of PB designs. As much as I love PB, I would rather spent my budget there on decor pieces that I can possibly even use all year. The BH&G plates are sturdy and user friendly. Since I have even more of the salad plate size in my cupboard that I use for sandwiches every day, I think I might look for a few dinner plate size this year as well. I have service for 12 of the solid orange plates and can mix & match the salads so I am good for company but think I might want a few with the autumn designs to use every day for dinner-I hope I like this year's pattern! 

Still loving my pumpkin enamelware pot. That too was a Wal-Mart find from the Ree Drummond collection. Very similar to a LeCruset but SO much less expensive...sorry Williams Sonoma. Sometimes I will go for the higher priced item because I need quality and know you often get what you pay for but, in this case, I really don't cook in this pot. I use my All-Clad to cook because I have much larger pots and can make a huge batch of whatever and then I transfer into this so it is mostly just for serving-hence, at least to me, not worth the BIG bucks!

I found a number of battery orange candles at HL and grabbed them up. Although they aren't the flicker flame that I have come to love so much, they do glow from within and I've started putting them in small areas to add a nice glow at night. I love it when I turn a corner and see a glimmer of light where I least expect to see it. That being said, this is the time of year that the orange flicker flame candles may show up so I am still looking as I am truly in love with them. To me, they look very realistic! I love that I can put them where I can't easily reach to light a traditional candle-and that I don't have to worry about remembering to blow them out every night! You can be sure that if I spot them, they will be coming home with me!

I'm going over to daughter #3's for dinner tonight. I'm anxious to hear all about the first week of school, football practice and Presley's trip to Orlando with one of her best friends for a joint birthday celebration this past weekend. They had a wonderful time-can you guess why-and she came home with some extra "bling" on her ears that I can't wait to see!

Since I cleaned gutters this weekend-which requires at LEAST a million trips up and down the ladder (or at least that's how it feels today)-and did a bunch more weeding and trimming, I am walking kind of slowly today so I am off to look through all of my autumn magazines and catalogues and maybe I will even come up with a few more ideas. If not, there's still lots to see so stayed tuned.

Uncle!!

I could NOT wait another minute! This has been a rough week and I had to do something to keep myself occupied while waiting for another eye surgery and the A/C guy to finally finish up. As we speak, one unit is up and the other needs to be replaced...and right after the pool reno! Is there any wonder I am just trying to get to my happy place. And, apparently, this has done it. I am so happy when this happens and I swear it is 30 degrees cooler in here already. That may have something to do with the new A/C fan motor but, whatever!!

 Welcome to the beginning of autumn 2018! Because I have not been out and about to find new treasures just yet, most of this room is pretty similar to last year-just a few tweaks so far. Since I am usually way ahead of the stores, I am hoping by next week they will all have their autumn out and I can hit some of them and see what I can find. I'm still loving the grey and rust pumpkin that I found at HL last year-it truly looks like it was just made for this chest!

And see how the rusty leaves were just made for the urn and mirror frame...serendipity.

I'm thinking I just might have to straighten that "autumn" sign. I meant for it to be tilted. I thought it added some contrast to the squareness of the mirror but every time I look at the picture quickly, I think I took it tilted. It's driving me crazy...lol.

As I look over all of these pictures, even I am surprised by all of the rust and "shabby" that captures my heart. Makes me understand what always prompted my husband to ask "how much did they pay you to take that off of their hands?'...Lol

So that is the living room so far. Really not much to be said about it except that it makes me so happy to finally have my leaves and pumpkins back where they belong! My heart gets happy when I see everything all orange or rusty...and the pumpkin smells just put me over the edge! Thinking it might be time to make a big ole pot of soup and some pumpkin doughnut holes...right after I come in from a dip in my cool pool because, after all, in everybody elses's world, it IS still summer! Stay tuned.

It WILL Happen This Weekend.

I have my friendly A/C guy here at my house today. As a matter of fact, as I write this he has now been here over 4 hours!!! Can't wait to see this bill! Since I really can't get into any large projects while he's here because he keeps calling me outside for one thing or another, I have just been trying to get caught up on little things...and that sent me to a long list of blogs waiting to be read and then to Pinterest, etc.

Somehow I ended up here on my own blog but looking back at last year at this time and....my first autumn post was done on August 18...and, the livingroom was already decorated for fall so that means that all of the house was decorated for fall...and that always takes a few days so, that means I can start right now. Unfortunately, I have several appointments this week as well as the back-to-school dinner tonight so I probably won't get to it until this weekend...but, get to it I will!

Today marks the first day of school for my 4 youngest grand children. The other 3 are in college so no more first day pictures for them! sigh

Olivia is starting her junior year at St. Pete H.S. and her mom was feeling a bit sad as this is the first year of the first day of school that she hasn't had to drive...Livie has her own car and can drive herself these days.

There was another "first" here as well. Not only did this one ask for a picture but she also asked for her hair to be braided! Growing up too quickly but I kind of like the "no fighting" over picture taking and will definitely use that to my advantage before it changes! Lol

And off they go!

So here is just a glimpse of what has me positively "swooning":

This SERIOUSLY can't happen fast enough!! Stay tuned.

My Head's Still Spinning!

It has been a crazy but fun week with many things finally coming to conclusions and some new adventures just starting!

Little by little, my whole family trickled in last weekend-except daughter #3 and her gang who were all still at Jekyll Island. We finally got to put a period on daughter #1's 50th birthday. She was traveling in Europe on June 19 and celebrated over there with her daughters and daughter #3 but the rest of us have been waiting this long to do something for her. We planned a small, family surprise party but decided to just make it very simple. She loves Mexican food (and I had a lot of decorations left from past parties-lol) so, a fiesta it was!

We really had a nice visit with everyone and ended the night with a fierce game of Michigan rummy.

Grand daughter #3 stayed on one more night and joined us as we headed out apartment shopping the next day. Since she will be on her way back to her second year at Flagler at the end of this month, she was looking for a few cute dorm things as well. I wish all of the cousins lived in the same town. It is so much fun to see how much they enjoy each other. When we got home, the gang from Jekyll was home so they joined us for dinner.

The next morning, we squeezed ourselves into two VERY full cars and made our way to Tallahassee. We had a busy 3 days coordinating move ins, POD delivery, apartment painting and cleaning, shopping, putting together and installing, shopping, organizing and, did I already say shopping? I think we hit every store in Tally. Luckily, we had perfect weather. We didn't do any sight seeing this trip but I did snap a few random, from the moving car and in traffic, pictures. Lol In case you've never been there, this is the Florida state capitol building.

FSU football stadium.

And of course I acted totally like a tourist and went around taking pictures on my first visit to a World Market. I have seen so many people blog about them and I must say, I walked around like a kid in a candy shop-really a good thing there isn't one of these places closer to me!

I wish I had gotten some pictures of Caitlin's new apartment. She has the decorator gene in her so it is on its way to being totally adorable but, while we were there we were really busy arranging, moving, unpacking, cleaning, organizing, hanging shelves and rods, rearranging, etc.-honestly never thought about pictures.

When I got home on Thursday afternoon, I was greeted by this:

I must admit that I was beginning to doubt I would ever see water in this pool again! It's so pretty and came in super handy yesterday! You see, that part of my world was so torn up for more than a month that I just avoided that side of the yard as well. As soon as I had everything moved back into place, I could see the gardens...and the WEEDS! It took me pretty much all of yesterday to tackle all of the weeds and edging. Thankfully, the pool was there for cooling off dips in between.

After "Meet the Teacher" on Friday morning, my grand daughter and I set out to spend her birthday money. She is obsessed with horses and animals in general so we were off to find a long list of "Schleich" critters. They used to be available at Toys R Us but...

In any case, (who knew?), they are easily found at Tractor Supply. Can't honestly say that it's a place on my usual shopping repertoire but, for today, it was perfect. Presley's eyes lit up like she was at Disney World!! Needless to say, she got every one she was looking for...and then some!

After that, we were off to lunch at Panera-her choice-and then home to my house for a few hours before heading back to her house where I was invited to join a happy hour for moms and a house full of kids talking about new teachers, classmates, etc. And so another year begins.

I usually do a Back-to-School dinner at my house but football practices every day have really put a crimp in our fun so instead, I am taking the decorations over to Jen's tomorrow after school. I will get to hear all about every one's first day impressions while she cooks and then we will try to swallow a bite between my SIL getting home from work and he and the boys heading off to practice soon after! And so it goes!

I have another full week ahead and then, I will be thinking about starting my autumn decor. There IS light at the end of the tunnel! Stay tuned.

 

It's Who You Know

I love that two of my daughters are decorators. You see, I am the recipient of many of their "cast-offs" and I'm good with that. I have always tried to keep our home updated but nothing like these two. They change decor as often as I change clothes. My latest treasure is a lamp and it doesn't hurt that it is EXACTLY the lamp I would buy if I had been shopping and looking for...and needing...a lamp.

I am an admitted "lampoholic"! I have an affinity to lamps and have been known to buy them when I really don't know where they will go. That was the case here as well...but, since this one was free, you better believe I took it and knew I would find room for it somewhere. I tried a few other places on the path to this spot. I have never had a lamp here but, since we did remove a lamp from a side table close to this area when we did the reno, this part of the room could use some light. Once I tried it here, I knew the balance was perfect and it was meant to be. And, added bonus-I think I love everything here so much that I just might have another of my "permanent" vignettes where all I have to do is change the color of the candles and I am good to go! 

I am in the middle of a super fun, busy week. More family arriving today and then the rest tomorrow and my daughter's surprise birthday party. On Thursday, we went to grand daughter #5's party. All she wanted this year was a family party and then a trip to Jekyll Island for a few days.

Presley was particularly excited this year. By the time we got to these presents, she had already opened most of her others. This child is ALL about horses and her gifts reflected just that!

Before we even arrived, she had several little horses painted! Two of her favorite things...art and horses! Perfect present!!

Because the horses she wants are so hard to find, I gave her this certificate with the promise she could pick out whatever ones she wanted online and I would order them. It was then that she told me that Rural King (a store pretty new to our area and, admittedly, one that I have yet to visit...lol) has a large selection. So now I have a date to pick her up as soon as I'm home from Tallahassee and she and I will see what we can find!

And she was moving so much when she figured out what was in this box that all of the pictures are blurry. Mom and Dad got her the stable she has wanted so badly and she really couldn't believe she was looking at it right in front of her. Of course, she does have several other stables...but, these horses come in varying sizes and so do their stables and like I said...she IS a horse girl!

And, I finally tackled this...remember? This is what I found after Caitlin's last visit here. Apparently her new puppy liked the flavor of "blankies"!

And here's what it looks like now. I can't say it's exactly brand new, but since he started with no eyes, nose or fabric, he's come a long way baby!

I'm off to get ready. Not sure when I'll be back but I'll bet I'll have lots to share. Stay tuned.