Going Natural

Fall in New England is a beautiful thing. It starts slowly, some touches of yellow, some cooler nights. Then we start the hustle to move plants in doors, close up the pool. Pack up cushions and anything that might freeze in the pool house over winter. There is a touch of sadness over the end of summer. My gardens are going by and will need lots of clean up. Cannas need to be dug and brought in.

Then I tackle my bins of Harvest and Halloween decorations. I feel less is more these days. The Grands are getting older so I don't need the stuff I did just for them. I find I love the natural decorations so much more. So instead of fake twigs of colored leaves this year I cut my grasses and Hydrangeas, some Sedums and some Artemisia.  This is the result, my little potting shed got a decorative touch on the door and my wooden box in the kitchen received the same treatment.

We see some touches of color here, but it will be a couple of weeks before the yellow and orange of the maples shine and the blaze of red from the oaks drench the yard in their color. So I will make some more Pumpkin Bread to have while I sip my apple cider and enjoy each day because while Autumn is a wonderful time of year....it means.....dang, sniffle, whimper...that darn snow is on its way. My least favorite season.

 

Welcome to my porch~

Welcome!

 Come on in...the entry to our home is a screened porch in summer and a glassed in porch in fall, winter and spring. It is such a fun place to decorate. Last year it was a bit more Halloweeney.(is that a word?) My son was home and he and my grandson love to decorate for Halloween. When they became too old to Trick or Treat it became a tradition to let them decorate and to greet the trick or treaters. This year my son is still in Afghanistan, but only 39 days left until he comes home. Well anyway my grandson does not seem as enthusiastic without his Uncle here. Now I like it a bit more subdued, like it is now. The neighborhood kids may miss it a bit, from the garden graveyard to the fog rolling out when the porch door creaks open, strobe lights flashing a huge ghost hanging from the ceiling...

My bottle gourds did well last year. I like this kind of natural decoration, although if my son were home I would let him do whatever he wanted!

 

Hearts

This is my heart of glass. My hubby gave it to me for Valentines day.....years ago. It came with a little card that read something like here is a heart of glass, it holds my heart for you. It was such a wonderful gift and I love to look at it as it catches the sunlight in the morning. I see it as I sit at my dressing table. I wish I could find the card that came with it...I know I kept it. It was so pretty and what it said was more elaborate than my abbreviated words. This was one of the most thoughtful and loving gifts ever~

Who said hearts are for Valentines? I realize I enjoy them year round. I was surprised at how many I could find in my home. These old wood hearts have been here forever.

How many hearts do I have.....this is just some of them. There is a heart shaped twig wreath over my kitchen hearth, a heart shaped Bennington pottery dish, the Rowe pottery dish these fabric hearts nest in. A heart shaped candy dish filled with heart candy, Crabtree and Evelyn, heart shaped soap, the list goes on. Here are some of my favorites.

Red glitter heart made by a grandchild last year.

Little tin hearts

~More glitter~

I love this wooden heart !

We use these napkins for the month of February.

Don't you just love hearts? How many do you have in your house?

Happy Valentines Day!

Easter Table

Welcome to Tablescape Thursday and thanks to Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch Be sure to hop over to view all of the beautiful Tablescapes....Susan's always makes me wish I was there!

Mama and Papa bunny look so cute sitting on the Easter Table...don't you think?

Look at the detail in these bunnies. I got them in a little shop called The Primitive Barn on Cape Cod a couple of years ago and I have enjoyed them so much. They travel around my home and always seem to come back to the table.

I can't remember who's Blog I saw these plates on last week...maybe because I looked at all of the blogs who joined in on Tablescape Thursday, but I went right out to Cracker Barrel to get some. They were out of the dinner plates, but I got the last six salad plates and these cute egg plates.....What a great inspiration you all are. I just love these plates.

I hope you all enjoy a beautiful and Happy Easter!!

Bunnies on a stick Show and Tell party

Here are my bunnies on a stick, I did not know they had become such a rage....Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch is hosting a show and tell party. Now I think I need to be a bit more inventive with them. The sweet bunnies came home with me a couple of weeks ago and just got stuck in my jar of twigs. They did brighten up the sideboard! Oh but Susan's daises look so light and Springy...take a look!