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!!!

Getting it all together. . . . . . .

Change is in the air.

The furniture store called yesterday afternoon with good news . . . . .  

. . . . . our purchase had arrived after its long road trip across the USA!

The sad part is that not too long ago, almost all American furniture was

 manufactured right here in North Carolina. Just an hour or so down the

 highway were all the factories turning out beautiful wood case goods and 

upholstery, employing thousands of quality employees. Furniture 

manufacturing was the lifeblood of this southeastern state. 

Like most manufacturing companies they have gone. . . . . . and yes,

 I know, my furniture probably took a long sea voyage prior to being loaded

 onto a truck in California to bring it to North Carolina!

The circle of life is not always what we would like it to be.

Anyway I'm happy it's on the way and will be ready when

 the delivery truck shows up this afternoon.

The bedside rug is a new purchase. Then I 'shopped the cottage' to see what

 other items I could find and might be considered in bringing the bedroom

 together - my favorite part.

Textures - I love to mix them, and I feel with neutral colors especially

 they are most important.

These pillows came with the Drexel living room sofa bought 18 months ago. 

For some reason the lovely saleslady threw them in with our purchase - I was

 shocked later when I unzipped the covers and discovered $95 price tags on each!

They are good quality with feather/down fillers (Ralph Lauren Home) but I didn't

 use them as I had other larger, more comfortable ones. They might be fine on 

 this loveseat. The throw is a find from years back, made in Scotland, soft, cozy

 chenille. The colors are good with the rug, especially the cute tassels. 

Next view of this room will, hopefully, look a lot better - fingers are crossed, 

making knitting somewhat difficult but keeping me busy until I see the truck

pull up!

Tweedy texture with Hobby Lobby yarn - my favorite to knit with.

A beautiful sunny, but very chilly, day here.

Lots to do indoors so I won't be venturing further than the potting shed!

More later. . . . . . . .

All Packed. . . . . . on my way soon!

We're leaving tonight. 
Instead of two there will be three of us crossing the pond this time!
After a giddy week revolving around her high school graduation, we are taking 
granddaughter Jasmin to England to visit family and friends. She was last 
there 10 years ago so I know everyone will be surprised to see how that little 
girl is now all grown up!

Some of you asked what I'm packing this time.

You should know me by now. My somewhat uncolorful life revolves around

 neutrals when it comes to clothes and decor . . . black, white, cream, natural linen, 
and all the many shades of grey.

But, for me, perhaps a wee bit of cheating as my 'greys' include, old pewter, cold iron, 
silvery steel, a whiff of lilac, a nosegay of lavender, the stormy sea,  and puffy clouds at
dusk. . .  even cool shades of aubergine, navy, petrel blue. 

For my trip to England, where late Spring/early Summer can still be cool and 
often damp, I'm staying with my best loved colors and textures shown here.

I don't wear many prints, but I do love stripes.

My pants are various shades of grey, and one pair of shorts in cream.

Note the hat - for rain or shine, hopefully more of the latter!

I also take jackets rather than cardigans - I think a jacket can be dressed up 

or down, depending on the occasion, and it always looks more structured and tidy. 

My favorites right now - the zipped short black textured knit collarless version from 

Simply Vera Wang, and the asymmetrical closing crinkled linen/cotton blend from 

Eileen Fisher.

I love J.Jill's linen mesh kimono tops - they layer over tees, tanks, camisoles - are 
so light to wear and pack. And yes, there is a print tucked in there, navy, grey and white, 
it even has some sparkles on the front so will be useful IF I'm required to look a bit 
dressed up! 

However, not taking any 'dressy' clothes this trip - life will be casual in Torquay -

and the couple of days sightseeing in London just require comfortable clothes and 

shoes for lots of walking.

Leaving the current 90+ degree days here in North Carolina, and spending close 

to 8 hours on a chilly overnight flight (I almost froze to death on the my trip across 

the pond last month), requires dressing in warmer clothes. Airline blankets are 

truly flimsy excuses for comfort and warmth.

This time I'm wearing cozy charcoal grey knit joggers (Lou & Grey), a 

lightweight, textured long knit sweatshirt-style top from H&M. . . . . . and I always 

add a cuddly scarf for my neck as the cold air seems to blow down viciously on 

passengers on these larger planes. Note my lightweight Eileen Fisher raincoat tucked 

in there - wouldn't dare step on beautiful green British shores without being prepared 

for showers at any time of year!

. . . . . . . and shoes? Are you wondering?

I've never managed it before - just three, yes that's three pairs -

sandals, leather espadrilles and leather walkers. We shall see

how that works out. 

BTW, they do sell nice shoes in England!

Hope to keep in touch from the old country!