Fall Inspiration at the Furniture Store

Well, it's still HOT here.  The kind of heat that has worn out it's welcome as far as I'm concerned.  So, while I have nothing against summer, I am just yearning for the cooler temperatures to arrive.  I want to be enjoying the outdoors without melting.  

Yesterday we escaped the heat and spent a few hours in the air conditioned Hickory Furniture Mart.  One of my favorite stores to visit is an Amish made furniture shop.  The craftsmanship of the furniture is so impressive to me.  I also enjoyed how they had decorated for the fall season.  This large dining table with seating for 12 greeted us when we first walked in.  I could just picture each chair filled with family members enjoying Thanksgiving dinner together.  A fire would be crackling in the fireplace and, perhaps, the snow would be falling outside the windows.  Ha!  On a blistering hot day, one can dream.

I would love to curl up in this bed with a good book.

Unfortunately the scale of this furniture was too large for the guest room we are trying to furnish.

I'm not quite ready to decorate for fall.  I did, however, enjoy gathering inspiration for when the time comes.

Sitting by a campfire on a cool, crisp evening sounds heavenly right about now.

This display makes me anticipate fall baking and those delicious fall flavors.  Pumpkin Spice, Apple Everything, Cinnamon, Cloves & Nutmeg.

All of these pretty fall decorations are getting me in the mood to start adding a few touches to my own home.  This week our temperatures are forecast to drop into the 80s.  One day the high is only supposed to be 79.  Woo Hoo!!!  I think that might be all that's needed to start the decorating process.  I may begin with the hutch.  I like the simple way they decorated the one above.

I'm nowhere near being ready to see Halloween decorations here as they look out of place to me when it's full on summer outside.  When the leaves start to change and cooler temperatures are here to stay, that will be the time for jack o' lanterns.

I did have to laugh at this display in the Amish buggy.

While we didn't find furniture at the Amish shop, it was fun to wander through and be inspired.  

We did find what we were looking for in one of the other shops.  Awaiting furniture delivery will be a pleasant way to pass these late summer days.  My son has recently bought his first house.  We have donated some of our furniture to him.  I now feel right at home in his house :D.

Enjoy this last August weekend!

Social Media Connections While Traveling

Shortly before our recent vacation I was scrolling through Instagram and came across a new to me account called simplycountryhome.  I enjoyed looking through the little vignettes she featured.  When she mentioned visiting her booth in an antique mall, I checked to see where this mall was located.

Wytheville, Virginia

I called out to ask Brett if we would be anywhere near there on our trip to Michigan.  We'll be going right through it was his reply.

Hmmm...

JoJo's Attic in Wytheville, Va became a place to stop along the way.

Brett was content to read in the car while I went in search of booth 102.

Before I saw the booth number I knew I was in the right place just by seeing her cute displays.

After enjoying her booth, I selected one thing to bring home with me.

The basket hanging above.  It was just what I had been looking for to hang on the hooks.  She had it filled with greens and petite pine cones.  I can picture changing what's in it to suit the seasons.

While paying for my purchase I decided to share with the lady who was bagging it up how I happened to find them.  Turns out it was her booth so I was glad I told her about this happy coincidence.

Further along on the trip, we had decided to venture off the interstate and travel through Ohio's Amish Country.  We had been through here many years ago (long before IG and YouTube) and decided it might be fun to re-visit the area.

I spent way too much time in one of the gift shops and then we had lunch here:

After lunch as we were driving around trying to decide if we had seen everything, I had a lightbulb moment.

I remembered a YouTuber that I have enjoyed watching who lives in the Amish area of Ohio.  I jumped on my phone and pulled up this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMonKFlTp48&t=878s

After watching it quickly, I consulted my tourist guidebook and set off to find:

If you watch Mary at White Cottage Company on YouTube, this may look familiar to you too.

At the antique mall I didn't see any names on the booths.

As I walked through this one, I suspected I had found the one I was looking for.

It was so fun to see Mary's creativity and talents in person.

As I was leaving her booth I saw this and knew, without a doubt, that I was in the right place.  As much as I would have liked to purchase something from her, I just couldn't find the right thing.

In the aforementioned video, Mary talks about one of her favorite booths (Tammy's).  It was probably the largest booth and very nicely done.  I did purchase a trio of those little white Christmas trees above.  While in that booth I overheard a few women oohing and aahing and then they mentioned Mary's booth.  I think they were fellow YouTube fans.

Another glimpse of Tammy's booth.

The only other thing that called my name was this Apple Pie Spice tin.  I thought it needed to join the Pumpkin Pie Spice as it will soon be time for baking the Thanksgiving pies.  Interestingly enough it is still filled with it's original spice and 39 cent price tag.  I don't think I'll be adding it to my real pie, but it fits right in with the old toy stove display.

Closet Updates

Despite the birdy distractions, my closet cleaning project did get finished.  I find when tackling this job it works best if I am in the mood to go through everything from shoes to clothing to jewelry.  It's also important to have a good chunk of time to devote to it.

This time I was very honest with myself and anything that isn't being worn for whatever reason has now found a new home.  A few bags were donated to the thrift shop and three more bags were taken to a local shop that uses their profits to build a safe home for mothers and their children who are escaping domestic abuse.  The lady who works there told me that domestic violence has risen 75% during the pandemic.  I feel fortunate to have never lived in that situation.  It would make me feel hopeful if my donations could contribute to their overall goal.

Because I enjoy seeing what other women my age wear, I somewhat reluctantly, share a few outfits that made the cut.  I have had this white denim jacket for years and years.  Mostly it has been in the closet gathering dust.  After watching some YouTube videos on fashion over 50, I was inspired to try tucking in my shirt and wearing a belt.  The few belts I owned left a lot to be desired so I did buy a new one.  Apparently this belt is capable of stretching 2".  Hmm... not sure if that is a good thing or not :).

Anyhow, with this tucked in look I think my old jacket is a good length so it remains in the closet.

This is a new outfit also inspired from my 50+ video watching.

This reminds me of getting new spring play clothes when I was a kid.  Super comfy and fun.

Had I not been watching these videos I never in a million years would have bought these jeans.  I am guilty of wearing the same style of jeans for years.  The last time I changed was probably 5-6 years ago when the sales lady at Old Navy steered me toward skinny jeans.  They have served me well except when it starts to get warmer outside I find them a bit constricting.  The jeans above are the straight leg style.  Much looser and airier than my skinny jeans.

I had also been on the hunt for leather sneakers that were comfortable.  I had been holding onto a very uncomfortable pair of Keds for years.  This year I refuse to hobble around in discomfort.  It took awhile, but I finally found what I was looking for on sale at Kohl's.  They had one pair left and it was in my size so I guess it was meant to be.

Another mix of old and new.

The jean jacket is so old I don't even remember buying it.

It seems you can't go wrong with having a classic jean jacket.

I was all set to order a new one online when I compared mine to the classic Levi's model.  They were the exact same except mine was lacking a Levi's tag on the pocket.  So instead I laundered mine and moved it from the far reaches of my coat closet to front and center in my bedroom closet.  Sometimes it pays to look at old things with new eyes.  I suppose that is what I'm trying to do with my old body. :D.

Finally, the white jeans with the button fly.

Another style I would have never thought to wear at my age and with my less than flat abs.  After being assured that you can, in fact, still wear them under those circumstances I decided to try them out.

They are super comfy and I like the white paired with the blue denim jacket.  

I didn't bother with shoes in this photo, but I did wear this with my new white sneakers.  It is also recommended to pair white pants with nude colored sandals.  I'm still on the hunt for comfy nude sandals.

Overall my closet is still rather bare.  

Another thing I have learned is that when you purchase a new wardrobe addition, make sure you can wear it with at least three things already in your wardrobe.  I think I was guilty of buying outfits that I liked which was rather limiting.  Now I am striving for things that mix and match and also things that fit my current lifestyle.  Basically casual and comfortable.

 
Well, that's it from my closet.

Anything new to report from yours?

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend wherever you are.

December 5th ~ Festive Holiday Displays

Part of the fun of the holidays to me is looking at all of the pretty displays in the shops.  I also like to check out seasonal products in the grocery stores, etc.  At this point I don't buy a lot, but it sure is fun to take it all in.

This display was in a local shop.  I love the pops of color and the way the holiday jewelry was displayed.  So pretty how they tied the colors on the bottle brush trees with that necklace in the lower righthand corner.  What I really love, though, is the silver mannequin/Christmas tree in the upper lefthand corner.  How cute!!

Have any shop displays caught your attention recently?

🎄🎄🎄

Kitchen Fun and Porch Sprucing

While strolling through the local thrift shop I paused to take a closer look at this print.  It was sporting a brown wood frame which didn't suit it.  However, looking past that it offered a lot of interesting elements.  Hello aqua Mason jar, little wren in the chef's hat, vintage recipe card and dragonfly perched on the aqua eggs.

The $3.00 price tag kind of sealed the deal.

Once home the first order of business was releasing it from that horrid frame.

I propped it up on my kitchen counter and rather liked the way the subway tile in the print and in my kitchen blended together so well.

Thinking it needed something more to fill the space on the counter, I went searching in cupboards and drawers.

An aqua Mason jar and this bee skep candle looked like promising subjects.

A few more treasured pieces and a hydrangea from the garden were all that was needed.

Now when washing dishes and peeling carrots my eyes will rest on this happy vignette.  

Not bad for 3 bucks and a scavenger hunt through the house.

The sweet whimsical details on this print made me curious to know a bit more about the artist.  After taking a picture of her signature and enlarging it I was able to make out the name.  Katie Crawford.  Thanks to the wonder of the internet I was led 

here.  A delightful spot to peek around in.

In other news, we got the flag hung.

The porch furniture has been scrubbed (finally).  Lots of dirt in the air with all of these new houses going up.

The bunting is hung and we are ready for another Independence Day in the USA.

If you will be celebrating, enjoy!

****

Decorating the Foyer

 The foyer in my last house was the one area that had me stumped for the whole time I lived there.  I know they say the foyer should make a good first impression and create a welcoming feel to all who enter.  The problem was, unless you find a grandfather clock with two pictures next to it exciting, it was lacking on all fronts.

Seems I could never figure out quite what to do with it so I sort of ignored it.

So now, in this new house, I was determined to create a more welcoming foyer right off the bat.

I started by heading to HomeGoods to check out their lamps.  This house has a very open floor plan so I was trying to tie the adjoining room colors together without being too bold.  This lamp with a touch of white, gray and blue seemed ideal.

 I knew I also wanted a mirror, but had no idea what it should look like until I saw this one.  I decided to bring it home and give it a try.

Once we managed to get the mirror hung and played around with the accessories, I was pleased with how it came together.  

My son dropped by shortly after things came together and wondered "what's up with the Gather"?  Ha!  I'm hoping to create a home that encourages new friends to gather together and feel welcome.

As for the grandfather clock and two pictures, they have been relocated right across the hall.  I think they look more comfortable in there :).

Here it is the third week of January and I haven't even wished you all a Happy New Year.  I hope you are managing to stay warm and healthy.

Weekend Fun

Good Monday Morning to you.

How was your weekend?

Did you do anything fun/interesting?

We decided to tackle something on the "to do list".

For the past few years (okay, two to be exact), we've sat down together and made the list.

We did a pretty good job of tackling last year's list.

Although there was one thing that carried over to this year and that was finding a new pedestal sink and faucet for the powder room.

The current model has been serving us for the past 17 years.

Although most of those years I have found it to be on the skimpy side.

By that I mean it is a challenge to find a bottle of soap that will stay put while also leaving room to turn on the faucet.  Through the years the soap has fallen overboard on more than a few occasions.

The other issue with the current sink is that shiny brass faucet.

Not only is it out of fashion, but a closer look would show the odd shade of green it has turned over the years.   Along with the green "patina" the minerals in our water have been leaving an impossible to remove build-up on the brass.

No amount of scrubbing makes it look nice.

I think I've turned a blind eye to the whole thing.

Although when I stop and think that this is usually the only bathroom our guests see, I know it's time for an upgrade.

A weekend trip to a nearby bath/kitchen & lighting showroom was where we found ourselves on Saturday.

Last year we tried the local hardware type shops with no luck.

It was fun to see what the current trends are. 

Space limits us from having a sink with a cabinet below.

So, we looked around for one that would be slightly wider with a nice space for placing the soap bottle. 

This one seems to fit our requirements.

From there we checked out the faucets.

We knew that brushed nickel, oil rubbed bronze and chrome were out for us.  While there were a few shiny brass options, we wanted something different.  We're leaning toward a "champagne brass" finish.  Still brassy, but not bright and shiny.

The selection of light fixtures in this shop was amazing.

It's been a long time since I've shopped for any and they have changed a lot since then.

The chandelier above took my breath away.

I'm not sure I've ever seen one that I loved more.

I've always though a pretty chandelier over the bathtub would be delightful.

Just for the heck of it I checked out the price tag.

Thud!

At nearly $2200 I'll content myself with a photo.

For now I'll just be happy to get that sink and faucet crossed off the list.

Thankful Thoughts ~ Day 13

While it's far too early for me to be decking the halls of my happy home for Christmas, it's not too early to start thinking about it.

Even though we are trying to pare down on our decorating around here, I still love to see pretty Christmas displays.

So, when my favorite local shop sent out the invitation to their annual Christmas Open House, I happily took them up on the offer.

I know from past experience that they go all out to create a magical Christmas wonderland. 

The moment you walk in the door you can tell you are in for a special treat.

This shop has such a nice way of creating their displays.

Sometimes I just shop for ideas.

New ways to display things I already own.

I thought these galvanized metal shelves were an adorable way to highlight a special collection.

It was a most enjoyable day taking in the pretty décor and sampling different holiday treats.

We came home with lots of inspiration,

a few new appetizer recipes along with special ingredients to make them and a new book.

As soon as I hit the publish button here I'm curling up under the covers to seek further inspiration.

I think this book is right up my alley.

***

Salem Creek in Winston-Salem, NC is the name of the shop we visited today.

This was their 35th Christmas Open House.

With many shops coming and going throughout the years, I can see why they are still going strong.  I hope they enjoy many more years of success.

I know it must take a lot of hard work to create such a lovely open house for their customers and I am thankful that they do.

Thankful today for those special little shops we love to visit and especially for their holiday open houses.

Conversation in an Antique Shop

Back here  I shared the story of this children's ironing board which resides in my laundry room.  Despite the fact that I'm all grown up, these little vintage toys tug at my heartstrings.

You may or may not understand this attraction.  If you don't, you may want to mosey on out of here as continuing to read may make you wonder about me.  :D

Okay, now that you've been duly warned...

on with the story.

When my mom was still alive she would sometimes give me a monetary gift with a note included saying it was to be used for something I would enjoy (i.e:  not to buy groceries or pay bills).

Not one to disappoint my mom, this little gem was calling   screaming my name from the antique store shelf recently:

 

 Thinking I couldn't possible justify the price I remembered a monetary gift I'd received for Christmas.  Hmmm, what would mom say?  

As long as I'm on the subject of vintage toy love...

I've had these child sized clothespins for a long time.

The laundry tub in the first photo above was way too big for this little vignette.

When we were on our recent getaway, we stopped into the local antique mall where I was hunting for one thing...

a galvanized child's size laundry tub.

I searched carefully through every booth with no luck.

Truthfully I didn't even know if such a thing existed.

As I was about to leave one of the sales ladies asked me if I found what I was looking for.  After telling her what it was, she said she had one in her booth.  A conversation ensued.

She told me her parents had sold antiques together after their retirement.  Her mother's special interest was children's  items.

She shared with me that her mother had died unexpectedly last year.

When I told her about my interest in children's kitchen and laundry toys, she said she knew she had a box at home of  children's kitchen items that had been her mom's.

She offered to call me if she could locate them and I could come in before the shop opened the next morning to see if I was interested in any of them.  She told me she would be happy to know that they were going to a good home.

The next morning when I met her at the shop, she was on the phone for a while.  After hanging up she apologized and said that her dad had just fallen.  Since he lives in another state she was trying to assess what to do.  As the middle child she said the decisions seemed to fall to her.  As a fellow middle child, my ears perked up to this.  She went on to explain that he has been falling a lot recently, he has been lost without her mother,  though a very capable man he was nearly useless in the kitchen she said.  We laughed about how with that generation it was so common for men to stay out of the kitchen and laundry room.  

Though we needed to get on the road soon, I knew she could use a listening ear.

As she talked I felt her pain.

Emotions still very raw with the loss of her mother and now she said she felt it was probably time for her to find an assisted living home for her father to move into.

These decisions are never easy.

My heart went out to her as I was reminded of going through a similar scenario with my mom.

As we talked she showed me her mom's vintage kitchen toys.

She said she'd like to offer me a better price on anything I was interested in.  Along the way she told me bits and pieces of the history of some of these treasures.  

A little board to roll cookies on and an angel food cake pan for the little stove remind me of my mom's love for baking cookies and her special angel food cake dessert that we all loved.  They also remind me of the antique store owner's mother.  A lady I never met but feel that I would have enjoyed knowing had our paths ever crossed.

I'm also reminded of two middle child daughters doing their best to support and love their parents til the end of their days.