TABLESCAPE THURSDAY: LUNCH IN PARIS

I am a worrier by nature. I bought a set of six salad/bread plates from an estate sale a while back. And they have sat for a long time. But I have not stopped thinking about them for one second. You see, I wanted to do a tablescape with them, but sometimes the creativity light bulb in my brain just remains unlit. I knew what I didn't want to do. Now, why is that so easy to figure out? Think about it. It is the figuring out exactly what we want to do that is the hard part. And that may be my problem in the world of tablescaping and why I do it so little. God knows I have enough dishes... So I was lamenting to Fidd (Future Interior Design Daughter, who's progress in school I am going to bring you up on later in this post) and she (also known as Emily) said, "Mom, let me do a tablescape with the stupid dishes." To myself, I was thinking, hee hee, that doesn't mean I am going to take pictures of it! So she began to assemble things.

I am joining Susan at Between Naps On the Porch for her event today, so you know that a successful table setting was laid. Fidd does have a lot of creativity. She needs that to make up for a bit of sloppiness, but that is where this blonde control freak person comes in. The problem was, the dishes were black and white and very French. I didn't want to do a black and white tablescape for reasons I don't even know... and due to the unlit light bulb, I didn't have a clue what sort of color combination or type of centerpiece would work. So she got to work. I sat drinking my coffee, averting my eyes every time she looked my way. When she left the room to gather up napkins or glasses, I ran over to the table and thought, oh no, what is she doing??

Another problem with the black and white dishes was making the table look fall~like. I mentioned that to her. "No problem." She replied. I told her not to mix two white plates on a cream color charger. A roll of the eyes. I didn't like the napkin rings. "Get out of the room!"

She came from the craft room/office with this floral arrangement before setting out the gold tinted wine glasses. By now I was ready to hide my camera and disassemble the laptop so I couldn't be forced to blog about this disaster. Then she finished things up and I sat looking, then nodding my head, and then I gave her a big hug. When she said, "I bet everyone is going to say this is your best tablescape ever," that's when the Kodak moment ended.

I admit I fiddled and tweaked. She is too impatient to learn how to fold a napkin or position the silverware correctly (or like perfect soldiers, the way I tend to do it). I switched out the napkin rings and lit a candle. By then she was in the shower, all was forgotten. So here we have it. She did a great job, didn't she? The black and white mixes in well with the white china and off white capiz shell chargers and napkins. She mixed in some gold fall colors with some silver serving dishes. And she tied the dessert/bread plates in with a whimsical touch, a small trifle glass filled with black and white buttons.

These are close-ups of the plates. They look like French combat scenes to me. For anyone that can speak or read French, click on the picture to enlarge, there is some dialogue going on and it could be meaty... The markings on the back are H.B. surrounded in a circle that reads: 1/2 Porcelaine De Choisy~Le~ROI.

One plate has a tiny chip on the edge that can be sanded, otherwise they are in excellent condition. I love them. I am making cabbage rolls for dinner tonight. Should I serve them here? Does cabbage go with black and white?

The chargers and wine glasses are from Pier I. The dinner plates are from HomeGoods. The napkins and rings are from Target. All of the silver is from my thrifting adventures and the faux flowers are from Michael's. The geraniums in the window are from this summer. They are still going strong so I brought them in. Aren't they pretty?

Emily is more than half through with interior design school and getting her degree. She just finished up a grueling semester in which she had two classes, each having her design a hotel lobby and a townhouse, respectively. It is so much more than floor plans. She has to design and plan everything down to the electrical and lighting system. The design school she goes to is year round with 2 week breaks between semesters, so she will complete her degree in less than 4 years. Next year she plans to take a real estate course and get her license and attempt to combine the two fields. I think this is a really smart decision. You go, Fidd!!

Hey...if you enlarge this picture you will see Nina, the parrot, in her white cage off to the right. Probably waiting for the cabbage rolls. You might also see the door to the china closet open wide also. So much for staging. I want to remind you all about the giveaway. Tell your friends! My blog button is on my sidebar if you want it. It's new and I am proud of it, of course. This weekend I am going to the lake after missing 2 weekends in a row. I am going nuts. And I have something big there that I am going to tell you all about when I get back!

Have a great weekend!! :-)

HANDMADE HOLIDAYS & A GIVEAWAY!!!!

Today is the first day of a new event, and a timely one, called Handmade Holidays, hosted by Kathleen of Kathy's Cottage. This is your chance to post about gifts and decorations that come from the HEART!! Things money (well, not a lot anyway) can't buy. And what a better time. Make this year THE year to spread 'handmade' joy!! Visit Kathleen to comment on her wonderful handcrafted and thrifty idea for the holidays. Spread the word around about this event that will take place every Tuesday. And remember, there are only 6 more weeks until Christmas!

This is a very simple craft that even Blondie can do. Okay, I underestimate myself...but I really didn't think I had it in me. Plus, I bore easily and I have to confess, I really enjoyed making these letters/words. I bought the unfinished letters at Hobby Lobby at $2.49 a piece. They are approximately 5 1/2 inches tall. Use a nail file to smooth out the rough edges. Trace the letter on to the back of scrap booking paper. Paint surface and sides of letters with white acrylic paint. When dry, coat with Mod Podge smoothly over the surface and sides of letter and adhere scrap booking paper to letter, smoothing out with fingers. Let dry and add 2nd coat of Mod Podge and sprinkle with silver glitter. I used Martha's super fine glitter. Voila!!

I had some bubbles, but keep working them out to the sides. And if you are using paper with lettering , words or a design, make sure it is right side up. My 'Happy Holidays' is upside down (it takes a brave soul to admit their mistakes!)

I have the letters propped up for now but I am going to attach ribbon to hang them somewhere...a mantel, balcony or from some garland. You may notice that I didn't use really bright colors. My home is on the pastel side so I kept the colors and patterns cohesive with my decor. But I saw so many sheets of scrap booking paper, I was going nuts. And a tip: stock up on the letters, the O's were almost depleted.

And that is my craft for this week. I am not very crafty ;-} but I hope to come up with something for next week. Visit Kathy and the girl's participating in this event and leave a nice comment. Think of all the ideas you will get and all the hours of fun!

This week I was given the Kreative Blogger award from both Linda at Coastal Charm, and Lou Cinda at Tattered Hydrangeas. Thank you to both of these sweet girls. The rule is that I am to name 7 things about myself that you may not know. That will be close to impossible if you are familiar with how much I can chatter. Then I am to pass the award on to 7 bloggers.

1) My favorite vacation was on Martha's Vineyard.

2) My cat had kitten's in one of my dresser drawers.

3) Both of my daughter's weighed 5 lbs. at birth.

4) I love chocolate and hate beets.

5) My mother's maiden name was Doll.

6) My husband is 8 years older than me.

7) I live on a lake but can't swim.

Now I need to pass the award on. I don't have the URL's but I will let you know. If you have received the award already, you can take a pass if you want. You can take a pass no matter what, but I am personally nosy by nature and like to know as much as I can about everyone.

1) BJ @ Sweet Nothings

2) Elaine @ Cafe Chatelaine

3) Cindy @ Applestone Cottage

4) Mary @ Across The Pond

5) Melissa @ Melissa's Heart And Home

6) Lori E @ Family Trees May Contain Nuts

7) Karen @ A Scrapbook Of Inspiration

FINALLY!! I am having a giveaway!!! Keeping with my Blonde roots, I missed my own 100th post and 100th follower! LOL!! I do have a one year anniversary coming up at the end of this month (can't remember the date~see what I mean?) so I thought I would have a giveaway. I had such a fun time with the Ugly Rooster Giveaway, I thought I would do something a bit more normal. One of the gifts is a package of note cards painted by Karen Harvey Cox. She so generously sent these to me specifically for the giveaway. All of you know how I love her work. If you haven't been to her blog, please visit. You will love it. The rest of the giveaway remains a secret and once I choose the winner, I will attempt to customize it just for you. The rules are the usual. Leave a comment for one entry, become a follower for two and blog about my giveaway with a link for three entries. I have a blog button on my sidebar. The deadline is Friday, November 20, 2009. Good luck ladies!!

Karen's Note cards

Have a great week!!

Should Have Gone To South Haven

Today I am particiapting in Sunday Favorites with Chari at Happy to Design . This was one of the first posts I ever did. After you have left a comment, visit Chari to see the other partcipants today. Enjoy!!


In my last post I spoke of going up to our Lake house to check on the progress of our renovations and then drive up to South Haven, Michigan and stay overnite at the Old Harbor Inn. South Haven is a quaint little town with lots of antique and gift shops, an excellent kitchen store where I bought my first pasta roller (you had to see the long strands of pasta draped over the dining room chairs drying. Wish I had a camera for that!). Anyway, Saturday morning I awoke at 6:30 a.m. to the above. Yep, that's my car covered in snow. I was too busy Friday night eating popcorn and watching holiday movies to put it away. We called our resident carpenter (and I mean resident-he lives in the lake house while he does said renovations. He is currently putting in hardwood floors throughout the house with the exception of the kitchen, and that is the reason we were going to stay in South Haven, no floor.)and he said the snow was worse there. The husband and I threw a few logs on the fire and sipped our coffee while contemplating our alternatives now that we were fired up to get away. Hence, the following pic.





Downtown Chicago. Yeah, Christmas shopping!! We booked ourselves in the Whitehall Hotel which is quite a historic building in it's own right, but I was just thrilled to be a block from the Magnificent Mile, better known as Michigan Avenue. The Fifth Avenue of Chicago. The rival of Rodeo Drive. One of the GREATEST PLACES TO SHOP!! I was in Heaven. Until The Husband lost his credit card in Macy's which was having it's biggest SATURDAY SALE IN HISTORY. Granted, we have other credit cards, perhaps too many, which some of you can identify with. C'mon, admit it. The problem was, The Husband insisted on searching for said card in Macy's, all 11 floors. After being accused of losing said card (he supposedly handed it to me in a very uncommon moment of shyness) in the lingerie department. I was instructed not to leave, not to move from my spot in the lingerie department. So I did what any normal blonde would do, I purused the bras and sexy undies and (gasp) thongs (ouch). Apparently while I was purchasing a sensible pair of flannel jammies, he came looking for me and as a typical male, probably made a quick sweep through the place and left. After smoking a cigar out on the street he traced my imaginary steps back to said historic hotel. Not finding me in the room of course, he made full use of the facilities, read the paper and smoked another cigar. Upon returning to Macy's he finally found me riding the escalators, hot and mad as all get out. Two hours in the lingerie department with no desire to ever see a thong again in my life. No credit card was found, but The Husband did manage to find the bag of expensive candy we bought and his gloves. I'm glad I was wearing the parka I purchased earlier or he would have lost that too. So much for our big shopping trip, It was 6:00 p.m. it was 10 degrees and the wind had picked up off the lake. As I hunkered down in my new parka I managed to see some yummy shops: Jimmy Choo, Juicy Couture, Bebe, Cartier. Oh sigh of sighs. We went back to the historic hotel and ate cashews.
I wish you all warm weather, good shopping days and please avoid the lingerie departments as a favor to me.
Lots of love,
Jane

THREE OR MORE TUESDAY: MASTERING THE MASTER BEDROOM

I have mentioned a few times that I have been working on the master and guest bedrooms at the lake. I didn't want to do a post because the work is slow going, especially since Non~Resident Carpenter jumped ship. But I won't go there. With the kitchen and both bathrooms left unfinished, the bedrooms are the least of our worries, but I will say that I am putting more effort into the master bedroom because I have to sleep there. And I have also read that when couple do work on a new home, the master bedroom is usually the last room they get to, which is supposed to be bad for the marriage. Hmmmmm... ;-)

Our room is not incredibly big. It is off the loft where we watch television and read, so I am content with not having a sitting area in it. Plus, I have a large balcony with an arbor over it that I am going to have fun fixing up next summer. That will be a wonderful area to sit and enjoy a sunny day or warm evening. I am thinking about a big chaise and rocker as well as a bistro table and chairs for some al fresco dining. But I digress . Above is my old rocker with a swan pillow in honor of our lake swans. I bought this pillow from a website called Cola's Cottage. Nicole makes some really pretty things and I love this pillow. Before I go further, let me say that nothing was staged on the night that I was running around taking pictures. So if you spot any undies lying around...

My husband picked this bed up at Marshall Field's in downtown Chicago before it so rudely turned in to Macy's (I could still cry). It was the first thing we bought for the Lakehouse so I guess our marriage is good. The duvet cover was mentioned in one of my recent posts. I was going for a beachy sort of look and then thought I ruined it with this duvet, but I fell in love with it. I found it at Macy's... lol!! The pillows and sheets also came from Macy's and the area rugs came from Orvis. The shell lamps came from HomeGoods and the little beachy dresser scarves were found on one of my little jaunts in Michigan. I bought the starfish at Michael's and painted them white and then added Martha's glitter with her glitter glue. Sort of hard to tell, but they are cute and add that nice sparkly look of excess glitter all over the night stands. If you look on the floor to the right of the bed, you will see Layla's hind end halfway under the bed. She must have spotted my camera. She is not the ham Milo is!

A better view of the night stand in one of my attempts at being artsy with my shot. Does this look bare? I am so used to clutter. I am afraid to put so much as a glass of water or a book on the nightstand!! I know soon I will make myself 'at home' and it will be a royal mess.

I didn't notice how smeared the mirror was until now. Okay, I probably knew for a long time and never bothered to clean it. I am rarely upstairs...scratch that, I am undeniably lazy at the lake. So this is my dresser that has almost the same finish as the bed, but belongs to Emily's old childhood bedroom set.

I bought this chair from Overstock.com. for an incredible price. Plus the $2.99 shipping. Try shipping furniture anywhere for that amount. I didn't realize it was almost the exact color of the walls. I really don't think that is such a good thing. I think I need some contrast. I have thought of bringing a third color in. This chair has a bit of lime green in it. Should I add some accents like that? Any suggestions??? I believe I am going to arrange Karen's paintings over the bed, so that will be some color... Don't mind my duffel bag, slippers and blow dryer along with everything else I dumped on the floor. I don't consider this clutter as it goes home with me.

Now we have moved into the 2nd guestroom, formerly Emily and Abigail's bedroom. Don't tell them this, they don't know it is now a 'guestroom'!! So far everything is as it was, except I bought white comforters to replace their girly one's. And I added new pillow shams. This is just a band aid for now. I want to paint the room a soft buttery yellow, and then paint the full size headboard white. I bought it at a garage sale on the lake for $15.00. The dresser is going and I have a nightstand to replace it. Oh, and we are putting hardwood floors in. Hopefully we will get to this over the winter.

Another artsy view. You know, I think you can do these angled sort of shots on small pieces or a vignette, but it is absolutely crazy to do it for a photo of a room. Now, everyone cock their heads to the right...lol! Emily, Future Interior Designer Daughter (FIDD) asked to 'do' her room when she was about 13. So this is her take. She bought the starfish and strung them up like this on fishing line. I thought that was so creative. I may steal the idea for my glitter starfish.

Now we are in Jeff and Kevin's old room, or the 2nd and most unwanted guestroom. The A frame makes the ceiling impossible to deal with. I have 2 entirely different headboards, one half in front of the window. The wallpaper drives me crazy and the carpet has really seen better days. So, out with all of that and then I have to really think about it. Because it has only twin beds, which I don't think we can or will change, this is a room that we generally do not want to have couples use (not conducive to the marriage). But I still want to make it...er, mature? Help!

This is the wretched wallpaper. If you click on larger you will see that the border is little village shops. This was the previous owners office, my friend Mary K. (not her real name), who I hope is not reading this. So girls, I need serious help. This room shall be considered a blank slate. I did put the generic white down comforters and blue pillow shams on to de~boy it.

So you can see I have my work cut out for me this winter. This and the loft...sigh. All suggestions will be considered and deeply appreciated.

I want to mention that Melissa from Melissa's Heart And Home is having a giveaway for her one year blogging anniversary. Pay her a visit and enter with your comments. I have mine coming up really shortly. I also want to mention that there was a really fun Arizona Blogger's luncheon last week that Marty from A Stroll Through Life organized. There were seventeen blogger's there and Marty has some very cool pictures of some ladies you may know!

Today I have joined Tam at The Gypsy's Corner for Three Or More Tuesday. I hope you enjoyed these three rooms and remember that I need your help!! Visit Tam and all of the other girls joining today. And have a great week!

ROADS TO MY HEART

Today I want to introduce you to my friend Karen from A Scrapbook Of Inspiration, a fellow blogger that I have had the privilege of following for quite a long time. Perhaps you know her as well. I want to share some of her work with you. All of the prints and originals have been gifted to me by Karen, and this should be a good indication of how warm and generous this talented artist is.

The above original watercolor was sent to me several weeks ago. She wrote a post on flowers and asked what our favorites were. I answered "Daisies." I will always be a daisy girl as opposed to some of you who may be roses... ;-) Several days later I received this watercolor. Isn't it beautiful? (I am going to be asking this quite a bit in this post!)

This is how the painting arrived, in a beautiful handmade envelope of quality paper along with a card printed with one of her watercolors.

Another one of her works. I was reading one of her posts, which are often illustrated with her artwork. I commented that I loved this little blue bird and suggested she make it into a note card. She did!! And she sent me a little pack of eight. These cards are printed and then mounted on watercolor paper with a matching dusty rose envelope. Such quality.

Isn't this precious? Have you ever seen sweeter eyes on a bird?!

This is a watercolor print that Karen sells in her Etsy shop. It's a profusion of color. I love the picket fence and the sweet flowers. I had to have it.

Another print I fell in love with called 'Washday'. I love the simplicity of it and how it looks as if the sheets are actually blowing gently in the breeze. And of course it brings back sweet memories of my childhood when I would stand near the clothesline just to catch the fragrance of the freshly washed blankets and sheets from our beds. Heaven!

I am showing another print, as Karen had these printed on two types of paper to see which one I preferred. Both are perfect.

I was prepared to order these prints from Karen when I received an email from her. She wanted to send them as a gift. She didn't want me to ask questions or make a fuss. So I didn't. I am proud to own these pieces. And I am ready to have them framed.

This is the hand painted card that came with the prints. Again, mounted on heavy paper so creatively.

Quite awhile ago, Karen wrote a post about a difficult time in her life. It had to do with losing something very special. She believes that is the best time to give back. So she asked us to send her a favorite quote and she would paint a journal page for each of us with the quote. And that she did. Above is my journal card.

And this is the card that came with it. Need I say it is her artwork and isn't it beautiful?

Please visit Karen at her blog and have a look at her Etsy shop. You will be filled with wonder, as I always am. She is so very talented.

At the lake last weekend I was driving home from town on the road that goes around the lake. The fall colors were bursting out all over and I thought I would take a few pictures. Sorry about the hood of the car...the roads twist and turn and I didn't want to get whacked by a car coming up behind me!

Now this would be inspiration for a painting...

This is just a little cove with shore stations but I wanted you to see a tiny bit of the lake in the background. You can click larger. The next time I am there, I will take a walk along the lake and take some pictures. I can't believe I haven't done that already. Too busy spray painting everything in sight.

I thought I'd show you some of the little cottages along the lake. Okay, big cottages. Now, these are pictures from the road and at the lake the roadside of the homes are called the back and the lakeside is called the front. When I take you on a walk along the lake, you will see how magnificent the 'fronts' of these homes are. The gorgeous patios and decks, elaborate docks and beautiful landscaping.

I have always loved this house for the olive green color of the shakes. I think it's daring of people to choose these 'new' colors...you never really know what it is going to look like from a paint sample. This home is lovely.

This is what you do when you are building on a very narrow lot, which is about all that is left on the lake now. This home is just down the road from me. Again, I love the color and I am partial to black wrought iron fencing. So classic.

The next few pictures are really old homes. If you can't tell this is an A frame... I wonder how the people stand up straight in it.

Behind the rustic fence and trees is a log cabin. There are two more tucked away back there. I'm not sure if it is the same owner...

Can you spot the yellow house?

Aren't these pink chairs precious? I forget what they are called but I do know they get awfully hot in the summer!! Do you see how they match the flowers in the flower box? So cute...

And this house has a lawn that really needs to be raked. I am not sure of the name of the pretty red bush but I do know a maple when I see one. Love the front porch and balcony above it. Hey, this looks familiar! Oh yeah, I think I'm home!!

Thanks for coming by today. I wish everyone a spooky Halloween. We are going to a costume party tomorrow night that is also a birthday party for my friend Snow, as in Snow White. Yes, we have a lot of nicknames around here. If you guessed, she has black, black hair and alabaster skin. I promise some pictures. I will be the one not dressed up.

PUMPKINS, PANSIES & OLD CROWS

I finally got out and bought my haystacks, pumpkins, mums and apples as well as an assortment of baby pumpkins, gourds and fall scented candles. I feel complete at last... Now I have to do the same for the lakehouse. Sigh. No, actually it is fun. These things are fun and that is why we do them. We anticipate the holidays and then we complain that we don't have time, that we are stressed out, that we are spread too thin. But it's what we anticipated. We start out loving it. And then the love slowly fades and the complaining starts. Bah Humbug! I refuse to let that happen. I may have been late with every holiday this year, but I will be on the ball with the rest of them (hopefully).

Now, how did I go off on this tangent? I don't know. About an hour ago I was outside arranging my little scarecrows on my huge haystacks and the wind was whipping and the leaves were flying and it is only about 60 degrees here in Chicago. I was enjoying every breath of rain sodden, leafy smelling air. And that is the way it should be. I want to live in the moment, even if I am late for the moment. And who determines what late is?? Me. ME!!!! Why am I always late? Because I simply follow my own clock.

I am not too much of a cute person. I really don't do cute well. But these are for all the little kids that walk by on their way to and from school, wearing my children's former uniforms. The littlest ones stop and point. I can see them out the window and it makes me smile. I have been making fires in the fireplace about 5:00 every evening, lighting my candles with scents like Spiced Cider and Clove Bud & Citrus. I do this before The Husband and Kevin come home just so I can have a little time to enjoy the quietness, the savory smells and the crackling of the fire. I'm peaceful inside.

After awhile it will feel like the weather is holding us hostage. A short trip out in the car looms in front of me because it means dressing up warm, maybe cleaning the snow off the car windows and waiting for it to warm up. Even my feet hitting the cold floor in the morning is a reason to mumble to myself. Curling up at night with a good book and a warm throw over my lap has remarkable qualities until I think of having to do it all again tomorrow. How to stay positive... How to live in the moment when the moment isn't so hot.

When I bought this threesome last year, it was supposed to be Me, Emily and Abby (we were going to use a black marker on Abby's hair!!). Abigail came home from school this weekend. I picked her up at the Greyhound station. Just the other day I remarked to Emily, "Doesn't it seem like it hasn't sunk in that Abby has gone away?" To which Emily replied happily, "Nope." And other than the first week, where I would sometimes think that she was home, I have been fine. I am remarkably fine. I hope it isn't my usual denial reflex kicking in, but everything just seems to keep going along at it's normal pace. Sitting up at the lake one weekend not too long ago, I realized all of this. And I thought of how one by one I had sort of lost a child to the lake. They reached an age where they didn't want to be up there and away from home, away from their friends. Green Acres just wasn't the place to be. So one by one they stopped coming. For the last two years or so, The Husband and I have been alone there on weekends, sometimes longer. And so I realized, I have said my goodbyes to all of them, including Abby. I may have been the one who left.

We used to refer to my mother as 'the old crow'. Don't be shocked...she got some sort of kick out of it. We'd be out shopping and we'd say "C'mon you old crow!" and she'd laugh. Yes, I come from a family with a quirky sense of humor. Well, I remember her sitting in her chair in the evening with her book and a cup of coffee, while I prepared to go out to some party or event. I felt sorry for her. That she was going to sit there alone. My father was usually quietly watching television or dozing on the couch. Of course there was absolutely no reason to feel sorry for her, just as there is no reason for my children to feel sorry for me. But I wonder if they do. I am usually sitting there at night, book in hand as I say, "Have a nice night. Be safe." I'm content. I am not yearning for more than what I have. My wants may be more simple now that I am older, and even that is enough to be happy about So I say to myself, "Hey, you old crow. Look at what I'm doing. I'm just like you. I hope you were happy..."

I bought yellow and white mums. I thought they would look good with my blue shutters. I also bought some pansies to switch out my pots of impatiens with. I've never done that before. Pansies can survive a frost. Here in Chicago, in the spring, after all the tulips and daffodils have died off, you see the pansies everywhere. The first flowers that will take us into summer. And we can't wait...we are done with spring. Bring on those hot, sunny days. Well then you know what comes after that...I do feel so bad for my friends in the South and in Arizona and California (did I miss anyone) who are still trying to cope with the incredible heat they have been having. We were so lucky here in the Midwest with perfect weather. But as with any season, one day starts to blend in with the next, punctuated by holidays, and while time marches on, it also flies by. Suddenly we are older and we want time to slow down. Yet we still push forward with our seasons.

Everything is looking a bit shabby here. I once confessed to my sister that about August, I began to tire of taking care of my garden and yard. I wasn't out pulling every little weed or fertilizing like I should. She admitted that she felt the same way and we laughed. I don't know if any of you feel that way. So you can see that I have not been out with the hedge trimmers lately. Hey, I like 'shabby chic', indoors and out!! How does the blue and yellow look?

My geraniums refuse to let go. And I can't toss out a live plant. To the right of the plant you can see a new pot of lavender I bought. What a deal I got and look at the size of it. When my geraniums finally succumb to the frosts. I will plant the lavender in the pot to winter over. Then I think I'll keep it on the patio where I can smell it. Mmmmm!

What a funny guy this is, on his swing. I think he loves fall. I think I do too. Soon I will be replacing these decorations with some balsam wreaths and Christmas lights. But the old crow says "Wait. What's the hurry? I'm having fun!" So that's the way it is. I'm slowing down. The days may be shorter but I still have 16 hours. And now I am going to throw another log on the fire and curl up with a good book.

Have a wonderful weekend! :-)