Keep Smiling

Keep Smiling

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Welcoming In Autumn & Enjoying My Week



No cost decorating :)
Yesterday afternoon I chopped down some corn stalks from the garden 
and created this for my Autumn Gate. 

I have zinnias blooming in the garden 
and along the fence by the gate.
They are so cheery & they make me smile:)
 Look who's peeking through the fence.
Butchy loves living in the country.
He has so much more room to run:)

 A couple weeks ago I built this box
for the front porch.
By placing it on the front steps and directing traffic to the side steps,
I have the space to arrange my two gliders so that they are facing each other.
It makes for much better conversation:)

 From the front porch we watched the farmer across the road 
bailing his third cutting of hay.
Last week I took a few minutes and dug out my fall decorations.
 This time of year makes me want stew, chili and homemade bread.
Fall decorations make a home feel so cozy.
This is what I'm working on today.
 I'm using this apple pattern to make 
some new pot holders for the kitchen.
It's a FREE download from Bustle & Sew.
I do hope that you are all enjoying the beautiful Early Autumn weather.
OR
The lovely Early Spring weather if you live in the southern hemisphere. 

Wherever you live on this big ole world of ours,
I hope that your day is filled with
laughter and good cheer.

Breathe deep & enjoy. . .
Smile big & spread sunshine.

Your blogging sister,
Connie :)



42 comments:

  1. I love your fall gate. It looks so welcoming. Your fall decorations look great also.
    I like that pattern your using for your pot holders. I'm curious about the clips? you have on your embroidery hoop there.

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    1. I had a good time decoration the gate . . . I love free make overs:)
      This is a spring loaded hoop and it is wonderful.
      Whether you are using it on the machine with a free motion foot, or using it for hand embroidery, you will love it.
      Your can check it out here. If you have a JoAnne's Fabric near you, you can buy them there, too.
      http://www.123stitch.com/item/Darice-Spring-Tension-Needlework-Hoop-7/DAR-39412

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  2. Thanks for sharing all these wonderful photos :o)

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    1. Hi Silvia, It is always a pleasure to have you stop by. Thanks for the visit:)

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  3. What a wonderful post! Lots of fresh Fall ideas. Great little Apple potholders. Thanks for sharing the pattern.

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    1. Hi Lesley, I don't know if you are familiar with that site or not, but she has some lovely free patterns.
      Last year I made the cutest little mouse pin cushions from one of her patterns:)
      Thanks so much for visiting and for your encouraging words:)

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  4. Evening Connie, Your garden arbor and gate are sooo sweet~~~I love how you have decorated it! Natural and simple is how I love things.......but those zinnias grab my heart!! They are beautiful!! Your yard looks so pretty and the porch too~~~Butchy is adorable!! You sound so content and happy with your new place....it's funny how our lives have paralleled with each others concerning moving and renovation!! God is so awesomely good!! Praying for a Looong, beautiful Autumn~~~Blessings~~~Roxie

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    1. Hi Roxie, I don't know about you but buying a new place and moving, was the absolute last thing on either of our minds. This place just miraculously fell into place for us. We know that it was the Lord and that He had this move planned for us, long before we had any conceivable idea. It's a long story, but one that was guided my His hands. We could not be any more pleased . . . it is more of a blessing than we very dreamed. This old house has been home since the first day we decided to go for it. We have never looked back, and the fact is we loved our last home and lived there for 33 years . . . but we do not miss it at all. Just wish that someone else would fall in love with it and make us an offer:)
      It has been so much fun watching you redoing your fixer upper, at the same time that we are redoing ours. There's a lot more we have to do, but it will come along as time and money are available. I hope that the two of you are loving your new cottage as much as we are ours.
      Thanks for stopping by, it is always a delight having you visit.

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  5. The corn stalks on your garden gate are perfect - they really say "fall"! Last year I walked down the street to a nearby farmer's field and cut down some corn stalks to use on my front porch. Your fireplace is so pretty, especially with all the autumn touches you just put on it. And how cute is Butchy! What a darling doggie.

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    1. Hi Melanie, thanks for stopping by. How are things in the Windy City? I miss all the beautiful fall color of the Midwest, we have trees in our small town, but they have all been planted at one time or another. Our desert area has no forests, like the other side of our state. Doing the gate was fun . . . I love no cost decorating:) It's the best! Thanks for your sweet visits and for your encouraging words . . . home is where the heart is and our hearts have certainly been getting more evolved with our new country life :)

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  6. Love your matel all decorated for Fall...so pretty!! Love your wood gate too!!
    ~Cindy

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    1. Thank you Cindy, I appreciate your kind words. It was nice to have all that stuff. I'm happy that I didn't garage sale all of my decorations, because there are more important places to put our money these days ( like windows before winter) LOL.

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  7. Your gate is gorgeous, what a wonderful idea to use the corn stalks. Oh I just loved the apples. I'm taking you advise re the free motion embroidery. Can't wait to have another go. Your new house really has become a home. So warm and friendly, I love the Fall decorations, such lovely colours.
    Ali xx

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    1. Hi Ali, thanks for your sweet comment. I used my free motion foot to do those apples . . . going around them and doing the vein and seeds. I know that you are going to fall "head over heals in love" with your foot and I can not wait to see what you do with it:) Have fun!

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  8. Butchy is gorgeous!! I could happily watch the farmer across the road on your porch.

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    1. Hello Sue, It would have been fun having you sit here on the porch with me, watching him bail his hay. We could have both been clicking photos and having a great time sipping ice tea and visiting :) Butchy is so much company . . . he has become a very valued member of the family. I'm so happy about my decision to get a puppy after retirement. I recommend it to everyone:)

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  9. Just wanted to hop by to thank you for your visit and comment on my blog. Love your fall there and Butchy is so cute. He looks so much like my old Bebe- lost him this spring. I have hopped around a bit here and I will be back for sure. Love your many talents!

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    1. Hello Tete, and welcome to my blog. Like the song says, "If I knew you were coming, I'd have baked a cake":) I love getting company, thanks for the visit and for your sweet comments. Sorry about your Bebe . . . Butchy is so much company and my little sidekick, I can only imagine how sad her passing was for you.

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  10. hi Connie, its so nice to meet you, I came right back to visit and follow you! Butchy is such a sweet heat, I had one just like him once a long time ago, you are so beautifully ready for Fall!!!!!!

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    1. Hello Laurie, Welcome to my blog and thank you so much for following me. Butchy is my sidekick around here. The first evening after I got back from my trip, he jumped in my lap as was not going to leave me. It's nice to be missed. I am looking forward to enjoying a wonderful blogging friendship with you:)

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  11. Such cheery zinnias and sunflowers. Things are looking delightful around your place.

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    1. Hi Lorie and thanks you so much . . . in some ways I am looking forward to cooler weather and less outdoor chores, and then in another I am going to miss the sunny weather and the garden:)

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  12. Beautiful photos and I love your autumn displays. Best wishes, Pj x

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    1. Thanks so much . . . it's fun making something out of free stuff . . . the best way to decorate:)

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  13. Thanks for stopping by my neck of the woods. How have we missed each other. Love your blog too. I signed up to follow. I also ant to come back and read more. Right now I need to go yell at our realtor.

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    1. Hi Debby, good luck with your realtor, we have our ex-home on the market, too. It's hard to call it our old home when our little bungalow is a good 50 years older than our other home. It is so hard playing the waiting name and making payments on this house . . . can not wait to sell the other so that we can pay this one off. When you are retired, you don't need house payment:)

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  14. Lovely seasonal decorations around your home, Connie. I especially love the apple applique you are working on - the sliced apple with the pips is just gorgeous!

    Shoshi

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    1. Hi Shoshi, it is such a fun and easy pattern . . . free download, too. Have you visited her site?

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  15. Butchy is such a cutie! I bet he does love having all that space to run. It's good exercise for him too.

    Your fall decor all looks wonderful, and it's inspiring me to get to work on mine. I have cleared my summer stuff off the front porch butI haven't pulled the fall stuff out yet.

    I love, love, love the colors on the pot holders you're making too. So cool! I always enjoy your posts.

    Have yourself a fabulous weekend Connie,
    D~~~~

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    1. Hi Donna, you have made my morning . . . such sweet things that you are saying about my home and blog . . . thank you:)

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  16. Hi Connie - thanks for your visit to my blog and your lovely comment! I am so glad you liked my card. If you did move into one of those little houses, I can well imagine how beautiful you would make it - inside and out!! Thank you for your kind comment. As for envelopes - I have tried in the past and never really got on with them, and never thought they were worth the time and effort to make, but this new envelope punch board is soooo easy to use and such fun that I shall definitely be continuing with it!

    Shoshi

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    1. Hi Shoshi, I think that it is wonderful that you can totally match your envelopes to your cards by doing this.
      Think of all the creative possibilities:)
      Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks so much for stopping back in . . . I love company:)

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  17. Oh Butchy is soooo cute!! Love your fall decor and to think you just cut it from your property and we all have to go to JoAnnes to get it lol. Those pot holders are adorable! I smell your neighbors hay from here! Happy fall ....Still summer here in Orlando, but fall should be coming soon!

    Carol

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    1. Hi Carol, speaking of JoAnnes, we have one opening up in your town next week, Friday to be exact:) For so long all that we have had locally is Walmart, so I am very excited. Me and about every forth woman I talk to:) Before this we had a seventy mile drive to the closest JoAnnes. Now, I will be able to try more of the great products you talk about, and without a short road trip or paying shipping, LOL. I love your new bedroom re-do . . . so glamorous. I know that Florida doesn't have much of a weather change . . . as far as fall leaves and the changes that we have, but I'm sure that you are all looking forward to cooler weather. I imagine summers to me very hot and humid; I've never visited you sunshine state in the summer.
      Have a great weekend:)

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  18. I love the way you welcomed fall into your home. I bet it feels so nice to just be able and gather your own stalks for display.

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    1. Hi Brandi, it was really nice:) I think that next year I'll try growing some pumpkins, too :)
      I've been enjoying my zinnias, too. The ones by the fence, I just let bloom, but I've been picking the ones in the garden and having bouquets in my kitchen window all summer and will until frost. It is so much fun having the room to grow a garden:) Thanks so much for stopping by to visit, it is always nice seeing your smiling face in my comments:) Have a marvelous weekend.

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  19. I just love your gate and corn stalk decor, it reminds me of home! My mother always grew colorful ornamental corn and would tie stalks about the porch and ears on the front door--- I've tried to do the same but can never get the timing right here in the south. Fall is my favorite of the seasons and this peek into your festive home has made me love it all the more!

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    1. Dear Sweet Randi, you sound like you might be missing your Mom and home. We are enjoying the changes of the season . . . it is cooler at night and we finally got rain this week. We went from early spring to this week with only one day of rain in the middle. This time of year makes me think of soups and stews so that is what we are having for dinner tonight. I'm working on a new post and should get it posted this evening. Because, we share a love of vintage, I think you might enjoy seeing how I spent my day.
      I love your blog and I love how you are incorporating your fondness of vintage into your wardrobe and hair style. By the way, I am totally blown away by your hair, so pretty. Thank you for stopping by . . . I so enjoy having company:)

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  20. Replies
    1. Welcome, thanks so much for stopping by to visit:)

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