Thanksgiving Tweaks

For some reason, the area above the mirror just didn't look right to me. Guess I am used to there always being a seasonal "something" hanging there. I downloaded this banner from At Second Street, printed it on orange, added a bit of glitter and seasonal embellishments and strung it on twine. I think it balances the wall off just right.

The following two pictures were also downloaded and framed with old frames I had around the house - so, a "free" project. I did have to spray paint the one frame. It was floral and very 1980s. I had a hammered bronze paint and just gave it a few light coats and, voila!


Our weather has been picture perfect this past week. I love the cozy feel of the autumnal colors and lights, the smell of the autumn candles and the flicker of our first fire this season. I did notice that the A/C came on once or twice, but that is a small price to pay for the warm, fuzzies that autumn has to hand out. Can't believe Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Stay tuned.

Pieces of the Past

A few more tidbits of what turns my autumn decorations into Thanksgiving. I bought this plaque at Stein Mart a few years ago. It looked kind of dull to me - it was just black & white - so I used a few of my art chalks to add a blush of color. Like it much more.


I squeeze turkeys in wherever possible. The orange turkey above was found in a Tea Room gift shop in Tampa. I like him because he is different and adds a bit of bling. It's hard to make out but he has glitter on his wings and crystals hanging from his beak, wings and stand.

This is a cross stitch I did many years ago. I always loved that hymn. I can even remember singing it in music class way back in elementary school - yes, it is that old!. When I saw the pattern, I knew I had to stitch it. It hangs on the side of the pie safe as you enter the kitchen.

Then, it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without my pilgrims. The candles above are very old, but still not the originals. I remember my mom - and just about everybody else's mom - having a set of these when I was very young. I have had these at least as long as I have been married. I think they may be the first Thanksgiving decoration I bought after we were married. Wish I had kept the box because they were probably about 25 cents each.

This set of pilgrims is from my ceramic-ing days. I still can't believe my eyes were good enough to paint their eyes not to mentions my hands steady enough to hold that small a paint brush!



I think everyone who lives within 10 miles of a Publix must have at least one of these pilgrims. I also have a spoon rest. They are kind of cutesy, but every time I think of getting rid of them, I remember the day I walked into an antique shop in Dade City and saw them for sale for a ridiculous amount of money! Think I'll hold on to them a little while longer - maybe they can fund our retirement! A proper pay back I think for being so lovingly cared for these many years.

That is about it for Thanksgiving. Every year I think I may just go straight from Halloween to Christmas, but as I look back over some of these things I have so many memories come flooding back. Most all of this has been around since my kids were young and I can remember them looking at them or helping me decorate with them. I guess that is why I like Thanksgiving. It is here only to remind us how blessed we really are and family plays such a huge part in that. I guess that is why I continue to decorate my house - it spurs those precious memories and reminds me why it is so important to press on to make new ones. Today's adventures may one day be remembered on a granddaughter or even great granddaughter's blog. Something to think about. Stay tuned.

Come Ye Thankful People Come

I always love the displays of "abundance" that I see this time of the year. I decided I wanted to do my mantle that way this year but I didn't want to buy anything new as I have ENOUGH stuff to last my lifetime. I just kind of gathered up all of the gourds I had (including the ones that spell BOO on the back side) and pushed them into the garland and lights. I had to really discipline myself in Hobby Lobby the other day because they have autumn decorations at 66% off and I wanted so badly to buy some new garlands and veggies - but, I resisted temptation!

This isn't a very good picture of the living room but I put it here mainly to show that my Thanksgiving decorations aren't far off my autumn decorations. I move things around a bit and than add in any pilgrims or turkeys that I have.

The hutch holds several turkey tureens that I have accumulated and some plates that I fell in love with last year at Home Goods. I only bought these four for decoration because: 1. we don't do Thanksgiving at my house very often and 2. I already have a full set of VERY SIMILAR dishes that I can use .... and somehow sanity did prevail that day!

I did notice that I have a fair number of ceramic items that I made back in the day when I had the time to do such things. Made me remember that I also made a set of corn plates and tureen done in Indian corn colors. Haven't seen that thing in ages. I remember it took FOREVER to paint each little kernel another color - several coats each. Guess I'll have to see if I can remember where it is "stored".





As you see, I don't go overboard on Thanksgiving although I am planning a few new crafts this weekend as time permits. We have another important Gator game and our grand dog is coming to stay for a few weeks as my daughter and her family travel to Italy once again. Well see how it goes. Stay tuned.

"Like Looking in a Mirror"

I can't believe it has taken me 3 full days to put away my Halloween decorations! I knew I had a lot, but REALLY!!? In any case, I'm just now getting around to finishing this post. It is a bit fragmented, but it will give you an idea of why Halloween is my absolute favorite!

Here we are at the pre-school costume parade. Hudson loves his headpiece - in fact, he doesn't want to take it off. Somehow he got the idea that he is the "Star Wars Rabbit" - don't know if that has anything to do with it or not but he is a happy camper with his ears and everyone else knows who he is!


They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. So, I guess I can say that I was majorly flattered this past weekend! The best part of our party to me is the big costume reveal. Everyone always amazes me, but this year my oldest daughter and son-in-law put me away. They came as my husband and me. When my daughter first came down the stairs and I saw the beard and plaid shirt (I missed the can of Mountain Dew she was holding - a dead give away), I was thinking "Paul Bunyan?" or "Brawny Man?". My son-in-law then descended the stair case and I was met with a scary image of myself! They were my husband and me and were truly the funniest thing I have ever seen - like looking in a mirror - Ha-Ha! I loved it and don't know what it will take to top it in my eyes. They have had some really good costumes in the past but this one takes the cake!


Here is the whole family. Caitlin is a "stylized" Mad Hatter (she picked out all of the fabric herself and I think it turned out pretty darned cute. Her costume did have 3 separate pieces, but her sister only needed me to make her pants, so it evened itself out. Besides, no matter how short on time and stressed I am - and this year put me to the test - I do love sewing all of the costumes. It is one of the things I hope my grandchildren will remember about me long after I'm gone. Olivia is an accountant. Oh sorry, she's a nerd (inside joke as we have two C.P.A.s in our family).Everyone was amazed that she chose this costume as she is the bling and glitz girl and there wasn't a sequin to be found on her costume. Remember, she's the one who was the blinged out Dorothy last year. Thank goodness there was NO sewing on that sequined fabric for me this year!

This is daughter #3 with her family. Her husband is "Dog the Bounty Hunter" and she is his wife - a pretty scary looking duo if you ask me. Harrison is Luke Skywalker, Hudson is Yoda and Presley is Princess Leia - although most of the time Princess Leia was just a girl in a white dress as she hated her headpiece!!


Daughter # 2 and her hubby were cupid and his "victim". She wore her old prom dress back from the days when they were dating. I love the arrow through her heart. Hannah is the "Cat in the Hat" in a costume of her own design. Morgan decided to be Betty Boop and she looked so different in her dark wig that she almost doesn't look like herself. And, let's just say that Todd left us all pretty much speechless!


A picture of Presley and Nana watching the Gator game. It was a real nail biter and went into overtime but we won! Go Gators! Don't you just love the orange and blue tutu?


Here are a few pictures of the gang. We're all getting a little worse for wear at this point and we are using the timer on my camera for the whole group picture, so I think we did pretty well.



Guess that's it for this year. Everything is officially put away and Thanksgiving is out and looking very calm and autumnal. Do I still miss my orange and black? You bet! In fact, as I was putting it all away, I was already thinking of next year. I've got lots of ideas already. It can't be October 2011 soon enough for me! Stay tuned!

Last Thoughts..

We are now home from our Halloween travels. We managed to hit them all - costume parade, pumpkin patch, Scarecrow Row and parties. It has been a fun time and in houses everywhere Halloween is now officially over. Not in mine. Since my October has been so hectic, I decided to give myself a few more days of my favorite holiday. I still have all of my candles lit, lights burning and decorations "decorating?". I always have a hard time giving up this holiday but I will this coming weekend as I have a few ideas for November that I am looking forward to putting out.

This blog seems a bit disjointed, but it is made up of final bits and pieces before the orange and black is a thing of the past once again.






Here we are at the pumpkin patch in Alachua and then with a few of the scarecrows on Scarecrow Row. This is always one of my favorite autumn traditions. It seems like the "official" start of the holiday although having all of the grandkids at our house for the weekend really starts us off every year.

There are always a few things I look at more than others as I roam the house once the decorations are all up. Here are some of my favorites.


I love this hand and for this holiday it is holding "trick or treat" tickets I found in Micanopy.


I made these boxes as gifts last year. They were all over blogland, so I'm not sure where I got the idea. I just bought papier mache boxes at Michaels and covered them in classic black & white scrapbook paper. Then, I covered small pumpkins with instant papier mache and tried to make them look vintage. All that was left was some embellishing!


Also made these smaller boxes. Somehow I became obsessed with date and number tags.



I made these bones a few years ago when Martha first showed them. Wish I had known that if I had just waited a year or so, they would be available everywhere. Oh well, I do love to glitter so it was a labor of love!


I showed you these witch boots before but I love the sign that I added that my oldest daughter gave me - very appropriate.


This is a card that I bought from Cherry's Jubilee that I turned into a tag and then added a beaded trim to dress it up.


Lastly, this is my autumn wreath that I usually just add a few masks to for Halloween. This year, my cousin sent me these cute, stuffed felt figures and I added them as well. Then, it was starting to look better so I added the glittery pumpkins and hanging stuff and I love it! Don't want to take it apart and make it go back to autumn again!

I am almost done with my downloads of pictures. Sure does take a long time when there are so many. I promise I won't make you look at all of them but I will be sharing soon! Stay tuned.

Something's Brewing

I can't believe it's taken me so long to get back to the kitchen even though my husband likes to say that if you want to see me in the kitchen these days , you will have to provide the map -ha-ha! Between caring for my mom and still making the last of the Halloween costumes (mine is STILL not done), blogging has had to take a back seat.


My kitchen isn't really all that decorated this year. I did put out one of my all time favorites - my jack-o-lantern pot. I found this guy at Hallmark many years ago and have never seen anything like it since. When we have our big Halloween gatherings, I use him for chili and always get a comment from someone asking where I found it.


I changed up the hutch at the end of the kitchen a bit this year. It usually holds more of the serving pieces but now I made it a sort of a bar area. I think I did that because of the wine bottle votives I got at Yankee Candle. They are sort of the center of attraction and look pretty lit at night. Other favorites in this area are the wine bottle holder/spooky tree and bottle cover /vampire cape. I bought both of them at Bombay Co. To the left of the picture is another favorite gift from daughter #2. It is a spider web covered cheese plate and cloche. I love it so much I think of things to serve just so I can use it. I also LOVE my witch's brew wine glass given to me by my oldest daughter and my Lolita margarita glasses. I bought these before she painted wine glasses as well. I don't drink margaritas but I love her playfulness in painting the glasses. On the upper shelf is a large glass. I always find these 50% off after the holiday and like the large one to either serve or use as a candle holder.


Because of my time constraints this year, my counters just got "stuff" put out. In the one wire basket, I just piled various stuff I didn't know what to do with but I like it. Any time you add a glittered skeleton, it can't be bad!


Another old standby is my haunted house cookie jar. I got this at Target many years ago also 50% off after Halloween. Next to it is a candy jar cauldron I made when I was doing ceramics and another full of hot chocolate mix from Crate & Barrel - I think.

This is the side of my pie safe. The framed picture is a cross stitch I did MANY years ago when I still had time - and better vision! The pumpkin is something I made to sell when I was part of a craft co-op. I cut the shape out of canvas, filled with batting, did some stitching and then painted and varnished him. Added a few wire twists and bow and he is still one of my favorites although I remember him being a real pain to make!

This is a bit of the shelf over the doorway and the top of the pie safe. The plate is one of my treasured keepsakes made for me by granddaughter #2. She was quite young when she made it and it is very special. Next to the plate is a hurricane all of the kids and I made a few years ago. We decoupaged ripped pieces of Halloween tissue to the outside and then dripped puffy paint down the lip and sides. It is pretty when it is lit. Note to self. Next time look a little more closely when snapping close ups. I was so concerned about flashback that I failed to notice the wonky lamp shade or how off center everything is. The worst part is that I saw it as soon as I previewed this picture and still haven't done anything about it - YIKES!

A few more pictures and my witch who is totally here to delight (and it doesn't hurt that it totally annoys my husband) the kids as she makes a cackling noise any time any noise is made near her! LOVE it!!!


My pig rounds things out. In the past he has been much more ornately dressed - and he will be again - this year he is going simple. Just wish there were more hours in a day during the month of October.

That pretty much takes you around the inside of the house. I will be off most of the next week actually getting to enjoy all that my favorite holiday has to offer. If there is time, I will post some favorites of mine that I find myself looking at often during the season. If not, I hope everyone has a hauntingly good time and I will be back getting ready for Thanksgiving soon. And, oh yes, I will have lots of pictures!