Getting Ready with a Fall Wreath

Since the weather has cooled down as of late, I got the urge to start decorating for Fall, even if it is still technically Summer.  (I just have to add...it's supposed to be in the 90s today, however, it was in the 40s Wednesday night.  Talk about fluctuating temperatures!)

You see, the party is over for me.  I have to return to work on Wednesday (after having the Summer off), so I wanted to take advantage of the extra time that I have now to decorate for my favorite season.  (Indoors anyway.  I don't want the neighbors thinking I'm crazy.)   

I saw this wreath on Etsy and fell in love with it.

Isn't is beautiful? It's from Wreaths Etc by Robin. Now I don't know who Robin is, but I can tell you she makes some really amazing & gorgeous wreaths! Honest.  Go take a look. 

I wanted a smaller wreath and thought I would use this beauty as my inspiration.  So, I gathered up some supplies that I thought I might use.

Whenever I gather supplies & take a photo, it's never a true representation of the supplies I used.  I guess I'm always "crafting by the seat of my pants" and never have any idea what I'm really going to need or use.  That's why I hardly ever share a tutorial.  I'd have to have an actual plan in order to do that!

Here is my Fall wreath:

Immediately, the wreath & the warm colors put me in a Fall mood and I've been decorating ever since! 

Soon I'll show you where this wreath is hanging along with my other Fall pretties.   Thanks for being here with me!  Enjoy the weekend!

Linking to:

Share it One More Time at One More Time
Weekend Wrap Up Party at Tatertots & Jello

Have a Seat (Chair Reupholstery Reveal)

Sorry for the seriously cheesy title. 

Can I just say that I am really excited to share my little project with you today?

You see, it seems as though everyone in blogland has recovered or reupholstered a chair at one time or another.  As much as I have "oohed"  and "aahed" at all these beautiful chairs, I never thought I'd be able to actually reupholster one myself.  I just don't have that kind of skill.  

My mom has had this old chair hanging around in her attic for who knows how long.  Her plan was to reupholster it, but she never did.   So, I stole it rescued it from her attic.  I figured I couldn't possibly destroy it any more than it already has been.

It took me some time to decide what color I wanted to paint it.  It also took me some time to find a fabric that I liked.  We only have Joanns and Hobby Lobby around here, so my fabric options were limited.  Also, I had no clue where I would put the chair should it actually turn out okay, so I thought it was best to go with a neutral palette.

I painted it Annie Sloan's Old White and decided on a Waverly fabric at Joanns. 

It took a little time and I made a few little mistakes along the way that I had to redo, but here she is in all her glory:

I'm not sure who was more stunned by this...my Mom (who was floored when she saw it), my husband (who insisted I bit off more than I could chew) or me (who was pretty clueless about what I was doing)!   

I found the perfect location for the chair in my dining room.  I'm sure I will also like it in my bedroom once I change to my fall bedding. 

I am so happy that I decided to take a risk and try something new.  The risk paid off and I love my chair!  Now I better keep an eye on it before my Mom steals it back! lol

Linking to:
Time Travel Thursday at The Brambleberry Cottage
Live Laugh Linky Thursday at Live Laugh Rowe
Tutorials Tips & Tidbits at Stone Gable
Share Your Cup Thursdays at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Pin the Tale on the Bloggy at Debbiedoos/Fox Hollow Cottage
Potpourri Friday at 2805
Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Furniture Feature Friday at Miss Mustard Seed

Showering Wishes (Hawaiian-themed Bridal Shower)

I mentioned last week that we were running all over town, 

getting ready for my niece's bridal shower.

My niece wanted a Hawaiian-themed shower.  

Give me a theme & I run with it!  lol 

I wish I could have gotten better pictures,

but guests starting arriving & my photo taking came to a halt for a bit.

I spent quite a few hours cutting large tropical leaves from 

green paper for all the tables.

Then, I added some fun themed items to the center of the tables.



My sister & I fell in love with this guy. 

He's so ugly, he's cute! 

I had to figure out a way to use him. 

So, I covered a box with tropical fabric,

cut a slot for cards &

adhered our ugly fellow to the top. 

I shouldn't call him ugly since I've now affectionately named him,

♥ "Oogula Boogula". ♥

Would you like to see the dessert table?   

I wish the waitress hadn't left that metal cart in the background! 

 Let's go a little closer, because who doesn't love to see dessert?

See that vanilla cream fruit tart above?  One of my favorite desserts to make!

I want to know WHY that rainbow jello card is slightly askew.  Fess up!

Here is our bride-to-be, my niece, along with my daughter.

I think it was a beautiful shower and I hope you enjoyed taking a peek with me.

See you soon!



A Touch of French Country tablescape

Tablescape time again!
I love it when I get a little time to play with my dishes.  

Somehow when I put this table together,
I got a French Country feel. 
I do realize that I am missing the
all important French Country rooster though.

(By the way, in a really stupid decision a few years back,

I actually sold all my roos in a garage sale!  

What was I thinking?) 

I've had this runner for a few years. 

I believe it is Country Living, found at Kmart.

Blue floral salad plates from TJ Maxx.

Yellow dinner plates from a local grocery store.

Blue ric rac napkins from Pier 1.

Yellow flatware is Cambridge, found at Marshalls/Home Goods.

Blue goblets from Home Goods.

I love this blue & white checked pitcher.

I've had it for a long time and for the life of me,

I have no idea where I purchased it!

Blue votives are from Michaels.

A touch of French Country, without the roo!

Linking to:

Let's Dish at Cuisine Kathleen

Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch

Cherry Blossoms Wall Mural (in the Spotlight)

This is shaping up to be one crazy week!   My niece is getting married in October.  She's here from Texas for her bridal shower & we've been running around trying to get so much done for both the shower & wedding.  Not to mention, both my kids have a number of doctor/dentist appointments before going back to school in September.  It's always everything at once!

Anyway....

It's time for another Newbie Spotlight of the Week. 

It's been awhile since I shared a spotlight with you, so here goes.  

The Newbie Spotlight shines on:

Leanne from The Burlap Cottage! 

Leanne painted this fantastic wall mural for her daughter's room.

I love it and wish I had the talent (and patience) to paint like this!

So please, go take a look around at Leanne's blog, The Burlap Cottage.

While I was hanging around The Burlap Cottage,

I found this photo of Leanne's porch.

Don't you just want to sit in that chair & rock away a few hours

of a sunny Summer or Fall day?  

I know I do. 

Leanne,

please grab your Newbie Spotlight button:

<br><a border="0" href="http://randomthoughtsfromanincoherentmind.blogspot.com/"; target="_blank"><img src="http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u87/auntdoi/newbie_spotlight.png"; /></a><br>

For other Newbie Spotlights this week,  please see:

Debbiedoos

Fox Hollow Cottage

Refresh Restyle

See you soon, my lovelies!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

A little fall inspired baking was the order of the day.  I know, I know, it's still Summer, but the temperature got down to the 40s overnight, so it's really starting to feel like fall. 

I have had this recipe for quite a few years now, but this is the first time I tried it.  These cookies are so good, I'm kicking myself now, wondering what took me so long to make them!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

½ cup butter, softened
½ cup shortening
¾ cup brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 cup pumpkin
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 to 2½ cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 bag chocolate chips (2 cups)

Cream butter, sugars, shortening.  Add eggs, pumpkin, vanilla.  Add dry ingredients.  Add chocolate chips.
Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake 350° for 15 minutes. 



These are easy to make & soooo yummy. I hope you enjoy them!

Linking to:

Sizzle into Summer at DIY by Design
Share Your Cup Thursdays at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
On the Menu Monday at Stone Gable

Me & My Big Ideas

Sometimes I get big ideas...

G R E A T   B I G   I D E A S.

Most of the time, these ideas get me in trouble. 

This time is no exception.

Me:

Wouldn't it be great if we could remove that old, ugly tile in front of

the fireplace and put new tile in? 

He:

Yeah, I bet we can do it ourselves.

Me:
When?  When can we do it? When?
(Everyday for several days.) 

He:
You better come here.  It's not breaking up well with the sledgehammer.

Wait until you see how thick the tile is!
There's also inches of concrete beneath it!

Me:

Oh no, they had some crazy thick tile in 1933!

Now what?

He:

I've got an idea!  I'll be right back.

Me:

I can't believe you used that jackhammer in my living room!

He:

I don't know if we're going to be able to pull this one off.

Me:

Great. 

Excuse me, while I go off and cry in a corner somewhere.

Stay tuned for me & my big ideas!

Watercolor Home

Like many of you, there are some items in my home that I really treasure.

I posted about this one quite a few years ago,

but I would really love to revisit the story all over again.

It is a little long, but I hope you will read it anyway.

♥♥♥♥

One day, I was shopping in a favorite local shop when 

I noticed a painting on the wall.

It was a painting of a building---the very building the shop was located in.  

I thought it was amazing!    

In the corner of the painting, I saw the artist's business card,

as well as an approximate price.

It was quite expensive and rightfully so,

 considering the work & detail involved.

I went home and told my husband all about it, 

saying that, "if we ever had money to throw away,

I would love to have a watercolor painting done of our house."

That was it, end of story.

I never mentioned it again.

Forward to a year later, Christmas Eve 2002.   

We had just finished opening gifts with my family

when suddenly there appeared a strange, unwrapped box.  

Having no idea who it was for, I looked around the room, puzzled, 

and noticed everyone was looking at me.

My husband was taping me with the video camera,

which was unusual, so I figured this box must be for me.  

I took one peek inside the box and realized what it was.

I looked over at my husband in disbelief and said,

"You didn't?"  

Through tears, I pulled the painting out of the box, completely shocked.

One look at it and I couldn't stop crying.  

It was so beautiful!  The artist didn't miss a detail.  It was perfection.

Knowing how much I love our old home,

I couldn't believe my husband had this commissioned for me, 

that he remembered it and surprised me with it.  

(We don't always buy Christmas gifts for each other, 

preferring to spend on the kids.)

This painting has remained one of my most favorite treasures.

I love it and I love my husband for surprising

me like he did.  That, too, was perfection.  

♥♥♥♥

I hope you enjoyed my little story today.

Thanks for visiting and thanks for always being so kind to me.

I appreciate each & every one of you! 

Cleveland Rocks!

I've been pretty scarce for the last week because my family & I were on vacation in  Cleveland. 

I've heard so many people ask, "Cleveland?  What's in Cleveland?"   

Let me start by saying, I will not fly.  I haven't flown since 1996.  My husband, poor man, accepts my refusal to fly and will drive anywhere within reason. 

My daughter & I are big music fans.  When we were deciding on a summer vacation, she mentioned wanting to go to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.  I liked the idea.  Cleveland also has a Major League Baseball team, the Indians, so my husband & son liked that idea.  It is also just under a 6 hour drive from us and my husband liked that idea very much. 

So Cleveland it was!!

The diehard Yankee fans...one wearing

an Indians hat and one wearing a Twins hat. 

Go figure! 

We loved seeing these guitar works of art,

scattered all over the downtown area. 

The Rock and Roll Hall  of Fame was amazing! 
7 floors of amazing to be exact!

Sorry, no photography was allowed inside, but seeing things like

the actual notebook page where John Lennon & Paul McCartney wrote
the lyrics to the song,  "In My Life" complete with words crossed out & doodling
 around the (very yellowed with age) page was so cool! 

We saw everything from Elvis's jumpsuit to Janis Joplin's porche to
Michael Jackson's red leather jacket

that he wore in The Thriller video. 
What a fantastic place for music lovers of all ages.

We were able to take this one photo inside the lobby of the Hall. 

Beautiful Lake Erie. 

I have to say, we really did enjoy our visit to Cleveland.   The city is clean, the food is excellent (Little Italy, anyone?),  and the people are very friendly.  So now when someone asks, "Cleveland?  What's in Cleveland?"  I can give them a full and glowing report.

I'll be trying to catch up with all of you and all that I missed throughout this weekend. See you soon!