. . . . . . . I was so much more neutral when it came to decorating the cottage.
If you've followed my blog for years you will recall the days of white slip
covers, a pain to remove, wash, and get back on, and not favorites of the
red wine guzzlers - of which I'm definitely a member in the winter months,
once the hot weather rosé has been consumed!
FYI - if you're interested, a much favored red around here is
Robert Mondavi Private Selection - Aged in Bourbon Barrels
Cabernet Sauvignon
The two awesome plates, bottom left - Swan & Leopard - are two more birthday
gifts from granddaughter Jasmin. I told you she spoils me!
Color is now popping in my no longer mostly white living room.
Nothing new purchased recently, other than the little velvet pumpkins
on the plate, and a bunch of chrysanthemums, but I have changed out art,
pillows and throw . . . . . . . because this evening as the cold front roars
in and the temperature drops to 33F, we will light the first fire of the season!
Bob has the hearth ready.
I have the red wine waiting.
OMG - just now see I have the painting upside down in all these photos,
and not even a sip of wine yet, honestly!!! I'm off to turn it around.
This morning I skipped the extra hour of sleep and was up busy at 6:30 AM,
putting away Halloween decor, clipping ivy to add to the flowers, tossing
pillows, planning a nice dinner menu etc.
Tonight's the night for me. A blazing fire, a glass of wine, knitting
while watching some good TV. Hopefully it will mean farewell to
mosquitoes who don't survive the cold. I'll be free to get cracking on garden
chores including 'mucking out' the potting shed, potting up my waiting
amaryllis bulbs, all without getting bitten!
****************
Are you ready for the week ahead?
Here in the USA I think we all agree that Tuesday's election will take center stage.
No matter the outcome, there will be both good and bad in the months and
years ahead. Please get out and vote if you have not done so.
We will definitely be there casting our votes early morning.
Over in Europe I know many of you are now in a huge COVID lockdown
yet again. This includes the UK, France and Germany where my family
and friends are. I hope so much you will manage. My thoughts are with you all.
Stay Safe - Be Well
************
BTW - we only had three little boys come by for Trick or Treat last evening!
How about you?
Bob is already munching on those leftover candy bars!!!
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Dear Mary - what a gorgeous cosy room in which to snuggle up for the evening - it's my guess that those two lovely plates from Jasmine came from Anthropologie.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your wine, good TV, and don't eat too much of that leftover candyX
You are so right - Jasmin did all my birthday gift shopping at Anthropologie as she often does. Gosh, she really spoiled me this year and I love everything!
DeleteDearest Mary,
ReplyDeleteMay I ask you how you manage to have your 1st photo shown on the sideline of my blog list (or anyone else's)?!
In the new blogger version, mine no longer show and others' are not showing either...
You made me smile with that upside down painting! LOVE it.
Also love your Creamware pottery, one of my favorites. We got the Wedgwood, Cream Color on Cram Color (Plain Edge) china and also vases and cachepots.
You certainly know how to create a very cozy atmosphere!
Hugs,
Mariette
PS So glad we went voting early, the 2nd day... so that is DONE. We hope we will see four more years with a stable economy. Not that it will affect our age as much as the young(er) generations...
Mariette, I've no idea how that happens - just something Blogger must do!
DeleteYes, I have a collection of antique antique and vintage soup tureens, all in creamware which I love. Thanks for the kind comment.
Hi Mary...so nice to see your blog again. I have been away for a bit and am glad to be back. Your home is so charming; all my favorite colours to admire. And those plates are beautiful.I think a glass of wine, sitting in that gorgeous room would be such a treat. :-) We are having good fall weather so far; no snow yet which is a surprise for Ontario, Canada. That makes me happy. I don't want it 'til Christmas eve. It sounds like you and Bob are staying cozy and coping well with these crazy times. We are doing the same. But...I'm worried for Christmas gatherings. I can't imagine Christmas without my crew around. Well, take care Mary. It was such a treat to visit again. Deb
ReplyDeleteSo happy to see you here - and I just popped over to your blog which as always is so lovely Deb. The new house is awesome - perhaps I should have married a builder (Bob, don't read this!).
DeleteHappy your fall weather is good this year and that you get a white Christmas - and that the kitties stay healthy.
Stay well and safe.
Mary -
Love the rusts and blues in your home Mary. No trick or treaters here at all. We drove to a nearby island today, that we use to live and work on. Boy has it grown! Then to Lowe's to pick up more paint rollers to do some more painting.
ReplyDeleteAlways time for a little 'house whispering' Penny - however no more painting for me with my torn right shoulder!
DeleteI have always loved your style of decorating, even with the upside down picture. I had one of those on my mantle recently (yep, upside down). Are we starting a new trend? Ha! Love the plates Jazmin gave you for your birthday. I will be so glad when COVID is a thing of the past and the politics has come to a good resolution. I have to think it will. Our street was dark last night, no trick-or-treaters.
ReplyDeleteWhat is happening to us Marilyn - sometimes, lately, I feel all of life is suddenly upside down! The plates from Jasmin are beautiful - from Anthropologie.
DeleteI had five trick-or-treaters, renegades in a county where the tradition was banned this year, but I was not going to lecture them. I had a small bag of candy to draw from, but not small enough... I ate too much myself... and then threw the rest in the trash.
ReplyDeleteOctober was pretty good to me, and now, I hope we can all be good in November, patient in trials.
Thank you for carrying on a civilized life!
Doing the best I can regarding carrying on! Some days are better than others - but I do enjoy changing things around, and adding/subtracting to make small changes for the seasons.
DeleteYour living room is so cozy and full of charm, Mary. I laughed when you said the painting was upside down - it looks great either way. We had about 20 trick or treaters. I had purchased a box of 120 treats so I doled them out in handfuls, then turned out the lights when the teenagers started to arrive. These are precarious days in so many ways and home comforts are important for our mental and emotional states.
ReplyDeleteIt's just such an upside down world in general isn't it Lorrie? Glad your kiddies arrived for all that candy - I just know you and Tim wouldn't want to be eating leftovers!!!
DeleteHome comforts are going to be special this winter and through the holiday season - and I'm already thinking that perhaps all I want for Christmas is a new snuggly robe and furry slippers!
Loving all that color dear! Your home always look so beautiful and so cozy. xx
ReplyDeleteRemember the days dearest friend - we had such fun on the hunt for whites, creams and neutrals for our booth at SuzAnna's - and all that painting you did!!! Oh those were such joyful days and I truly miss them so much.
DeleteLove and hugs always.
Mary your house looks gorgeous with those russet tones, and the chrysanthemums look fabulous. What beautiful plates from Jasmine, she has inherited your taste beautifully. Enjoy snuggling down in those cosy surrounds with a glass of wine. Be safe. xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you Patricia - you are so kind and I wish you could stop be here too, we would have such a grand time I just know.
DeleteTake care.
Mary, your room looks fabulous, as always! The combination of bright vivid orange and the hues of teal/petrol/blue make it extraordinarily beautiful and attractive. I would love to snuggle into that armchair near the lamp, share a glass of wine with you and a chat!
ReplyDeleteYes, voting... I can only appeal to all those who have the right to vote to exercise that right. Too often in the past and present, people do not have that right or are intimidated into not exercising it. NOT voting is putting democracy at the greatest risk of all.
Here in Germany, as you say, we're facing a month of near-total shut down. I don't want to call it a lock-down, as we are still allowed to move freely, going for walks etc. to our hearts' content. But apart from schools, groceries shops and similar, everything is shut again, just like it was in spring. Let's hope it will have the desired effect.
What a lovely room! Cozy and ready to snuggle into for the winter. We've had our first snow today. I will be out tomorrow morning, and I will be voting.
ReplyDeleteDear Mary,
ReplyDeleteI have loved your neutral colors of mostly different whites. But now I see how charming a it is with a little color added. Maybe your inspiration were the chrysanthemums. It all looks beautiful and cozy...ready for the upcoming cold evenings.
I voted by mail. Not as much fun but so convenient.
The pleasures of Autumn, my favourite season.
ReplyDeleteI always love to see the seasonal changes in your home Mary.
Jasmin has indeed inherited your eye for good design, loVe those colourful platters!
We are watching with interest the lead up to your election, and hope you get the outcome that best serves the American people.
I haven’t seen or heard a mosquito yet but our days and nights are much warmer!
Shane xxx
Your living room looks so warm and inviting! I had to laugh about the white slipcovered sofa - that's what we just bought! And I'm a red wine lover, too! The other night while we were watching TV, I was sipping a glass of red wine and my first thought was, "Oh no, what if I spilled this on the white sofa?!" I was extra careful and put a blanket on my lap. :-) I never spilled wine on our previous sofa in all the years we had it, so I should be fine. I love color, too - so I accessorize with color.
ReplyDeleteI voted last week. I'm very nervous and holding my breath until we find out the results.
I didn't buy any Halloween candy this year as I didn't want to risk being in kid's faces when I opened the door and bent down to put candy in their buckets. I saw lots of photos online of people using candy chutes - pipes going down the porch - or else setting up bags of candy on a table on their porch. We didn't get one single trick-or-treater here anyway. The only little kids near us all live on the street behind us - guess they went somewhere else.
Isn't it funny how sometimes we don't notice things until we view the photos we've taken. :) Your living room is so warm and inviting. Crazy times indeed and a quiet, safe, chaos space is much needed. A little wine doesn't hurt either. Take care.
ReplyDeleteOh Mary .... your home looks beautiful .... so inviting, cosy and has such an autumnal feel about it. I’m afraid I’m still neutral ... maybe it’s time for me to change ! Our daughter is far bolder than me ... she is into the dark colours which look lovely.
ReplyDeleteWe go into lockdown on Thursday Mary but not as severe as last time. We were meant to go and stay with our daughter this weekend but that’s off now. All I can think is that it’s not too bad for us as we don’t have the worry of mortgages and jobs so I’m not going to moan but just get on with it and clear out some more cupboards 😂🤣😂 Love to you and Bob and hope the election turns out the way you want . XXXX
Wish you could stop by and enjoy a glass with us Meike!
ReplyDeleteHope the new shut down for you will not be a problem. I'm sure you know how to make the most of the fabulous outdoors which thankfully you will still have access to.
Take care - and make sure your dear family do too.
Mary, everything looks beautiful and cosy. I love all of the pops of color. I have been doing to same at my house, although it was never neutral.
ReplyDeleteI am praying for calm today, no matter the outcome and there will be a looser candidate we all need calm and peace in our lives. Take care my friend.
Oh, meant to say also that the dresses from Target are fabulous! I love them all, and the fit is great as is the price.
ReplyDeleteYour house is lovely and cosy and I love all the colours you're adding. Our COVID numbers are horrific for a small island but no lockdown in sight. We'll see how it goes but everyone is becoming much too complacent.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a warm and welcoming room! The colors are definitely apt for this season. Regards, Naomi Dreams
ReplyDelete