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.

It just keeps getting better. . .

 

I finally made a decision, and oiling the piece won over painting it. I gave it a good soaking of tung oil.

I wanted it to be taller but didn’t want to alter either of the pieces. So. . . enter the divided wood box.

 

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It gave it the little bit of height it needed. And a place to display a few more things as well.

I have a few of these divided boxes, they have a lot of uses. This is just one of many.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m happy with my decision not to paint it. The dark patina shows off the yellow ware and ironstone perfectly.

 

 

I want to show off the fresh cotton I got from a fellow blogger. I have always admired cotton, but here in Montana, I just never see it. Wheat and clover yes, cotton no.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks Mindy ! ! !

 

I want to say, I really enjoy reading all of your comments. You are all so kind. I truly do appreciate each and every one of you. You make *playing house* fun. . . .

 

happy Spring to all. . .

 

~d

small room big changes. . .

I want to give a big shout out to Brenda at cozylittlehouse. She featured me in her Welcome Wagon Friday Party. If you haven’t visited her blog, you should. She has so much inspiration and great ideas. You can get there from here.

 

I feel like such a frump. She sent all those nice ladies to me, then I take 2 weeks off from blogging. . .  sheeesh. . . I do have a good excuse, well a few good ones. My dear friend of 30+ years came for a week long visit. We had such a good time catching up, staying up way too late, watching football and solving all the worlds problems. Gotta love girl time. Then I got busy getting my tax stuff ready. . . no fun at all.

 

So, I have been dying to share another piece of my world with you guys. . . I just didn’t have anything exciting. But. . . fear not.  Blame it on spring fever/cleaning. Our weather has been so unbelievably warm and sunny it felt like spring.

 

I’ve been wanting to make some changes to the living room for quite awhile now. The direction it was going was starting to look more *country* than farmhousey. So. . . every single, little thing got moved out, taken down, toted to another room. It took me all day because we have plaster walls which require drilling holes. Once I took the stuff off the walls I had to fill the holes then touch up the paint. . . then I washed everything before I brought it back in.

 

I had a plan in my head how I wanted to arrange the furniture, problem is there are 3 doorways and a fireplace to work around. I think my sofa was on every single wall before I finally decided on one I liked.

 

This area is where the sofa used to be.

 

 

 

There was a heavy gray wall cupboard on the wall. I have new plans for the cupboard. The beautiful mirror was in our room. My love for mirrors resulted in 3 mirrors in there. . . this one NEEDED to be in here. Did you know if you hold a flame to an old mirror and look thru the flame it will tell you how old a mirror is? Seriously. If you see 5 flames for instance you multiply it by 10, which means it’s 50 years old.  If the theory is right this mirror is 110 years old (there were 11 flames).

The deer mount is one my hubby shot this year. He was surprised to see me use it in the house. He has a wall of fame in the garage, which is where they usually end up. When I was looking for something for that area I fell in love with the colors. . . white and dark brown. . . duh. . . and I see *faux* ones all over Pinterest and blogland. . . .

 

 

 

 

 

I hated to do it, but I had to put the linen sheet on the sofa. With all the warm temps the snow has turned to mud. Another thing I did yesterday, cleaned muddy paw prints off of it.  I do like the look, I really love the linen sheet, but it reminds me of my days of covering an unsightly sofa with painters drop cloths.

 

I had to add the pretty pink tulips, after all, I did have a bad case of spring fever.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And lastly,for today, here’s my sweet paper whites. I have several pails, boxes, baskets and bowls

filled with them scattered through out the house. They are all in different stages so I will be able to enjoy the sweeties for quite awhile.

I will share the rest of the room in the next post. I’m still fluffing a few things. 

 

Do you mind if I pick your brain?

 

2014 is a year to celebrate for my hubby and I.. we are finally debt free ! ! ! Thanks to the oil boom, we were able to beef up on are payments, which is such a good feeling. Anyway, my hubby told me I could spend $500.00 a month on just me. What would you buy if this were you? (speaking only vintage/antiques/) Is there a certain pretty somethin you’ve been dying to have? Would you save for a big ticket item? Start a new collection? Or add to an existing one? I do know one thing for sure, I’ll be saving for a trip to a Country Living fair for sure.

 

(please don’t take this the wrong way. It isn’t my intention to offend anyone. Believe me, it was a long hard battle and commitment to get us this far. It wasn’t easy and at times we were too broke to buy bread. The only reason I asked the question is I’m stumped on what to buy. Sometimes hearing what others dream of sparks some interest. Truth be known, I don’t think I could spend that much money, I’ve been too thrifty for too long.)

 

Thanks for stopping by, and a BIG welcome to all the new comers. I really appreciate your comments, they are so encouraging.

 

I hope all you easterners are safe and staying warm.

 

d