Autumn Pics From Home Sweet Home

We went home today to give my father his birthday gifts and to go to Katie's baby shower. The colors are so much more vibrant there this time of year. I couldn't resist snapping a few, well a ton, and sharing with you. I love the city, but it's just not the same in the fall.

Front Yard (I think they say side yard, but in my distorted world it is the front!)

Hay field across the street
Tomatoes ripening on porch and dracula's feet hanging from the eaves!

Barn across the street.
Upper field across the street

Side Yard (they probably call this something else, as well!)
A Halloween totem pole on porch steps
A set of graduated clay pots painted orange and decorated to be jackolanterns. I love their chippy appeal!

A wooden ghost. The rustic look of him is cute, even though I don't get too into Halloween decor. Doesn't he look like he just got hit on the head with a hammer, though?! Poor thing... (BTW - no idea why this is underlined and not sure how to change it.)

Hibiscus
And another hibiscus

Daisy

A primitive star hanging on the side of the house.

Think these are wild flowers, but not really sure.

Uncle's road sign hanging on pole in

mom's memorial garden for him.

Some sort of flower from the memorial garden. I know it's blurry, but I love the way the leaves have just taken up around the flower.

Gerber daisies from the memorial garden.

Oh the sights of home!

Autumn Vignettes...Or Are They Centerpieces?

Last Christmas I got a gift card from the Hobby Lobby from Josh's Dad and Step Mother. We don't have Hobby Lobby in our parts, so I had to shop before I left WI - so upsetting (yeah right!). Before this, I didn't even know that place existed, but now... I LOVE IT! I got the round tray there with my GC and Josh's Dad brought it to Michigan for me this summer when we met there for their family reunion. It is the perfect fall tray. The rectangular tray is a $2 mirrored tray from an estate sale I went to a few weeks ago. The 3 pumpkin shaped plates (I have 4, but one is in the DW because we've been using them to eat our freshly baked pumpkin bread on) are from one of my favoritist stores of all - XTS - better known as the Christmas Tree Shoppes. Love that place, too! I had to add candy - especially peanut M&M's. I mean what fall decor is complete without orange and brown peanut M&M's. But my favorite thing is the lamp base I got at a recent estae sale that I set one of my XTS bowls on top of. I didn't secure it, as I'd like to change out bowls for the seasons/holidays/my moods/etc., but it just adds that "pedestal" look to it. Don't you love it?!

Note that I decided to use some of those apothecary jars that I have been buying for the guest room, at estate sales, and put them to good use in these displays!

A New Cookie Jar

When the VVA was having their 50% off sale I picked up this super fun cookie jar. Prior to this we did not have a cookie jar, for two reasons: (1) I don't often bake cookies and (2) when I do they don't last long enough to be put into a jar. But this one still had the tags on it from the store it was originally purchased from and I only paid $3.50 for it. You can see that the lid doesn't really sit flush on the jar, but I embrace imperfections, as that word has come to practically be my middle name! And who wouldn't love a cookie jar they can write on. Anything chalkboard seems to amaze me!

Got Any Ideas??

Recently, ReHouse, one of my favorite salvage stores started a new tradition. They call it 'Free Friday'. They are going to give things away once a month on a specified Friday to make room for new stock. I LOVE IT!!!! My favorite price = FREE! Or, as Nicky would say, $free.99!!

At the last Free Friday I got these super cool door/shutter things. They've never been touched, opened, used, etc. There are 16 of them, each with hinges. I want to do something super fun with them. I have a few things in mind; but just average, everyday ideas. I am hoping you can all help me come up with some exciting ideas for how to give these little guys some life. Now don't you all go jump at once the way you did with the letter press set! But, really, what might I do to make these freebies fun yet useful for myself or someone else? Even suggestions on what color to paint them would be helpful!

While I was there I also got this cute canister full of wallpaper - also free. The wallpaper I could have done without, but if I liked something I just tossed it in my car before someone else did. The canister is actually really big, probably close to three feet tall. What do you think it is for? My guess is that it was meant to be an umbrella corral. Whaddaya think?

My Handy Dandy New Card Table

I don't play cards - not often anyway. But I might have to start after scoring this super cool new card table at an estate sale last week. It cost me $10, which is more than I'd like to have paid. But I just couldn't see myself leaving there without it! The story is sad, though. Let me tell you about it.

Some people think I'm cheap (Josh). I'd feel better if we'd just say frugal! It has a much smoother ring to it don't you think?! Anway, here's the story - The estate sale was better described as a barn sale in the middle of nowhere. Unlike most one day sales it was deader than dead (maybe that isn't the most respectful term to use when we're discussing my acquisition of the late Mr. So and So's belongings), but you know what I mean. It was about 12:45 when I got there. I had no idea that at 1 o'clock they were going to go to 50% off everything. It's not like they were eager to advertise it or anything. So I went right in and straight to the table. I pretended to ponder it although I knew damn well that I wasn't leaving without it and was willing to take the first person out who laid a hand on it. I set it up to make sure that it was "gambling worthy" and spotted the Daisy Lady staring me down. It was marked $15 and I figured it was my opportunity to haggle, so I asked her to take $10. Such a haggler, eh?! She also pretended to ponder... knowing damn well she wasn't going to say no. Then she said, "YES"! Now I know why...because in three minutes that @$%&*^! table was only going to be worth $7.50. Now all you non-frugalers are thinking, "So what Sondra - it's only $2.50". But I was pissed off for the rest of the day. I could have bought something else for that $2.50 - like five more children's books for the children I don't have! I was too angry (with myself) to even discuss it with the lady, and "the policy is if it is removed from the sales floor before 1:00 it is exempt from the discount." Why didn't I ponder it just three minutes more? I mean if I can still ponder my table today, I could have held out in that spooky old barn for three more minutes! So I'm thinking I may have to set up my handy dandy table this weekend, play a few cards and have a few drinks to make it worth that extra $2.50. Now...how many beers will it take to convince me of that?

So I'm Not A Painter

In attempt to give a very personal gift to the wonderful teacher, Estelle, that I worked with for my practicum over the summer; I came up with the not-so-clever idea to paint a piece of pottery for her. Now don't you worry...I've done this before - like three times. But who knew that I would get worse with each piece? I guess the overall painting isn't too bad for someone who HATES and I mean HATES painting. Well...then again...yeah it is! This is not good for my ego I tell ya. Oh well it's the thought that counts, right? Come on guys, RIGHT?? In my own defense, I was using a paint pen that was less than useful to try and write out the words "The Colon Family". "Less than useful" is what I like to call things that don't seem to do the job I thought they should, even though I skipped reading the directions! I am not a direction reader and then see what happens...I ruin a perfectly good $30 piece of pottery! You see the pen clearly stated to use after the pottery has been fired - NOT BEFORE! Do you think I learned a lesson? Hell no! I'm a teacher and I still think reading directions is a waste of time...in most cases!

My Brother

My Brother

As kids, we lived together.
We fought, we laughed, we cried.
We did not always show the love, that we both had inside.

We shared our dreams and plans, and some secrets too.
All the memories we share; are what bond me now to you.

We grew to find we have a love, which is very strong today.
It’s a love shared by our family, which will never fade away.

You are my brother not by choice, but by the nature of our birth. I

thank the lord for blessing me, with the most wonderful brother on earth.

I had one of those terrible weekends! I know that life can always be much, much worse. I was reminded of how much worse on Saturday night when we met Bill - but that is a story for another day. And the Dirty Birdies did great at the North Winton Festival, which is the first time I can honestly say that. But nothing was really going my way and I got to the point of an emotional breakdown Saturday morning. I thought I held myself together pretty well during a ten second phone conversation with my brother, but he knows me too well. He rushed to the festival (I mean he was there within 5 minutes of the phone call) and he helped me pick up the pieces and get on track. Then he came back and he and his girlfriend brought me coffee. Then they returned again at the end and helped me tear down and bring it all home. He (they) have no idea what that meant to me. It shows how important family really is and makes me realize what an important part of my life that my brother is.

Thanks Brett for being there for me this weekend. I love you!!!