Last Minute Christmas and a Blogging Break

Hi Everyone,

I've been somewhat MIA this last week before Christmas.

I had plans to share with you

 a few of my last minute projects and decorating

but this week got away from me a little.

Welcome to My Christmas Home Tour 2015

Hi Everyone, and Welcome to my Christmas Home Tour for 2015.

I've added a few more pics, so you could call this the extended version.

For those of you who are new here, or in case you haven't visited for a while,

this is our 2nd year in our new home and we're a bit more settled than last year.

We downsized by almost half in the Fall of 2014, but it's good to be here.

You can click on the photo and click again for a larger version

in more detail.

Hope you enjoy your visit!

"Reflections" on the Old Door

One of my favorite places to change things up, is on the old door in my Kitchen Sitting Area. The old door had been on the Sun porch at the old house, and moving it into the Kitchen Dining spot when we moved here, gave me the sense and feel of the old space that I loved so much.

Christmas Entry, In and Out...

Hi Everyone, are you in overdrive this week, trying to get ready for Christmas? I'm making progress, but I need to start wrapping gifts. One thing I realized I needed to do was to share pics of my Entry and front porch. I've had to get them over a span of several days, and because of the blah weather they've not consistently turned out. So, again today, I gave it a try. I'm just an "accidental photographer", meaning it's an accident when I can get good photos...

Come As You Are Fab Features

Wow, what a fun bunch of Inspiring Links at the
Come As You Are Christmas Party 
from last week. Somebody stop me...
I could have all of you as features!
I grabbed a handful, and here they are.
If you haven't had a chance to check these out,
I guarantee they're all worth a visit!

Please Pin all photos and links from the original post.
(Thank You!)


Linda from Little Bits and Pieces shares her Christmas Home Tour

Christmas in the Dining Room

Thank you to all of you good friends, 

who came out to participate in the 

"Come As You Are" Christmas Linky!

I'm still going through the links for a post of a few of your homes.

A little unexpected garbage disposal malfunction,

has me waiting for a plumber and installation.

Always fun for Christmas!

(better now, than next week!)

I thought I would change out my Milk Maid Vintage Print for my favorite

William Bouguereau Madonna, "Lambs".

Christmas Mini Home Tour and "Come As You Are" Linky Party

Hi Everyone and Welcome to the 

"Come As You Are" 

Christmas Open House

 and Link Party!

"Village Churches" Mini Makeover

I think many of us collected the various "Village" Houses and Churches back in the late 90's. I know that I concentrated on finding just the white churches, without giving in to the obsession of collecting a whole village of people, shops, churches, houses, and figurines. Last thing I needed was one more "collection" of anything...

Easy Festive Votives with Plaid and Boxwood

Hi Everyone, I hope you're having a wonderful weekend.

 Getting the Christmas decorating in hand, shopping,

making plans for this busy time of year...

 and enjoying your loved one's companionship.

Christmas Fun on the Baker's Rack

I always like to keep the Baker's Rack in the Kitchen Sitting Area as a place to have some fun with vintage pieces. And what can be more fun than Vintage with some Christmas Cheer. The Baker's Rack is my place to mix and match and bring out the Kitsch for the Holidays.

Vintage Minis on the LED Woodsy Tree

I've been decorating and tweaking since Saturday, (you too?) and to be honest I really didn't have much of a game plan before I started. I knew I didn't want to go out and buy anything. I have tubs and tubs full of decorations, greenery, ribbon, and fun vintage Holiday goods. I knew I'd be using Plaid, but then, I use some Plaid each Christmas Season. What I really wanted was something just a little "different" than what I've done in the past.

It'll be a Plaid Plaid Christmas...

(Wasn't that an old Elvis song?)

I'm mixing it up a little this year.

I have a lot of "stuff", and there's no way to use it all,

so I decided to try some new ideas

for Christmas this year.

Choosing to be thankful...

Today I thought about wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving; put up a few appropriate pics and calling it "done". But each time I would do that God would nudge me in another direction. Not about the day of Thanksgiving on the calender, or being "Thankful" for things or even for those people in our lives that we love. I need to share the importance of having a "Thankful Heart". In more cliched terms, having "an attitude of gratitude". And it's something I need to be reminded of.

OK, you're still going to get the pics...

New to me...

I'm frequently the last one to know 

about some amazing item, bargain, or trend.

duh...wow..."isn't that so cool?"

So this post is my latest installment of

"Everyone else may already know... but"

I just had to share this in case there's anyone else out there 

...ah, um...a little uninformed.

this is paper, peeps.

In Praise of Plaid

Plaid is my go-to for Christmas.

I like to keep it simple, and that's what Tartan Plaid gives me.

The Tartan Plaid fabrics bring an instant festive Christmas flair.

Here are a few pics to share the Tartan Love...

A concrete statue becomes a Christmas Cherub.

Transitional Autumn Tree and a Christmas Home Tour Link Party

Last weekend  I was left to my own devices, like I am every start of deer season. I took advantage of the open garage space and decided I'd try to look through my Christmas tubs and boxes. Over the course of the Fall I've managed to combine a lot of smaller tubs into bigger more heavy duty bins, that stack easier and ultimately take up less space. But the Christmas decor situation is another story...

Out and About, a "Pre-Christmas" Tree, and the Give-Away Winner...

I had a few things I wanted to share with you today...

Hope you don't mind a little bit of everything.

Check out the oh so cute animal portraits...

with scarves!

Just a reminder...

 That the Timewashed Velvet Pumpkin

 Give-Away ends tonight!

Orphan Sampler gets a Vintage Frame

This last Spring I found this wonderful cross-stitch Sampler 

and because I still hadn't unpacked my vintage loose frames 

it landed here on my little hallway table.

Thanksgiving Sitting Area

Time for the Thanksgiving Edition 

of the Kitchen Sitting Area!

I realize that many people in Blogland may not be all that interested 

in how my Kitchen Sitting Area changes with the Holidays and Seasons.

 But since you're here, I'm hoping you can enjoy the Seasonal Fun for what it is.

Velvet Pumpkins for a "Timewashed" Give-Away

Becky and I have been wanting to do this Give Away since earlier this Fall,

so we're sharing this opportunity now, still in time 

for you to create your own wonderful 

Fall and Thanksgiving Centerpiece.

Thanksgiving Table-top Vignette

Through my inevitable "process" of tweaking and changing up,

I finally decided on the tabletop vignette in the Dining Room.

Enough of you have confided to me that you're as OCD as I am, 

and cannot... will not, leave something alone.

Not until it's been done to death 

and we reach the place where it "works".

LED Woodsy Tree and Transitioning from Fall to Christmas

So yesterday, the first thing I saw on my bloglist was a sponsored group of bloggers with Christmas Trees. Please don't get me wrong, I understand all about advertising and sponsored posts, and being out front for the seasonal rush for products, sharing ideas and offers. And it's nothing personal, these are a great group of bloggers.  But golly, I'm not ready to have anything Christmas shoved at me just yet. I like to eeeaaaase in to Christmas. I don't like to go "Cold Turkey" and leave out Thanksgiving.

Nature Inspired Autumn Urn

I've had this Nature Inspired Autumn Urn in my head since last Spring, when I picked up a Victoria Magazine Special Edition, called Victoria Classic French Cottage . I'm hoping it will become a yearly publication, because it was filled with wonderful features of French and French Inspired Cottages. There was one particular image that completely captured my imagination, from an article called Living With The Past.

Contemplating a New Fall Centerpiece...

That's what is going on...

I'm thinking about a new centerpiece display for the Dining Room Table. I haven't really made a commitment yet, because I'm not ready to start bringing the turkeys out. But since October is flying by, I'm putting together some ideas. It's a work in progress...

Out and About at Leola's Vintage Home

Hey Everyone...
I have a few pics to share from a recent visit to Leola's Vintage Home and Garden in Ozark, Missouri. I didn't make the Fall Open House, which is always a high point for me, but I knew they would still be packed with fun items for Halloween and Fall. Just walking in here fills me with inspiration, no matter what the season.

Kitchen Counter Vignette

Do you have a spot in your house 

where things are moved around...

added and subtracted...

left for days

 because you don't know how to use them in your decor?

...a glorified "staging area".

waiting to be blogged about...

hoping to make the cut?

An October Entry

My house tends to look a bit overdone if I'm not careful;

especially this time of year.

OK...most of the time it's a little too cluttered.

Blame it on blogging and enjoying sharing it all with you.

Out and About for some Fall Fun

We're really fortunate to have so many wonderful antique shops, flea markets, boutiques, and tea rooms, here in Springfield, and the surrounding area. You can spend several days and you still couldn't see all that they offer. Delicious food, great antiques, fun vintage treasures to find...and most of all we have some fabulous local talent.

An Old Quilt and New Pillows in the Sitting Area

 Now that it's "Mid October" it's

time to bring more of the rich Fall colors

 into the Kitchen Sitting Area.

Blue Willow Transferware Tureen

So, let me ask you a question...

Do you do "Blue and White"?

Do you have an obsession with 

Blue and White Urns, Ginger Jars, Tureens, Transferware,

and all things Blue?

Me?...not so much.

Front Porch for Fall

I finally have the front porch put together.

It's a small little porch, and I've been warned  asked

not to cram too much out here.

That's a hard one...

It's Fall,

 and that means mums,

 pumpkins,

 and my black wagon.

Snow Owls on the Mantel

It just wouldn't be October on the Mantel without my little Snow Owls. A few years ago white owls were the latest addition to the Fall Scene, and that reminded me of what a fad owls were in the early 70's. All the poor homely little ceramic owls that had been packed away or sold at garage sales started to make a comeback on the shelves of flea markets and antique malls. They were still homely, but I had a plan...

Wheelbarrows, Wagons, and "Hoo" Else?

Hey Friends, I just wanted to share a few pics with you, as I'm getting the front porch readied for my favorite month... October! I've had some mums out, and my door basket decorated for Fall, but I wanted to wait and share it all with you when I had my French Goat Cart decorated. I was going to use real pumpkins, but I decided to repaint some of my faux stash, and just ended up with them instead. 

Share Your Style #33

Welcome Friends,

Glad you're here to Share Your Style!

First, I have 3 great features from last week,

 then please read on, I have a little blogging news.

Kitchen China Cupboard for Fall

Before we moved to this house, my kitchen china cupboard, had always been just that... a china cupboard. It held china, and some colored crystal and a few antique floral teapots. It never changed, no matter what the Season or Holiday. I had lots of other places to "play" and decorate, so this one I left alone...

Snippets from the China Cabinet

I hope you're having a wonderful Fall Day.

The treetops are changing to various hues of red, orange, and yellows.

It's warm, but you can feel the Fall changes.

I've been adding Autumn to my Kitchen China Cabinet...

The mismatched plates, cups, saucers, and tureens each become a work of art

...when Bittersweet and Leaves nestle around them.

Both the bovine and the birds...

are celebrating the wild garden within the walls of glass.

xoxo,

Share Your Style #32

Hi Everyone and welcome to 

Share Your Style 

on this beautiful first Day of Fall!

This last week I met Holly from McCall Manor, What a great blog for you to check out! She has a wonderful post on Spray Painting Fabric Upholstered Chairs. What makes these chairs super special is this great monogram on the back...plus she's one funny gal!

You know it's Fall when...

Well, you know it's officially Fall when Google has gone Squirrely for pumpkins and gourds. This has been the best way to start my day and the Fall Season. Enjoy your Google Art announcement for Autumn!

Speaking of Pumpkins and Gourds, my farm stand finally opened,

 so I came home with a few to get me started.

 I already know I'll be back this weekend!

Kitchen Sitting Area Dressed for Fall

When I shared the Blogger Fall Home Tour put together by Brenda last week, one room didn't make the cut... that was the Kitchen Sitting Area. I had a few things left to get done. So, I have a few of those things done, but it's still not finished. I'm sure I'll have that done by the time to decorate for Christmas.

Confessions of a Weekend Lounger

I have a confession to make...

I love to lounge in bed.

Especially on a weekend morning with a cup of coffee and my computer.

But even though I'm a bed-o-phile, I'm not a "sheet snob".

Actually, I usually don't give sheets much thought.

Clean, color coordinated, no cat hair...

OK, make that limited amount of cat hair.

Framed Seasonal Botanical and a Give-Away Winner

First of all I want to thank all of you who came by on the Blogger Fall Tour that Brenda from Cozy Little House worked on so hard. Thankyou for all the wonderful comments. You know how to make a girl's day! Brenda brought together 28 "oldies" and "newbies" for the tour and you'll find tons of wonderful Fall Inspiration. If you didn't catch the line up, I'll have it here at the end of this post. You don't want to miss it!

Blogger Fall Tour

Hello Everyone, and welcome to the

  Blogger Fall Tour

hosted by Brenda at Cozy Little House.

I'm so happy to be included in this fun line up of 28 blogs this week. If you're taking the tour and came by way of Susan at Love of Home, I'm so glad you're here, and I'd love you to come back to visit again! 

Share Your Style #31

Hello, all you wonderfully Stylin' Friends...

Welcome to Share Your Style!

I'm really enjoying seeing everyone take on Fall Decorating. Julie from Renaissance Mermaid has created a fun and cozy display on her Front Porch using green, black, and neutrals. I love her pillows and wicker, dressed for Fall. Hope you'll run by to visit once you've linked up your posts!

A Taste of Fall

I thought I'd share a few pics with you today of the Bloggers Fall Tour that will happening starting Tuesday and going until Friday of this week. I'm just giving you a little "Taste of Fall". I hope you'll take the Tour with all 28 of us, who will be sharing projects, DIY, recipes, decor and more.