Out I Went

What with the heat still pounding on us and the virus everywhere you turn, I really haven't been heading out much these days. All I can say is that it is a good thing that I can find so many ways to keep myself busy around my house. For once I am happy that I have a never ending to-do list.

But, occasionally, I do require some things that mean a trip away from home...like food. lol And so, with that in mind, I set out the other day and decided to do as many little stops as I could handle. It seems that I desperately needed a Clinique visit so, for only the second time since Covid began, I headed to our mall. I figured while I was there, I might as well load up on my favorite seasonal hand soaps and candles as well. Then, I was off to Home Goods, Target, Old Navy, Chicos and finally Publix. I definitely knew that I am out of "shopping shape". I used to be able to shop all day long. Maybe it is the heat or maybe it is just that I am getting older but these few stops wore me out. I didn't find any of the "big" things I was looking for but I did manage to find a few more autumn things to add to the already cluttered autumn decor I have going on.

Can one ever have too many leaves? I truly do not need any more leaves but, when I find some that are well made and look a little real, I always grab them. These came from the Magnolia section of Target. I really had no preconceived idea of where they would go but I like the pop of color added to the canister of twigs. If I see anywhere else they might go, I can always move them later. 

Then, for whatever reason, I was drawn to some small velvet pumpkins in the Target $ Spot. The first thing I thought was "I have to redo those horrible stems". But, when I brought them home and put them in the small dough bowl on my kitchen window sill, I just loved the way the stems mimicked the ones on the pumpkin can and, since there is also gold on that label, I was suddenly good with that tacky gold...go figure! It might change at some point but, for now, I'm liking it.

And, of course, if I spy orange tulips, they have to come home with me as well!

So, with my "travels" behind me, I was once again looking for something to do. I am not much of the "farm truck" kind of gal but I do enjoy them when they're full of seasonal things. I happened upon a free image that I downloaded of a truck full of pumpkins and leaves and, even though I knew it would be another of those "not my favorite" kind of craft, I decided to give it a try. And, with no new motivation coming to me, I decided to grab another piece of fence slat and try the tissue paper image again.

I pretty much followed the things I did on the Halloween one. I painted the wood with several colors of orange chalk paint and then decided that I should probably top them with white chalk paint. I did that mostly because I knew I wouldn't be able to cut too closely to the image...especially the wording...and was afraid the white tissue would show against the darker colors.

Then, I ModPodged the image on to the board and was still underwhelmed. I decided to see if I might have some small artificial leaves that I could add to give it a bit of dimension. And, I did. I actually found quite a lot to choose from but, in the end, I used some clear acrylic stickers that I had. They definitely help...just not quite enough to knock this craft into the "I love it" category but, enough to at least find a place to sit it. lol

It actually looks like it might have been made for just this spot as that pumpkin in the back of the truck looks suspiciously like the one on the shelf. Am I trying too hard to justify this craft? lol

So that is it for today. I'm off to tackle a few chores but I will be back. Stay safe and stay tuned.

 

Whew!

 Well, I mentioned that I knew I was going to have a busy week but it turned out even busier...and more fun...than I had anticipated. I had several appointments, a day with a friend and grand son #1's football game on the calendar but received a lovely surprise when daughter #1 and grand daughter #4 came for the night on their way to Tallahassee and then daughter #3 and her kids and my brother and sister-in-law also surprised me so we could have a mini family reunion and send Liv off to FSU in style. We'll get to more about all of that at the end. Let's see a bit more of autumn 2021 first. We're heading into the kitchen.

Here is the little arrangement that I put together last year when we couldn't buy Libbey's canned pumpkin at the start of the season. I bought some of this organic pumpkin and thought the can was just too cute to throw away.

I still love my fingerprint tree made by my 3 youngest grands and the "Eric Carle-esque" tree made by another grand daughter many years ago.

And, I don't think I will ever tire of my autumn Fitz and Floyd collection.

Now that you've seen the kitchen, let me share some of this week's photos. The first is of grand daughter #4. She is on her way back to FSU but will be having a bit of a time for the next 6 weeks or so as she just had surgery on a knee cap that had continued to dislocate and in doing so tore her meniscus. She is doing really well but the brace may slow her down a bit. On the other hand, she's young so maybe not. lol

And just a few photos from our first football game of the year. We were at a jamboree in Gainesville and, even though it is still so hot around here, we were on the shady side of the field with a slight breeze and the night was lovely!

That moon was so pretty and got more beautiful as it rose.

So that was my week. This next one doesn't promise to be anywhere as exciting but you never know around here. I'll be back. Until then, stay safe and stay tuned.

Did You Place a Bet?

 Those of you who know me would probably be winning their bets about now. Was there ever any question as to when I would be rushing my autumn decor? I really didn't plan it. I just woke up on Thursday and it was too hot to do anything outside and I didn't have any brilliant ideas for inside...except for bringing in autumn. And, as usually happens, before I even knew what was happening, things were coming down and there was no going back! I actually managed to get almost all of it done-take down, put away and put up-in two days...which turned out to be a good thing as I received a surprise visit on Friday afternoon from daughter #3 and her kids. They came by to fill me in on their first week of the new school year. Everyone likes their teachers and their classes so I'm hoping it will be a good year for all!

And so, I am ready to start the 2021 autumn tour. I'll try to take it slow so that I don't run out of blog content but, since all of the stores are getting in their fall merchandise and every blog is over flowing with fall craft ideas, I am hoping that I soon have a long to-do list again. Don't get me wrong. I always have a to-do list...just not one with things I want to-do. Lol

Welcome. Can you feel the crisp in the air?

I just saw where my local nursery has gotten in their mums. As soon as I can get there, the porch urns will be swapped out and I will be one step closer to believing that autumn is really on its way!

I'm still loving my burlap leaf door hanger.

Don't the chippiness, rust and colors of this vignette just make you swoon? Lol

I found this leaf candelabra many years ago at Z Gallerie.

And, I found this one at a local design shop.

A blogger that I follow posted this picture a long time ago of a church she happened upon near her home. She made it "printable" so I down loaded it and printed it on photo paper and am so glad I did because I love to look at it. The small leaf dish was made by a grand child a long time ago from air dry clay and a leaf as a mold.

Can you tell I really loved those leaf candle holders when I found them? I bought all three different ones they had. You'll see the last of the group in my next post.

So that is the beginning of this year's tour. I'm not sure when I'll be back. I have a pretty busy week ahead...several appointments, a friend coming by for the day and the start of my grandson's football season. Let the fun begin! Stay safe and stay tuned.

Desperate Times Call For Desperate Measures!

Those of you who read my blog often are probably getting tired of hearing how much I dislike this time of year. It is just not for me. I live in Florida and I have a pool but, it is even too hot to be in that at certain times of the day!

I also love being in my garden and maintaining my yard...but that is almost am impossibility this time of year. I have been trying to get a few things accomplished before they get too far ahead of me but I swear I have been on the verge of heat stroke more than once!

I have done little bits here and there as I could but today I decided that I had to tackle something that was really bothering me. You might remember my post about my pool slide. It was a long story but, in the end, I thought I had won and somehow managed to get my very old, stained slide looking almost new again. I also knew that I had done some unorthodox things to make that happen and that it may not last forever but I certainly thought I would at least make it through this summer.

You can imagine my disappointment when, after a month of pretty routine afternoon rains, It looked as bad, if not worse, than it did before I started.

I was pretty sad about it because it had been a lot of work but, I don't usually give up too easily and so, the other day when I was actually floating around in the pool, I reached up and gave the slide a good rub and noticed that the new stains would come off with a bit of a scrub.  I decided toady was the day and I would head out there as soon as it got light. Holy cow. Even though the thermostat wasn't all that high, the humidity was bad. I scrubbed and scrubbed and still couldn't get it all off so I resorted to my good old Clorox spray. I gave it a good douse, let it sit a bit and then scrubbed again and rinsed it with clear water. It looks so much better and I survived the heat. I also managed to get in some weeding while the bleach was working. Of course now I will have to go back and give it another good coat of paste wax...but, that will be for another early morning.

And so now I am back in the house and deciding that I have to find something to do in here to keep my mind off of all still needing to be done outside. I have this small paper mache' box that I got at Dollar Tree and I still have another of the black taper candles that I bought so, I am going to kind of do something that I saw on a site I follow. I wasn't really crazy about it.  Hence the reason that I didn't jump right on it but, if it will keep me busy, I'm game!

This was even easier than I had anticipated. I gathered the supplies...

...using spray adhesive, I covered the bottom of the box...

...and then the top. I then cut out a hole to fit my candle.

I really wasn't sure how I wanted to embellish it but, since I love the vintage feel of Halloween so much, I used my antique tinsel around the edge and also around the hole. I had to really convince myself to do this because this is Bethany Lowe tinsel and I have used it in many places over the years but, it just felt right here so I went with it! And, I think I am glad I did. 

Is this my all-time favorite craft? Not by a long shot. But, I do think I can find a place for it nestled in with the other vintage decor and the candle light might just help to brighten up a dark corner of a shelf somewhere.

That's all I've got for today. I'm fighting the urge to change my decor just yet but, if I don't come up with some other ideas, that is next on the docket! Stay safe and stay tuned. 

Oh, today was the first day of school so I just have to share the picture of my three youngest off for the day. Their dog is looking so sad because she knows she'll be spending a lot more time alone now that summer break is over!