Monday, October 31, 2011

Allowing Time For Reflection




I so enjoyed the post on http://sweetpeahome.blogspot.com on a crafter afternoon... If you haven't viewed it and read it please do yourself a favor and stop over and see the lovely home and style and ideas of her friend Becky... I really found it to be quite creative...
The above pics are of my little serving table that I will have a candy bar set up now until Christmas for treats... The other pic is of my loved, antique 1800's pie safe tucked with a couple Christmas objects brought out from storage...

Has been a rainy day till now about 3:00 in the afternoon as the sun is trying to sine... We are so far behind with the harvest here in NW Ohio... Getting to be quite a challenging to area farmers and very stressful.. Our winter wheat did not get put out... This is not only hurting us it hurts the consumers as the price is paid by all when Mother Nature is in here bad mood and carries on for weeks at a time...

I have been choosing to send my thoughts as much as possible to making a lovely budget friendly style of decorating and taking off the chill with a lovely fireside setting... There is a grace to having bounty surrounding with the splendor of decorating and the warmth and pleasure of nourishment... Taking and allowing time for reflection of the beauty that surrounds is and the time for Thanksgiving is nearing... I must be off as I have a chocolate cake in the oven and the aroma of it is telling me I must make my way to the kitchen for removal very soon... Sending blessings...

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Oh So Lovely

As rain in our area continues to damper the harvest of the farmers.. I continue the holiday decorating of my home... As I try to simplify... In a short couple days as we will be entering into the month of Thanksgiving... plans will start for that holiday without the stress of decorating for myself... Loving that thought and always fresh in mind.. home and holiday.. I know many do not share those thoughts and I believe mine to be encouraged by always having to have a retail floral and gift shoppe ready for open house by the first week of November to be competitive in the retail market... Holidays inspire creativity with those who possess many talents.. Planning menus and decorating ahead does make all come together much more smoothly... I find I am always easily impressed by the lovely style and projects of many talented bloggers that are not necessary designer... just have great style and energy.. I shared some lovely pictures of Christmas on my Facebook page if you would like to see them click under my Facebook and enjoy... The site is of pictures of Christmas at its best is Touch Of Elegance Interiors.... Sending special wishes your way today....

Monday, October 24, 2011

A Bit Of Sunshine



As I continue with more decorating and everyday chores this morning the sun is making a appearance after very early morning storms and showers.... My quest for zero dollar decorating and to be very simple as I have shown you in the above pics will be taking place yet the next few days... I have a picture of my 5 window bay window in my living room that has a small white tree tucked in a aged silver trophy urn...White Christmas lights have been tucked under lace for a touch of romance.... and everyday treasures still on display... The other picture is of a ledge that is my small entry to my home... Again just tucks of winter has been added with everyday treasures... Snowflakes appear in all the areas thus far....
I am lacking any more white or cream that I had in storage and the whole idea was to simplify and not use as much so I will be trying to come up with something for my kitchen window today..... I found a few icicles that I may use but they aren't as large as I would like but maybe I can make them work .... Sometimes I have to resort to plan 2 however...
As the house is getting dressed for the winter and holiday season so comes the thoughts of opening the home up to family and friends.... I love the shimmer of glittered objects and the light bouncing from them.... Yesterday... I cleaned off a little serving table that I have in my dining area with the desire of making it a candy bar from now on till Christmas... Halloween candy for the week.... nuts and goodies for everyday and Thanksgiving and of course Christmas... I have a idea in mind but it is a work in progress yet... What I would desire would be to purchase a couple more lovey jars but I am not going to do that... so I may use a couple canning jars with some tags or similar... I will work it out and just make it work....
As I sit by my large living room window I hear the bouncing of wagons and grains being hauled to the elevators that some of the farmers were able to get in the fields and maybe shouldn't been this weekend as we received more showers...As you can view in the picture of the window edge the leaves are congregating on the ground outside... I will take down my fall decorating from the front porch as soon as they have a chance to dry out the next couple days... Looks a bit odd to see Winter in the window and Halloween and fall out of doors.... Hope all enjoyed a weekend with family and friends and this week brings contentment and joy... To be continued.....

Friday, October 21, 2011

I Am Starting...... Christmas

Having been confined to my home the whole week and in a motel room much of the time last week.... I decided I really needed something to do...sooooooooooooooooo... I have started my Christmas decorating... I usually start the last week in October.. I am really only a few days ahead of that and I will take my time and since I am in LOVELY SIMPLE mode this year the small slim tree should go up about the first week of November... This morning so far I have completed a lovely antique cut glass bowl with a stand and filled it with snow and mica and sparkle snowflakes and crinkle ribbon of white and a old piece of crochet linen and lace all tucked in with a rhinestone shoe clip... Also I have completed my smaller chandelier in the dining space with a smaller version of the above picture that was taken from Southern Living site.... For those who follow me I had stated in earlier posts I wanted it all to be very simple with snow... sparkle added.. snowflakes and snowballs and icicles...... and some glittered bottle brush vintage trees in my glass cloches.. I am putting it all together in my mind with objects I already have with the exception of the snowflakes I purchased a month or so ago for under 20.00... I plan on spending no more than that to complete this years decorating and going to call on my ability to be at my best when I have to be very creative and work with what I have.... My only thought is to make it different and not to use any of the lovely pink objects I have used the last couple years but make all in white and creme.... Off I go to complete a small area in my entry way of my home as I brought a couple small white trees for this area from storage......

Thursday, October 20, 2011

For Simple Pleasures


For Simple Pleasures.... lovely words and isn't that always our desire? The dream of the prettiest holiday... Not for the room filled with expensive presents but the room filled with family and friends... loved ones to share nourishment of body and mind..
Comfort and joy always begins at home... and my style with tastes from the past.. It is all in the detail and adding embellishment to accomplish the swanky touch of glam... With a designer background I was never wanting to go in and do my style in someone else's home.. I believe it to be so very important for a home to say this home belongs to......... with the touches of what the people that reside there love and have passion for... That thought didn't always work however as many didn't really know and that was very hard to accomplish something you saw fitting for them... For instance if you love to quilt or crochet... I love to see that setting in a basket or large bowl in the room you enjoy creating... Displays of favorites, if it be antique.. vintage... or traditional in colors soothing to you will display your personality... Older homes seem to want to add newer and newer homes seem to want to add older to blend the charm that bring that " at home" feeling... perfect touches of gracious....
In the pics above found on the Southern Living site.... I found to be very lovely and the use of compotes or stemware that most all of us have already available in our home... A very budget friendly idea... The votive candle and a clip on ornament of choice can add a very festive and charming look.... Also could be used as elevation with different size stemware in other vignettes for your holiday enjoyment... Once again who says that it has to be expensive to be very lovely...

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Oh NUTS

Home-made beef noodle soup simmering on the range for lunch in a bit as I am thinking I will not be leaving the confines of my home today as the winds...chills... and rain are heavy in our area ...
Tomorrow is cleaning day, so today I thought I would curl up under a throw and seek out inspiration for holiday decorating that can be completed with zero dollars or at a low cost... My inspiration to share with you today has some cost of the mixed nuts or desired goodies to scatter but it can also be nourishment... A wonderful extra.... I found this lovely idea that can be accomplished in a very simple manner on the Southern Living site... The picture I shared with you has shown votive glass holders but I do not have that many so I am thinking my small jelly jars would accomplish it more in my style.... The simple addition of some leaves or berries would be lovely for fall or Thanksgiving and the addition of a nut cracker can made it a editable arrangement...
Using the imagination this would also be sweet made the same way with wrapped hard candies and pine.. or the pine and buts for Christmas... If you would love some sparkle I think la long mirror as a base would add some glam... Letting you thoughts create.... what would you do????

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

The Time Has Arrived....






Good Morning... Please come sit a spell and enjoy a piece of the sweet Halloween cake and a cup of mulled cider as I share some creative stenciled pumpkin decorating ideas with you that I viewed on the Better Homes and Garden site...
The times has arrived ... for harvest from morning to setting sun... It's time to count our blessings one by one... As our days shorten and nights become long... The leaves are making the journey to the ground... The apples are for picking all around... Pumpkins are making their appearance as they are plucked from the fields... We must be aware and enjoy the blessings ever so dear...
PS.. I also wanted to share with you that don't follow on Face book that I now am viewing TV on a 43 inch plasma that Tom won at the PLAYERS CLUB Saturday night when we went to play some games for a couple hours.... Very nice gift to be blessed with... and to be home and enjoy it is the biggest comfort of all...

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Back Home

Back home in my little nest in the country and oh, so glad to be here... Today may be chilly and very windy but I am tucked in and enjoying it. Have a kettle of home-made potato soup on the stove simmering and just added the rivals and made some fruit jello for lunch this evening and a cherry pie... With all the rich and eating food on vacation that you normally do not intake everyday when cooking at home I am just having a desire for something very comforting ..... Yesterday,on our journey home we were whipped around by strong winds through the mountains and today it followed us here to Ohio... All I can think or say is "HOME SWEET HOME"...
The sounds of wagons bumping as they travel down the road and the roars of combines can be heard today as the farmers have taken to the fields to harvest their crops... As we traveled home some tobacco could be seen in the sheds and barns and some still in the fields and also the cotton... some harvested some not... as well as soy beans and corn as we have in this area...
Next week after resting this weekend and trying to regroup I will be thinking of some Christmas inspiration and possibly creating a few some items for decorating... I have already stated it will be a simple form of lovely this year... with a small change up...
I wanted to post a short post today and wish you all many blessings and a nice weekend... Hopefully I can be more inspirational and creative as the week starts .....

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Fresh From The Oven


It is noon and we are having a lovely day here in Ohio... The sun is shinning , oh so lovely, and the trees are in a calm stage as some of the fall harvest of soy beans are ready and waiting for the rain soaked fields to dry out allowing the iron giants to arrive and harvest the yields...
At my home today a large kettle of rice soup is simmering on low for nourishment in a bit and a home-made scratch coconut creme pie was just taken from the oven moments ago... I am on a mission this week to use all the groceries that are perishable before we spread our wings and take flight to Myrtle Beach this weekend... I always have mixed emotions about leaving but our home will be looked after... It will be our last chance to swim and take on views of the ocean before coming home again and settling in for our winter months... At this time the forecast looks great for this week and next...
When arriving home I know my thoughts and wishes will wonder and start making my home a sweet welcome to visitors, friends and family as the holiday will be another week closer and soon all will be dashing through the snow... The most important thing to me is for our nest to be a restful retreat.. To allow yourself to have this you must part with things that are causing you stress.in order to be a feel good place.. Filling our lives with sweet and wonderful traditions is a wonderful way to go.. Turning our kitchens into grandma's kitchen with aromas of gingerbread's and sugar cookies makes every one's heart dance.. Today my kitchen is all mine as I am grandma and have lovingly prepared the soup and baked the pie to fill the house with scented pleasures and the tummy with yummy delight... Seems my small pleasures I enjoy the most have been around and travel back in time making it pleasing but keeping up with the modern days with the new and modern is also rewarding... I spend many hours, searching, reading, and writing, on my beloved computer also... so I am not totally in the past.. just making choices that bring me contentment and warmth... Old but improved works quite nicely at our little home in the country... Hope you enjoy your day and it is as lovely as it is here....

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Spending Time In Our Home

Entering the time to bundle up and a time for many more hours to be spend in the confines of our homes.. With these times comes thoughts of making "spirits bright".. I have chosen to spend my thoughts and efforts on focusing on "SIMPLE PLEASURES"... consisting of beautiful thoughts and making our everyday living more enjoyable...
A twinkle of time and our main holidays will be upon us... with the thoughts of snow kissed Christmas in mind for us here in Ohio.. Creative efforts of romancing the rooms and inspiration is being sought... Sparkle of plenty always set a mood and creates lovely eye candy when married together in harmony... Christmas is the one magical time of the year that is fun but lovely to dress our homes to empress.. All that glitters does not have to be gold.. Love of the sparkle of mica and glitters houses, snowmen, snowballs, snowflakes, and bottle brush trees of the past all come to mind... Many with higher end homes and decorations may love the traditional gold leafing of which can be stunning but for me it is the love of times past that wins my heart... Fall decorations are also lovely when adding a touch of glam especially if your decor is more modern.. For country and most homes however the as found fall berries... leaves.... pumpkins and gourds are best used natural...
We may find inspiration from sources but it always much sweeter when we place on our stamp on the inspiration.. What makes fall and winter holidays so enduring? Of course the love of tradition , so why not use some of the old traditional objects with the old charm and appeal but the addition of somethings unexpected for dressing up our homes for the holidays and winter season... Home is a place you should always have a desire to get back too when you are away as the charm and " SIMPLE PLEASURES" await you there with sweet traditions and small touches.....