Easy Ivy Topiary for Valentine's Day

Hi Friends, hope you all are well and staying warm. And I'm hoping all our friends on the East Coast are safe and staying home somewhere away from the blizzardy snow and winds. Although we're having a sunny day here in the lower Midwest it's still cold and shivery. Anytime I can sit still for awhile you'll find me wrapped up in an electric blanket or throw. It's days like today that make me want to play with some plants and then put out a few vintage Valentine's to brighten up the house and shelves.

Hello Fall on the Silver Tray and Fall Home Tours

One of my favorite ways to Welcome in the Autumn Season is with a scented candle on my vintage silver tray on the Kitchen peninsula/bar area. I keep the tray there year round with one of my vintage silver coffeepots and a Topiary, then change up the seasonal goodies accordingly. This candle has a great font graphic that says it most appropriately... Hello FALL!

Topiary, Two Ways to Transition to Fall

August used to be my least favorite month of the year... well, OK, maybe it's still my least favorite month but that's only because I'm not a fan of the heat that August usually brings with it. We're having a week or two here in SW Missouri that feels like the middle of September, in the low 80's and some rain, and that is a wonderful reprieve. We've had summers that we had no rain whatsoever and the temps were over 100 for days. But in the last few years since blogging, I've realized that August can be one of my favorite months...

Vintage Valentine "Love"

I'm getting a few things together for Valentine's Day here in the Kitchen Sitting Area,

 but it's taking me a little longer this last week to get things accomplished. 

So, I thought I'd share a little Valentine's Love while I'm getting the rest of it together.

Daisy Botanical in the Entry

Just checking in to say Hello, as this may possibly be my last post for awhile. We leave early next week for my appointment with my new cardiologist. After all this waiting, I'm starting to feel a little anxious about it all. I've spent all week checking to make sure all my records have been transferred from three different sources, and it doesn't help the situation for calm when one of them keeps giving me the run around and putting me off... not surprised, it's their usual.

Getting the house listed and all the little details have about done me in. We've been trying to finish up, but now that Summer is here the garage has turned into an oven. My poor hubby tries to do things after work, but it's still too hot. Honestly, we're too old for this...word to the wise, downsize and get your junk dealt with before you are too sick or tired to mess with it. You AND your kids will be thankful. Do I sound tired and grumpy?

Time for a change in the Entry this week. I had a couple of raw canvases that I'd brought home with me from the other house. I love their natural oatmeal-y linen look with tattered edges and nails. I thought a botanical of daisies looked perfect attached to the front. 

Speaking of daisies, I had planted Becky Shasta Daisies and Black Eyed Susans several years ago and have babied and babied them, but they've been slow to get growing...until now. Now there is a profusion of them, just getting ready to bloom. Hope I can enjoy them just a little.

Google Images

We've had quite a few house lookers, so hope good news will be soon.

We're ready to move on to the next chapter in life.

Feels like we've been stuck in this one for a little too long.

My little heart topiary needs to be trimmed up,

 but I'm enjoying the wild look.

Little birdie is back on his bookstack.

 Yep, definitely needs a trim.

That's some good ol natural patina there on this clay pot.

just can't replicate that.

I'll try to check back in next week and let you all know what's going on. This has been a hard week, as I'm having some fun new heart related symptoms that have kept me in bed most of the week. I know this is just a "season" that God is allowing me to walk through, but it's hard nonetheless. I've missed the last year of my life feeling like doggy doo, (see...I still have a sense of humor) and I'm ready for whatever it takes to get well and get this behind me. 

Thank God for a husband that is my best friend.

He has a lot on his plate right now.

Almost forgot...this week is my 5 year blogging anniversary.

Here's my first post.

Keep up the good thoughts and prayers, I wish I could get back with each of you individually, and give you a big hug and squeeze. You all mean so much to me, and I'm super grateful for you all being there. I've been trying to keep up with your blogs, even though I haven't left comments...I've still been there. OK, this is sounding pretty pitiful, so I'll say...love you guys, talk soon.

Spring in the Entry

I haven't shown this little spot in my Entry Hall for awhile, because actually I have two "Entry" areas, and this one often feels like Cinderella to the Stepsisters. The light can be tricky here, but today with a little sunshine and a new Spring-y vignette it got a little attention.

I had it in my head for white tulips this year, 

so they're filling a basket along with a twiggy wreath.

My sis made me this wonderful moss covered "O" for Christmas,

and I loved the black ticking stripe ribbon she chose.

Two of my lambies are grazing in the lantern.

I think they look like they're in church with all the Gothic arches.

I always love tulips for Spring. 

This little Eastlake dresser was black for many years, but a couple of years ago in my crazy "paint everything in the house" mode, it got the "white" treatment.

Gray washed French Laundry Basket underneath for extra cold weather gear.

Here's a shot from a little further out from the Dining Room...

...and this from the Living Room.

I have a larger header I need to get painted for over the door.

This looks a little too small, now that I'm looking at it.

It's the width of the door, but with windows on each side,

it needs something chunkier.

OK, where's my can of white paint?

Now that I think about it,  I don't think I've shown my twin boxwood topiaries for ages. I bought these ten years ago before  The Bombay Company went out of business. An expensive purchase at the time, but they were for our younger daughter's wedding, and I never regretted it.

Here tied with a French Script wired ribbon.

I realized when painting this petite little dresser

that there are reasons some things are painted black...

It had large gaps between the wood pieces on the side which I had to fill with wood putty before the second coat of paint. Totally hidden by the black color, they were glaring when the white paint went on. It's still a little rough, but I love the size and this is where gloves and scarves are kept.

As you can see, I'm not a perfectionist.

The hardware got a paint job too.

That works for me on Shabby pieces.

Have you entered the Give Away?

You'll want to check out Lucy's wonderful Etsy shop.

Just click here to enter

joining in on these parties:

Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday
Timewashed for Blissful Whites
From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Stone Gable for TTT
 French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
The Charm of Home  for Home Sweet Home
Jennifer Rizzo
Craftberry Bush
Debbie's Pin Party
The Dedicated House
Cozy Little House

Hope you're having a great week,

Thursday I'm headed to Leola's Vintage Home and Garden Open House.

Can't wait to see what they have for Spring!
(I'll be sharing the fun this weekend)

xoxo,

Updating a Fall Pumpkin Topiary

The winner of the ugliest pumpkin contest...

Oh, did you miss that contest?

Well, if there would have been one

I would have been the winner, hands down!

(after makeover)

yep, I had some pretty uuuuuugggglllly fugly pumpkins.

A few years ago I made a pumpkin topiary for my entry.

I still liked it,

but the elusive "lumina" pumpkins have been my muse.

(before makeover)

so I grabbed my trusty paint brush and transformed those babies into, 

if not things of beauty...

well at least better!

Welcome to my laboratory!

A coat of this gray mixture slathered on all my projects as an undercoat...

The babies awaiting final touches...

multiple coats to look more dimensional...

I know I'm only about the 500th person to show their painted pumpkins,

but I really did enjoy giving them an updated look.

Say Hello to this fella below,

He was the culprit.

sorry,

no before photo...

too hideous...

Alligator skin syndrome...

at least now he's presentable...

blending in...

 hanging out with the others in the wagon on the porch.

And now everyone's back together again in the Entry Hall!

ta da!!

And for another of my Fall projects...

Fun vintage key pendant with some Fall flavor

I'm updating this post to join in for

Thanks so much for coming to visit.

Vintage Inspiration Friday #3

My Fall decorating is more in the category of

"nature inspired"

 rather than out and out Halloween.

I have a few favorite black cat items and figurines,

but I really love the look of fall leaves, pumpkins,

 mums and bittersweet, that can take me through

the middle of November.

The pumpkins and mums are just starting

 to make it to the corner farm stands,

so I'm still looking for some inspiration for my front porch,

which right now is somewhere between

late Summer (impatiens)

and Fall. (a wreath with real bittersweet berries)

not a particularly good look....

So today I put together my

Fall Pumpkin Topiary

 in my entry hall.

At least you're not confused when you come inside.

Following images from google

if you know the source please let me know.

Once again, inside, I'm using faux pumpkins.

Due to a few unfortunate tumbling pumpkin incidents last year,

I've hot glued these babies for this season.

I just wish I had two of these monster concrete urns for my porch.

I'm wanting to do something a little more "traditional"
this year out front.

hmmmm...

I have an idea that just may work.

stay tuned...

Hope you join in on
Vintage Inspiration Friday
and let us know what's inspiring you this week.

Please be sure to link back to

this blog, Common Ground, within your post,

so others can join the party.

Hope you have a great weekend!

love,

Debra