My Cozy Home

halloween countdown...

 

                                                                                                                       This is Miss Pumpkin.  She lives in Disneyland.  I'm not sure where exactly she lives in Disneyland, but I do know that she dates the local constable.  I very much wish that I lived in a town with a Miss Pumpkin who dresses like this one, and sings and dances.  Aren't they cute?  Also, can you see in the back ground of the first picture, the guy in the dark blue t-shirt standing over on the right side - sort of posing like Big Foot walking through the forest (not that he resembles a Sasquatch) - that's Steve who just happened to be in the picture and we didn't realize it until much later.  I was following Miss Pumpkin around while she was dancing so that I could get a good picture of her and I guess I got quite a ways from where we had been standing.

I had to share Miss Pumpkin with you before Halloween had come and gone.  Jeez that's a great costume.

This was another great Halloween display at Disneyland.  They do a really good job of decorating - it actually increased my enjoyment level even more to see all of the Halloween decorations while we were there. 

And, back at the ranch - the dining room table.  I just realized that the gourd on the table, to the left looks like it's plastic, but it is real - sheesh, could it be more shiny?

Little hanging black cat.  He's made the same way as a hook rug - I did not make him though.  Heck, I can't even remember where I got him.  Yes, my memory is like a finely tuned machine.

Another cabinet picture from a different angle - as seen a couple of posts ago.  My grandpa got me that calendar and I like the pictures so much.  I can always depend on my grandpa to get me a very cute calendar for the kitchen.

I just realized that I was going to show pictures of the journal that I did for Shelley.  I'll show it/them in the next post.  I say them because somehow I ended up doing two - because I can't let things alone.  One became two and that's how it went. 

Also, did want to report back that I think my memory is improving (despite not remember where black cat hanging guy came from).  I've been doing Sudoku every night before bed and really concentrating on making myself remember names and details.  Anyhoo, just wanted to let you know that I think it's paying off.  And I'm getting a lot better at Sudoku too.  Sometimes for fun I'll see how fast I can do an easier one (like a one star).  Friday night I did one in three minutes.  I'm working on a four star Sudoku now.  My life is riveting.  A real nail biter of a blog.  I can see why you stay tuned.  What will she do next ? - will it be Sudoku, watching High School Musical again, wait, hold on, maybe she'll be petting her cat with the left hand instead of the right.  It's almost too exciting.  Until the next unpredictable post, I hope you and your families are well.   

 

Does anyone else have a desire to set up a harvest table outside that looks like the below (this is from the October '07 issue of "Country Home")?  Or maybe some of you have done this?  Every year I think that I'd like to do just that, and cook a pork loin with a fig sauce, have our family over, bob for apples, have some hot cider or hot chocolate.  Then the season flies by, and I think once again, "why didn't I do that".  It could still be done this year, but I feel like I'm a bit behind. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

For now I'll just enjoy the view outside in our backyard.

This is next to our little pond in the back yard.

Sedum next to the pond.  That color is so perfectly fall.

Am sharing a few pictures from indoors too.  A little display in our kitchen.

We went to Haupt Antiek Market on Saturday.  I got the feathers there as well as the little black shoes. 

I also picked up two more ironstone platters while antiquing.  I have about six on the wall, but I also like the look of them stacked up like this.  I do love Ironstone a lot, and while I use to lean more toward platters with a scalloped or decorative edge, now I seem to be more intrigued by the simple, smooth-edged platters.  I think they seem older and more primitive.  I once saw a stack of Ironstone with the littlest ones at the top starting at about $45.  These were soap-dish size.  I didn't even need to look at the bigger ones toward the bottom.  The ones I get are definitely not in that price range.  I know there are many types of Ironstone with varying prices.  I have a book about the different producers and history. 

This is a little trophy from a dog show in 1948 (the Beverly-Riviera Kennel Club).  You can read it on the ribbon, which came with the trophy.

I hope you had a good weekend.  Ours was very nice with great weather.  I made another journal, which I'll show in my next post.  A very nice person named Shelley contacted me about my last journal and asked if I would make her daughter one.  I finished it this weekend and will take some pictures of it to share in my next post.

My best to you all!

gourdeous...

I was looking around on Bayberry Cove's website to find some fall goodies, and I found this little gourd guy who I think is adorable.  My husband Steve is primarily of a much different opinion.  He looks sort of sad holding his little pumpkin doll.  I felt he needed a home.

I just realized he's a bit hidden behind the candle.  You get the general idea though, except you can't see his skinny little legs

 

                                                                                                                                      I also got this glitter banner from Bayberry Cove.  Got to love glitter.

This "Trick or Treat" gourd bowl is another California find, although I could have found it locally or on line.  Things just seem more appealing when you find them on your travels.  It's made by Nicol Sayre (you can find her creations at Bayberry Cove as well).

   

And for anyone who's been visiting my blog for a while you're probably saying, "what's with the stool and scale picture again".  Yes, yes, it's the same stool and scale,here and here, but I do like to change out what sits on top.  In this case a white pumpkin.   

                                                                                                                                                     One more picture of the counter area.   On another note, I've decided my memory needs improving.  I went to a website that has memory games on it - games like looking at 20 items on a page for two minutes, then having to recall what those 20 items are. Here and Here are a couple of sites I went to. I think I've been resting on my laurels, assuming that I wouldn't start having issues with my memory until I was older.  Not so.  I've decided to declare war on my slow-to-respond recall skills.  My neurons need prodding, the gray cells require sharpening. Yes, it's time for action.  Anyone else having this problem?  I'll let you know how it goes.  In the mean time, you'll find me doing Sudoku, the crossword puzzle, and creating clever mnemonic devices to get those synapses firing on all cylinders.  Wish me luck!

newish old things, oldish new things...

I'm back AGAIN from California and certainly happy to not be planning another trip anywhere for awhile.  This time it was a business trip to San Jose.  It was a very nice trip, great hotel, a whole lot of amazing food and wine - really, as business trips go, it was very, very nice - no complaints here.  There's nothing quite like being at home though, especially at this time of year.  I love fall so much that I don't want to miss any of the beauty that Minnesota has to offer.  Green grass, leaves of burnt orange and burgundy, clusters of maple trees at varying stages and peaks of color, apple orchards, pumpkin patches, hay rides, cool nights sitting in the back yard with a fire burning.  It's a really great time of year here.  I've taken some photos of the new items I got in California and mixed them in with a few fall displays around the house.  Thanks for being patient with me being gone lately.  I really appreciate it my friends.

I found this Halloween garland to decorate my tree in the entry.  Not sure if you can see it, but I have hung old skeleton keys from ribbons and looped them over the branches.  Skeleton keys...get it?  It's all about the theme for me :o)

                        Gourd goodness.

Isn't he cute...he kind of falls into the same category as "pumpkin guy" from a couple of posts ago.  There's just something about that silly pumpkin grin that makes me grin in return.

                                                                                                                                                                                                            This basket is located on top of the below cabinet.  My mom gave me the decorative garland, which I wrapped around the basket. 

This cabinet is at least 100 years old, and was on my grandparent's farm.  It's simplicity really appeals to me.  It can be so easily embellished, and especially looks great with autumn accents.  The apron hanging on the right is from the Farm Chicks, which my mom got for me at their antiques show last September.  I love those polka dots. 

I haven't gotten these hung yet, but they'll probably be in our bedroom.  They are sketches from the 1930's.  I have another in our room that is very similar, which I got last year.

   

A cute little tag that I'd like to try and mimic when I get a chance.  I have it hanging from the lamp next to my side of the bed.

I'll be sharing more fall decorating pictures very soon, as well as a couple of other things I got in California.  I can't believe we're already heading into the second week of October.  It's still in the 70's and 80's here, which is amazing, but I'm sure it will be cooling off soon.  Hope you're all very well.