fluffin’ for fall

We have had the most beautiful fall weather. Here in Montana we don’t usually get to enjoy Indian summer weather. Generally we go from hot summer to brief cooler temps right into shoveling snow.  It’s such a gorgeous time of year. I secretly wish it was like this year round.

I’ve had a yucky cold and haven’t felt like doing much but sleep. Today I finally decided to do something productive besides make me a cozy nest on the sofa.

I started cutting back the flowers in the yard, trimming bushes and raking leaves. . . again. . . My old fashion yellow rose bush is putting on a pretty display so I brought some of the colorful branches in to enjoy before they disappear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I brought out the tan and brown tones to compliment the fall colors. I’ve always been drawn to the neutral colors, they go with everything. I’m thinkin those little transfer ware dishes will be on my Thanksgiving dinner table. 

 

 

 

 

I go to great measures to hide outlets and cords. The huge ironstone pitcher, from my mother, does a good job hiding the one that is in the center of this wall.

 

 

 

 

It’s getting to be blanket weather. I scattered a few of my blue ones for a little color. I have to admit blankets have been my best friend the past few days.

 

 

I don’t like to take pictures from this angle because of the wall A/C unit. I haven’t figured out how to hide it (yet) so I guess it is what it is. That’s my shadow, Rossie, sleeping and photo bombing, as always.

 

 

 

 

I finally caved and switched out the display box for this awesome advertising crate. My husband is a welder so I am attracted to anything steel. I found this at a yard sale for a buck. . . it’s been hangin out in the basement holding pillows and blankets, the ones the Grands use for makin forts. . .

 

 

Keeping it simple, I used some collected poppy seed pods and dried pomegranates. The old yellow ware bowl came with the house, it was my husbands Gramma’s.  A gift from my mother in law when we moved in. It’s perfect for displaying fall collections.

 

 

 

 

The area with the A/C is the front porch (AKA the doggie dorm) Their toys, food and water are kept here, due to lack of space anywhere else.

 

 

 

 

The aprons and cow print in this photo came from Christine at 1817farmhouse. She has a sweet picture trail gallery where she sells her goodies, a lot are handmade by the talented Christine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last up is the mantel. Just a little sprig of field cotton and a white punkin’ is all that’s needed.

Real Simple Style

 

 

 

 

Thanks for stoppin by. ~d

 

 

 

 

Happy Halloween.

Living room redo (part 2)

 

It was a go fast weekend. My husband came home, which always makes the rest of my world come to a stop.  I miss him so much when he’s gone. I try to do a little something special for him when he comes home.  This time it was homemade sticky buns. He sacrifices so much to do what he does. He lives in a camper, works in the brutal cold temps in North Dakota, drives 4 hours to come home. When he gets here we spend most of the time getting him stocked up on necessities, doing his laundry, and there’s usually a much needed haircut. But we always make and take time to do something fun. Sometimes it’s just sleeping in, having a few friends over, or just relaxing,which he doesn’t do near enough.  He never knows what he’s going to find when he walks thru door. New furniture arrangement, a new treasure, different colored walls. He’s pretty good about it, but does feel the need to make a snide comment. .  . always. . .

This time was no exception. He was pleased I used his deer horns in the living room, I knew he would be.

 

 

 

 

To keep with the simple, less country look, I switched out the cupboard with one I had in the guest room. The other one had open shelves and took a lot to fill it up. The *full* look is what I wanted to change. As much as I love my old quilt collection, it’s more appropriate in the guest room.

The old school house picture is very special to me. It's the school house my Gramma went to when she was a child, then taught school there after she married my Grampa. Her students were her own kids as well as the neighbors kids. You may remember from this post. here

 

This is reflection I see when I set in my chair across the room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This old heater isn’t original to the house, it was given to me by a friend who saved it from a house that was being demolished. According to my husband and other family members there used to be one just like it that was replaced when Grampa put in hot water heat.

 

 

 

 

I’ve said it before, but I mean it. . . my mantle is so hard to photograph. It looks like a big white elephant in pictures. It looks a lot better in real life. I do have plans to give it a face lift. I want to add some trim to disguise the round corners, beef up the mantel with some old barn wood,  and replace the cracked tiles in the firebox.  The family seems to have a problem when I make changes to the house. I do understand their desire to keep it the same, but sometimes things just have to change. So. when I do tackle the project I’m not going to demolish the fireplace or change it in any way. I’ll just make it so it slides up to the existing one.

 

 

 

This old ironstone pitcher came from my mum. I remember going with my dad to buy this for her for Christmas. It came with a very large basin. They aren’t a set. The basin is a different color of white and has a design on the inside. They are both Homer Laughlin ironstone. I just love the greige color and the simplicity of this pitcher. My mum tried to give it to me a few different times but I wasn’t interested. . . when I went there for Thanksgiving I asked her where it was. . . she had put it in storage !!. . . it came home with me. To this day I don’t know why my dad bought it for her. She never was into antiques. Guess he knew it would be mine someday.

 

 

 

 

 

The 5 gallon Redwing crock was also given to me by my mom. It was her Grammas. She remembers her Gramma making pickles and sauerkraut in it. She’s the one that broke the lid, so she says.

 

 

Well, that’s a wrap for the living room (for now).

 

There’s a corner on the other side of the doorway beside the fireplace where the TV sets. I have tried and tried to get a good photo of it. It ain’t happenin. I know TV’s are a big part of our lives, I love ALL of mine. But. . . I wait for sunny days to take pictures, when that happens there’s also a big glare on the TV that just ruins the whole picture. I rarely see TV’s. Whether in blogs, in magazines or even on Pinterest. Now I know why. . . they just aren’t very pretty.

 

I try to arrange my rooms so the sofa and TV are at an angle. I do this so I don’t have to struggle with what to put above them. . . this arrangement works. .  . 

Okay. . . I’ll show it anyway. . . but only because it gives the real feel of the room. Pardon the glare. . .

 

 

 

 

My failed attempt to hide the big black box. 

 

 

 

This ended up being a lot longer than I planned. Thanks for taggin along, if you’re still here.

As always, I truly appreciate each and every one of you. My blog is getting a lot of traffic and I owe it to all of you for your pins, shares and comments. . . I feel the love. . .

 

happy day. . .   d