October Fireplace and Mantel

 Hi Everyone, Happy October! This is my favorite month of the year... I can't believe that I didn't come jumping smack dab in your face to announce it! Well, yes, I can... this has been a long week already; more to that later. First I want to share my little owl friends that I've had for several years. They are excited to be back taking center stage on the mantel.

You know my theory for the mantel... "if it works, then leave it be". Well, it has been working so far this Fall so I thought I'd just add in the little hoots to the rest of the Fall display.

Do you remember these little fellas?

This is how they started out back in 2012 when some of us in Blogland were going a little crazy with white owls. Here's how they started out...

But with a several coats of white paint and a lot of inspiration they turned out like this.

sort of blurry... the story of my week.

2012 Mantel at the old house.

I think over 5 years and 2 moves, some of the glitter has come off, but the worst of it was when my husband was trying to being a comedian and threw a wet towel up on the mirror and it knocked off the baby, who landed on the floor with two broken legs. (the owl, not my husband, although I thought about it.) God love him, (my husband), he got a real dressing down for his goofiness. Anyone else out there with a husband who thinks he's stand-up material?

Anyway, so now he has to sit in a flowerpot...

(the owl, not my husband)

You can find last year's Mantel, HERE

Since the Dining Room table is on overload right now, I moved the little Gray French Wagon to the hearth. Once again, I didn't notice something wonky till I saw the pics... I have to move that topiary over a bit when we open the Armoire doors to watch TV.  So I forgot to move it back for the impromptu pics today. You all know how I love to keep it real around here.

 A mix of twiggy and velvet pumpkins with vintage clay flower pots fill it up.

I really love playing with this wagon since I painted it this Spring.

And now for the ongoing saga, sort of like a Soap Opera... I finally made it to the "Interventional Neurologist" appointment where he gave me a Cervical Spine Epidural for the nerves at the base of my skull, that he thinks are causing my massive chronic headache. It was under fluoroscopy so that he can see where to place the 10 foot long needle and press like all get out. The neurologist thinks I have a type of Fibromyalgia that has caused the ganglion root to become inflamed and super sensitive. He gave it in both sides of my neck instead of just one spot. I have to say that it was one of the most painful things I've had to endure, and that's coming from a person who's had open heart bypass surgery and 2 kids. I had 2 Valium before they did it, but since it's the nerve we're talking about, I would have rather had a drip anesthetic instead. This is how I felt last night, before more drugs kicked in.

Notice she has the needles still in place. My sticks were at the back of my neck and I had the pleasure today of ripping my hair out to get the dang bandaids off. All in all it was a heck of a fun time. But, I feel just a smidge better today. It takes several days for the prednisone to start to work, so I'm praying for this thing (neck and head pain) to get a lot better. 

I'm waiting to see if I can get in with another Rheumatologist in the area, since the one I saw is now leaving the clinic (wonder why). My borderline numbers, were not enough to convince her that my autoimmune system is going nuts and I need help. Going Gluten Free has helped alot, but I'm coming up with other issues, like hives and rashes, and more joint pain. My other doctors think the same, but since you have to be exploding to get someone to pay attention around here, I'm forced to wait it out and pray for a doctor to realize I might need medication. Otherwise I have to try to find another doctor in St. Louis. OK, sorry, I've griped enough. Anyone else out there with Autoimmune issues or Fibromyalgia? I know there are more of us than anyone really knows.

Sometimes you just need to let it all out,

 so thanks for listening...

xoxo,

joining in here:

Rattlebridge Farm

French Country Cottage

Hauntingly Beautiful Link Party at Follow the Yellow Brick Home

Sundays at Home at Love of Home

The Scoop at Stone Gable

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Inspiration Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Home Stories A to Z

Share Your Style at The Essence of Home