Collections, shelves and pumpkins!

 

I think I'm a pushover when it comes to open shelves. 

I have a lot of them and I really love them!

My biggest problem is that all are loaded with collections, and those items 

require constant TLC. Yes, vignettes and stacks are dust collectors, they do 

require dusting and frequent washing, but also bring happy moments and

memories.  

These are the shelves in the dining room on a Welsh dresser purchased

 30 years ago as bare wood. I've painted it in different finishes at least three times. 

This current antiqued/distressed blue-grey was done many years

 ago and will remain - no way can I paint anything of this size these days!

My collections of antique and vintage English and French china fit well here. 

I move items around some days, take a few away then add something new

 for the current season.

Small decor changes are now my norm. Over the top decorating is no longer

 an option as I try to downsize. 

I am finding I really like just a touch of something different for a few weeks. 

Currently it's just one natural papier-maché pumpkin - I have two more which

 will be placed elsewhere. I also added the fabulous pumpkin painting I found

 last year at SuzAnna's Antiques.

Speaking of pumpkins, we hope to make our annual visit to our favorite

 pumpkin farm soon - I still would like some real pumpkins for the front porch.

Days are a little cooler, I feel a chill in the air at night, so pumpkins will enjoy

 being outside now.

Are you decorating for this new season?

Do you buy real pumpkins?

Will you decorate for Halloween?

Pre-Autumn Porch -

 

OK, if I have to stay here for autumn's arrival I can at least start on a little

 decorating to cheer up the now so tired summer look. All was looking dead, 

dreary and downright boring! 

It didn't take much effort this morning.  All I did was pull on the new

 golden IKEA pillow covers, and go to the potting shed and sort through

 out-of-season stuff tucked away at the back of shelves. I found the pretty

 china Italian pitcher and the glass light in fall colors. This ball is filled with

 mini lights and is battery operated with a 5 hr. timer. Set just as dusk falls,

the evening hours on the porch are brightened.

My Christmas cactus has spent summer on the porch. It was doing nothing

 on the dining room table, seemed in a state of dormancy with never a bloom. 

Now it appears to have some new growth and looks a lot healthier so will

 stay there until cold weather arrives, perhaps in October.

The new plant, picked up yesterday at LIDL for just $6, is a Petra Croton. 

I've never owned one before but seeing the display of perfect colors for

 the porch, I grabbed one!  Crotons are interesting plants and can grow

 really tall as houseplants. I'm only planning to use it outdoors through

 the fall months, perhaps hide it in the potting shed over winter and see

 if it survives.

Have you ever grown a croton?

"What makes homeowners love Petra Croton is its incredible coloration—deep green leaves with variegated, multicolored veins in bright red, orange, and yellow. If you have room to fill, the Petra Croton houseplant will make that space shine, growing 6-8' high. You can also keep shorter by topping it in spring. This plant will only need water when the soil begins to dry out. Otherwise, it likes humid environments and an occasional misting of its leaves. Be sure to keep in a warm spot in the winter time, and be careful when moving it. Too much motion causes it to drop some leaves, but don't panic, just stick to the watering and lighting requirements and it'll bounce back fast. Petra doesn't only add mood-lifting beauty to your home. As it grows, it helps purify the air, too! "  Michigan Bulb Co.   

 

Now if only the weather would change, bring us some cooler temperatures

 and rain, we could sit out and enjoy the porch again!

Meanwhile thoughts are with everyone along the Gulf Coast in the path of

 yet another possibly catastrophic hurricane - be vigilant, stay safe.

There was a time. . . . . .

 . . . . . . . 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!!!

Fall Florals - October Days

“I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”

L.M. Montgomery, "Anne of Green Gables.

I've been searching for something different to add to my dried parsley sprigs 

now featured in the dining room/my office as an early Fall floral display.

Nothing remaining in the garden really worked.  

Last week at SuzAnna's Antiques I found these dark purple and chartreuse

 green faux sprigs. No idea what they are but grabbed them, brought them

 home and voila - perfect, just the look I was hoping for.

What's on your table these brilliant Autumn days?

Front Porch company and pumpkin bread -

I've only purchased one new decorative item for Autumn this year -

this sign for the porch which says it all for me personally.

We were able to spend some fun 'porch time' on Saturday - first with

 our former neighbor April, who recently moved, when she visited late

 afternoon. Then, quite late into the evening, with our neighbor Bob from

 the other side who joined us after his 4.5 mile run, then shared a good

 bottle of Portuguese red and an impromptu supper of Italian baked 

eggplant Parmigiana, followed by an English sherry trifle I made

 earlier in the day. 

I love unplanned happenings such as that - lighting the candles as

 darkness arrived, good conversation, a drink, and an easy meal.

Do you enjoy pumpkin bread. . . . . . an Autumn bake many of us concoct

 from scratch or, much easier, a readymade mix?  For several years

 I've turned to Libby's mix to which you add just fresh eggs, oil and water.  

Libby's is known for their great canned pumpkin and this colorful box which

 makes two delicious 9"X5" loaves - and includes their awesome can of

 pumpkin - is the best. At $4.99 it's a great buy.

This year I stocked up early with several boxes as they disappear from the

 grocery shelves fast. I found them at Target and also at LIDL. 

I've already baked and shared a couple of loaves. They also freeze well so

 you can enjoy pumpkin bread all winter. . . . .along with hot chocolate or

 a cup of tea on a chilly day. . . . .I'm waiting for them!

Another week, hopefully a good one for all.

Pumpkins and Round Houses --------

However in Laayoune, Western Sahara, there were these really cute

 pumpkin-looking 'round houses' in an area called Spanish Town.

This year I'm missing travel to distant lands so much! 

I was more than ready to head south of the city on the first cool

 day to our favorite small family farm, Johnson Pumpkin Farm, 

and pick up some traditional pumpkins for a little fall decor. 

The ride through the countryside was fabulous - green

 fields, blue skies and plenty of brilliant pumpkins.

These came home with me and are now decorating the

 front porch. . . . . . .the two large paler colored pumpkins on the right

I will roast later as they are good for soups and veggie stews.

Also picked up a couple of pots of heavily budded mums - should open

 with a lot of yellow blooms soon!

Are you planning to decorate for Autumn and Halloween this year?

Always seem to be waiting -

The North Carolina State Fair opening scheduled for today has been cancelled.

Today we will sit out the last throes of Hurricane Michael which is already
 bringing us strong gusty winds. Possible tornado activity and flooding from
 the heavy rainfall is also expected. 
I'm getting tired of moving things to safer places off the porch, deck etc. 
I'm worrying about the big trees falling on us, power outages, and heavy
 water runoff through the back garden. As the wind bands come around
buckets of acorns fall from the massive oaks, rattle down the roof and roll
across the back deck.
 I am so sad to see the devastation in Florida, this was a huge storm.
These days I seem to worry about just about everything, much more than
 I ever have. Perhaps it's an aging thing. . . . . .as aging I am!

Meanwhile, with the heat continuing daily, early autumn decor displayed
 outdoors is not doing so well. I've already lost a pumpkin - it 'exploded' on
 the porch and is now in the compost bin!

Chrysanthemums are beautiful, most of the buds are now fully open,
 hopefully they last a while longer until cooler weather arrives.
I've moved them today so they will not get damaged in the wind and rain.

My cooking pumpkins and squash are my simple indoor decor for the

 season. . . . . until they are enjoyed roasted and made into tasty dishes.

Freda's delicious Apple Butter from her pumpkin farm.

A really much appreciated tasty gift.

The great British author P.D. James got it right when she wrote ~

"It was one of those perfect English autumnal days

 which occur more frequently in memory than in life."

Oh how I'm longing for golden days such as those of my own English childhood.

Hurry Up Autumn!

House painting is underway. . . . . and yes, it will remain 

yellow with white trim and olive green shutters for those 

of you who asked.

We continue to be blessed with dry weather so it should be completed

 no later than Thursday morning. 

Still hot by noon but evenings and early morning are delightful,

 there is a definite freshness in the air.

October is such a lovely month and my favorite.

Being who you really are. . . . . . . . . . . . .

 I'm totally 'up to my eyebrows' in trying to catch up with normal since

 arriving home from the great west coast trip!   

I'm so behind in posting stories and photos - still have tons to share

from the Kenya trip, and also more of the fabulous places we've just 

visited in California. 

I'm also feeling very guilty because I haven't had a moment to comment on

all your blogs which I so enjoy, plus answer some e-mails - please forgive me

 and know I'll be stopping by soon. The days are just not long enough, grrrrr!

BUT, today, on this fabulous sunny, warm October day, it is my birthday, 

and I will not lie, deceive, cheat, or try to hide the fact that today I have

 turned 73 - or perhaps that should be typed as 73! 

Gosh, who ever thinks about becoming this age when we are youngsters.

But, being that age is really more than a number, it's not a problem for 

me. I'm so grateful that I feel great and pray that I will continue to have

 good health and can plan more exciting travels for at least a few more years.

So, although I've not had time for autumn decorating - this dining room photo

 is from another year - since arriving home we've done a lot of garden cleanup

 from the effects of Hurricane Matthew.

We managed to fly out for California just as the hurricane arrived in town!

 Our neighborhood had many huge trees come down, but the roads are now

passable and the huge trunks and branches are stacked along the curbs

 awaiting pick up.

 Our cottage was spared from big trees falling this time thankfully.

 The loss of power for five days meant we came home to an empty fridge/freezer 

as our daughter had to come by and throw out all our perishable food.

 We've shopped and re-stocked and our great insurance company will be

 sending us a payment to cover the loss - Raleigh was definitely a disaster area.

So all I can say right now is I'll soon be back sharing old travels and telling

you about new ones.

As for today - I'm just going to enjoy my birthday - and be grateful for 

family, friends, and you for stopping by.

With love and thanks for your friendship.

Before I leave. . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . sharing a little Autumn decor.

The golden pumpkin was roasted, cut up, and packed into the freezer 

yesterday - ready for Autumn soup later.

I'm not sure I'll have much free time in the coming days before flying  

to Paris, so leaving you with some seasonal decor today.

Will try to post whilst away but forgive me if I'm unable to comment . . . . . I'll be 

on planes, boats and trains, with friends and family. It will be a very busy trip.
Experience has shown that Internet is usually slow, especially on boats.
Will be thinking of you and hope to read your posts as I travel through 
France and into Spain.