Just moving things around a bit....

Wow, it's been a while since I last posted! Guess life got too busy in the last few months, but I'll try to get back on track to let you know what I'm up to. This is the hallway bath that I wallpapered earlier this year. (I know - gasp! - wallpaper!) I finally got around to adding a few decorative items to the blank space above the toilet. I didn't need a cabinet, since this room has plenty of storage space, with the pantry. (Don't hate me...)

The adorable boy and dog statuette was a gift from sister kk. I've had this wood shelf made from scrap trim for a long time. Included are vintage books, a cork buoy and a stone with "peace" engraved on it.

I've been moving a few things around and wanted to show you the hallway. With the white beadboard up, I placed the secretary in front and added a nightlight lamp and some vintage metal boxes.

Sorry for the bad lighting in this pic. This is where I keep my greeting cards and medical records. It's my own little space.

Not a big change, but making the ole home more comfortable for our casual living style.

Hey, some giveaways from my bloggy friends...

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch is having a giveaway for 3 of Lisa Leonard ornaments!!
Barb's Good life is celebrating her 200th post with a giveaway
Blue Creek home is having a giveaway in celebration of her new boutique
Applestone Cottage is having a Pay it Forward

Sofa pillows from Goodwill....

Amy loves to get in front of the camera to check out what is holding my interest....


Today, it's the cute pillows that I picked up at GW for just $2 each. This is the green fringed one. As you can tell from the mantle scarf, I do like my fringe.


This is in my parlor room, which is in the deep fall colors of greens and oranges. And the sweetest decor is Amy.....


The other pillow I got was in the deep russet colors. The fringe has some reflective quality, it seems.


What a deal and they fit flawlessly onto my vintage sofas....

A day at the pumpkin farm with family

This was the funnel cakes and lemonade stand. The bees were liking very much the lemonade and swarmed around the yellow container. I stayed away....far away.

Lots of spooky displays..... This was a gorilla wedding scene.

Painted gourds.....

A mad scientist's lab..... More funny than anything. Even the rat in the lower right bottom looks a little crazed.... Click pic to see more of this - up close!

One of the loves of my life: Ian, my middle grandchild.

Ha! My hubby, running with the shadow kids!

Looks like someone needed just 1 white pumpkin....

There were many creative, Halloween displays. My DD is having fun with this one, pretending that the "thing" was leaning on her.....

At the teepee display, a horse made entirely from bamboo and old mops...

Isn't this a lovely fall display? Looks like a row of perfect teeth...with one missing in front.

There were so many displays that I'm sure we didn't see all of them.

And there were pony rides. This is my oldest gs, Jacob.

Turban squash, I believe......

This couple just got engaged. The guy had the pumpkins to say: "Will you marry me Kristen" You can see the family taping the event.... I turned to my hubby and joked that that was what romance is...... hint-hint..... yeah, he didn't get it.....

And me. With my new, crazy hat and big shirt to keep out the sun. They are both rated 50+.



We had so much fun!!!! I love fall and I welcome the coming snow! (Should I say that in a hushed tone??)

Mantle fall decor

Okay, so I don't have a real fireplace (my hubby, the fireman, has gone to too many house fires that started with fireplaces, and so we don't have one), but I do have an old, wooden mantle that I can dress up for fall. I found a small bookshelf that fits in the opening and I decoupaged it in old sheet music and stain.

A piece of old sheet music is also in the vintage picture frame. ( It's tea-stained, but I don't think it shows up that way in the flash of the camera.)

The candles are handmade and still have the long wicks. These were a gift from my sister-n-law. The candles are in old bronze candle sticks that are dolphins blowing a water stream. (love dophins!)

The violin was recently bought off Craiglist and though I had planned to learn how to play..... I just haven't found the time, so until then, it will be a decor item. I like the look of the polished wood, don't you?

The old mirror is nice above the mantle, but I'm not one for mirrors by themselves. They seem kind of cold that way. But an old wreath helps with that.

The lamps are vintage and a gift from my mom. I added the updated shades and glued on some yummy trim that matched the trim on the drapes.

A garland of silk fall leaves rounds out my fall decor for this year. I do plan on making a Thanksgiving garland for my dinner company - coming soon!

Crazy!

skillet cherry pie....

This is my FIRST homemade pie crust! I only had whole wheat flour, so I'm not expecting a flaky crust, but more of a rustic bite. An iron skillet will also provide more iron to this to increase the healthiness. Ahhh, I can have my pie and know I'm getting some good stuff. (Ignore the lard in the crust....if I don't see it, it isn't there....)

Deacon's bench in fall colors....

I'm taking full advantage of these wonderful days and dressing up the front porch. There's a place for you to sit and I'll bring you a cup of hot green tea. I have a cherry pie in the oven, too!

2 vintage sofas in place

Finally got my 2 vintage sofas in place in the "sitting room". Got these off Craigslist and I love 'em. I have big, family gatherings and this makes for more seating.

The reason I like these so much is because of the simple lines and an earthy tone that comes from the wood trim. My house is on the "french country" side, so the curvy legs fit right in. As the cold weather seeps in, I am feathering the nest with coziness. Next will come some comfy pillows and afghans....

Haven't posted in a while because I'm being lazy....

Yeah, I know. The dead possum is gross. But I feel lazy and blah, so this fits.

My favorite talking cat video

Clothing Protectors

From Jane at

Life From My Point of View - I'm copying her post to spread the word about these fabulous clothing protectors. These are simply GREAT and think of the many times we have stained our clothes because we weren't amply protected.

From Jane:
Look at these cool "clothing protectors". My niece Connie is creating them so we never have to worry about stains on our clothing anymore. If you are like Bob and I, there are times when we don't want to change out of our clothes and need just a lightweight protector. Here's Bob enjoying his chips worry free. The collar uses Velcro to close. No more "Shout" every time we eat.

If you would like to purchase:
Adults: $8.00 for 1, $7:00 for 2 or more.
Children: $5.00 for 1, $4.00 for 2 or more. You will be responsible for the mailing charges to your area.

If you would be interested, please email Connie at: girlfriday_service@yahoo.com She can answer any question you may have. Tell her TJ sent ya...

I have ordered several for my family. I am planning on ordering extras for company when having those BBQ outings and maybe as Christmas presents. What a great conversation piece.
If you know of others that would be interested, please send this post to them. Connie is using the funds to help with her children's music lessons. Her children are young and that's the best time for them to soak up all the knowledge they can. They are using their talents for the Lord and we are praying for a blessing in this area. Thank you.

Sofas from where else? (CL)

Just when I thought I didn't need another thing from Craigslist, I find these charming sofas. I gave our sectional away today to my son, for he has a rather large family and could use the big-ness of it. I have hated that thing from the day I got it about 10 years ago. The texture of the material was rough, to me. And I disliked the "modernness" of it.












But this!.......is ME! I can hardly wait to get it home in a couple of days. And there are TWO of them. I'm getting both, of course. That should double my pleasure, for sure. I have some nice, vintage pillows waiting to hop on those babies! (oh, and it was $250 for both)

A before and after Hutch

I'm participating in the Met Monday, hosted by Between Naps On The Porch . Go visit Susan's blog to see links to many more creative blogs!










Here is a $45 Craigslist hutch that I knew would give me much needed storage space. However, that 70's wood look had to go! But it's got good lines and is solid wood - that's why I love vintage furniture.


And now.....look at my freshly-painted hutch! You can see the good lines now. And it feels so clean and ready for my kitchen goods.


I also put up a neighboring baker's rack to hold baskets and boxes - what I have now is a "junk drawer" and THAT will soon be eliminated. The baskets will hold useful items, like scissors, rulers, note paper, clothes pins, etc.


It seems everyone in blog town has been putting numbers on baskets, boxes, trunks, stairs, etc. and I want to jump onboard. Here are my humble baskets with their imperfect lettering....but I'm calling the imperfection "charming". (Ha! with that definition, I have a lot of "charming" things around the house!)


A wire fruit bowl does the trick for a cheap and easy Halloween display.


For a little flourish, I added some wood embellishment.


Oops, I should have warned ya to look away! This is hideous and makes me a little queasy.


Ahhhhh, this is more like it. The hardware was painted a gun metal gray that I mixed up with a little black and white hobby paint.


Ta-Da!! I love it. And my pocket book loves it, too!


(Note: I lost 4 comments when I had to re-do this post because I reformatted my blog. Sorry about that....)

Mayonnaise on your wood

I had a table that was covered in white water stains from an unfortunate move during a rain storm. This first pic is not my table (I forgot to take a "before" shot) but the marks looked the same. The white spots covered the top and looked like a film of milk.

I threw a table cloth over until I could get to the store for some refinisher - which is expensive and on the toxic side.

But, in the meantime, I read in Woman's World a neat little trick using mayonnaise and toothpaste to rub out the water marks.

Guess what! It really works! I used one of those sponges with the smooth side and a rough side. I used the rough side to work in the mayonnaise and the spots started to disappear almost immediately. I didn't need the toothpaste, since I used the rough sponge side. Look at the results and see for yourself..... Love those home remedies!

Off The Map - great movie!

I have been watching a lot of movies lately, as I'm recovering from a full hysterectomy. I have got to recommend to you a movie that is wonderful! I saw it weeks ago, and I still find myself thinking about the scenes and characters. The scenery was breath-taking and the acting was superb! Have I used enough adjectives to convince you to go rent it yet?

Here is the synopsis from Rotten Tomatoes:
Across the ancient high desert landscape of northern New Mexico, an extraordinary family embarks on a lyrical journey of self-discovery that reveals unexpected moments of grace and the...
Across the ancient high desert landscape of northern New Mexico, an extraordinary family embarks on a lyrical journey of self-discovery that reveals unexpected moments of grace and the unpredictable but enduring nature of love.

In Campbell Scott's OFF THE MAP, the poetry of a time and a place marked by simplicity comes into full bloom. It's 1974 and the harshly beautiful wilds of Taos are home to 11-year-old Bo Groden (Valentina de Angelis) and her free-thinking family.

While constantly yearning for escape from her sparse environment, Bo passes the time with flair and imagination. She's a crack shot with a rifle and a bow and arrow, an artful plunderer of wallets and briefcases, and the compelling mistress of ceremonies for a moonlit three-ring circus of her own invention. Bo's home is an entrancing, challenging place that she will one day transcend to become the woman she was destined to be.

Arlene (Joan Allen), Bo's warm, earthy, and eccentric mother, raises most of the family's food in her vegetable garden -- which she prefers to tend in the nude. Meanwhile, Bo's father, Charley (Sam Elliott), the embodiment of Old West masculinity, is losing the battle with his inner demons.

When William Gibbs (Jim True-Frost) arrives, a hapless IRS agent with demons of his own, he soon proves to be a catalyst in the lives of the family during this watershed summer.

----- I hope you will love this movie as much as I love it. Let me know what you think after you see it. -------

Solid wood hutch - another Craigslist treasure

This doesn't look like much now, but just wait until I'm done painting it. Found this on Craigslist for only $45 at just the minute that I was thinking that I could use more kitchen work stations. My kitchen is tiny, but I have a breakfast room that I will be using more for food prep and storage, and in which this will be placed.

On this piece, I will place rows of large, glass jars filled with oatmeal, sugar, tea bags, flax seed, etc. And the bottom space will hold my appliances. There's enough space for food prep, too. Hubby will fit in an electrical strip in the back.

When you have a kitchen floorspace of just 6'x6' (with 3 people trying to fix food at one time) then storage pieces have to work hard. And down the road, if I don't need this any longer, I'm sure I can get my money back. It's a winner.

Pumpkin pie decor

I just baked the first of my fall pies tonight. 2 pumpkin pies with double the spices, since I like a strong-flavored pie. This pic was found on the net, but I liked the creative topping! Cute? You betcha, and one idea I will keep - I have several little grandchildren that would be thrilled to have their hand on a pie! MMmmm, the house smells wonderful!

Update To add: What I would do is trace around the hand on paper, and then cut it out. Lay the cut-out paper hand on the dough. Then cut around the shape and put it on the pie. Don't forget the legs!

A forgotten memory..... (and I have lots of 'em!)

Do you ever have those moments when you see something and you get a jolt of sensory memory? I saw this pic today on a breast cancer news article and my heart jumped! These look exactly like a pair I had when I was a new teenager! The pink bow on the pink ballet slipper flats was my opinion (at the time) of high chic and sophistication.

I wore them with a pink, lacy dress whenever I had the chance to "dress up". I would never have brought up this memory by myself - this pic evoked it and I'm grateful for the girlish sensation I got from seeing "my" pink ribboned shoes again.

Award winning Pineapple Custard Pie

Doesn't everyone love pie?! And pies are so easy to do. I used a ready-made crust for this, but sister Jane has promised me a great crust recipe for all my future pies. For the topping, I cut up strips of crust and made a lattice type covering.



Ummmmm, I just baked an award-winning (1st place at the county fair) pineapple custard pie from a recipe on this blog:
http://bigboldbeautifulfood.blogspot.com/2009/07/award-winning-pineapple-custard-pie.html
I'll update when this pie cools and I get a taste!

I'm a lucky person.......

JOY JOY JOY!!!

I've been a little busy lately with medical tests and procedures, but now I'm back on track and recovering nicely from a full hysterectomy. I am soooo very lucky that we caught it early and I don't have to go through Chemo or radiation. It's all gone.

Thanks for the prayers and healing thoughts.

I'm feeling better each day!

Vintage door all gussied up

Sister Jane (whose blog is:Life from my point of view ) came over to help me clean the house and make up some good nachos for my Bunko party. She thought my white door, which I had leaned up against the wall, needed some oomph. So she asked for a piece of fabric and she did this:

I think it looks great and I will keep it that way. Thanks Jane!

My house dusty??? Most likely.

Dust Bunnies don't bother me and I have scientific proof. A while back I went to the allergist to do the whole schmear of allergy tests. And like most people, the results showed that I'm mildly sensitive to most of the categories on the list. EXCEPT...... get this .... dust mites! Hee-hee. So we can co-exist and live in perfect harmony. I just think that's so funny. Must have built up a tolerance over the years???
Oh, and the dust bunny pic is not mine...that beauty came from flickr.

Deacon's Bench - Craigslist find

Hey guys, this is my 200th post! And I celebrated that today by getting a nifty deacon's bench for the front porch. It fits in perfectly and will hold pumpkins in the fall and a garland of mittens in the winter. It was just $35 and it will be fun to decorate it during the seasons.



That purply door is about gone...I'm repainting it a gleaming white. Won't that look fab against that black bench? Don't I sound all Hollywoody, darlinks?

For now, a simple green wreath will do.

Blanket Cabinet touch up

Sometimes, it's just the little details that make or break a look. Take this blanket cabinet, for example. In an earlier post, I shown where I added the black embellishments and painted the wood knobs black. Now that I have had a chance to live with it...I knew it needed a little more sprucing.

So last night I painted in the boxy trim. I do think it looks better and it was just a small change....but one that helps to finish off the look.

Don't cha think?