Next Up

With Thanksgiving coming quickly, I think I had better get back to our decor tour. Let's head into the kitchen.

I still enjoy using all of my Publix pilgrim people. They are still offering the salt and pepper shakers but I also have the spoon rest, mugs and a platter. Those pieces were offered a number of years ago but must not have been all that popular because they discontinued them after just a few years.

I love this cross stitch I made for my mom. When we lost her, it came back to me.

Doesn't it look better with the tag now? It's the little things. Lol

So that is the kitchen for this year. I'll be back with more. Stay safe and stay tuned.

Here I Go Again

 So, once again I found myself looking for something to keep me busy for another day at home. As the virus numbers continue to rise, I am finding myself more than happy to just stay home. The funniest part is that I am also finding myself happy to just find little things to keep me busy as I wile away the days. I no longer need the BIG projects to keep me happy-although, I do still have a few of them on the back burner.

In any case, one of the craft blogs that I follow did a knock off of a primitive painting on an ornament. I don't know why but for some reason it spoke to me and I knew I would have to do my own rendition.

I am definitely no Picasso...not even a Warhol or even a Grandma Moses! And, I discovered that trying to paint something kind of primitive on purpose was hard. It definitely looks more like I am a pitiful painter than an accomplished rustic one but, oh well. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Lol

And, although I would have preferred to do this on wood, I didn't have any wood the size I wanted and, it was Friday afternoon...I just didn't want to have to drag out the chop saw and put wood together involving nails and glue. And so, I grabbed a canvas I had in my stash and went to town. The only other things I needed were brushes and paint.

I started by painting on a "sloppy" (on purpose) coat of the antiquing gel. I'm thinking now that this medium might no be meant for canvas because even after wiping it down, it really didn't want to dry as paint would. If I had had the correct shade of brown, I definitely would have chosen acrylic paint. I do like that it gives the canvas a wood look.

Next I added dry brushed coats of a greenish blue and popped in a few streaks of white.

And this is where I always surprise myself. I must like painting more than I realize because once the background is done and I can start on the details, I forget to take pictures of the steps along the way. Here is where I was when I remembered the first time.

And, here is where I ended up. I added a bit of my own personal touch to it...not sure it was needed but  it is there none the less. It is so simple and simplistic...and I think I really like it. And, being the size that it is, it is probably another perfect candidate for the shelves in the TV unit.

I am actually starting to get excited about decorating for Christmas although it won't happen until after Thanksgiving. I have no idea what the next month will bring and if we will even be able to gather for the holiday this year but, I will be ready! Now on to find something to keep me busy today. Stay safe and stay tuned.

Be Prepared

Yes, I was a Girl Scout...and a G.S. leader not only for my three girls but two of my grand daughters as well. And, even if I hadn't have been, I would probably always be prepared. I like being ready and anticipating things that I might need. When something pops into my head, I want to be able to do it...right then...not after having to make a list, get dressed, shop for supplies, etc. Hmmm, that kind of sounds like I might not be the world's most patient person? Lol

And so, with the thought of the pine greenery possibly being in short supply this year-and, knowing that good Christmas items do tend to sell out long before Christmas-I decided to hedge my bet and pick up a lot of greenery while I could. No, it doesn't look-or smell-as good as the real stuff but, I will at least be able to get my Christmas decorating done "just in case". And, I have a bit in common with Sophie Kinsella's Shopoholic...if one is good, than two should be better and three will be wonderful...etc. 

I have no idea where any of this is going or how it will be used but, it was all on sale and I bet I won't even have a bit of trouble figuring it out soon. Lol

I thought this vintage Santa mug was so cute. I might slip one of the small trees I already showed you into it...or, I just might use it to drink my coffee. Also, I am a sucker for holiday spatulas and these are so pretty...and just $1 each!

I grabbed a few bottle brush trees because I think they might look cute nestled with some candles in a lantern. Everyone else must have had the same idea because these are the only two green ones I could find so far. And, I grabbed another box of rusty bells-because they were there-and some ribbon. I so much more prefer to use "real" ribbon for bows on my packages than the stuff they sell in the wrapping aisle so, when they go 50% off I usually grab them as well.

I grabbed this print because I think it might help to fill in one of those big spaces on the new TV unit. Those shelves take a lot to make them look full so I thought I should "be prepared". And, if it doesn't end up there, it is neutral enough to work anywhere.

So that, in addition to the other stuff I already grabbed...and, as an aside, it is a good thing I did because some of that is already sold out and in this crazy year we are having, who knows how long it might take to restock...or if it ever will...should give me a good start and a chance to change a few things up.

Ahhhh, gotta take it one day at a time and pray that 2020 and all of this craziness is soon behind us. Until then, I will spend my days staying busy in all sorts of small ways and "being prepared". Stay safe and stay tuned.

And Along Came Eta

So just when we thought we might be officially heading into autumn, along comes Hurricane Eta. It was not one I was worried about until I heard everyone else talking about how it had turned and was expected to run up the western coast of Florida and then turn in right about at central Florida...where I live.

After listening to the experts, I decided that just some minor preparation was in order. My normal hurricane prep takes a very long time because it involves moving any potential flying object in my yard and, as you can probably guess, there are many! I rolled down my two pool umbrellas and took down hanging bird feeders that were near windows...and that was about it.

When I woke up this morning, I was wondering if it might still be on its way because nothing looked different but, apparently it limped through during the night. Either it wasn't bad at all or I just slept through it. I had a few dead branches down on my side yard and that is about it. But, today is still a bit gloomy so I needed to find some things to keep me occupied.

Thing number one was to use up the last wooden tag that I had cut. Since it was ready to go, I decided on a very simple Thanksgiving tag that didn't require many supplies at all...just the usual suspects.

First I gave the tag a coat of the antiquing gel...

...followed by a dry brushed coat of the orange and a few pops of white. My goal was to have it look like it had layers of old paint.

I used a black paint pen to write the word after I sketched it out with pencil. The wood had more grain than I thought and the tip of the pen caught in it a bit so I wasn't exactly on my lines. Luckily, an eraser made quick work of that.

And this is where it ended up...and I think it adds just the perfect finishing touch!

And since it is still so gloomy, I decided to make my favorite Martha Stewart soup-Vegetable Vermicelli. I make this soup at least several times every autumn and I never tire of it...which is a really good thing now as it makes a huge pot of soup so I will be eating it for the better part of the week. Lol

Even just the ingredients are so pretty and it makes a super colorful soup as well.

I just looked out the window and the sun is actually out so I guess I am off to pick up some branches. I'll be back with some more of my autumn tour and a sneak peek at some more goodies I have started collecting for this year's Christmas decor very soon. Stay safe and stay tuned.

Staying Busy...and Looking Forward

It looks like we are going to have a bit of a wet week coming up. I am not complaining because my lawn and gardens are always so much happier after a nice rain but, it does kind of limit my activities. Now I'm not saying that I don't have a long list of inside things to get done but, for me, when it is gloomy outside, I just don't want to think about anything that involves indoor cleaning or decor. Nothing looks bright and crisp...or even clean after you have just finished. And so, I usually give myself these days to catch up on movies and TV. But, I always enjoy that more in the afternoon and so, this morning I found myself faced with the question of "what to do?".

Since I had some canned pumpkin in the pantry, I pulled out a new recipe for a streusel pumpkin bread that I had come across and decided to give it a go.

It was super easy to make and it actually turned out delicious so I will be filing this one away for another time. Of course, once I saw that picture on the pumpkin can, I knew I would be using it for something else. I normally buy Libbey pumpkin but, at the beginning of the season it was nowhere to be found so I bought this as a safety measure because I am always making something "pumpkin" during the season. The can is too cute to just recycle.

I went around the house and kind of stole borrowed things from here and there...

...and, voila, I came up with a cute little arrangement. It may not look like it would have if I had a chance to buy items just intended for this, but it is cute enough. It has ended up in the kitchen where it is right at home...but where I forgot to get a picture. Sorry

And with that all done and no other autumn ideas in sight, I have moved on to Christmas. I started going over last year's pictures and I remembered that the fresh pine clippings were almost impossible to come by because the stores were trimming up their trees before sending them out. Of course, we have no idea what this year will bring but I thought I had better come up with a "plan B" just in case so I am making a list of some greenery stand-ins I should buy. It actually looks like my brain may have been ahead of my plans because these are a few of the things I have already grabbed just because I liked them. And, because I know I have that new, large piece of furniture in the family room that takes a lot of "stuff" to fill those shelves. I'm not really sure where I'm going with any of this but I know I can never have too much greenery and I love the little trees.

The snowman is one of the ornaments that I made and I'm playing around with putting them on top of some old silver pieces...we'll see. I also bought that jewelry piece from HL once it went to 50% off. I saw it when it first came in and loved the vintage Santa image. I have absolutely no idea how it will end up but I'll let you know as soon as I do.

Sounds like the rain is still here so I'm off to make some more lists. I'll be back soon. Stay safe and stay tuned.

 

 

And Just Like That...It's November!

 Times are really so interesting these days. On one hand, the days seems to drag yet, on the other, the months are gone in a blink of an eye! I am having a hard time believing that we are already in November but three days of dismantling Halloween and putting up Thanksgiving kind of makes the reality a bit clearer! Lol Let's start the 2020 tour.

The colors on the flag I repainted last year seem to be holding up pretty well...I guess it was worth all of the time it took!

It's funny how that "autumn" sign keeps finding new homes. It is one of my favorite things. I bought it many years ago in SteinMart. I loved it in the store when I saw it but not so much when I got it home. It was originally just black and white and I think that is what bothered me so I used an oil pastel and shaded in one pumpkin in orange and have loved it ever since.

I bought those green velvet pillow covers in PB last year for Christmas but I knew I would use them for more than that because, to me, hunter green is kind of a neutral. They have appeared for St. Pat's Day, Easter, sunflowers, autumn and now Thanksgiving...and, of course they will stay for Christmas again. I just love the contrast they bring to the room and, if you look closely, you will see other pops of the hunter green around the room.

So that is the porch and living room. So many people I know decided to jump straight from Halloween to Christmas this year and, believe me, I was tempted but, I have a hard time with decor that reads-to me at least-as being out of season. I just couldn't do it and, I love the colors of autumn so much that I am more than happy to do the extra decorating...but, Christmas will be following very soon.

I had a super fun Saturday. We went to my youngest grandson's last football game of the year-except for the All-Star game where he was chosen as one of the representatives of his team. The weather turned out to be breezy and beautiful. Then we went back to daughter #3's house for some fabulous food and an even better UF game. Since we recorded the game while we were gone and watched it later, it made for a late night but it is just so much fun to be out of the house these days that I really didn't care.

Stay safe and stay tuned.