During this time of year, I feel the struggle between the slower pace of autumn and the frenzy of the upcoming holidays. The rhythm of the seasons, the changing of the temperature, and the harvest are all reasons to stop, reflect, enjoy and to give thanks.

I long for the days where the start of Christmas was the day after Thanksgiving. The retail push gets earlier and earlier every year. Even though I do understand those wanting to be the first to share their Christmas design, decor and all things to buy, I miss the slower pace of just enjoying November. To see a previous post on my love for November, click here.

I love Thanksgiving because there are no gifts, just family, friends, food (and football if you like). Planning for the meal, creating a beautiful table setting and breaking bread together, makes it an extra special holiday. A time to reflect on the previous months of the year, a time to reflect on the blessings of life, a time to gather.

Thankful for my Community

Just a few days ago, our local police commander put out an appeal for turkey donations, as our food bank is short for Thanksgiving this year. A few members of our neighborhood board donated money and yesterday, my son and I went to Costco to buy frozen turkeys.

Unfortunately, when we arrived in the meat area, there is a sign indicating a maximum of 5 turkeys per customer. After speaking with a manager and the head of the meat department, we packed 16 turkeys into the shopping cart and headed to check out.

When we arrived at the police station, the reaction from Officer J.B. Klima is pure joy when he saw the trunk of my car filled with turkeys. It is heartwarming to see a big refrigerated truck in the parking lot of the police station filling with turkeys.

I am grateful to live in a neighborhood where people take an active role in caring for others and step up when there is a need. And what a fun experience for me to share with my son!

Thankful for My Health

During a year when health is top of mind for everyone, I am so grateful for my health and vibrance. Much of it has to do with genetics, but also I do try to take care of myself (for the most part). Naturally, there is always room for improvement, but having a positive attitude, remaining connected, eating correctly and exercising helps the situation.

There are many things you can do to feel better, look better and not get sick. If you haven’t read my blog post on 10 Tips on Aging Well, please do. Also, with flu season around the corner, please check out my 10 Tips to Stay Healthy. I wrote this before the pandemic, but it still applies. Together, let’s commit to a healthier 2021.

My Family and Friends

My family is my life. Raising 3 rather amazing children (if I don’t mind saying so) and having a life partner who supports me and all my interests, is the fiber of my being. On Thursday, everyone will be home for Thanksgiving and I am so excited to share time together.

Unfortunately, both my parents are gone, and my siblings don’t live nearby. But when we connect through phone calls and emails, I look back on my childhood fondly and am happy to have many years of fun memories with them.

What would we do without our girl friends? Last Saturday I spent a spontaneous day with my friend, Barb and it was balm for the soul. It’s been hard to really laugh this year, but we did and boy, it was exactly what we needed!

Thankful for You

I can honestly say that I love writing this blog. But often, after I press the SEND button, I have a moment of anxiety thinking that no one will read it, and no one will like it. However, you are the best subscribers anyone could have. Your kind comments and feedback are the food I need to just keep writing. Hearing that you’ve made one of my recipes or tackled a DIY project is music to my ears.

Plus, I am always so thrilled when you refer this blog to someone else. We all need to pull together, share beauty, and keep each other’s spirits up. An unexpected gift is that I have made many new friendships through blogging.

So as we approach Thanksgiving (with or without Christmas decorations), let’s take a moment and be still. Know I am thankful for you and grateful for all that God has given me. Sending warm hugs to you!

Since I shared my husband’s home office space earlier this week (see post here), today I will show you where I work. Since I am in our kitchen 99% of the time, having my computer desktop nearby is very handy. And now that our home is nearly child-free (of course until the next pandemic), we are not using the breakfast room table for meals any more. So the breakfast room is my work space/office. Logistically perfect, but it’s hard to keep it neat and tidy.

My work space is like my brain. Organized clutter. It may look messy to the average person, but I know where everything is. And you can tell what I am working on by the stacks of projects on the table.

Today I am joining some of my good blogging buddies for our November DIY blog hop where they are sharing Home Office ideas and tips too. Please check out their stories at the bottom of this post!

Table Challenges

Ah, the table. I purchased this many years ago, but I cannot tell you if it is a new table made to look old or a really old table. But since I’ve had it for 25 years, I guess we can call it vintage. When we began restoring this house, the table is where we would gather with our architect and contractor, lay out the plans and make big house decisions.

One day a worker, obviously bored, decided it was a good idea to pound a nail into it. I guess he thought it was old and worthless. That was the beginning of the abuse this poor table took. Notice all the chips where the “made to look old” paint has come off.

Then, only making matters worse, the contractor tried repairing it by using the wrong colors of paint. Really, bright green and blue? So I finally decided to try my hand at touching up the chips and dings. The nail hole will stay as I guess it makes a good story.

Storage

Recently I ordered a two drawer filing cabinet from Wayfair since this is a table and not a desk. Here is a similar one from Amazon for less.With no drawers for office things, all the paperwork is placed in file folders. I truly have a folder for everything.

The filing cabinet slides nicely under the table and being a dark color it disappears from sight.

Using baskets and trays, I try keeping current projects organized on the table top.

I am putting my recent melamine tray from My Stylish French Box to good use. A vintage pink glass bowl holds paperclips.

And this ornate inlaid box is a sweet place for my business cards.

Office Equipment

Since I am constantly using a printer, this new small Epson ET-2760 is perfect on the decorative chest. There is storage below where I put stationary, printing supplies and file folders.

Blending Decors

Since you pass by my office space to enter the kitchen, it is a well traveled path. With a blue and white chinoiserie lamp (from Overstock) and a blue/white vase with flowers, I try and tie my workspace in with the rest of the room.

The large painting by Hector Armendariz Martinez from Mexico is one of my favorites. I love the blue and white vases and platters on the shelves in the painting. This space was practically the only wall in our home where this large piece of art fits. To see more about our art collection, click here.

Two ladder back chairs sit at either end of the table, in case I have guests. Handmade needlepoint cushions with our initials were made many moons ago and prevent rush seat marks on your thighs.

Beneath the table is a large dog bed. When there isn’t a dog there, it’s a great place for me to rest my feet.

From my office chair, I have wonderful views of the fireplace, outside to a window of green, and to our family mealtime prayer (painted by Kris Kollasch.

Here’s an After picture after I filled my filing cabinet and tidied up the space. Now let’s hope I keep it this way. Do you have a designated work space at home? I’m always looking for better solutions in this space.

The month has been just a blur, hasn’t it? Hoping the fall weather will continue to be crisp and enjoyable. Have a spectacular day and be safe out there.

The DIY Blog Hop

Now onto the DIY Blog Hop!

Chas from Chas Crazy Creations is sharing a DIY Can Organizer for your Office.

Niky from The House on Silverado does a lovely office makeover.

Andrea from Design Morsels makes great suggestions on what rugs work in your office.

Amy from Health, Home and Hearth creates a Command Center to help reduce clutter in your office.

Tarah from Grammas House DIY has small office tip to keep clutter down.

Kippi from Kippi at Home is sharing her ideas for office storage.

Kristin from White Arrows Home has a fun post about setting up a workspace for kids.

Thank you so much for joining me today! Please visit all these bloggers and leave your comments!

If you enjoy this post, please feel free to share on Pinterest.

The older version of this post shared with Between Naps on the Porch 605th Metamorphosis Monday

Inspire Me Monday~My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Inspire Me Monday #290~Life on Oak Hill

Do you ever have one of those days where you are just pooped and resting is the only option? Well, that was me last Saturday with the exception of a long work out at the gym. The day was overcast and must be a drop in barometric pressure, as I didn’t feel like doing anything! So I apologize for not posting last Saturday and look forward to catching up today!

Recent travels

My recent trip to Washington, DC and Old Town Alexandria, Virgina was such fun. Traveling is a breeze (and very clean) and super affordable. The only downside is having to wear a mask. But as with most things in life, we adjust, don’t we?

Many weddings this year are postponed until 2021, but many couples are having a small civil ceremony instead. My son officiated this lovely one which was held outside at the Washington DC War Memorial. With an early morning start time, it was a breezy and chilly day with clear blue skies. So proud of the outstanding job done by Benjamin! And congratulations to Cole and Brooklyn!

We stayed at The Alexandrian hotel in Old Town Alexandria and the location is perfectly close to shops and restaurants. The history is abundant and of course, I loved looking at all the homes, shops and the amazing Halloween/autumn decorations.

Delightful Decorations

Our Nation’s Capitol

Washington, DC is such a beautiful city, for the most part. Unfortunately the rioting this summer has left areas looking like a 3rd world country. It is heartbreaking to see and this destructive behavior is something I just don’t understand.

We also visited the Martin Luther King and Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial too. Not very many people present so we felt like we had the whole place to ourselves.

Technology and its downside

When I returned I felt a bit like a pretzel after sitting on the long plane ride and sleeping in another bed. Happily I have a chiropractor I love and he does wonders for my alignment. While in his office, I spotted this sign:

Dr. David Welch states he is seeing more 30 year olds with headaches and neck pain. What was shocking to hear is that he is actually witnessing wedge-shaped vertebra as a result of texting. Think about that for a minute.

So just a reminder if you are texting or on your phone a lot, change your posture. I personally find this information horrifying. My neck was gravely injured in a car accident many years ago and trust me, you don’t want neck pain.

The Back Staircase Project

I swear, this is the longest project, but I am making good progress. Here are some sample runners I just received in the mail from Dash and Albert. We have decided on the blue/white stripe one. The goal is to get this project finished this week. However, the rug make take several weeks to arrive.

Charitable Event at Scottsdale Artist School

I am excited to see the painting I donated on the promotional piece for Beaux Arts 2020. Beaux Arts is a fundraising event held every year by the Scottsdale Artist School. This year the event will be virtual so everyone will have a chance to participate! There are so many wonderful pieces of art available for bidding (including my painting above!). If you would like to participate (it costs nothing to register), click here. My painting is under the category 2020 Fresh Paint Gallery among so many fabulous entries(see here). Online bidding will begin on November 7 – 14th.

As much as I love to travel, there is something comforting about being home. The weather is definitely cooler here and we are so excited to turn off the air conditioning and throw open all the windows.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend and Happy Halloween! It’s hard to believe it is the end of October already! Any fun plans for the weekend?

If you enjoy this post, please share on Pinterest.

So last night, I was thinking about all the things that make a house a home. This started when I was admiring my lamps in the master bedroom at our cabin. I was relentless in hunting down these lamps, which literally took weeks. I first saw them in a photo (above) of a Sarah Richardson bedroom.

Who remembers the television show, Sarah’s House back in 2014? Sarah Richardson is a Canadian designer and at that time, I was a big fan and loved her style. Rich in fabrics and textures, her bedrooms are dreamy and colorful. Both Sarah Richardson and Candice Olsen were all the rage before Joanna and Chip Gaines.

When the lamps arrived in 2 BIG boxes, I was so excited. So every time I turn on the lights by our bed, I am reminded of how determined I was to purchase these lights. Our master bedroom cabin is on the large size and the scale of these lamps is P.E.R.F.E.C.T!

Luckily, Paulo Bracket Light TOB2201 designed by Thomas O’Brien can still be found through Circa Lighting and through online searches.

The brass arm is articulating and therefore you can pull the light closer to you if needed. The barley twist leg side table is one I found at a thrift store. Someone had waxed and chalk painted over the beautiful wood. It took quite a while to get it back to its original patina, but it is definitely another special piece.

The basket below the table (since there are no drawers) holds my reading material, hand cream and other night time necessities.

Back to Sarah Richardson….So I haven’t seen her work in a few years and I do not believe she has a current television show. Thanks to the internet, I looked her up and boy, has her style changed. She is now more minimalistic and modern. Surprisingly, in one of her videos she is using lots of IKEA pieces. Though her spaces are beautifully orchestrated, I find them lacking the warmth and interest from her previous style. But to each’s own, right?

So what elements make a house a home? For me, it is furnishing my home with pieces I love. That there is a story behind each one. The pieces do not belong to a set, but have unique features and qualities. They vary in age and style but they work together for me.

Like this picture. My mother found this four poster bed on the side of the road for sale for $4.00. It was painted red and she and I stripped it back to its original wood. This was my childhood bed and now it is in my daughter’s bedroom at the cabin.

Or the quilt~which I found during a cross country driving trip. It was in an old antique store black with dirt. I carefully hand washed it in a bathtub of Ivory Snow before I finally saw the beautiful complex stitching. Or the Ralph Lauren sheets that I paid for with my first big promotion. The Laura Ashley rug is from my very first house in Connecticut ~back when Laura Ashley was a thing!

The painting of the pink roses is mine~done in my first year of taking art classes. So many memories in one small room!

There has only been two times in my life where I used an interior designer. When I was a corporate executive, I was traveling a great deal and depended on others to pull my home together. I can honestly say I have no connections with the items they purchased. There is no story to be told except my memory of paying them for their services. Finally, after many years, I have removed several of those pieces and replaced them with meaningful ones.

Maybe my home and cabin aren’t magazine worthy, but they are filled with antiques, vintage, unique pieces and glorious memories. I can recount with nearly every item, where I got it, the life stage I was in and how it touched my heart.

When you look around your home, what do you see? Cherished items and wonderful memories? Or a perfectly staged home that is magazine worthy? Or both (lucky you!)?

I know some people would say that you shouldn’t get so attached to “things”. But they are more than that to me. These items spark wonderful thoughts and memories of all the different phases of my life. When I see the houndstooth sofa in the above picture, I see my teenage daughter Elisabeth, giggling and plopping down on it.

Could I let go of all of them? Yes, because the feelings and memories remain in my heart. But these cherished items help tell the story of my life and my family. And that is worth clinging to.

If you enjoyed this post, please feel free to share on Pinterest. To see more pictures of our cabin, click here.

This post shared with Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday #610

Since the lifestyle at our mountain cabin is mostly part-time and casual, I do not have an extensive supply of table setting items. It is a bit of a challenge to come up with an elaborate table, with limited supplies. So it’s time to become resourceful!

I am excited to participate in a Welcome Fall Tablescape Blog Hop, hosted by Chloe from Celebrate and Decorate. You will find table inspiration from 20 bloggers at the bottom of this post.

Feeling a bit conflicted because I am here at our cabin without a lot of “things”, I am determined to create a lovely table for this blog hop. And since we aren’t here very often, I really don’t even recall what I have or don’t have. And the scavenger hunt begins!

Start with Linens

So I begin the search for linens, dishes, glasses and natural items for the centerpiece. Fortunately, in the kitchen armoire, I discover this unopened Hemstitched linen tablecloth from Willams Sonoma. An obvious bargain purchase, the gold colored tablecloth is the inspiration for this post. You can find similar tablecloths here on Amazon.

Select Your Dishes

Using our every day dishes from Pier 1 imports, the gold tablecloth picks up the yellow in the plate. This when things start to come together!

Centerpiece Ideas?

Fall to me means all the colors of nature~the earth tones of red, yellow, browns and greens. Luckily, I located some artificial autumn leaves in the garage. But after being stored they are wrinkled and curled. With an iron on VERY low heat, I press the leaves that are in the worst condition.

At this point, the gold table cloth seems a little boring to me. What to do? I find a bolt of fabric leftover from a previous project stored in a closet.

The warm tones of the cotton are perfect and I have enough to cut a runner. And the cotton is nice and soft to be made into napkins.

Being here in the mountains, I have access to natural elements like pinecones. I collect a big bowl of them, intent on using them somehow on the table.

Utilizing What You Have

And here is how the table looks! I am pleased that I am able to use what I found around the cabin and didn’t go to any additional expense to put it together. The centerpiece is two sheaths of wheat, the faux fall leaves, pinecones, brass pumpkins, brass candlesticks and numerous votives. If you are looking for brass candlesticks, Amazon has a great selection.

Adding brass elements give it a bit of brightness yet complements the theme. The pinecones become easy place card holders.

I don’t have chargers here, but the burgundy dinner plate anchors the place setting. The fabric runner provides a nice base for all the fall decor.

Night Time Table

At night, the candles create an autumn warmth which gives it a magical feel.

The only stemmed wine glasses we have are numbered, and it’s a good way for people to keep track of their own glass.

For me, the key lesson here is that you can create a pretty table setting with items you already have around the house or in the yard. That bolt of fabric? I hadn’t used it in over 10 years. Now it will become part of my linen collection!

I hope you enjoy this post and thank you so much for visiting today. If you are new to my blog, welcome! For those who have followed me for a long time, I am so grateful for your support. Please let others know if you enjoyed this and share on Pinterest.

Welcome to the Fall Tablescape Blog Hop!

Now onto other Fall Tablescapes! Please check out these other talented bloggers and as always, we love your comments!

Celebrate & Decorate |  Design Morsels | Mantel and Table |Corner of Plaid and Paisley | Home is Where the Boat Is | Belle Blue Interiors|Calypso in the Country | Our Crafty Mom | My Thrift Store Addiction | The Painted Apron|The Little Yellow Corner Store | Sweet Sensations | Living With Thanksgiving | Panoply|Life and Linda | Everyday Living | Bluesky at Home  |Life at Bella Terra | Red Cottage Chronicles | Cozinest 

This post shared with Tuesday Turn About #65

Charming Homes & Gardens #23

Centerpiece Wednesday Karin’s Kottage

To Gramma’s House We Go Link Party #208

Between Naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursday #625

Thursday Favorite Things #456~An Artful Mom

First of all, I want to thank you for the all the words of support about the death of our cat, Tippy. I still wait for her to hop up in my lap at night and I know that will take some time to fade.

Back to School

Yesterday, we moved our youngest daughter into her first apartment as she begins her sophomore year in college. Naturally, she is nervous and excited all at once which resulted in some eye-rolling and impatience, but I am used to all of that by now. To see my empty nesting post last year, click here.

Check out the very cute refrigerator I found in the Back to School catalog at Home Depot. I feel like I’m becoming a Home Depot groupie.

Cooper, Cooper, Cooper….

My last trip out of town, I received the above photo from my daughter, who was at home housesitting. Cooper, our Akbash, experiences anxiety when there is a change in his routine. The way he shows us his displeasure on leaving him is to chew up the down sofa cushion. I love how Elisabeth uses duct tape to try and keep it together. Sigh.

Not only were there feathers everywhere in the house, but also out in the yard. I still feel like I’m coughing up a feather every now and again.

After 3 hours of hand stitching the inner section, I finally reconstructed the cushion. We desperately need a new sofa, but who wants to make a large investment into something new, if Cooper thinks this is his chew toy.

A New Time Saving Product

Have you seen these grill mats? After deep cleaning the BBQ, my husband discovered these Kona grill mats. I was skeptical at first, but was very pleased with how they work. In addition to keeping your grill clean, the meat still has sear lines and this doesn’t change the cooking pattern.

With a sink right next to the grill, I just drop the mats in and easily wash them. We have had good luck using these.

My Stylish French Box

Quarterly, I treat myself to Sharon Santoni’s My Stylish French Box. Sharon lives in France, writes a beautiful blog, and one of these days, I would love to sign up for one of her brocante tours.

This subscription is a luxury as every beautifully-wrapped, sweet-smelling box is delivered straight from France to your door. This box always seems to arrive when I need a joyful boost. If you need a lovely gift for yourself or someone else, here is the link.

This quarter’s theme is entertaining and includes:

a deep blue stoneware oil jug by Digoin, a chic set of salad servers by Sabre, a delicate linen embroidered table runner by Charvet, beautifully wrapped 9 Lucienne beeswax candles by Apis Cera, a mustard pot by Pommery, a melamine service tray from Au Bain Marie, an antique brooch, a roll-on lavender oil and a resident artists’ botanical.

In addition, I entered a contest with them and won an additional August box, which I sent to my sister, Susie for her birthday!

Our Weather

This summer, like several other places in the US, we are experiencing record breaking temperatures. The National Weather Service is declaring an excessive heat warning until Thursday. For the last month, we have been in triple digit heat, every single day.

Last night, my oldest daughter and I were in Tempe, about 30 minutes away and got caught in a huge storm.

I felt like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz as debris and signs were flying across the road and bouncing off the car as we attempted our way home. The monsoon winds hit in full force, with lots of lightning but little to no rain. The visibility from the dust made getting home really treacherous.

Does anyone else feel like God is trying to tell us something this year?

Easy Desserts

When I was in Waco in June, I met Sherri from Mad Dash Mixes. Sherri and her daughter catered one of the meals at the seminar. The creamy tomato basil soup she served was delicious and of course, Sherri and I became fast friends. To read about my visit to Waco, click here.

As a result, she let me take several samples of her Mad Dash Mixes. These pre-packaged, time saving mixes can be used numerous ways. I am now just experimenting with a few, but so far, I am very impressed.

Using their plain cheesecake mix, I added softened cream cheese and freshly whipped cream. Layered in a glass with fresh strawberries and a dollop of whipped cream, this is a very easy, quick summer dessert.

The selection ranges from soups, dips, desserts and marinades. What a great gift for the holidays and if you are innovative, there are many ways to substitute ingredients and use them in recipes.

Happy Tuesday! Yesterday, I finished stenciling the very last tile in the pool house bathroom floor. I cannot tell you how happy I was, especially after spending hours wedged between the toilet and the wall to get those pesky ones done. Now 2 coats of polyurethane and I then I am F.I.N.I.S.H.E.D.

Stay cool and safe wherever you are!