Leaves and more leaves

Fall comes in a big way in my neighborhood because

the street is lined with 60-year old oak trees. 

I have two that stand as guards at the entry of my driveway.

This one has lost about half it's leaves. 

 

And this one is refusing to let them go.

 

You can clean the gutters one day, but the next day you'd 

never know.

 

My house sits back quite a ways from the street, so 

it's a long way to the curb.  But if I can get them there,

the city (bless their hearts) comes along  a couple times

a week and sucks them up. 

 

One side of the yard done ~  other side to go.  Then I can do it

all over again tomorrow.

 While fall is one of my favorite seasons, the part of raking

leaves I never look forward to.  It consumes part of

October, all of November, and even lingers into December.   

Lest I sound like I'm complaining, I really do love my

trees and couldn't imagine living in a neighborhood

without them.

~ 

Today the skies are moody blue and there is a chill in the wind.

I couldn't help but think of a favorite childhood story

from " Winnie The Pooh and the Blustery Day".

Pooh's Blustery Day video

Hum dum dum ditty dum

Hum dum dum

Oh the wind is lashing lustily

And the trees are thrashing thrustily

And the leaves are rustling gustily

So it's rather safe to say

That it seems that it may turn out to be

It feels that it will undoubtedly 

It looks like a rather blustery day, today

It sounds that it may turn out to be

Feels that it will undoubtedly

Looks like a rather bluster day today

Written by Richard M.  Sherman & Robert B. Sherman 

I'm joining The Tablescaper for 

Season Sundays

and

A Southern Daydreamer

for Outdoor Wednesdays. 

 

 

Vintage Tray

I found this small vintage tray at

Columbus Architectural Salvage

a few months ago and since then I am

finding uses for it all over my home.

~

In a previous post, it was used as the centerpiece

for a fall tablescape with a single acorn.

 

But today, it is all cozied up to my wing back

chair in the living room, sporting three

pine cone candles nestled in a bed of moss. 

 

A perfect place to cuddle up with a book or

just sit in the evening and stare into

the candlelight. 

 

I'm joining Debra over at Common Ground

for Vintage Friday. 

 

 

 

Old Faithful

My dishes today are my "Old Faithfuls". I've had them 

for over 35 years.  In fact, I've never had any other everyday 

dishes until I started blogging two months ago.

I've often been tempted to purchase new dishes,

but never felt I could justify it since I had

so many pieces to this set. What I have done is try to 

"change them up" with new additional pieces and today's table setting is the newest version of my "change up".

My dishes are Phaltzgraff  Yorktowne which were 

introduced in 1967.  I think I started

my collection in 1972 just before I got married.

 

I've set a table for 4 (the absolute max my

small table will hold) and I'm serving chili

in my lovely soup tureen.

 

The centerpiece is a simple blue candle holder and 

the water goblets were found at a yard sale

this summer.

 

The chunky blue handled silverware was

also a very long ago purchase from

I don't remember where.

Napkins were made from $.99 fabric purchased

at Volunteers of America Thrift Store.  I used

Yvonne's napkin tutorial from Stone Gable

 for my instructions.  Napkin rings were made

from trim purchased at Jo-Ann Fabrics.

 

Dishes were stacked more to enhance the table 

than for use. I used a Yorktowne bread and

butter plate under the soup bowls and a 

blue salad plate from World Market under that.

 

 

The bottom layer is a Yorktowne dinner plate.

 Many of my Yorktowne pieces were purchased as seconds from the Phaltzgraff Outlet in Lancaster, PA. 

A featured item could be purchased for a mere 

fraction of the price as the first quality pieces and

allowed me to accumulate a very nice collection over time.

 

Setting this table today has made me realize why

I have loved these dishes for so many years and their

durability, which has stood the test of time,

has earned them the title of "Old Faithful".  

While so many of the new and pretty dishes continue

to flirt for my attention, Yorktowne will always

be the "Belle of the Ball" in my home.

 

Dinner and bread/butter plates, soup bowls, & soup tureen ~ Phaltzgraff Yorktowne

Blue salad plates ~ World Market about 5 years ago

Chunky blue handled silverware ~ too long ago to remember

Blue water goblets ~ yard sale purchase

Napkins ~ Made from Thrift store fabric find

Napkin rings ~ Made from trim found at Jo-Ann Fabrics

Blue candle stick ~ Goodwill

I'm joining Susan for Tablescape Thursday

at Between Naps on the Porch and
Smiling Sally for Blue Mondays.

 

 

 

 

 

Dreamy Creamy Whites

I think of my bedroom's color scheme as

pink and green.  But recently I realized

how creamy white it is too.

When decorating with white on white tones, 

I've always felt the focus should be on details 

and texture, as in the hardware on the

dresser and armoire.

 

 

The armoire also has delicately carved 

flowers across the top.

 

Because my bed is always covered with 

numerous pillows, I often forget how 

beautifully carved the headboard is.

 

The mirror and shelf supports are also

elaborate with detail.

 

 

At a flea market this summer, I found this gorgeous

duvet cover and delicate lace bedskirt. 

They have a quiet beauty that is found 

in their texture and simplicity.

 

 

While I don't think I could decorate 

without lots of color in my home, I love and

 always will be drawn to the texture

and beauty of white on white.

I'm linking up with Kathleen at

Faded Charm for White Wednesday.

Brown Transfer ware

My first exposure to brown transfer ware was

when I read The Old Sideboard Redo over

at Cabin and Cottage.

It was love at first sight.  I was not only

impressed with the delicate beauty of the 

cream and brown dishes, 

but also with Jacqueline's blog

and her artful way of displaying

her collection.

My mosaic today is of my own brown

transfer ware ~ which only consists of

three pieces ~ but I love every piece in 

my new collection.

 

Brown transfer ware is beautiful in any season,

but I especially love it for November.  

It seems the appropriate choice as

leaves softly fall and color fades from 

the countryside, while nature leaves us with 

its own palette of browns and creamy whites. 

I'm linking with Little Red House

for Mosaic Monday.

Favorite Things

Favorite things from long ago . . . things

kept and cherished over the years.

 

A cross-stitch picture I did in 1986 of

Canadian geese flying in V-formation.  

So simple ~ so fall.

 

Over the years, I've used it, hung by itself and in

combination with other special things.

 

Another favorite thing is the cotton I picked (stole actually)

from a farmer's field while traveling home from

South Carolina more than 25 years ago.  

  

I have treasured it through the years because it is

unique to the South ~ part of it's culture ~ part of 

it' history. 

 

I'm linking up with Bargain Hunting with Laurie

for "A Few of My Favorite Things.

 

 

 

Freedom

Liberty is the right to choose,

freedom is the result of that choice.

(Author Unknown)
 

 

Don't forget to vote November 2nd.