Friday, October 25, 2013

Back Where I Belong


Welcome Back to my Happy Home, dear blog friends.

  To make a long story short..
I thought I could close my blog door.
I was Wrong (with a capital W).
I learned a lot from this and have now decided that this is where I belong, for better or worse.
I've also learned that each of you belong here too.  
During this process a few of you shared that you, too, have had thoughts of giving up blogging.  I'm here to say...don't do it.  I would miss you too much.  :D.
Okay, now that that is cleared up, let's get on with the beautiful fall season.
Before we go too much further I wanted to point out the little facelift we gave to the outdoor lights since I've been gone.
See them up there?

 This is last year.
The lights had faded greatly since the house was built in 1999.
In fact we were having trouble remembering their original color.
We think it was a charcoal gray type of a color.
We talked about replacing all (7) of them and quickly decided we still liked the shape and structurally they were still sound.
So, my job was to clean all of the glass and clear the spiderwebs and wasp nests from them.  Ugh!
Meanwhile, Brett spray painted them with this:



 The cost of a few cans of spray paint and a little elbow grease was preferable to the cost of replacing them and it was amazing how much better they look.


Come on into the kitchen.
 My friend and neighbor recently went to an estate sale and kindly thought of me when she saw this little orange toy stove.
It came with the little percolator and the pan too.
The turkey is on loan from my sister-in-law for blogging photo purposes.  Ha! Now I am on the hunt for my own turkey at the thrift shops.  Hoping to find a little pumpkin pie too ;-).

 ~ Old Gurley candle from my mother-in-law ~

I'm sitting here in my sweater determined not to turn on the furnace.  We're just now getting the chilly weather, although the sun is shining brightly.  Peanut and I have scoped out the sunny spots to sit in.  
Have you had to turn on your furnace yet?


 
The cooler weather turns my thoughts to making soup.
A few days ago I had some kale from the farmer's market that needed to be used.  I found a recipe for White Bean, Kale, Potato & Ham Soup on one of my favorite cooking blogs.  The recipe can be found here.  We really enjoyed it.



 Do you have anything fun planned for the weekend?
We're going to be test driving cars tomorrow.  How's that for rip-roaring fun?  I'm hoping we can squeeze in a fall drive after the test drive.  Our trees are in the process of putting on their autumn finery.  Love this time of year.  So much beauty to be found all around us.

Make it a good weekend.
 Sip cider, read under a cozy blanket, take a walk with camera in hand, make a big pot of soup or an apple crisp, rake leaves, sleep in, plan what your jack-o-lantern will look like, or even... test drive a car ;-).

Whatever you do, have fun and enjoy.

   

20 comments:

  1. Love this post, Kim. I am always on the look out for a nice white soup tureen, Gurley candles, and a cute ghost like the one by your front door. I am going to squeeze in some fall fun this weekend for sure. xo

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  2. ? I see the date, but some if this sounds familiar. Sometimes I feel as if I'm walking in fog in Blogdom. ; >

    What a great save on the lights! Probably enough to trade in a car! LOL. Hope that you will take your camera while you go on your leaf peeping tour.

    You always create the best vignettes!

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  3. Welcome back Kim, Thank you for the pep talk! the refreshing of the lantern lights are great! we finally gave in and turned our heat on last evening! Tonight we are having a freeze warning, and then it turns back to more seasonable weather. So we spent today covering up and bringing the plants in tonight.
    I always enjoy how you decorate your beautiful home, our home was also built in 1999,and we have had to make a lo tof renovations this past year, hopefully we will soon be finished. I really like the little stove, and have been looking one for myself you have a very thoughtful neighbor.
    I plan to do some of the suggestions that you gave this weekend. Tomorrow I will be looking for leaves to paint with candle wax, like Vee had suggested. You gave some wonderful advice about staying here in blogland, I have thought of leaving many times but just could not do it because of the friends, such as you, that I have made in blogland So thank you for staying.
    Enjoy your weekend,
    Hugs,
    Sue

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  4. Hi Kim! It's so nice to be invited back to your home again! Your front entrance is beautiful. Sadly, we had frost last night and we've already had to turn on the furnace. Good luck finding a car! Have a nice weekend! Twyla

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  5. Woo hoo! I'm so glad you didn't close the door to Happy @ Home!
    Your entry is gorgeous! I SO love what you did to your lamps!

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  6. I am so happy that you have decided to continue blogging!
    Great way to save money and spruce your front entrance up. Very pretty.
    Yes, our heat has been turned on for a little while already and we are liking the pellet stove too. : )
    It was 28 degrees this morning.
    Going to test drive any corvettes!? : )

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  7. Welcome back Kim! So glad you thought this through and decided to continue blogging. Your grandson is adorable. What a fun age as they learn so much and are so aware of their surroundings. Your newly painted lights look beautiful! I love that cute little orange stove! Enjoy the car shopping and leaf peeping. Pam

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  8. Well glad to see the welcome mat still out! I agree I would miss reading other Blogs and all the sweet comments left by others on my Blog, it's really very important in my life~ Hugs, Diane

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  9. So glad you're staying on line. I do enjoy reading blogs. Your lights look wonderful.

    This weekend I've been planting tulip bulbs, making applesauce and puttering around the house. Yes, we've turned our heat on - it's chilly in the mornings.

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  10. So glad you decided to stay! There have been a few bloggers who have "closed up shop" and I really miss them. I love your pretty soup tureens. And the cute Gurley candles. I have Gurley Christmas candles, but none for halloween.... yet. :-) That is an adorable little stove. I hope you find your miature turkey and pie, soon.

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  11. I am happy to know that I can still come and visit you here. I like the front door improvement and think something so small as what you did, sure makes a huge improvement. I like that your neighbor thought of you when she saw that orange stove. What a sweet gesture on her part. Don't you love when someone thinks of you when they are out and about?

    As for you weekend, I hope you are enjoying all the beauty of this lovely season, and that you
    find a car that you both agree on:)

    So good to read another one of your posts.

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  12. Your front door/ entrance alcove is identical to the one I had for 8 years on Houston. I kept up with cleaning the lantern's glass but the metal "went" for us too. We did the same thing you did! Great minds think alike???
    It is a fun area to doll up for seasonal holidays.

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  13. Kim, I have been taking some time off, but was delighted to see your post. And your little stove with the turkey. Cute! I'm glad to hear that you're staying, and your decor was pure eye candy. I always enjoy seeing the things you've collected. The lights look great. Isn't it wonderful when we can use what we have with a little change?
    Happy Autumn, Debbie

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  14. Oh my goodness.....that little stove is adorable! I LOVE it! Your lights look great. I can't tell you how many things I have painted with that same paint! I think I am known as the spray paint lady here in our community.

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  15. Such a lovely entry and the makeover on the carriage lamps is awesome.
    Amazing what a can of paint can do!!

    Mary X

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  16. Hi there sweet friend! I'm so happy to be reading your posts and getting caught up with your fun. You know you can never have too many girlfriends and that's what we have when we blog. Love that sweet toy stove! Looks like the turkey's ready! lol Enjoy your weekend! We're loving the fabulous weather....just got back from the park! Sweet hugs!

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  17. Hi Kim,

    I'm late getting around to leave you a comment on this, but may I say I'm SO glad you decided not to quit blogging? We would have dearly missed you! You are such a kind and thoughtful addition to the blog group, and now you see how every person has their own voice and makes a difference. :)

    Your exterior light fixtures look terrific! I love all your fall vignettes; I'm especially partial to soup tureens (even though I don't own a single one). I also love the little blue and white plates in the last picture.

    Welcome back Kim -- I look forward to reading more of your posts!!

    Warm hugs,

    Denise at Forest Manor

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  18. Hi,

    I have a familial blog since 9 years... I just love to share my passion with another friends from all over the word. I have a personne blog group: so funny! ;-)

    Have a nice day!

    Anne
    Ville de Québec

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