The Last of September

Can you believe September is over?!
I'm already packing up and changing the 

kitchen decor again and I realized that I

 never posted September kitchen pictures. 

Doggie dining with Lucy.

Apple themed towels hang at the

end of the kitchen island.

On top of the island.

 Kitchen dish cabinet.

Ivory Longaberger pottery mixes with

Pink (or is it red willow?) dishes.

The willow dishes are by Churchill
made in England. They were a grocery
store promotion years ago.

 I used red as a pre-fall color scheme for
September. See the table set  HERE.

It started with my apple cobbler dish.

 A thrift-store milk glass lamp. I like
a small lamp on the counter.

 Baskets on top of the fridge.

 I love my red le Creuset pot, so
I kept it out to use a lot.

The counter. Note my un-sign.

I painted the sign red to match the red

wood tote I made while I still had the paint 

out. I even added a piece of scrap screen 

molding that was stained brown to trim the

 bottom. What I didn't do was think of a word 

I wanted on the sign. 

The most important part of a sign!

I was waiting for inspiration. 

 The counter.

The heart punched lidded jar holds garlic.

Vintage red wood handled utensils were found

thrifting as were the crocheted pot holders.

 Dishes stacked on the chicken feeder. Love
using this for a dish display and easy access.
September went by way too fast!

 Cheers!

Links: Dwellings, The Tablescaper,
Under The Table and Dreaming,
My Romantic Home,
Between Naps On The Porch,
Confessions Of A Plate Addict,
A Stroll Thru Life, Coastal Charm

Adding A Garden Fountain

We added a fountain to our front yard.
My mother was it's previous owner.

I remember the day we schlepped it home
 from Home Depot and set it up by her
screened-in back patio. The years have
passed and it stood neglected by the side
of her house (it was now being rented)
We rescued it and brought it to
bubbling life again. Reminds me of her
every time I walk past it.

Makes me love it more.

Cheers!

Links: Between Naps on The Porch,
The Girl Creative

Painted Red Wood Tote

I've been working on this PhD. 

Project Half Done.

Last year I made a sketch of a tote that I 

wanted and Larry cut the pieces out of
our supply of scrap wood. 

The pieces were nailed together and then.....
I couldn't decide what color to paint it,
 so it waited patiently in the holding area
a.k.a. garage until this year.

Now I'm seeing red. So red it is!  My color
for September. How cute!  This leftover paint
is Benjamin Moore~Barn Red.
I think Christmas, Valentine's Day, July 4th,
(and really the whole summer)
could all use a happy red wood tote.

For September I filled it
with 3 small quart-size pots of mums.
They'll be easy to change out.

So many options on what to put inside;
flowers, potted plants, evergreen branches,
pinecones, dishes, large glass jars, bottles,
books, towels, wood cutting boards, and
more fun vignettes. I love wood boxes!
I'm already thinking of another one
I 'need'. Luckily we have a good supply of
 scrap wood and leftover paint.

Cheers!

Links: Facebook,
Under The Table and Dreaming,
Dwellings, The Tablescaper,
Between Naps On The Porch,

Coastal Charm, Style Sisters,

Confessions Of A Plate Addict,

A Stroll Thru Life, Savvy Southern Style

Fall Table In Black and White

Here's a neutral Fall table setting 

I put together while we were at our

 place in North Carolina's Smoky Mountains.

 I gathered some of my this-and-that. 

 Here's what I used.

 Leather placemats from JCP outlet, 

$2 each.  I know...rrrrrrr!

 Woven rattan chargers. I found these at the 

Maple Leaf Fest in our little town of Whittier. 

I got 6 for $2 !!

 My pewter dinnerware is a set of 6 each:

 dinner plates, salad plates, bowls, and 

mugs with white pottery insert cups. 

The inserts make it easy to just put 

the cups in the dishwasher. 

 I found this set many years ago at our

annual neighborhood garage sale in

 Barrington, IL for $30. We basically

 just bought each others stuff! 

 Grapevine napkin rings and black napkins.

White ceramic escargot dishes. 

We love escargot.

 My hammered finish Cambridge flatware has 

a rustic vibe and it works with everything.

 White pottery: teapot on warming trivet, 

cow creamer, heart ramekin for soft butter,

 and covered bowl for sugar or jam.

I found this cow salt and pepper set thrifting. 

It sits in front of a black and white gingham 

check fall pumpkin from Target.

 A Longaberger wrought iron candle stand 

usually sits on the kitchen window sill. 

This week it's the table's centerpiece.

 A Longaberger pillar candle holder works 

perfectly as a wine caddy. 

I love it's pinecone and acorn motif.

 I used the Longaberger wrought iron stand 

again, but this time with the metal tray to 

hold the white teapot and a cow creamer.

It has an acorn and leaf raised pattern

around it's border.

A use what you have tablescape!

Cheers!

Links: Facebook,
Confessions Of A Plate Addict,
Dwellings, A Stroll Thru Life,
The 36th Avenue, The Style Sisters,
Savvy Southern Style, No Minimalist Here,
Stone Gable, Between Naps On The Porch,
Common Ground, French Country Cottage,
The Charm Of Home, My Romantic Home

Five Ways I Add Fall

When you live in the land of sun, sand, and 

surf, you have to create your own Fall. 

Changing seasons are a state of mind in South Florida.

1. Hang A Fall Wreath: 

A different wreath for each season creates 

a festive welcome. A simple grapevine or

 straw wreath is easily changed without 

making a new one each time. 

A 3M command adhesive hook works well

on metal and glass doors.

2. Dress Up The Table: 

Changing the centerpiece, table runner, 

and placemats is an easy start. 

Then I just add a few natural elements: 

pinecones, leaves, branches, and candles.
This was featured in Country Living.

3. Redo the Sofa: 

Change the pillows, add a colorful throw or

 quilt and you're done. I'll want to snuggle 

under a cozy throw at night anyway. 

I know Lucy does!

4. Change Your Entry: 

Mums from the garden center and colorful 

crotons, if you live in the South, instantly 

add Fall color. Choose a few more natural

 elements: Indian corn, pinecones, a bale of

 hay, or an old salvaged apple bushel basket

filled with pinecones. It all works. In 

October I add pumpkins and scarecrows. 

That will last through November. 

5. Fall Focal Point Vignettes: 

If you're lucky, you have a fireplace
 mantle you can decorate.

If not, it can be your coffee table, entry

 table, buffet, or anyplace that you see a lot. 

Give it that old Fall feeling. I Use cloches, 

apothecary jars, birdcages, lanterns, and

baskets...of course. Fill them with: acorns,

 corn, corks, mini pumpkins, gourds, or
anything found around the house
 with fall colors. 

I change the colors in my home by adding: 

red, gold, browns, and tans to my mostly blue

 decor. I begin by adding a little red or gold 

in September. To that I add orange in
October, and to those colors I add brown
 and tan in November. It's a layering of
colors. Most of the accessories are in
storage bins and I can bring in a little
each month. It all coordinates. 

I change my everyday dishes and the 

coffee station and mugs and the bed and

the kitchen counters and the doggie's dish

 and.....well you get the idea! FALL! 

Cheers!

Links:  Facebook, Dwellings, The Tablescaper,
Between Naps On The Porch

Tea and Chien In Paris

My new painting is an original from 

Fifi Flowers.

I have loved her whimsical painting style.

   This one, with tea and a cute little puppy

 (chien) by a window with an Eiffel Tower

 view, was meant to be mine. 

I ordered it from her Etsy shop.

 It was on sale too.

Loved it right down to the blue and white

 tea cup. The sweet puppy reminded me of 

my little Lucy.

 I have it on an easel on the family room

 sofa table. On top of the picket fence runner.

 I've added: a blue/white tea cup as in the

 painting, a mosaic pot with an orchid under a

 cloche, a pothos in a blue/white pot, and two

white-painted candlesticks with blue candles.

 The vintage Chinese tea basket was

 described in my previous post HERE. 

Cheers!

Links: No Minimalist Here,
The Shabby Creek Cottage,
Stone Gable, Common Ground,
Between Naps On The Porch

The Girl Creative, French Country Cottage,
The Charm of Home, My Romantic Home