Last of the Summer Blooms

There is a mish mash of summer holdouts in the garden. Dahlias, cosmos, a few small sunflowers and zinnias.

They grow tall and rambly as if reaching for the last warm rays of the sun.

These are all great self sowers except for the dahlia which just keeps coming back year after year. I can already see new hollyhocks coming up from seed. Soon my iris will start to shoot up. Our mild weather causes the early start.

Linking to:

Coastal Charm

A Stroll Thru Life

Bowl Full of Lemons

My Cozy Spot

I had mentioned before we moved my red toile sofa down to the den. Our den is large so we have the wall space down here to accommodate it. We put it against a far wall near the French doors to the patio. I have to say I love this spot now. It gives us much more seating for when we have family over but its position next to my garden windows it what I love most. A cozy spot for reading or napping now too.

I think the eagle on the wall maybe needs a new home and something more charming needs to replace it. The little end table with some fall touches make the corner so warm now.

I have flowers and plants right outside the windows now. I can look up and see the sky and watch the rain fall when that day finally comes. I am ready for some rain.

Linking to:
Between Naps on the Porch
The House in the Roses
Coastal Charm
Wow Us Wed.
miscellany monday

Okay,Okay

It has been decided not to paint the desk. Other folks in the house agreed with most of you that it should remain in its original finish. It does have a lot of detail in the wood and painting so maybe just a new seat cover will do. But what style is it? I have always wondered. Spanish something or other. Have no clue.

On the Move

We were moving furniture around last night. Hubs and I get a burr in our pants and then just start moving things.Our kids think we are nuts but they are used to it.This desk was hubby's grandmothers. What do you think of it? It is sort of different but a great writing desk. I would like to paint it but for some reason feel guilty about it. I don't think it is worth anything as no one else in the family wanted it so that is how we ended up with it. Couldn't you see it in an antique white with some darling fabric on the seat in checks?

We had the red couch here before but never really thought it fit well so it is in the den now. We like to put our Christmas tree in here in front of the window so we are happy to have the couch moved. I have no desk right now of my own so I would love to have this little space for my paper goods and greeting cards. It has small little cubbies to hold supplies.

Here's an update on what we decided to do with the desk....Desk Update.

Little dry sink just gets moved wherever there is a hole. This room is so hard to decorate as the only wall has windows and the other wall the piano with four door ways on each side of the room.

Linking to:
SNS 104
Seasonal Sundays
I Heart Naptime
Show off Your Cottage Monday
Met Monday
Sunday Showcase
Mod Mix Monday

Vintage Red Melamine

Just purchased for our little trailer. Can't wait to see these swinging in a row in the tiny kitchen. They are so fun.

Tea Time

About twenty years ago this tea set was an anniversary gift from my hubby. It is called Old English Melon.

We rarely ever use it but it is so lovely to look at. He arranged it last week with some of my red transfer ware. We are always moving things around.

I love brown transfer ware too but red is my favorite.

This is my favorite pattern. It is called Colonial Times and depicts scenes of colonists and Indians.

Linking to:
Common Ground
Show and Tell Friday
Feathered Nest Friday
Potpourri Friday
Sunday Blog Love

Stolen Day = Productivity and the Best Glass Cleaning Tools

The other day I had one of those stolen days. A whole day to be home and productive while we stayed home from Tuesday school because of my 8th grader's cold. I never even started my car. Oh, I am dull but I love those days. You get so much done.

I started in my bedroom. It was dusted top to bottom. I then washed every bit of bedding and put on the winter blankies. I have been a little chilly at night. I still have not bought bedding but we are thinking of getting a new bed so I will wait.

For now a mish mash of bedding will have to do.

Then I attached the shelves in the kitchen and wiped them all down. How does so much dirt get in clean cupboards?

The gift wrap drawer was next. Thinned and straightened for the holiday wrapping coming up.

Last, before I collapsed, I cleaned the pictures in the house. Love how they shine now. Won't last long in this house. Kids, dogs and hairy kitties make so much work for mom. I wouldn't have it any other way. My daughter reminded me of this yesterday when I was bemoaning the laundry I was folding. She quoted me the stinker, "Mom lots of laundry means you have lots of loved ones in the house." The little pill. How dare she?

And as for cleaning glass. My favorite tools are literally prefolded cloth diapers. They are the best cleaning rags ever. No lint and washable for years. I am still using Q's old ones though they are about done. My cleaning solution is plain old alcohol and water. About a third to one is my rough estimate. I use it on everything. No smears and dries so clean.

Linking to:

Open House Party

My Romantic Home

SNS 104

Design Dazzle

Whatever Wednesday

Raising Homemakers

Halloween Spookies

My bestie gave me this darling owl trio for Halloween. I love it very much.

This witch I had to bring home. It was a clearance find. I love her and her candy corn bucket and red sparkly shoes.

Some additional Halloween spooky for my village. Little headstones found at Target last week.

We are supposed to be thinning out our Halloween decorations but I am not following directions very well.

Linking to:
BNOTP
Wow Us Wednesdays
Open House Party
Anything Goes
Brambleberry Cottage
Treasure Hunt Thursday
The Charm of Home

Live Simply

Woke to a very foggy and cool morning. This time of year the fog can roll in all the way from the coast.
I love the shorter darker days. I turn on lamps here and there so the house is more warm and cozy.
Collections glow in the lamplight.

My daughter is sick with a cold so we will be staying home from Tuesday classes. I think a pot of tea and some catching up on household chores are the order of the day.

It doesn't take much to make me happy my friends. Live Simply.

Linking to:
Wow Us Wed.
Farmhouse Friday

Frugal Challenge-Freezer Cooking

Or should I say cooking ahead to save my sanity. After the first six weeks of this years school schedule I have realized I need to have meals in the freezer for Monday through Wednesday. These days are so crazy around here that I have been stressed come dinner time with constant trips in the car interrupting my dinner prep time. I am an old school wife and like a homemade dinner on the table around 5:30 everyday.

I have now come to realize I need to amp up my freezer cooking so this happens smoothly and without stress. I began this weekend to prepare some freezer meals.

I spent the early morning Sunday preparing a menu with a weeks worth of meals with freezer meals for most days. I will cook one and freeze one as many days this week that allow.
One of my recipes called for seasoned bread crumbs. I almost died of shock for what they wanted for bread crumbs so I decided to go home and pull all the heels and dregs out of the bread box and make my own. Just layed then on a cookie sheet, brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with Italian seasonings. I dried them for about 30 minutes at 300 degrees turning once. I then ground them up in my food processor and will store in the freezer.

My first freezer meal was Chicken packets. My kids love this meal. Simple, creamy and wrapped in dough. Kids love this. The book I got the recipe from and use for a lot of my freezer meals is an oldie. This pic is from Amazon but I see this cookbook at the library all the time so check it out for free. We love free!

I modify the recipe to add less salt and double to freeze half for later. Here is my double recipe.

Chicken Packets:
4 c. cooked chopped chicken                2 tbl. milk
6 oz. softened cream cheese                   salt and pepper to taste
2 tbl. chopped chives                             2 packages low fat crescent rolls (2 more when you cook the 2nd                              
                                                                                                                    batch of packets)

Mix chicken, cream cheese, chives, milk and salt and pepper in bowl. Store half in a freezer bag for second meal.

To prepare for cooking, Thaw mixture. Unroll crescent rolls but leave in the 4 rectangles and seal the seams by pinching so you should have 8 rectangles after you open both tubes of rolls. Place about 1/4c. of chicken mixture in each packet folding over to make squares pinching to seal. Place on cookie sheet and bake in preheated 350 oven for about 20 minutes or until golden brown.

I served with corn chowder which was made in a double batch for next time as well. Cut up melons finished off the meal. The more prepared I am the more enjoyable meal prep is. Have a great week everyone.

Farmhouse Fall

Nothing says home like farmhouse decor. I live in a 50's ranch but love to add touches of farmhouse decor throughout our home.

Warm colors, simple useful daily items just add a homey touch. Chickens, sunflowers and crocks are some of my favorites. I tucked in some candy corn picks with my sunflowers to add some fall flair.

This little wood box was picked up at an estate sale. Is it a salt cellar? Let me know if I am right or wrong.

Old brown transferware is one of my favorites. I snatch it up when I can find it at a reasonable price.

A yummy smelling candle tied up with homespun. Hot buttered rum. Sounds yummy!

                                                        Fall farmhouse greetings to you!

Linking to:
Farmhouse Friday
Charm of Home
Sat. Night Special
Show and Tell Friday
Fresh From the Farm
Cherished Treasures
At the Picket Fence
Masterpiece Monday
Met Monday
Coastal Charm
A Stroll Thru Life

A Thankful Friday

You know when you have been worrying about something and then that worry is finally lifted how you realize how feeling good really does feel? That feeling of just not having a weight on your chest? A weight you had learned to live with. Now it is like you can take a full breath. Have a good night's sleep. 

Well I am there. I can take a full breath and slept like a baby last night. I had had some tests done and yesterday I got good news. I was literally shaking waiting for the doctor. Stress does a number on one's body. I woke for the first time in weeks feeling rested. Amazing. That is how I feel.

Dinner just tasted so good. BLTs, well turkey ones, tasted so good. The laughter at the table sounded so lovely, the girls arguing didn't phase me a bit. I could appreciate it as the normal hum of life.

Today I am going to take my girlies shopping for Halloween costumes. So fun! I love how excited they are even as teens to get a costume and dress up for the parties they are attending. So this will be a good season of fun and I will savor every good, bad, happy, grumpy, quiet and loud day ahead. Have a wonderful weekend everyone. Thank you all for stopping by and always brightening my day with such kind words. I know you are all busy and I appreciate the moments you take to leave me such nice comments. I know all bloggers feel that way.

Stock Up Time

I am running out the door but wanted to let you know I was in Bath & Body today and lots of mark downs on fall items already. Yeah!! Not sure if all stores mark down at the same time.

Am I off my rocker?

Last night hubby and I had a disagreement over something really stupid. You know how stupid? A T.V. show or more accurately about the content. He feels if something is on you don't like, you turn it off. He says there is no way any longer to control the content, that society doesn't care, so just turn it off if something comes on you don't like.
You see I agree society no longer cares, but I feel that there should be control over what is put out there. When you constantly expose people to questionable material it can lead to other things.

As the mother of four daughters I live everyday with the concerns a mother of four daughters would have. I worry about them becoming victims of violence. You hear it everyday. Girl breaks up with boy, boy brings knife to school and stabs girl. This just happened here last week. The fear does not consume me but it is always there for me when they go out. Society just does not seem to be headed in the right direction.

I love my girls and want them to choose wisely but the world just doesn't back up us worried moms. We put violence and smut on the airways everyday at prime time hours and expect that people are going to keep kids from watching. My sister in law laughs about her boys being addicted to Jersey Shore. They are 13 and 11. Is that really appropriate TV for young boys. Heavy partying and sexual situations are in each episode I believe, so how could this be healthy for young boys to watch?

Am I the only one out there that just cannot understand where we are headed? Why is this just accepted nowadays? Maybe TV viewing has no correlation to sexual and violent crimes but I just can't help believe that it somehow does. The show we argued over, Dancing with the Stars. He hates the show but his folks were talking about it and they love it. I chimed in that it is not family viewing with the half naked women all over the place. What does it say to young girls if you watch that show? The men are not half naked. Notice they are always fully clothed. Am I off my rocker here? Am I totally provincial on this topic? There are far worse shows but this is what started the spat. Oh, and my fall garden is in all its glory right now. Loaded the pics as a garden post but obviously went somewhere else. Oh and if you are a fan of the show don't be mad at me it is just an example.