Welcome to day two of decorating with pumpkins. This little Fall vignette is on the mantle in our family room. I have  chosen to keep the colors more muted with a bit of a natural feel. I have shopped my home for most everything placed here, including  the pumpkins.  Those on the wreath I have had for years.  In order  to  give them a little glow and cover up some imperfections I painted  them with metallic acrylic paint-a  soft champagne color. I have inverted two rustic, chippy pots and placed natural burlap  pumpkins on top of them,  I like the simplicity of the burlap on the wreath and pumpkins.     In order to add  some  height  I placed  some  beloved antique books underneath them.    A few weeks back, on a Saturday afternoon I went to one of our  local antique shops and was delighted with this window!  I had been looking for one with panes, but this one had the best asking price of 15 dollars, so I just could not pass it up.  After a good washing a  little sanding and some lette

So, let us begin day one of decorating with pumpkins with  with the sad  tale of a recipe gone wrong and a little cake that no one wanted.  You will need a comfy chair and possibly a  tissue for a tear which you might shed. The day began with a festive table runner freshly ironed, the glow  from a beloved light, a very old recipe that I was trying to rework  and a sad little cake all frosted, decorated and that no one wanted. Truly the only thing pretty and redeeming about this little cake was her decorative top knot-a happy and bright orange pumpkin. It really wasn't the cakes fault, it was mine and I do apologize,  sincerely. I had spent a few hours searching for a cake that utilized a cake mix,  was well suited for  transportation, and one that I could decorate with an air of festivity ( A pumpkin) wink~ After all who could resist a German chocolate cake mix infused with  chunks of ooey gooey milkyway pieces, orange frosting and of  course a top knot with a festive pumpkin?   Wo

I would like to thank all of you entered the Halloween Wreath  giveaway, it is closed now.  Rafflecopter randomly picked the  winner. Congratulations to Mary Alice from Chateau Chic !

In July we took a fun trip to   New Orleans .  We thoroughly  enjoyed so many  aspects of the city but one of our very favorites  was the Garden  District.  It too, is rich with history and so much  beauty. My husby and I rode the trolley to the Garden District and then set  out on our own little walk about.  Naturally it was hot and humid,  but this did not deter our zest one bit! Some homes in the District seem to be better preserved than others,  but never the less they are still beautiful and amazing structures.  So  much of the architecture is Greek Revival.  The Garden District was developed between 1832 and 1900 and is  considered to be one of the best preserved collections of historic  southern mansions in the United States.   As you can see the homes are very nestled and somewhat hidden  behind  very large trees and heavy black wrought iron fences and  gates, also  a typical style during this era.  The Garden District was the place for the new wealthy to set up their household

I have so enjoyed making this Halloween Wreath for my first  giveaway, it is just a little way to say thank you for joining me. It measures approximately 15 inch inches in height and width.  The  frame is wire, so it is very light.  It can be hung anywhere, but if  you d o hang it outside it will need to be in a sheltered area away  from  rain, sleet, snow and heavy wind. You know, I always make my wreaths and then live with them  awhile.  When I made this one, I felt it needed just a bit more sprucing up to feel festive. So I added some cats, then some feathers and in order to tie it all together incorporated the faux pearls from  the bow to the feathers.  The cats are attached with just a smidge of  hot glue-so you could remove them after Halloween and use this  wreath through Thanksgiving.  It needs a home now-so I hope you will all enter the giveaway! If you are not already following my blog I would appreciate you  doing so.  We can also stay connected on Pinterest, Twitter and  In

Do you remember the novel and movie The Shining?  The novel  written by Stephen King, the movie directed by Stanley Kubrick. This is the Stanley Hotel, where the inspiration for the novel began.  I have taken the liberty to do some editing  on picmonkey. After all, it is one of America's most haunted Hotels. In reality it does not look haunted at all.  This is how the Hotel truly  looks.  A beautiful, gracious property built in 1901, by Freelan  Oscar  Stanley, an American  businessman who along with his brother co-founded the Stanley Motor Carriage Company.  It is located in Estes  Park Colorado and is just minutes away from  The Rocky Mountain  National Park.  The day that we were there, it  was  filled with the hustle and bustle of an afternoon wedding. There is a fascinating story behind the story of  The Shining.    I have  included the link if you would like to read it.  Just click the  link and  scroll down to background  The Shining-Novel I thought how interesting it would

Although the weather outside is still a tad bit warm and muggy, I am  in full blown Fall mode.  I have decided that if I wait for the weather to tell me it is Fall, I will have to wait for a very long time and, I am  just am not willing  to  wait.   And so I shall begin to welcome Fall.  I have many ways to  welcome Fall and since I am admittedly a bit of a pack rat, thanks to  age and saving many, many treasures. I no  longer have to purchase  any decorations. (Unless of course I feel as though I must!)  Just  another great thing  about getting older, I have stuff! All of these marvelous orange pumpkins, golden baubles,  copper  whatnot's,  burnished leaves, and tattered burlap reside in a  very  special box  in the attic marked "fall." I must tell you, that to those around me I appear rather matter of  fact  about the business of decorating, but deep inside me...well...I  am smiling-giddy, happy!   I have always loved to decorate, ever  since I was just a child.  You se

You know, I grew up in the West where nature is bigger than  mankind.  Where you remain humble in spirit because you are  surrounded by magnificent mountains that stretch for thousands and  thousands of miles.  Where never  ending blue sky and puffy white  clouds seem to be within arms reach. "Great things are done where men and mountains meet." ~William Blake~ Where natural beauty moves your heart and soul to ache. Gushing mountain streams from melting snow cap peaks race with abandon around curves and corners, with absolutely no fear or wonder what their density might be. Simple sweet serenity rests on each mountain ridge. Cool, clear mountain lakes surrounded by pungent evergreen forests  where  deer, elk, bear, wolf and eagles call home.  A gentle  reminder for mankind that we are not the almighty. Pristine mountain air, gentle sunsets and mountain breezes.   Peaceful, calm, no storms of life, no rush of words, no ego's. The essence of the magnificent mountains calms,

I am so pleased with the use I have gotten out of my two Bird Cages. They are no longer in my garden, they have been rinsed off,  freshened up and ready for the indoors and Fall. I feel as though the time they spent out of doors gave them a bit  more  character and a little more of a chippy attitude, which is what I  was looking for.  Don't you just love vintage with an attitude!  You  might remember my post back in April  Birdcage In My Garden .  Well here they are now-ready for Fall. You know, I wasn't a instant fan of burlap, at least in my home.  I enjoyed seeing how other people used it in their homes, but I was a late bloomer in that department.  Of course now I use it as  accent pieces throughout my home.  I found these darling burlap flowers and pumpkins at HL-40 % off -such a sweet little deal. I really could not make them for this price. I started wondering why it was that I was hesitant to add burlap, and then it occurred to me that it was because I grew up on a farm