Combining Fall & Vintage Decorations

I love to decorate with pumpkins for the fall season. They can carry you from Halloween straight into Thanksgiving with minor tweaking, saving you time and money. This weekend I visited the produce stand and created some lovely fall touches for my home combined with vintage items of course.

In the sun room, I added a rustic wooden box, sitting on old quilt squares and filled it with white pumpkins and Indian corn.

In the dining room, I used a combination of pine cones, acorns and more white pumpkins in an old wooden bowl and added pretty green, orange and white stripped gourds to set the table.

 

 In the living room, stacked pumpkins on a vintage silver tray, sit on the coffee table...

...and more pumpkins and vintage glass/silver trays are on the mantle.

Old silver mouth pieces from band instruments have double duty.

They serve as tiny vases that hold black chicken feathers with salvaged black and orange seam binding and also hold the "Boo" sign that hangs over the fireplace.

It is actually a "Boo! Boo!" sign. I made this last year from old book pages and black ink. My grandson, Levi, who was five at the time, was visiting and asked for three book pages. He returned shortly with his own version of my lettering. I love, love, love that boy!!

The final touch was at the back door and included old flower pots, a galvanized bucket, mums and one last pumpkin.

The changing of the seasons is always a mix of sadness and excitement. We're saying goodbye to that which is ending and looking with anticipation to what possibilities lie ahead.

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:
There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

Wishing you God's Best,
Elaine

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Scenes from the Country - No. 5

God loves variety and has such a sense of humor! Just look around at all of his creation.

Meet Jay. He is one of two mules that live at my house. He is greedy (wants all the ear rubbing for himself) and he doesn't share (eats all the watermelon rinds), but he is photogenic and does have a velvety nose.

I hope you have a great day. Look around and find something to laugh about!

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:
He will once again fill your mouths with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. Job 8:21.

Wishing you God's best,
Elaine 

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New Idea for Old Fireplace Guards

This summer I picked up some beautiful old fireplace guards at a garage sale. The guy had a pair of brass guards and one that was cast iron. I bought all three... a package deal! I had originally thought I would use them on the corners of my flowerbeds to keep the water hose from dragging through the flowers, but then I had a bright idea and placed them at the corners of my back steps.(notice all the leaves...it's beginning to look a little like fall)

The one to the left stands among my heart rocks.

They have a nice design...not too ornate, just simple good looks. They're handsome.

They have little feet...

...and lots of character!

Tell me if you can relate to this... I knew the moment I saw these that I wanted them. I didn't know for sure what I was going to do with them, but I knew I wanted them.

It's fun to take a traditional item and find an entirely new purpose for it.

Fireplace guards turned door greeters...you never know what life has in store for you.

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:
And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

Wishing you God's best,
Elaine

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Scenes from the Country - No. 4

This may have been one of the most gorgeous sunsets I've ever experienced. We were leaving Yosemite National Park at this moment and pulled over to watch it. It was glorious! I wanted to share so that you could enjoy it too.

Yosemite National Park - May 2014

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:
From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised. Psalm 113:3

Wishing you God's best,
Elaine

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Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity, Jig - No. 2 Yosemite National Park

I realize that fires are a natural part of the cycle of life in the forests, but I hate to see the devastation left behind (especially when it's caused by carelessness). The news of the fires at Yosemite have me thinking about this beautiful place. We had the privilege of visiting early this summer so I thought I would share some of the sites with you.

Yosemite Valley - great view of the falls on the right

Majestic

Scares reveal previous fires

It's hard to imagine that this Sequoia has witnessed the sun rise and set everyday for over 1,000 years!

Beautiful red trunks from which they get their name - Redwoods

At the foot of the falls

A Dogwood blooming in the forest

Lovely ferns and log

This was the bed and breakfast where we stayed. There were Sequoias growing in the yard.

The sunset on our first night in the park.

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:
O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth! Psalm 8:9

Wishing you God's best,
Elaine


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Scenes from the Country - No. 3

We took a day trip to Arkansas over the Labor Day weekend with family and here's a snapshot taken at Little Missouri Falls. I was standing up to my chest in icy cold water when I took this and was loving it.

Playing in the river makes you feel like a kid no matter what your age may be.

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; 
And through the rivers, they will not overflow you...
For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior..." Isaiah 43:2-3

Wishing you God's Best,
Elaine

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