decorating with dodi

Follow on Bloglovin

Thursday, August 21, 2014

"Ahhh - Continued"!

I realized as I took pictures around the house this year that I am definitely simplifying a bit. The kitchen is a good example - not much to show you....just the hint of autumn colors. Oh how I wish I could just walk out into my back yard and cut branches like this! Guess I will have to settle for these beauties I found at Tuesday Morning several years back - they are the same ones that I have in my living room right now also. I have checked them every year since in the hopes of finding more but, no luck so far. They are the quality of branch that they sell at PB but at a fraction of the price. I will keep looking and, believe me, if I ever see them again, I will snatch up all that they have!





I am actually really enjoying having the baker's rack in the kitchen even though it happened with much "kicking and screaming" on my part. I liked it where it used to be next to the love seat at the end of the dining room. But, when my decorator daughter started helping me move things around, this had to be moved. I have always used it as a display area for seasonal goodies and photos so I knew I was going to miss that decorating space - and I do. But, I am really enjoying having it at the end of the kitchen where it is being used in much more the way I think it was intended - sort of. It is not full of baking supplies but I am now keeping it full of my seasonal dinner ware and serving pieces and I am finding I am using all of these things so much more because they are so much easier to access. Guess maybe sometimes change IS good.



I still have room for my "Eric Carle" autumn leaf collage and my fingerprint autumn tree - both gifts from grandchildren and much loved.


I also now have room for most of my Fitz and Floyd pieces for this season. Back in the day I was obsessed with this stuff - probably because they have so many beautiful holiday pieces. Of course, back then, I used to have a lot of Brownie moms, Sunday School teachers and friends over for meetings and tea parties so this "fancy" stuff got used much more often. These days, I will make an occasional pot of tea in the fancy pots when I find the time to actually go through that whole process. I usually wait for a chilly afternoon when I can also nestle up with a good book so between the lack of chilly days around here right now and the lack of spare time, these are probably here pretty much just to add some "pretty" right now!



Can you believe that I actually have one more set of autumn dinner ware still put away? I just love setting a pretty table - now if  would just enjoy cooking the food to fill all of the dinner ware as much, it would be a good day!



We are in the middle of making plans for granddaughter #4's 13th family birthday party and fingers crossed we will end up doing a Gator weekend here in town so some of this stuff will actually be put to use. Otherwise, hubby and I are going to be having some fancy dinners real soon cause I like my stuff to be used and enjoyed.

Had a wonderful day yesterday. My youngest daughter treated me to a lovely, relaxing pedicure and then we had a nice lunch before heading off to pick up the kids from school. The boys started on Monday but because Presley had a staggered start to her first day of kindergarten, she didn't head off until yesterday. It was the best feeling ever to hear the AP call out for "the entire Holland family" in car line and then see those THREE smiling faces waiting to be walked over to the car. The kids were all so happy and bursting with tales of the day. I have a "Welcome Back to School" dinner in the works for next week so we can hear ALL about it!


Caitlin is a junior at St. Pete H.S.


Morgan is a sophomore at Eastside H.S.


Olivia is in 7th grade at Thurgood Marshall.


Harrison and Hudson off to their first day at Eighth Street Elementary. Har is in 4th grade and Hud is in 1st.


Presley joins the group on Wednesday for her first day of kindergarten at 8th Street.


They are off to the car like little ducks in a row!


I love this picture of Harrison leading his sister along the sidewalk near the school. We have almost the exact same one from last year as he lead in his brother on the first day!

That makes 6 back at school with one to go....and a BIG first day this one is. Hannah moved into the dorm yesterday and starts classes next week. I remember what a bittersweet day this was when my mom left me at UF, I remember how much I cried as we left each of our three daughters as they entered UF and believe me, yesterday was no different with a grandchild. She is ready but are we? Thank goodness she has chosen UF and not one of the other schools she was considering. We would have supported her decision but let's just say the "Go Gators" were heard around the state on the day she announced her decision.

The dorm she is living in is the same one our oldest lived in her first year in G'vlle. and both her mom and aunt lived there every summer as they attended cheerleading camps. Only difference is that it has been completely redone....such a difference from my dorm "hmmm" years ago!




Doesn't her bed look cozy? It is a mix of old and new...new to remind her that she is starting on a fabulous new adventure called life but old to always remind her of home and how much her entire family loves and supports her! Sniff!!


Heading off and don't have my day planned just yet. Might head out or maybe I will get a start on the GR knock off sign. Tomorrow we are heading out of town for the day - hope the weather co-operates. I will be back soon. Stay tuned.

No comments:

Post a Comment