Joyful In Your Surroundings

I think I've mentioned before that my basement guest room is where I play with many of my thrift shop treasures. It's a work in progress and, truth be told, it probably won't ever be completely finished. If you were to pack your bags and stay for the night, you'd find the bed loaded with pillows covered in vintage cases. You'd have your pick of fancy hats to wear, and almost a week's worth of wool coats to choose from. There's even a few pieces of extra luggage :: just in case you need it. There's a new addition to this room now. Remember the Art Deco wardrobe I was telling you about (the one that was tapping me on the shoulder while I was buying the McCoy pottery last week)? I brought it home with me. I think it was meant to be. The price was right (practically free) and the vendor even delivered it.

Do you like it? I think it fits right in. It's showing it's age and has many blemishes, but I'm showing my age and have blemishes too. We're like two peas in a pod.

The hang space is lined with cedar :: perfect for storing wool, and there's room in the bottom for blankets and quilts. This little room is coming right along. It's not for everyone, I'm sure, but it brings me great joy and I think it's good for the soul to feel joyful in your surroundings. Don't you?

Last Friday's Thrifting Adventure...Part 2

My heart skipped a beat when I spotted this box in the thrift shop. Doesn't it just scream vintage? The packaging is as wonderful as what's inside. Two "clever little vases that hold a corsage of flowers at the base of the candle". How fun is that? You slip the vase onto the candle and fill it with water. Then, load it up with beautiful flowers and you have instant sunshine on your table. I just had to do a little demo for you, so I grabbed my garden scissors and scoured the yard for anything that still had some life. I was quite surprised at the variety of color that's lingering. Small snips are all you need. Just enough to slip down into the water. The fall candle holder consists of Blanket Flower, Sedum, plumes from our ornamental grass, and some colorful leaves from one of the bushes. Perfect for a Thanksgiving table, don't you think? And here's the assortment of spring/summer flowers that were still holding on: There's Yarrow leaves, yellow and red Knockout roses, purple Geranium, Dianthus, Carnations, and a splash of lavender.

These little candle vases might just be one of my favorite thrift finds yet.

Except, maybe, for these Fire King Jadite bowls. I've been wanting some Jadite for a long, long time.

Sunday Stroll

Hubby and I have started a little tradition. How many times do you need to do something before you can call it a tradition? Well, we've done it twice...and I'm calling it a tradition. We're early risers on the weekend so for the past two Sunday mornings we've gone on an adventure. As soon as the sun starts peeking over the mountain, we throw on our clothes, tame our bedhead a tad, and drive down to the local gas station for a cup of coffee. From there we head to a nearby location and explore (with camera in hand, of course). It was foggy yesterday morning and the drive was peaceful and beautiful. The car ride gives us a chance to catch up and talk about the upcoming week. I think I do most of the talking :: hubby is a man of few words, but there's no distractions or responsibilities to tend to during these moments so it's extra-special time that I cherish.

This particular town had some interesting buildings, a train station, and a walking path along the canal. The coffee house is called Beans in the Belfry :: cute.

We were too early for breakfast at the corner diner...maybe next time.

The neighborhood streets were steep and hilly so we got our hearts pumping and maybe even burned a few calories.

Hubby noticed these lanterns on the police station. I thought they were neat. I just love old towns, don't you?

I adore the color scheme on this building :: pumpkin orange, olive green and cream. It's perpetual fall.

There were repairs to be made:

and some tender loving care was happening at the church.

We headed down to the canal where the train station was located.

The cars were full of coal, which started a conversation about electricity and power plants. Hubby's very smart (have I told you that before?) and he loves the topic. I learned quite a few things about power sources and grids...things I never really paid much attention to for the first forty-five years of my life.

Here's the path. We walked twenty minutes out and twenty minutes back.

It was a good morning. I'm happy we started this new tradition.

How Do You Know When You're Overdue for a Post?

Your faithful readers start sending e-mails "encouraging" you to get busy (my last post was "An Affair With A Crockpot"):

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"Grrr.....I am going to have an affair with a NEW blog!! Now get postin!!"

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"All I can say is your affair with that squash is just too long! You need to get over it and on to something else. It's been since Tuesday!!"

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Well, my faithful readers, this one's for you. :)

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Do you know how long it's been since I did a post about thrifting? Six weeks! I haven't been thrift shopping since I started working in early September but I definitely made up for it on Friday. This trip was so successful that I'll need several different posts to cover it all. Today I'll tell you about the gorgeous pottery that now lives with me.

My usual thrifting route includes Goodwill, Salvation Army, Rescue Mission, a small Mennonite-run shop and a wonderful little antique shop with flea market prices. The antique shop is moving to a new location and many of their vendors are discounting their merchandise. I took this opportunity to begin my collection of pottery :: primarily McCoy pottery that I've been eyeing for quite some time. I am in no way knowledgeable when it comes to vintage pottery but I do know that it makes my heart sing. Everything about it is charming to me and I especially adore the bright colors and cottage style. The piece above is my favorite. I spotted this yellow vase first, and scooped it right up. Within seconds, a well-loved vintage Art Deco Waterfall-style wardrobe was tapping me on the shoulder. More about that another day. This piece of pottery has such vivid color and a texture that is very appealing to me. I'm thinking it will be nice in the powder room to hold soaps and lotions and things. And last but certainly not least, I fell in love with this fabulous little planter. The descripton on the price tag reads Royal Copely, but there are no markings on the bottom. If you know anything about collecting this type of pottery I'd love to hear from you. I think it just may become an addiction :: a healthy addiction of course.

An Affair With A Crockpot

I'm having a love affair with my crockpot. It makes me happy....especially on work days. So far this week I've cooked a turkey breast and a spaghetti squash in the crockpot. They were both super simple. For the turkey breast, just add some chicken broth and some herbs and cook on low for 8-10 hours. That's it. Simple. I followed a recipe for cooking the spaghetti squash, but it's really just instruction :: no ingredients needed. Again, very easy. Tonight we just topped it with a little butter, salt and pepper, but tomorrow I think I'll serve it with a dollop of chutney.

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If you're interested in becoming inspired, take a peek at A Year of Slowcooking. Stephanie created this blog to document and review a crockpot recipe each day in 2008. I'm hoping to try some of her fall favorites very soon :: the Pumpkin Spice Latte perhaps.

Paper or Cloth?

There hasn't been much sewing going on here lately :: it's something that's been at the bottom of the priority list and at the top of the wish list. I cut out these napkins a week ago (leftover fabric from quilt above) and finished them up last night. A friday evening of sewing.....ahhhh......it was nice. This is such a great "quickie" project that's pefect for filling the need for a little creativity. And then I decided to have some folding fun, courtesy of this site.

:: Fleur de Lys Goblet Fold ::

The next one is my favorite. It looks like more than one napkin, doesn't it?

:: French Napkin Fold::

:: Pyramid Napkin ::

The instructions are easy to follow and each step is paired with a photograph. Hmmm...I think my Thanksgiving table's going to have some fun and spiffy folded napkins this year. How about you, paper or cloth?

Making Me Smile

The garden's looking pretty sparse and brown these days, so imagine my surprise when I spotted this:

A lone zinnia just as bright and cheerful as can be. It was positioned perfectly as if to say, "look at me, I'm beautiful". Now that makes me smile. And because I can't seem to get enough of fall and the gorgeous color we're having this year, here's another photo of the view:

I was able to squeeze about ten minutes of sewing time into my day yesterday. I'm making some napkins, this time for myself. The fabric is from Heather Bailey's Fresh Cut line and is leftover from a quilt I made a couple of years ago.

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:: Fall Color :: Fabric :: Zinnia ::

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That's what's making me smile today.

Who Knew.....

mushrooms could be beautiful and interesting? We've got mushrooms in our yard. Lots and lots of mushrooms. I never really paid attention to them before, but when I spotted these mushrooms my first thought was to run and get the camera. Remember the quote from a few days ago?

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"If you change the way you look at things the things you look at change."

~Wayne Dyer

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This is a perfect example.

And if you were so inclined, you could learn more about some of the 30,000 or more species that grow in North America. Who knew?

A Weekend of Birthdays

Wow! What a fun weekend that was. It started with a coffee date on Friday morning with my friend Kate. And then, a little get-together Friday evening with friends. Dawn made these birthday cupcakes for me. Aren't they festive? She knows I love cupcakes and these were delicious :: moist and very chocolaty!! Mike made his yummy signature crab dip. We were having such a nice time together I forgot to take more photos. Darn.

On Saturday, our son Matt and his very cute girlfriend Rachel came to visit. Hubby treated me to a birthday dinner out at a very nice "new to us" restaurant. The kids don't always look like this :: just on Halloween and when I'm fiddling with this neat little free photo editor.

Sunday was my mom's 70th birthday. She wanted to spend the day sewing with her girls so that's exactly what we did. Well, we also went to lunch, did a little birthday shopping and ate cake.

It was definitely a fun-filled weekend of birthday celebrations.

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A Recipe And A Wish

I have a soup recipe to share with you. It's not for the faint of heart. Our friends came over for appetizers last night (more about that later) and I needed to serve something a little more substantial for the guys. Can you guess what kind of soup it was? I'll bet you guessed it. Baked Potato Soup, and according to my taste testers it's a "keeper". This soup is loaded with everything yummy :: potatoes (of course), cheddar cheese, green onions, bacon, sour cream, garlic, and milk. It's thick and hearty and just perfect for a cool fall evening.

So, that's the recipe. And the wish? Happy Halloween!

Reflection

About this time, four years ago, hubby and I began packing every belonging we owned into cardboard boxes. We were excitedly preparing to move into our labor of love. For almost two years, we'd been researching, planning, coordinating, watching and waiting. Our move took place on a cold and snowy December day in 2005. This is definitely where we're meant to be.

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Fast forward to October 2009. It's a beautiful fall evening and I come to a screeching halt when I see this: A beautiful view of nature through the front door, a crisp shadow on the wall, and a reflection of it all in the mirror. How could I have missed this for the past four years? As silly as it may sound, writing this blog has opened my eyes. I see things very differently now. I've discovered a love of photography and aspire to learn more about it. I've made connections with people I would never have come into contact with if it weren't for blogging. I've been able to share a tiny bit of my life with others and, in doing so, I've received so much more. I find myself on a constant search for the beauty and positivity in life. It's been good and I truly love this little space of mine. Thank you for sharing it with me.

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"If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."

" The state of your life is nothing more than a reflection of your state of mind."

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~Wayne Dyer

Color Explosion

I'm back from my little getaway with gorgeous fall color to share. This was my fourth consecutive year visiting Ithaca, NY and I must say I'm in love with this town. I went with a friend this year. We ate, and laughed, and walked, and laughed some more. We visited the falls, and ate, and laughed. We went to the farmer's market and ate and walked. We strolled around downtown and ate and laughed. It was a good time. Did I mention that we ate? We had a fabulous lunch at the Moosewood Restaurant. I ordered a delicious salad that was loaded with all kinds of goodies and my friend had stuffed delicata squash. Of course we shared tastes and both dishes were super yummy.

We stayed in a cottage just a few blocks from downtown so most everything was within walking distance. The neighborhood streets were full of charming old homes and the sidewalks were loaded with crispy crunchy leaves.

We chose to visit Taughannock Falls State Park and to walk the upper and lower loops around the gorge and the falls.

It was a leisurely walk, about four and a half miles or so. Very peaceful and very beautiful :: well, except for the occasional gasps from my friend....she was afraid we'd cross paths with one of these:

We never did

(Image Found Here)

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The Ithaca Farmer's Market was spectacular. Everything sold there is produced within thirty miles. It was all beautifully displayed :: wine, cheese, pastries, handmade gifts, jewelry, yarn, produce and so much more. Of course we traveled home with much more than we came with.

The market sits along one of the fingers of Cayuga lake, sheltered from the weather by pavilions. This was a view from the pier:

It had been raining while we were shopping under the pavilions, but we hardly noticed. The sun came out as we headed to the car.

As I share these photos with you I find it hard to believe that we were surrounded by so much beauty. But it's true, and every moment was savored. It was a very good weekend indeed.

A Light Packer I Am Not

My friend and I are going on a weekend getaway. I'm all packed and ready to go. I always pack too much :: I can't help myself.

• duffel bag stuffed to the brim - check
• pair of cute new winter boots - check
• my own pillow in a vintage pillowcase - check
• lots of magazines and books - check
• warm and toasty scarves - check
• camera with extra memory sticks so I can take lots of photos to share with you - check

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While I'm away, enjoy the view.

Will My Guests Be Frightened?

I purchased a fern in the springtime to spruce up our front porch. It was one of those hanging pots you can buy at any garden center. It was bright and healthy looking and of normal "hanging-pot" size. Our front porch is covered and receives the afternoon and evening sun. Ferns do very well in this location. Very...very....well. We couldn't bear to let the chilly fall weather damage this hearty fern so we've been keeping it in the exterior garage for the last couple of weeks. Yesterday hubby brought it inside. I thought it would be beautiful in the corner of the dining room :: it barely fit through the doorway. Certainly then, it would be a fabulous addition next to the buffet in our basement living area. Nope. Ever heard the saying, "There's an elephant in the room."?

So it's tucked away in the corner of our basement guestroom just as happy as can be. We'll continue to water it and next spring it will brighten up the front porch once again.

In the meantime, do you think my guests will be frightened?

A Worthy Walk In The Rain

We got up bright and early yesterday morning, dressed in lots and lots of layers, and gathered in the rain to participate in a 5K walk. This particular walk was organized to raise money for breast cancer research and support in our local area. It was cold, and it was wet, but it was a great time for a very important cause. The course was beautiful and we had supporters cheering us on every step of the way....

But most importantly, it was a morning to support and celebrate our friend and the many others whose lives have been affected by this disease.

You go girl!

Warm and Cozy Friday Evening

We used the fireplace last night, for the first time this season. So nice. So very nice.

It was one of those peaceful Friday nights where everyone did their own thing, together.

Knitting was my activity of choice :: it's very calming for me. Hubby fiddled with his new iphone :: that's relaxing for him.

And this is what Molly did.

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It was a good night.

Some Days There's Just No Need For Words........

Tastes Just Like Candy :: Really It Does

At the apple orchard last weekend, we purchased some butternut squash. I'm using it up this morning, trying to stay one step ahead with meal prep for the week. This dish couldn't be easier. Just a pan full of cubed butternut squash, some sliced onion, a drizzle of olive oil and a decent sprinkle of kosher salt, roasted in a 450 degree oven for 30 minutes or so. Yum! I'm not kidding when I say it's just like eating candy. I've been nibbling on it already. In the crockpot is Squash and Black Bean Chili from The Healthy Slow Cooker. It's my first time making this chili, but from the same cookbook I've made Turkey and Corn Chowder with Barley, and Breakfast Rice. Both were great recipes that I'll add to my repertoire. This very nice cookbook, written by Judith Finlayson, includes over 100 crockpot recipes. With each recipe, she includes what she calls Mindful Morsels and Natural Wonders. These sections include tips on nutrition and interesting information about the particular ingredients in that recipe.

In addition to butternut squash, this chili contains onions, black beans, tomatoes, green peppers, chopped green chilis and a variety of spices including a cinnamon stick. Mmmmmmm....it smells great already. I'm dreaming of dinner.

Kate's Latte

It's a beautiful fall morning here. The leaves are beginning to turn and the plants are covered with sparkling droplets of water. As I started down the sidewalk to the backyard, a bunny scurried out of the little cluster of Blue-Eyed Grass.

I'm sipping on a warm, refreshing homemade "latte". I've named it Kate's Latte because it's something my friend drinks when we meet at our local coffee shop. Instead of the sugar-laden specialty coffees, she enjoys this beverage and considers it a special treat. It's a simple little drink :: just a bag of herbal mint tea, a quick splash of cream, and a tad of sweetner (I used agave nectar in mine this morning). I've never tried this particular combination before and I must say it's quite delicious and calming. Beside my nice warm drink is a special napkin made by my mom. So, this morning, I feel as though two of my favorite ladies are sitting right here with me. I'm looking forward to a weekend filled with a little bit of gardening, some cooking, a lot of housekeeping catch up and, of course, some fun time sprinkled in the mix.

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Wishing you a happy day!

Pumpkin Heaven

While apple picking over the weekend I photographed this wagon full of pumpkins. The sun was shining on them, casting all kinds of lovely shadows. These pumpkins were such beautiful shades of orange. And just look at those stems. I do love a pumpkin with a nice tall stem. Seeing these pumpkins made me think of dessert. Not just any old dessert :: my very favorite (well one of my very favorite) fall-time desserts. I thought I'd share the recipe with you today so that you can experience pumpkin heaven too.

My mom used to make this cake when I was growing up. I'm not sure where it originated or what it was really called, but we just call it plain old Pumpkin Cake and it's out-of-this-world delicious! Oh, and it's easy too.

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4 eggs

1 2/3 cups sugar

1 cup oil

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

(1) 15 oz can solid pack pumpkin

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

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(1) 3 oz pkg cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups sifted confectioner's sugar

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Mix eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin until fluffy. Stir flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda. Add to pumpkin mixture and thoroughly combine. Bake in ungreased 13x9 pan at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Cool before icing. To prepare icing, combine all ingredients.

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Brew a pot of pumpkin spice coffee, cut two (large) slices of cake, put them on your prettiest fall dessert plates, call your very best friend, and ENJOY!

From Orchard to Applesauce

We picked apples yesterday. It wouldn't seem like fall without freshly picked apples. I chose this orchard because they practice Integrated Pest Management. My first choice would be organic, but that wasn't an option for apple picking in my area. It turned out to be a warm day, and the sky was brilliant blue. There were some friendly little creatures enjoying the sunshine and they didn't seem to mind us one bit. In addition to apples, this orchard had an enormous plot of broccoli just waiting to be picked. Do you see it in the distance? These beautiful blossoms were on the Magnolia Gold apple trees. It was slim pickings for these but we managed to take a few home. They are sweet, all-purpose apples. The leaves are just beginning to turn in our area. You have to really look to find a little color, but we walked right past this leaf that was just as beautiful as can be and screaming to be photographed. In addition to Magnolia Gold apples, we picked Ida Red (tart for cooking) and Mutsu (sweet, all-purpose).

This morning some of the Ida Red are being turned into applesauce.

It's a super easy recipe that we've been making for years.

:: Six to eight tart apples ::

:: about 1/2 cup organic apple juice concentrate (no sugar added) ::

:: 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon ::

Throw everything in the crockpot and cook on high for three hours. See how easy that was? And the best part is the house will soon be smelling like fall. I love fall.

Pure Whimsy

Today I thought I'd share one of my favorite places with you. It's called the Kennedy School and it's located in Portland, Oregon. The Kennedy School is one of several old buildings that have been salvaged and renovated by the McMenamin brothers. We happened to stumble across this absolutely charming little place when we traveled to Portland in 2001 and I've been thinking about it ever since. The hallways are filled with whimsical fairytale artwork: and the guest rooms are so cozy and sweet. Our room was done in an Alice In Wonderland theme. That's the original chalkboard, and a hand painted border surrounds the room.

The gymnasium is still intact, the auditorium is used for movies, there's an in-house restaurant, and even a micro-brewery too. The next time we visit Portland (and I really really hope it's sometime soon) we'll definitely be staying at the Kennedy School.

Readying The Winter Coats

I've been spray painting again. This time it's reproduction glass doorknobs made to use as hooks. They were on sale here (looks like they've sold out now) and I bought ten of them. I didn't particularly care for the gold so I chose to spray them with a black hammered finish that turned out just as I had hoped.

Hubby installed them for me in our basement guestroom. It's the room that's slowly evolving as I bring home thrifted treasures. I knew these hooks would be just perfect for holding some vintage ladies coats that I've been storing. I haven't stumbled across any old wooden hangers yet, so you'll have to overlook the plastic and imagine that they're hanging on something very charming.

How fun is that?

The blue coat is in perfect condition. It's my favorite. The pink coat was purchased for it's buttons, but I think I'll leave it hanging with the others for now. And the green one? I just couldn't leave it behind. Isn't that a pretty button? It's large, has lots of neat texture, and is just the nicest shade of soft pink.

Another fun project completed.

Thinking Ahead

I'm thinking ahead for gift ideas as I fiddle in my sewing room. A spa basket came to mind after making the lavender eye pillows. Maybe the basket would include a collection of luxury items for winding down and pampering. I used this tutorial to make a neck and shoulder heat wrap, but filled it a little differently. For the filling, I followed these instructions that were written by a nurse who makes hospital-approved microwave heat bags for her patients.

The filling happens to be feed corn. My local feed and seed store carries a fifty pound bag that has been screened and sifted several times for extra cleanliness. For eight dollars or so I can fill a lot of bags.

It's super simple to make :: just a plain insert that is segmented into five sections and a pretty little slipcover that can easily be removed for laundering. I tested it out on my grandmother and she loved it. We decided to make it a couple of inches longer on each end next time, but that was just our preference. This could be made in all different shapes and sizes to fit little people too. It can even go in the freezer to be used for bumps and bruises.

So, I was thinking that a neck wrap, a lavender eye pillow, a beautifully fragrant candle and a nice natural bar of soap, all packaged up in a pretty basket would make a very special gift for a loved one. Do you agree?

Cleaning Up

We've been working on our garden areas :: pulling up tired annuals and trimming back perennials that have done their part for the season. It's refreshing in a way, to clean up some of the messiness and to view the simplicity of what's left behind. The Globe Amarynth in the photo above still have such a beautiful vibrant color even after living in the sun all summer. I think they'll look fantastic paired with the yellow yarrow that's drying in the shed. The lavender has finished blooming for the seocnd time. What a joy it's been to watch it grow, to dry it and then to use in sachets this season. Little by little we're emptying the pots and cleaning them up for winter storage. They'll hang out in the potting shed until spring when they'll be filled up again.

Kale and spring mix seedlings are growing in the potager garden. I definitely sprinkled way too many seeds so they'll need to be thinned. This is my first attempt at fall vegetable planting so I'm excited to see how it all turns out.

And look who's still going strong and standing proud :: Kim's Knee High Coneflowers :: they always make me smile.