I know! I seriously need to stop this obsession with all things Fall. But it's how I cope. It's how I cope with the fact that this southern gal has lived for 10 years on the frozen tundra of the midwest. It's how I cope with the fact that winter is coming. Long winters with lots of snow and little sunshine. Bulky coats and practical boots. Snow shovels and arctic temperatures.

So let me linger a little longer in the sunshine of fall.


The trees in my yard are still young. Their leaves do change color and fall but they do not produce massive amounts of leaves that require raking. Living on the open plains has it's advantages--whatever leaves that do fall from my trees are blown into the neighbors yards. So I go a little nuts when I see the leaves that fall from the mature trees outside my workplace. Some are bigger than my hands.

They are beautiful...

Do you see the cute animal print shoes? Do you see any socks or tights? No, it's an October miracle--warm enough to go bare footed!

Happy Fall,

Gina

Fall Transformation

I know I promised to post pictures when the fabulous Fall Porch Transformation was complete but there were a few hitches in my plan…lack of time, lack of talent, uncooperative weather, and high expectations to name a few.  When I was unable to replicate this photo from the Pottery Barn catalog,

I resorted to what worked for me last year with a few twists. 

So join me for a little Fall Transformation Tour…

 

Front Porch this summer…

 

Kept the spikes and ivy in the concrete planter but took out the dying summer flowers for some mums:

Close up of the straw bale arrangement:

The clay jack ‘o lanterns were purchased YEARS ago when we lived in Georgia where they were made.  They have survived 4 moves and have graced my front porch fall decor for 20 years.  After Halloween, they go back into hiding and are replaced with something else.

Here’s the moss basket out by the walkway…

Summer view…

First stage of transformation…

Final version…

The only crafting I did was these candles that I wrapped in burlap and placed in my bargain lanterns from Walmart…

Been moving them around to decide where I like them best.

Here’s a last minute project for the back deck which I can enjoy the view more than the front porch…

I added an old grapevine wreath to the top of the clay pot that held geraniums this summer.  I left the english ivy and fern but replaced the summer spikes with this fall grass.  I filled the empty spaces with pumpkins and gourds to finish off the fall look.

Here’s another view

It makes me smile as I pass by the sliding doors to the deck.

Here’s something else that makes me smile.  The Princess has some decorating talent of her own.

Speaking of transformations, my Creator God does some spectacular work everyday whether we recognize it or not.  Sometimes it’s in the hearts of His children who allow Him to change us and then in every season He works transforming wonders in His creation.

 

Blessings,

Gina

That’s a Wrap

The Homecoming festivities and activities have come to an end.  Now we can return to normal—whatever that is.  No more tie-dying in the front yard… no more pajama days at school. 

The cheer dinner is done and the pasta bar was a hit.  All the moms packed a goodie bag for each girl.  They also received a personalized photo frame and a crown!

The big game ended in our first loss of the season so there were a few tears--however, THE dress arrived in time and The Princess did indeed look like one. 

 

 

That’s enough for one old mom to deal with in one week.  I’m going to bed- wake me up when it’s May.

We Got Robbed!

No first place ribbon for the cheer moms float this year but I thought it was the best and several parade attenders all agreed! You can't see the sign in this photo but it says "You can run but you can't hide from the Lion pride". Thanks to one of the hunter dads for the duck boat. Don't we look cute in our cheer mom shirts? We took the picture before we donned our camo bandanas--we were stylin. Our float is one of the crowd favorites since we throw out little footballs like the girls do at the games. It was a fun walk and the weather turned in our favor--to bad the judges didn't do the same!

Fall Tour

My preoccupation with hunting canned pumpkin briefly distracted me from fall decorating.  There was also a couple of days of cold and rain that delayed my outdoor work but it's all good now.  A warm day and an impending event I'm hosting at my house got me motivated to decorate.

Here’s my table with the pumpkin and pine cone candles  that I purchased at Pottery Barn last year.  The pumpkins are in the catalog this fall as well.  I can’t bring myself to actually burning them!

 

A little randomness on my kitchen island.  There was a smaller glass pumpkin filled with tootsie rolls but The Princess got this cute bag for homecoming activities this week so we switched it out for the smaller pumpkin (not to mention that we ate all the tootsie rolls).

 

Here’s a ceramic bowl that I purchased way back in my Texas days on a visit to Canton.  I created a pedestal for it by turning a stoneware bowl upside down and setting the Trick or Treat bowl on top. 

 

Photos from Halloweens of Yore.  I’m no seamstress but always favored imagination and using what we had around the house in favor of store bought costumes.  We had some great ones throughout the years.  The bottom picture is my favorite.  A pirate, Robin Hood, and baby Princess as Minnie Mouse!

 

My porch is still in process.  This picture was my inspiration but re-creating it has escaped my grasp for this year. I’ll post the porch picture when it’s done.

I’m a little late to the party, but be sure to stop by Southern Hospitality for some other fall decorating ideas.  I have Rhoda to thank for clueing me into Windows Live Writer.  This is my second post using it and it has made posting with pictures SOOOOO much easier.  You can read her post about it here as well as other blogging tips.

Gina

It Was a Grande Day

I awoke this morning to rain and cold so I turned to the weatherman to see how bad it was going to be. Bad news--it's all downhill from here weather wise. He even used the "s" word for next week's forecast. This just can't be--I wish to linger in Fall until about March if that's okay with you.

So off I go with that dark cloud hanging over my head and proceeded directly to my favorite drive-thru before work. Due to cost and calories, I usually limit myself to just one of those sweet, caffeinated concoctions per week. It's usually a good week if I can hold out to Friday but it's Tuesday, and I'm giving in.

Double shot, extra whip and make it a Grande please.

Good thing I did. Got to work and our server was down. Not great news when 90% of my job is web based.

At least I had a hot drink.

When the Frost is on the Punkin

When I was in college, my children’s literature professor could quote this poem by James Whitcomb Riley.  I was reminded of  the opening stanza this morning as I shuttled things out to my car in the crisp morning air.  Frost warnings went out last night but a low blanket of clouds kept temperatures above the frost zone.  For this I am glad because I have not yet been able to get some new Spring bulbs in the ground and also because frost is a foretaste of Winter to come (shudder).

Just in case you haven’t heard the poem, I’d like to share it with you and because I just may or may not have an obsession with all things pumpkin. 

 

WHEN the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock,
And you hear the kyouck and gobble of the struttin' turkey-cock,
And the clackin' of the guineys, and the cluckin' of the hens,
And the rooster's hallylooyer as he tiptoes on the fence;
O, it's then the time a feller is a-feelin' at his best, 
With the risin' sun to greet him from a night of peaceful rest,
As he leaves the house, bareheaded, and goes out to feed the stock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.

They's something kindo' harty-like about the atmusfere

When the heat of summer's over and the coolin' fall is here— 
  Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossoms on the trees,
And the mumble of the hummin'-birds and buzzin' of the bees;
But the air's so appetizin'; and the landscape through the haze
Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days
Is a pictur' that no painter has the colorin' to mock—
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.

The husky, rusty russel of the tossels of the corn,
And the raspin' of the tangled leaves as golden as the morn;
The stubble in the furries—kindo' lonesome-like, but still
A-preachin' sermuns to us of the barns they growed to fill;
  The strawstack in the medder, and the reaper in the shed;
The hosses in theyr stalls below—the clover overhead!—
O, it sets my hart a-clickin' like the tickin' of a clock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.

Then your apples all is gethered, and the ones a feller keeps
Is poured around the cellar-floor in red and yaller heaps;
And your cider-makin's over, and your wimmern-folks is through
With theyr mince and apple-butter, and theyr souse and sausage too!...
I don't know how to tell it—but ef such a thing could be
As the angels wantin' boardin', and they'd call around on me—
I'd want to 'commodate 'em—all the whole-indurin' flock—

When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.