Girlfriends

I remember as a young woman reading a book that said that one reason some marriages go under is because women don't make time to have girlfriend-time anymore. The idea was that we expect our husbands to meet needs that they simply can't. While my marriage is fine I, like all women, need time to run things by my girlfriends, to laugh and cry with them, to drink coffee, and quilt or whatever it is we do. I wonder when I got too busy to make time for friends? I have a lot of girlfriends, some I've had for most of my life, but today was the first time since July that I actually had a planned, sit-down discussion with a friend, and she had to plan it. Before that, it was probably the previous summer! I work too many hours, but that is the nature of my career. I need to fix this.....anyone have suggestions?

The Urns are Completed......

...and fall has come to the porch. To this...

From this....

It couldn't have been any easier. First I just filled the bottom of the urn with a ring of leaves, added pumpkins of different sizes, then put the berry and leaf sprigs in the urn in random spots. Join Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for more....



Scarecrow #1 (or as my two-year-old granddaughter calls it..SQUAREcrow) guards the entrance to the porch.



Scarecrow #2 is resting on the swing.







Scarecrow #3 is watching over the front door. Enjoy your fall and be sure to post to Mr. Linky above.

"Show Us Your Fall, Y'all!"

Well...even though it's still 85 degrees outside, I couldn't resist starting my fall decorating. I'm hosting a party...so put in the link to your fall decorating, and share what you're doing. Don't you love fall? The pumpkins aren't out at the stores here yet, so I couldn't finish my outside urns. But I did start inside.

Here is my dining room fireplace mantle...no fire, just candles...smell the cinnamon.....



My dining room buffet



My living room fireplace mantle...I love urns...


Some fall closeups



More fall touches...not sure who the picture is...need to change that!


I'd love to see what you're doing...please share! Watch for my outside urns...coming soon!

(Pre) Metamorphosis Monday!

This weekend I went to what is called First Monday in Canton, TX. It's a very large flea market that is held Th-Sun. on the weekend before the first Monday of the month. My daughter lives near Canton, and we try to go when I visit her. My sister made the trip with us and we had a great time. I went in search of some wire urns to fill with pumpkins and leaves and place by my door this fall. I saw some in a magazine and couldn't find them for much less than $100 each online. Well, I found this set for $60 total in Canton! I will post a picture when they are autumn-ready!

For a retired coach/principal...my husband is a very talented cabinet maker. Actually, he's a very talented cabinet maker period. Here are some of the beautiful things he's built for me:

My living room fireplace mantle

China Cabinet....you can barely see the decorative molding on the top...

Baking Center with a marble top for rolling dough or cooling candy or cookies.....

Now for the metamorphosis part of the blog....
I found this really neat armoire door in Canton for $20. When I showed it to him, he said that he had been wanting to rebuild a jelly cabinet he made several years ago and that he could use this door on it. Wait until you see the final result. I'm very blessed to have such a talented, husband!

The Sage In Bloom.....

...is like perfume...Deep in the Heart of Texas.

Two little days of rain and everything has come alive. I was concerned about my sage not blooming. It's happy now, and so are the bees!

I Love Dishes!

I love dishes. It's a family trait. My mom loves old covered dishes. My sister also loves dishes. We once drove 40 miles mostly to look at a tablescape. My grandmother was not a woman who was frivolous about anything. She was all business, frugal, and straight as an arrow. But, even she loved dishes. She had beautiful Noritake china which was divided up among all the female children and grandchildren when she went to be with the Lord. I have a very treasured platter from her pattern, and several stems of her crystal.

When I was a young mother, I discovered flea markets and garage sales. I bought a lot of 10 cent pieces of crystal and china over the years and have quite a collection now.

My favorite set of dishes are my turkey dishes. I bought these at a flea market about 15 years ago for $65 which was quite a splurge for me then. The set came as 8 turkey plates and the platter. If you've read my blog before, you know that I love Martha Stewart. I've seen an old Thanksgiving special of hers, and was very tickled to find that she has the exact same pattern. I would love to find a few other pieces in this pattern, but it's very old.

I have found that even though I really really love all dishes, I like the old dishes better than new ones. I like transferware, and plates that have a lot of "stuff" on them. I have Blue Willow, and Old Britain Castles, and a set of Royal, Old Curiosity Shop...all richly patterned. Blue Willow has a special story behind it. I used to tell it to my children every time we ate Chinese food. My daughter bought me a tiny Blue Willow tea set once for Mother's Day. It's a treasure! I am now in love with Wedgewood Fallow Deer an old pattern that Martha uses on some Christmas specials. They are way too expensive for my flea market taste, even if I could find them.

Lately, I've been enjoying this blog, Between Naps on The Porch. Every Thursday, Susan hosts Tablescape Thursday. I've decided to participate in a Tablescape Thursday very soon. Each year, we have what we call the "First Fall Weenie Roast". It happens when that first, highly-anticipated cold front manages to push through our Texas heat. I'll be posting a "mini-tablescape" then...using my collection of old, mis-matched brown dripware. Hope you stop by.

Volvo

I want a Volvo.

Now, in case you're wondering, I'm not a car person. I am currently driving a Buick that I've had for about 10 years. It has over 185,000 miles on it. It still looks fine, and is very comfortable. I'm hoping it lasts for 3 more years. But, I've wanted a Volvo for a long time. The problem is that I want an old, square, red Volvo. My sister calls it my hippie car.

My nephew works for a Volvo dealer. When I asked him to hook me up, he said that he couldn't possibly let me drive that kind of car! I guess what was really, really cool to my generation is not cool to his at all. However, not ever having been very cool in the first place, I still want my square, red Volvo.

What I really wish is that Volvo would re-introduce the old model...sort of like Volkswagon did the Bug. Anyone out there have any pull with Volvo?