Tree Festival

I want to show you some pretties from our local charity Christmas Tree Festival. My favorite is the wreath on the pink door. It had me with just the pink door!  I hope this is a bit of inspiration for you as you start your Christmas decorating.

Thanksgiving decor

When it comes to fall decor, I don't really do anything for Halloween. My fall decorating is more for Thanksgiving.  And that's ok because I usually don't get around to decorating till Halloween anyway.  It takes me that long to realize the inevitable....that winter and snow really are on their way and there isn't anything I can do about it short of moving from Ohio. So , I have given in, the time is changing and so is the decor. This is a wreath on our front door. I bought it several years ago with a coupon at JoAnn Fabrics. I know, I could have made it, but I had a coupon! It wasn't my favorite when I bought it but now I really like it. 

My sister-in-law, who happens to like fall, drags me kicking and screaming into the season each year usually with a piece of decor for my birthday. This year she gifted me with this gorgeous candle. She simply wrapped garland around it and it has a wonderful glow. 

This last piece is a more subtle nod to Thanksgiving....my Thank You plate by John Derian. I bought it at his store in New York City the last time we were there. This was the largest piece I could afford ! He is now doing a line for Target. Thank Goodness! 
So this is the part where I tell you to count your blessings. And I really do mean it. It makes it easier to get up in the morning when you have given thanks first. Happy Thanksgiving!

Auction love

Once in awhile it happens. An auction that seemed to be tailored just for me. I brought home a box of beautiful antique French and German bisque doll heads of all sizes. Most are in good condition, some however need some love. 

I also brought home boxes and boxes of vintage millinery in every color imaginable. I will be offering these in my etsy shop in groupings of assorted colors at a really great price. Let me know if you are interested in groupings of only a color or two.  See you at the auction!

Early Christmas shopping

I started my Christmas shopping early when I heard about the beautiful soaps Dalene hand makes. She has so many stunning designs, it is hard to not choose them all. They come in blue, pink, yellow , green , and even some orange for fall designs. She is welcoming new orders at her email address daleneruhe@hotmail.com.

So if you are on my "Santa list" you may just get one from me. 

Recent trip to San Francisco

I left my heart....no actually, I left our daughter and her fiance in San Francisco. These are some pics from our recent visit. 

Here it looks like we left San Francisco for someplace in England but it is actually the Pelican Inn at Muir Beach. There was a cold breeze blowing on the beach but it was warm on the outdoor patio where we had out lunch. 
This is their patio where we had lunch before heading to the beach. Really cozy with a fireplace and worn brick floor.
This is what Ocean beach looks like when the high temperature for  days, or several weeks, is 59 degrees. What a change from the heat wave we left in the midwest. In the distance is the historic Cliff house. I have wanted to dine there but that will have to be on another visit.
A cave under the Cliff house to explore when the tide is out.
Of course we had to visit the greenhouse and dahlia garden at Golden Gate Park as my husband is a member of our local dahlia society. The dahlias like the alternating sun and cool fog that comes creeping in. 



This is my favorite "pink" house bordering the edge of Alamo Sguare.  San Francisco is home to houses that look like cakes but this one was more like a fondant wedding cake. 
And this is my favorit  "blue" house. I'm just not sure where it was located. It is amazing that they carry the detailing all the way to the tip top where they surely could skimp and no one would notice. But not these ladies.

Meet Dori, our new Grandpup. She was adopted from a local dog rescue while we were visiting. A whopping 8 lbs, she sure is a cutie.

Having daughters on opposite sides of the country is not easy but it gives us great cities to visit. Now where should we retire too!?

In the garden......

Memories found

I saw this  vintage scrapbook in a box at the weekly auction. I saw that it had alot of greeting cards in it so I put it on my bid list. I won! In my hurry to check out the other items , I neglected to look under the scrapbook in the box.

Under the book, I found certificates for insurance and mortgages from the 1870's and 1880's.
I also found bank receipts, letters and photos from the 1920's and 30's.
Those were all a bonus as the scrapbook had me at the cover. 

YUM summer!!

Homegrown tomatoes and cukes! And fluffy lumps of buffalo mozzarella from the farmer's market. 

Creating

I was able to finish this UFO this week. I think my daughter's love of birds is rubbing off on me. I  used some of the special bits and pieces that I was saving for "someday".

I hung it over the chair that I use in the family room. Do you do that too....sit in the same chair so that it becomes known as "your" chair?
I used instant coffee to create faux stains and rust marks. 
I even found sheet music to copy that had a bird theme. 
Thanks for stopping by. 

fleabagger

I have more flea pickings to show you. The southern belle is a square tablecloth with a belle in each corner. Really detailed stitching on this piece. Lots of fancy stitches too. 

Isn't the edge on this dish remarkable? What a handpainted beauty she is. 
One flea dealer was making repro French grain sacks by printing on heavy canvas panels. This may become a pillow. I bought another to share. I hope I can find her next week to purchase some more. I feel a new season of "Hoarders" about to begin! See you at the flea!