Three On Thursday

September 27, 2018 By Carole

Now that my birthday is over (thank you all so much for the well wishes, by the way) I feel like fall is officially here and that means it’s time to decorate my house for the season. Part of me dreads this because it’s work and also because it’s a slippery slope to Christmas once the fall stuff is up but mostly I love the fall stuff I have. It makes the house look cozy and inviting and that’s my favorite way to have my house look. Today I’m going to share with you 3 tips on readying your house for the fall season.

Add lighting. While I abhor an overhead light I just love warm table lamps and candles and strings of twinkle lights – everywhere! Sadly enough, the days are getting shorter and to me there’s nothing cozier than twinkle lights and burning candles. They drive out the darkness and shed a soft glow over everything. Bonus points if your candles are autumn scents like Macintosh and pumpkin.
Change your curtains. In the summer I have sheers with valances in the living room but when fall arrives I take down those valances and I put up red and white buffalo check drapes. They make the room darker but they make it warmer and super cozy. The red is great for fall right through Christmas and even on to Valentine’s Day. I also swap out throw pillows and table runners at this point, replacing summery blue ones with warm red ones. And then I put soft throws and patchwork quilts everywhere.
Use seasonal decor. My mantle is loaded up with pumpkins. My kitchen window and dining room chandelier are draped with silk leaves. I have special autumn wine glasses in the dining room cabinet. I’ve got Halloween signs up now and those will be taken down and replaced with Thanksgiving ones when November hits. It’s warm and inviting and charming, perfect for entertaining friends for football games, eating chili and stews, and baking something delicious.

That’s how I get my house ready for fall. Are there special things you do? I’d love to hear about them in the comments.

And please add a link if you wrote a post for this Thursday. Thanks!

An InLinkz Link-up

Wednesdays Are For Knitting (sometimes): Hannah’s Birthday Socks

September 26, 2018 By Carole

I made my kid some socks for her birthday. And then I gave them to her without taking photos first. #badblogger

Eventually, I got them back from her (I had to threaten her with never knitting her another pair of socks if she didn’t bring them back) and now I’m sharing them with you. #thankgoodnessforblogfodder

Perfect stripes in perfect fall colors. My friend Julia over there at Knitterly Things dyes some amazing sock yarn. #youshouldgetsome

The pattern is my plain old sock with a picot edge. It works and it’s pretty and I honestly never get tired of it.

I always say that hand knit socks are like a hug for your feet and I’m glad Hannah will have a little hug from her mama whenever she wears these.

Tiny Person Tuesday

September 25, 2018 By Carole

I have two tiny person photos for you this week, both taken at Dale’s installation as Kiwanis President last Saturday night.

Here’s our newly appointed President (aka Grandpa) with Jackie.

And here’s Jackie just chillin’ in his stroller.

You might be able to tell by their attire that we had a country western theme for the evening and I do have lots more photos to show you from this very special night but for right now these will have to suffice.

Jackie is cute enough that I think you’ll be okay with that.

Sometimes Mondays

September 24, 2018 By Carole

Are about embracing the change of seasons.

Yesterday I ruthlessly pulled out the geraniums and planted mums and ornamental peppers in the window boxes. (I left the lobelia because it finally looks good after struggling all summer.) I switched out the wreath on the front door. And I mentally welcomed autumn. I’m a summer girl and this is not an easy thing for me to do but I’m a big believer in accepting things we can’t change and I can’t change the fact that the seasons have changed – whether I like it or not.

Maybe sometimes Mondays are about accepting where we are.

53!

September 21, 2018 By Carole

We interrupt your regularly scheduled Eye Candy Friday to say: It’s my BiRthDaY!

And this is what 53 looks like around here:

Okay, so technically that’s 52.999 since I took it last night right before we went out to dinner. And yes, it’s edited, because I’m a photographer and no photo is ever the best when it’s straight out of the camera. But it’s still my truth. Some fine lines on my face, gray in my hair (I stopped highlighting it over a year ago now and I’m glad), more weight than I’d like . . . but that’s me and I’m okay with all of it because another trip around the sun sure beats the alternative.

Have a great weekend!