Sunporch Shenanigans

There's a little more fun going on in the sunporch this week that I wanted to share with you.  I always have an ivy that sits in my wicker floral container, ok...funeral basket. I hate saying funeral basket. Is that the only time anyone ever had one of these delivered? I guess they were the closest thing to "disposable" back then. so anyway... back to the funeral basket...

I like to keep mine "upbeat" with some seasonal decor thrown in for fun.

So this month it's been an "ode to black cats".

I love any color cats, 

but in my lifetime I've had several of those sweeties

all named...

wait for it...

"Blackie"

I also had an adorable white kitty named "Whitey",

but today we're talkin' black kitties.

I think they get a bad rap.

My last "Blackie" was one of the sweetest girls around.

hmmm...this one could be a tuxedo.

but we'll just say it's black.

My girls were out here helping with the photos and trying to get a nibble

from the Angel Vine I just brought indoors.

They're naughty that way.

I found a wonderful little Elementary Reader a few years ago and used it to make some fun prints. That's a copy of the original 1920's page with another black cat and pumpkin image on top. I've always loved children's book illustrations from the 20's and 30's. When I was a kid, my grandmother had all my dad's childrens' books from the 30's. It broke my heart that someone cleared out the attic stash and threw them all away.

In just a few days, we'll be gearing up for Thanksgiving and the turkeys will take over. So for this week the owls and black cats, are still on the loose. Even one of my lambs wanted to join the festivities out here by sporting a new scarf...

don't tell him it's just a ribbon with a little glitter...

This is my second post today, the first one was "unscheduled" when I got these photos and texts from my daughter. Just wanted to share them and have a laugh, if you haven't read that post, CLICK HERE

Linking up with these wonderful parties:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Inspiration Gallery at Ella Claire

DIY By Design

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson

Stone Gable

No Minimalist Here

From My Front Porch to Yours

Today's Sponsor Bel Monili

Here's a Note from Lucy, owner of Bel Monili:

Hi Everyone, Tomorrow is my end of the month sale AND it's my birthday! I'm running the sale Thursday, October 31 (my 33rd birthday! eek!) through Sunday. Use coupon code birthdaybel20 at www.belmonili.etsy.com through Sunday, November 3, 2013 to receive 20% off of your ENTIRE purchase of $10 or more. Since it's Bel Monili's birthday, purchases of $50 or more will receive a FREE 3 pack of pearl bobby pins as a gift, and purchases of $100 or more will receive a FREE quote bracelet of your choosing! This is the perfect time to get your holiday shopping kick-started at bel monili, where you always enjoy free domestic shipping. Happy Halloween!

My Kids Are Famous!

well sort of...

seems like they had primo seats at Sunday Night's World Series Game in St. Louis. They sat right behind the batter so they were visible all evening. Their Facebook page lit up with friends from all over letting them know. My SIL makes great faces of disgust. pretty funny. I guess they were more fun to watch than the Cardinals!

My daughter's comment on the one below was

 "looks like Keith is eating this guy's brains...very Halloweeny!"

more fun photos of them HERE

Come on you Birds,

let's win this!!

The Marketplace: Etsy and Boutique Showcase

Hi Everyone!

Time for The Marketplace, 

a place to share and show off
some of your Etsy and Online Boutique items. 

Here are some great listings from last week:

"Halloween" Fruit Crate

Third Shift

Mandeville and King Antique Seed Box

Third Shift

Vintage Ironstone Bowl

Vintage Goodness 1

Antique Black Doctor's Bag

Whimzy Thyme

Large Antique Wooden Box

Wretched Shekels

Jeanne d'Arc Living Magazine

Parisian Fleamarket

and Today's Sponsor

Glass Bead Treasures

This is a linky party that is for items that are FOR SALE only. You don't have to have a blog to link up. If you have a blog post about your items that's great too, but they need to be available to purchase. Please try to link to the individual item that you are selling if possible. Please be a follower of Common Ground and if you have a blog it would be so nice for you to grab the image below to share somewhere on your blog. (not mandatory, just nice).

And remember this link is open all week, 

so stop back by to link up and shop the new items being listed.

Have a great week everyone,

Humbolt Mansion Open House

Hi All, just want to let all you local peeps here in Southwest Missouri, Northern Arkansas,  North East Oklahoma,and Eastern Kansas (yes, we're in a 4 state corner) know about a wonderful invitation from Robin Gilmore of Robin's Vintage Suitcase here in Springfield, Missouri. She's opening her lovely Estate, The Humbolt Mansion, for a Christmas Open House next weekend, and if you haven't been inside the gates of this amazing home and grounds, you'll want to take this opportunity to take the tour.

The Open House will be at the same time as the Christmas Open House at her Shop, Robin's Vintage Suitcase and Veranda Tea Room just down the street, so you can make a day with friends and family for some Christmas shopping fun.

Vintage Suitcase and the Veranda Tea Room 724 S. Scenic Ave 417-224-5300                           417-866-1145 for reservations  Christmas Open House November 1, 2 & 3 Hours: Friday: 10am- 8pm Saturday: 10am- 5pm Sunday: 11am- 4pm Dinner will be served from 5- 8pm on Friday & brunch will be served  11-4 on Sunday Reservations recommended but not required 866-1145 Join us for a Christmas Tour at Hvmboldt Mansion 847 S. Scenic Ave Saturday 9-5 - Sunday 1-4 $10 tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance at the Vintage Suitcase. Proceeds benefiting Springfield Symphony Guild and various children's charities.  An old-fashioned boxed lunch will be served at the Carriage House on Saturday from 11-3 for $8.99    Hope to see you there!

Robin will have her beautiful home 

decked from top to bottom with Christmas Cheer.

You won't want to miss it!

(Christmas photos from Robin's Gatehouse)

Click Here  and Here for a Haute Halloween at Robin's Mansion

Be sure and call for lunch reservations,

And make some wonderful Holiday memories!

Be Inspired #162 Simply Fall

Hi Everyone,

 and Welcome to Be Inspired!

There have been so many great links during this Early Fall Season, I'm excited to see what you all have coming up for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I could do dozens of featured links each week! So, thanks so much for taking the time to come by and link up each week.

Jeanette from Creating a Life shared her simple Fall Front Porch, and I seem to be obsessed with Fall Porches, since right now mine looks pretty sad. What really caught my eye is this great wreath with the wooden letter. A simple garland of leaves and pine cones with a ribbon will take it from now into Thanksgiving.

 Take a look at this super fun DIY Boo Marquee Sign

and tutorial from Charlie at Match Made on Hudson

Little Miss Maggie knows her way around a total reimagination of a piece of furniture. This small frenchy accent cabinet would be beautiful as a bedside table or hall table. Amazing makeover!

I've said it before but Jeanine at Chippy Shabby has the BEST vintage Holiday entry displays.  Halloween is always my favorite. Here is her latest; Vintage Halloween Owls.

Meg from Oliver and Rust

gave us an underground tour of her fabulous basement.

Maybe she won't notice if I move in...

Manuela from Vintagesavonette has created a wonderful book display of her altered art, and gives us a great tutorial on how she did it.

Daena from Bad Rabbit Vintage used decoupage
 to bring this wonderful little industrial table to life.

Angela at Number Fifty Three stenciled her Entry Hall
and totally changed the look of the space.

Need a Fall snack?
These Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins 
 from at the Moon and Me look so yummy!

thanks everyone for sharing the inspiration!

Hope you'll join in for today's party!

Today's Sponsor is

  French Bleu Vintage

Time to get the party started. Here are a few courtesies:

1. Please no direct links to Etsy Shops.
2. Each week I see so many great links I'd love to feature, but you don't have a direct link back to Common Ground. It needs to have the name of this Blog and a link within the post, not just a link to a party list on another page.
3. Please visit just a few of your peeps while you're here.
4. Please be a follower of Common Ground.
5. You can link up up to 3 of your current posts.

Thanks Everyone!