Thanksgiving Decor

I told you about my recent finds for the sunroom.
The vintage needlepoint and the Faribo throw set the tone for some vignettes I have been working on in the sunroom.



I wanted Thanksgiving decor but I didn't want to limit the decor to just turkeys. 

I don't think the turkey necessarily makes the list of top ten attractive birds. Bless their hearts. 
(You can say almost anything unkind down here in the south as long as you say "Bless their heart." afterward. 
It's a rule or something.
 #yankeelearningtobeasouthernlady.
#newyorkerintexas
#Ihopemysouthernfriendswillstillspeaktome
 ;) 

I had some other turkeys but they were resin.
 Resin and ceramic don't mix… because I'm a little over the top about some things.



I was trying to think of some other hearth and home accoutrements to add to the mix when I remembered a
 Currier and Ives book of prints I found at the thrift the other day. 
Most of the good prints were taken out already but it contained this print.



At the time I didn't think I needed it. 
At the time I didn't think I needed it?
 Thrifting fail! 
I ran back up to the store but it was gone so I did what any spoiled, heart set on something person would do. 
I bought it off of e-Bay. 
(It cost the same as the one I failed to buy at the thrift store.) 
 But because I am impatient and now my print has to be shipped, I started thinking about other house blessing knick knacks I may have nestled (crammed) in this house.



I found a couple of houses, a early winter Currier and Ives print, and some other organic, acorny things.



I also found a circa 1984 cross stitch made by yours truly.

I popped it into a vintage Adirondack style frame and paired it with a little painting I did a few years ago.
  
I love the dish dresser like this. 



I kept the green Meakin china and majolica (some real, some reproduction).



I haven't had my birdcage out in a long time. Would you believe I found this for $1.00?

I ordered the bittersweet off of e-Bay because I don't think it grows down here.



I collect vintage postcards. 

All the searching I did for cottages somehow  

  unearthed a crazy looking spider.



I was immediately sure I had been bitten and that I could be meeting my maker at any moment. 
I'll let you know.
Katie 

Linking with,
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My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia  
The Scoop at White Lace Cottage   
Savvy Southern Style 
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Lavender Garden Cottage

Don't Skip Apples

 

I am already seeing some pumpkins out on the internet. 
I don't know about you, but I would be heartily sick of all that orange by the time Halloween rolls around.   

             
Don't skip apples! 

They aren't just for eating, although I read that eating an apple will perk up the body more than a cup of coffee.

I am going to try it next time I'm in the midst of an afternoon slump.

I love apples for decorating! They give a subtle nod to fall without all the orange and they tide me over until it's time to break out the scarecrows.
I've sprinkled a mix of real and faux around the house.

I think I found this ceramic apple at Hobby Lobby. 
They have bags of cute fake ones in the floral department. 



 I found the end of an apple crate at the antique mall by my school. It was only $12.00 and I love it. 
Franciscan apple dishes are available in almost every antique store. The pattern has been around since the 1940s. 

I will search out seasonal stuff when surfing eBay or if I am  shopping at an antique mall. 
It always gives me something to look for. 

 

September used to be the season for apples in the markets and grocery stores. Maybe that is why it is such a popular decorating motif for so many classrooms. 
Remember when school used to start in September?
I'm on my second week of school already. 

I found the pretty crackle finish apple at Cracker Barrel. 

It is a great place to find seasonal decor. 

Last year I made fabric apples out of calico. 

You can read about it here. 

I'd almost forgotten about them until I was looking through old photos from last September.

The greenware bowl came from my mother-in-law. 

 The little painting is one of my favorite apple things. 
I bought it off of eBay and was surprised because it was much smaller than I thought it would be. 
I have no idea how someone can paint something so small. It's only about 2x3 inches. 
 I love it. 

Rebekah painted this one for me a few years ago. 
It was very tolerant of her considering she and her friends thought I was another level of crazy with all my seasonal decorating. 

Who knew I was just prepping for blogging? 

I am a little impatient for fall to get here. 
I'm ready for cooler temperatures but I'll
be holding off on any crafting or decorating.

I've been Pinning fall images and a Halloween magazine 
is on my reading list for Labor Day weekend. 

Just because I am not actually decorating doesn't mean I'm not thinking about it. 
;)

Don't like apples?
How about the sunflower?

Either way,
 I hope you enjoy the change of seasons as much as I do.
Katie 

Laundry Room Clean Up

It's been a while since I have spent any time spiffing up the laundry room.
I am thrilled to be off every Monday and every other Wednesday. 
I told you about my brush with retirement in this post. 
Thankfully something didn't feel right about it. 
Teaching part time is the best of both worlds.
Having a day or two to create and maintain our home is such a gift!

  

 Monday will be our new laundry day.

When both of us were working full time we were in a rush to get it all done and put away in case anyone else stopped by to borrow the washer.  It has been a juggling act and invariably I wasn't able to keep it tidy. 
I brightened up the edge of the shelves with some left over paint.
They were really worn looking after 20 years.  

I still love the Hobby Lobby shelf brackets I installed last summer. 
They add a lot of cute for only $32.00. 
That original post gets Google hits on a regular basis.  

 We still hope to get cabinets but at this point there doesn't seem to be a need now that we are almost empty nesters.
It's not like I have to have a sorting system or anything at this point.

 I updated the window treatment last fall. 
This little window has been easy to do over the years.
I just re-use the wooden board that has been here since we moved in. 

I have stapled any number of pieces of fabric to this board to create different looks.

  I sewed some left over jute webbing to a 4 x 5 foot drop cloth. I folded it in half and pressed it. That way the valance is self lined to make sure it isn't too sheer.  

I didn't even have to staple this one to the board. It is just draped across and tucked in between the board and the wall. I did use a thumb tack or two to create the folds on the side.

I got my shutters at a garage sale. I originally needed them to cover up our foggy double paned windows. We've since gotten that fixed but I still love their chipped charm.

The laundry has to look good because it is right off of the kitchen.

I've used this antique iron as a door stop for years.

It came from my grandparent's house. I'm not sure why they kept it except that they never threw much away. :)

Bill has put a board behind the dryer to keep it out far enough so that the dryer hose doesn't get kinked. I have a tendency to push the dryer back too far.

I can't pull the washer out any further because of the window sill. The unevenness drives me nuts but I would rather have that than a fire from dryer lint not being able to get out of the hose.

I love having a cute place to do laundry and I love having the time to keep it straightened up. 
So blessed! 

Katie  
Funky Junk Interiors  
Monday Funday Link Party 
The Charm of Home   
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A Stroll Through Life  
French Country Cottage