The Weekend View...Fall Ahead

We have passed the halfway mark in August... September and fall are just around the corner. 

You can wait if you want, but I'm breaking out all the pumpkins and welcoming fall right now. Summer is done as far as I'm concerned!

If you've been to Hobby Lobby or PotteryBarn lately, you're probably convinced (like I am) that fall is near and Christmas will be here before we know it.

Hobby Lobby even has their Christmas displays out and their Christmas decor was on sale this week.

This "Fall Find" came from PotteryBarn. I'm a big fan of crows and really like this more subdued version of brown, black and green.

On other news...Wild Bill has been to the emergency room 3 times in the last 10 days, and had to go into the hospital 3 days the first E.R. visit and overnight the third visit. I started thinking he might have a girlfriend up there! 

The first time it was pneumonia, and then breathing problems and insanely high blood pressure readings. 

He's doing better now so don't worry. We're tough Texans after all! 

Thanks for dropping by!

Gray And Pink At Pottery Barn

All Pottery Barn stores seem to have their own "in-store" display designers. 

It's my experience each Pottery Barn seems a whole lot different from the other ones because of this, even though they carry the same merchandise.

Dining Display At Pottery Barn, On Knox St, Dallas TX

My favorite Pottery Barn store is just a little north of downtown Dallas on Knox Street, just west of Highway 75.

The whole area is lovely and old with well-kept, tree-lined streets and beautiful homes built before World War II. 

This store's entry opens into the dining area section of the store, and it was love at first sight for me and their dusty-gray-and-pale-pink dining room display here!

They also had a front room display set up next to the dining room display, which carried on the pinks and dusty grays.

I was in the area to buy a long planned for couch at a Weir's Furniture store across the street, but I never miss an opportunity to stroll through this Pottery Barn store and soak in the lovely displays. 

I once took a vow to never ever again use the term "Pops Of___" but I'm breaking my vow here because there's no other way to say it except the pops of dark pink in just a few areas really made the displays come to life!

It's still Low-Spend January for me, so I didn't buy anything here. 

But I will say I longed for, lusted after, and (hang my head in shame) even "felt up" every soft throw and pillow in the place!

How about you? Do you like the dusty grays and pale wood that seems to be coming out this year? 

I saw a pretty bed painted in a medium dusty gray that actually made me want to go home and paint something gray instead of my usual white.

Hope you'll join me at the Amaze Me Monday Party over at Dwellings, The Heart Of Your Home.

Thanks for dropping by!

Tuesday's Cozy At Christmas Blog Tour

Today is the second day of the Cozy At Christmas blog tour. I got lots of Christmas ideas yesterday while touring the four homes on the first day of the tour.

I was inspired by Cecillia at The B Farm to hang a few snowy pictures on the wall behind our Christmas tree yesterday. I really loved how her snowy pictures added to the feel of her cozy tree.

All the red plaid and patterns on yesterday's tour made me think our home felt a little dull! I had already placed a red plaid throw across the arm of the love seat here, but now I want to add a lot more color after seeing the lovely colorful homes on the tour.

I scrounged around in the top of a closet and found a red plaid duvet cover from a few years back and two red floral pillow shams that were packed away. 

The shams were given to me by my mother about 12 years ago when she didn't want them any more. It seems everything old is new again for sure. All you have to do is hide them away and wait!

I'm thinking of using these in some way -- other than on a bed as they are intended -- but haven't quite figured it out yet. Any suggestions in your comments would be much appreciated!

I've linked below the tours of the homes scheduled for today. Hope you'll have time to stop by and mingle.

Tuesday - Blog Tour Day 2

Have A Cup Of Mrs Olson's
Ever Evolving Home
DIY Beautify
Opulent Cottage
Joy In Our Home

If you missed any of yesterday's home tours, you can find the links to those tours HERE.

Thanks for dropping by!

Goodbye To Orange

Started clearing out the Fall and Halloween things today to make way for Christmas.

Orange is not a favorite color of mine, but I do like these shades of it in the leaves and placemat here.

The gravy boat and butter dish are Pottery Barn items from years back. I don't even remember the year I bought them, though that's probably due to my age and not theirs.

I love anything with a woodland theme. These pieces have squirrels running up a piece of twig used for the handles. 

I can't remember ever using them as serving pieces, we just use them for decoration around this time of year.

They wouldn't ever be large enough when our tribe gets together for holiday meals! To fit everyone in, we usually have to eat buffet style to leave as much room as possible on the tables. 

Thanks for dropping by!

You Can't Always Get What You Want

Bless my heart...I was on Pinterest last week looking at one thing and ended up at another. You know that 'ole rabbit hole that's easy to get sucked into?

Anyway, I saw some beautiful table settings, which of course made me think to myself:  "Sugar, you need some of those plates!"

I went to the website to see how much a set would be. The price was $298, which was OK by me...I just wanted to check how many there were in the set. 

My hopes of setting my future fancied-up table were dashed when I realized they wanted $298 a plate! COME ON! With tax that would be almost $3000 for just a set of 8 plates. 

A few days later, I went to a Vintage Market Days event where I spotted a lovely soup tureen, with a ladle, and a price tag of $19. 

As I was gleefully paying for the soup tureen, the vendor asked if I noticed the matching bowls on the same shelf? 

I told her I didn't really need bowls, but when she said they were $2 apiece...well, back I went for them!

Sadly, when she showed me the last piece she had, a matching platter for $19, I was stupid silly enough to pass it up! I've been kicking myself ever since.

To tell you the truth, I like the blue band a lot better than the green band around that $298 one. I figure I can always throw some acorns around the table to bring in that woodsy feel!

Thanks for dropping by!

Joining the party here:
Talk Of The Town Party
Share Your Cup 

All I See Is Blue...

Have you ever noticed that when you focus on something, all of the sudden you will see it everywhere? 

I've been loving the color blue for the last month since I bought an old, blue-gray tool box at a flea market sale.

I added some blue faux hydrangeas and then dug out some old blue floral pillow shams, from my bedding stash, to spread the blue to the love seat.

At PotteryBarn the other day, I zoned right in on these blue plaid pillow covers...

And, in their kitchenwares, the little blue swirl colanders almost jumped right into my arms! Love at first sight and all...

PotteryBarn

I feel kinda like the kid in the movie, The Sixth Sense...

"I SEE...BLUE...STUFF"

I never use to notice blue at all! Now blue is all around me, and I can't resist it!

I have to guard against getting obsessed with it again though. I did get carried away, back in the late 80's, with country blue. 

I ended up almost painting the whole inside of the house with it. And that's all I'm going to say about that...

Thanks for dropping by!

Joining the Party Here:
Amaze Me Monday

Adding Pattern With PB Florals

If you're tired of all the white and tone-on-tone bedding that's been popular for a while, Pottery Barn's newest catalog has some lovely new florals. I fell in love at first glance...just look.

Pottery Barn Catalog

I have a fascination with painting all my furniture white, and I've been slapping different white paint samples on my walls here and there while planning to pick one shade and go white all the way! I think that's why I'm finding a little floral color in bedding very appealing.

Pottery Barn Catalog

This is my favorite from their new florals. I borrowed all these pictures from the website. Go HERE if you're interested in seeing more of the Pottery Barn florals. 

Pottery Barn Catalog 

Let me know if you're as smitten with this new floral line as I am. Pottery Barn recommends mixing their vintage-inspired florals with rustic wood and industrial styles. They had me at the aged brick walls!

I'm hoping if bedding manufacturers get enough interest in florals we may see more variety become available. I wouldn't mind if they created some stripes to mix in with the florals either. Are you listening Pottery Barn?

Pottery Barn Website

As always, all opinions are my own and I'm just sharing an interest here and not being paid to promote.

Thanks for dropping by!

Kopycat: Fall Candle

I like the simple stuff even though I seem to complicate everything I touch. Hmmm...Does that even make sense?

This is my version of a recent Fall decorated candle holder I saw in a magazine. Yeah, I dropped some Fall colored leaves down the sides of the candle...I told you it was simple!

The faux leaves are from Hobby Lobby, that mecca of crappy decorating products that we all can't seem to pass up.

The candle is faux too. No lives were endangered for this touch of Fall moment! This remote-controlled, battery operated faux candle is from Costco (pack of 5 various sizes for about $20 and 10 batteries even included) and, though not as real looking as some, still better than lighting candles.

This picture was my inspiration for the 5 minute Fall decor. There are so many great ideas in this seasonal magazine from Country Sampler, it was well worth the cover price.

The cover says 217 Quick & Clever Ideas for Fall, and I did find a lot of the ideas charming. 

Thanks for dropping by!

(as always, just my opinion...not compensated for any product endorsements)

Five On Friday Returns...

After an August break, Five on Friday returns today on English Amy's blog called Love Made My Home. I'm happy to be linking up this little corner of our house today. 

Let's pretend I put these things together because they have a feel of late summer/early fall and add texture and lightness to an otherwise drab room. Truth is they probably just ended up here with no where else to go and I just noticed today they conveniently add up to five.

One...Magnolia Leaf Wreath. I may have to change out the bow as it's getting a little worn, but for now the shimmery gold color is coming into season. The wreath hangs on an old garage sale frame to give it added oomph. 

Two...Old garage sale table lamp with Pottery Barn shade. To say I love these shades is an understatement. I bought two of these smaller ones and two larger ones some time back, and it was the best money I've ever spent at Pottery Barn. 

I wanted one more of the larger shades, but they don't carry them anymore. I love the color and the texture, and the fact that I can interchange them with all my lamps, including the floor lamps.

Three...The most realistic fake candle I've ever had! Honestly, this candle's wick makes it really hard to tell it's fake.

It works on two little triple A batteries and has a remote control. The "flame" is this little piece of plastic, shaped like a flame, that wavers back and forth and makes the light look like it's flickering.

Wild Bill thought it was real until he picked up the remote and turned it off and on by himself. 

Four...The Easter Rabbit is still hanging round in the old blue and white enamel bowl, which sits on an old wooden cake plate. 

He has a little flower pot in his lap for now, but soon little pumpkins will fill up the bowl around him to help him transition to Fall.

Five...Did you notice the old farm table with baskets that everything is sitting on? I bought it at an actual farm sale back in the early 80's and it was already old back then. 

I've painted it a few times...forest green, french gray, and of course white too...now it's going to get a little distressing and some dark wax very soon.

Well, that's my five for this week. Follow the link HERE and check out what the others are up to before the Labor Day weekend is over.

Thanks for dropping by!

Join The Fun Here Too:
Willy Nilly Friday 5
Fabulous Fall Party