Monday, December 31, 2012

~ As the Year Comes to a Close ~

As another year comes to a close many of us are reflecting others are planning ahead. Dreaming of being more organized, spending more time with family or just enjoying the process of each day as it unfolds. 
Which of

Thursday, December 27, 2012

~ Saying Good-bye to Christmas and Wishing ~

Wow! It's hard to believe the hustle and bustle of Christmas is behind us. The crowded malls, the extra "crazy" drivers on the freeway, short tempered clerks, all of that is behind us for yet another year. Did you rush out at the last minute to buy a gift or two you had forgotten to pick up? Did you forget the cream cheese for the icing? Or are you a Martha Stewart organized person?  Even with all the last minute oops here and there everything always manages to come together. The stress of making sure it all gets done is put behind us and we enjoy our time together. I hope you all were good boys and girls and got what you asked for!

The last couple of weeks flew around our home. My daughter and grandson came home for Christmas, they were here a glorious 13 days. The extra feet roving across the floor, laughter and utter chaos made my heart sing. The roof had to have gone up inches with the extra noise. What joy our children and grands bring when they come home.
The tree was all a glow on Christmas eve, with

Sunday, December 16, 2012

A Prayer for Newtown, Christmas in the Laundry Room

I'll start this post today by saying I'm still, as many of you, in a state of shock over the last few days events. The horror, disbelief and lack of understanding of how a person can harm innocent children leaves a black cloud over my heart. There is no possible motive that can ever come to light to make any sense of this tragedy. I pray our loving Father gives their families and all those effected the needed strength. May we all become more loving and caring with our own families.
I think I'm officially finished with all the Christmas decorating as Mr. P laughs in the background and says, "a right." Oh he knows me so well, about the time I think I'm done I come up with another idea and a spot I haven't quite touched with some holiday cheer. Do you ever do that? Or is it just me? 
It's no secret

Thursday, December 13, 2012

~ Christmas on the Kitchen Hutch ~ Round II

I'm sure many of you have seen the hutch in the kitchen like a gazillion times. It's one of those pieces of furniture that screams out to be decorated over the top or even with an understated decor. This year I tried not to go over the top, you can see in my previous post HERE, less was more. You may also recall reading my decorating took on a life of it's own.
Before I knew it

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

~ Christmas Touches in the Dining Room ~

Happy 12-12-12
Once in a lifetime of dates.
A magical day full of
miracles and fun things.

The Christmas spirit has hit the house full on. Keep in mind I'm doing a lot less decorating than in years past. Sometimes my belief is less is more. I know, I know not my personality right? The last few months I've had a change of heart. Seeing too many things on one shelf or tabletop has made me dizzy. So, I've scaled back showcasing only my favs. ( We'll see how long this lasts. lol )
The dining room is a

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

~ First Glimpse of Christmas in the Kitchen ~

Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year. I love all the decorating, the hustle and bustle, Christmas carols playing and as in years past snow. This year I've struggled a tad getting into the Christmas spirit. It finally hit the other day and I got busy gathering my thoughts and Christmas decor.
I got a great line

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

~Decorating the Back Door For Guests ~

You've heard the old saying back door guests are the best? Our back door has been the main entrance to our home for the last 16 years. Although I have the beautiful front porch I literally live on during the Spring, Summer and Fall months of the year, I rarely decorate it for the Christmas holidays. I guess you can say it's a 3 season porch.
If you've been a visitor to the blog for long

Sunday, December 2, 2012

~ A Vintage Watering Can Say Christmas Right? ~

Heavy fogs this a.m. didn't detour me from my mission. Bright and early the dogs and I took a walk along the fence row to cut some fresh greens from the cypress trees. All gloved up and arms covered so as not to have it touch my skin (a tad bit allergic) back to the house we came. 
I wanted to change things up at the back entry this year. In years past

Friday, November 30, 2012

~ Pine Cone Mania ~


 Our postage size entry doesn't allow for a whole lot of decor. Sometimes less is more, the direction I'm going this year. Dear friends in Albuquerque mailed me 2 full boxes of beautiful pine cones, what better way to honor and thank them to use them in our holiday decor this year.








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Sunday, November 18, 2012

~ Before Everything Goes Red ~

It's been quite a while since I've posted. There has been so much going on around here I just haven't had the 'ump to put a post together. I haven't visited any of you in so very long, guess this is where the term "bad blogger" comes into play. I discovered a long time ago sometimes I'm much better off keeping to myself. Although sharing our homes and lives is what many of our blogs are about, I'm reluctant to share some of the personal things going on around here. I'm just not ready to open up, I admire those of you that do. My only request is for you to keep me in your thoughts, when the time is right I'll share and share it all, right now just isn't that time.

Before Halloween I had such a burst of energy, my creative mind was in over load. Yesterday I began the daunting task of taking all of that down along with most of the fall decor to get ready for the Christmas decor. I can hardly believe it's just a few short weeks away. Have you already started your Christmas decorating or do you wait until after Thanksgiving?

The end of the counter is one of my go to key spots for adding holiday decor. My dough bowl has been one of my favorite tools to use for decorating this past year. Filled with pumpkins, gourds and a bit of bittersweet the beautiful patina takes on a life of it's own.

 The shimmer and sheen of mercury glass along with crystal takes it from plain to having an ah-ha moment.

 Yes, I still have peanut butter kisses in the glass jars, I'm working slowly to get rid of them, my hips aren't loving the way that's going, but a person can't waste candy can they?




I thank each and everyone of you
who have emailed to check in
your kind words and thoughts
mean the world. 
I encourage everyone
to find what makes
you happy and useful
Embrace it and
make it work
for you. 
Until next time....
Hugs ~ Lynne ~
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Wednesday, October 17, 2012

~ Dinner With Pumpkin Paul Harvey? ~

How's everyone doing on this beautiful fall day? We have a bit of wind but the temperatures are wonderful. I have to say I've enjoyed this fall more than any other. Maybe it's because of all the extreme heat we had through the summer, maybe it's because I've tried to take time to enjoy the smaller things in life before they slip away.

Let's take care of a bit of business before moving onto the post of the day. It's come to my attention many of you have had trouble leaving comments or are having a silly pop up occur asking  "Do you want to run or move mplayer.setup.exe (682KB) from install optimum installer.com". I've done a bit of research and this is a download for you to be able to watch movies. I don't believe it will harm your computer, I recommend checking it out and when in doubt always click no until you know for sure. I'm not quite sure why it's popping up on my blog, I've put a shout out to my computer guy to see if he can enlighten me and hopefully get it resolved. 

OK, onto some fun stuff. This week has been crazy crazy around here. Shipments have been rolling in daily for the shop, that means a lot of unpacking, checking items over and getting them priced and the most fun part putting together displays. The Holiday Open House is going to be so much fun this year. With all that going on I haven't had a chance to put together a table, I searched the archives and ran across Pumpkin Paul Harvey, I put together last year and didn't get posted. Do you see a pattern here? Hmmmm taking tons of pictures and never putting them together... I think I need to get a little more organized. 

With Halloween around the corner I chose the black and gold table cloth to help ground all the different textures. 
Layering things up always adds more interest. Starting with a place mat I then added a woven charger, moving on up with a white plate, and for more texture a small grapevine wreath. Grapevine wreaths aren't just for doors or walls, use them in a tablescape for added interest. With the addition of the brown acorn plate followed by a leaf plate, topped off with what else but a ghost pumpkin. 
 Pumpkin Paul Harvey came from Cracker Barrel a few years back. I hadn't purchased anything Hallowenish (is that even a word) anyhoo... for a very long time. When I spotted him it was instant love, I had to have him. He rides his bike from room to room each year never landing in the same place for very long.

Dual napkins one floral one solid all pulled together and scrunched into acorn napkin rings.
You can see by the water marks I put together the table a year ago. At the time silver flatware was all I thought of using. Thinking about it now I could have used the green set, now however; I have a black set, wouldn't that just be too much fun to use? What color would you have chosen?
He kind of makes you smile doesn't he?
A fancy ruffled collar, wonder if he uses Crest tooth whitener?
We've got some boa ruffles going on the cuffs, pretty fancy hug ? Come on now,  you've got to dress your finest when out cycling amongst the ghosts and goblins.
To say nothing of striped stockings with a bit of bling on the top of his slipper boots. Woo-Hoo!  Now, he is one dolled up pumpkin guy.

I received the black candles at one of Mary Carol Garrity's fall open houses. The iron candlestick holder came from Hobby Lobby off one of their mark down shelves, the sticker on the bottom was $1.99, and I thought about putting it in a garage sale. I must have been having a moment a very weak moment, glad the moment passed and I decided to hang on to it. Remember this was put together over a year ago, I can now see some Spanish moss dripping out of the holders, would make them just a bit more eery. Funny how pictures speak to us after the fact isn't it?
Yes, Spanish moss would have put the finishing touch on things.
Candy corn anyone?


Every pumpkin guy or gal needs a lantern to shed light on the eery path for treats and delights.

I encourage everyone
to find what makes
you happy and useful
Embrace it and
make it work
for you. 
Until next time....
Hugs ~ Lynne ~

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