Thanksgiving Reflections

Psalm 107:1
"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever."

Thankfully my Mother-in-law is hosting Thanksgiving dinner and we are having the meal on Friday Evening for eighteen people.  I began to prepare the dining room a week early because otherwise I would not have time for that.  I will be busy cleaning, cooking and most importantly visiting so I wanted to be sure to have a nice Autumn table setting done in advance. 

 

 

The center piece extends from end to end and begins with a layer of square mirror tiles (six total) over an ivory tablecloth.  Silk leaf garland, candied fruit and pumpkins add color and texture around flickering candles.  The reflections of the chandelier and candles creates a warm and relaxing feeling. 

We're ready to light the candles, add silverware, delicious food & beverages, and chattering, smiling faces around this table scape.

 

Cheers to a bountiful, beautiful, blessed Thanksgiving!

Quick Switch - Kitchen Pantry Doors Antiqued

Pantry doors have come a long way, baby!  These doors had nothing of interest when we moved in.  They were plain, flat doors painted white with brass knobs.  Since our kitchen has 4 doors it was important to make them more exciting.  I changed the knobs to an oil rubbed bronze, painted them a creamier white color (matched to the cabinet color), and added trim to make them look like raised panel doors.  I had my dad help with this project.  My husband made a remark that still comes up regarding this project.  He cleverly dubbed this a "waste of time, waste of money".  In the end he cannot believe how much it added to the kitchen and he now agrees that it was not a waste of time or a waste of money.  The overall cost was around $150 for the knobs, wooden trim, paint, and glaze.

 

 

For a few years we had all of the doors painted the same way.  My oldest daughter, in the picture below had the idea of adding the carved wood appliques.  I found these at Home Depot for around $5.00 each.  I had one here for another project and she held it up to the pantry door and insisted that I get another one and add them.  Smart girl!  I love how it makes these two pantry doors stand out in comparison to the other 2 entry/exit doors.

 

 
The wooden appliques were first painted and then antiqued using glaze tinted with the wall paint color.  The raised panel trim was also antiqued.  I attached them using liquid nail and one small finishing nail.

 

The details are not the details. They make the design.
Charles Eames
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/c/charles_eames.html#SkRxCWc6BwUHOwLR.99

"The details are not the details.  They make the design." - Charles Eames

 

The details are not the details. They make the design.
Charles Eames
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/c/charles_eames.html#SkRxCWc6BwUHOwLR.99

Quick Switch - Family Room & Living Room

 
I am starting a new blog segment called Quick Switch:  To spice things up and create a change of scenery at home I am always making quick switches.  This can involve putting items I already have in a new space or adding something new.  I am the queen of re purposing!  It is all about keeping things fresh even if it is only for your own enjoyment. This is simple to do by changing furniture & accessories around, decorating for the seasons, or by adding a new item to add interest.  Transforming an item you already have can freshen things too.  I am constantly tinkering with things: painting, sewing, embellishing, etc.  Just when I seem content I find a fabulous furniture piece or beautiful object to re-work into our home (typically these items are free or very inexpensive).  This hobby of mine drives my husband insane, but I enjoy the hunt!  He is sick of the junk, but once I finish each project he is secretly happy that he put up with my random collections and my wet paint brushes in the fridge... at least I think he is happy?

This quick switch was inspired by a collection of Wedgwood Cathedral plates I found at an antique store.  At first I walked away  loving them, but thinking I didn't have a place for them.  I looked them up online to see if there was a better price for them and found that the $48.00 price for 6 plates was very good since they were going for $15.00 each online.  I returned and bought the plates.

 

 

Once I brought the plates home I decided to hang them in the family room in a space that had previously not had much attention.  The plates didn't pop off the walls because they blended in with the paint color.  I pulled out a gallon of leftover dining room paint and it instantly became an accent wall and warms up the space.  It is a subtle change, but just enough to make the plates pop!

 

The newly painted accent wall is now the same color as the hallway to the laundry room/garage on the right side of these photos.

 

 

The white soup bowl on the left was bought at a thrift store $3.00 (3 piece set) and all of the other objects were items I already had.  Longaberger pottery pitcher, Willow Tree family figurines and a family photo printed in sepia tones.

 

 

A leather reading chair was brought in from the front living room, which gives that room a quick switch too.  We are freshened up for Fall!   





 

Wooden rocking chair and table have a new spot in front of the windows and the leather chairs separate to make two comfy corners. 

 



 

Back to the family room quick switch:

 

 Autumn Mantle 

Peace Lily plant and metal accents are now on top of the entertainment center

Thanksgiving Mantle

 Refreshed Family room is warm and cozy for Fall and Winter.  This quick switch was done in one day while my girls were at school.  Simple, quick, affordable, and beautiful. What changes have you made to revitalize your space(s)?

 

Enjoy Today!

Cutest Costumes

History of Halloween at our House

It is a lot of fun to dress up and transform into another character!  Our girls (with my help) start planning out their costumes way before October is in sight.  Birthday themes and trick-or-treating costumes are popular topics at our house.

2014 - DIY Heroines:  Wonder Woman, Bat Girl, Super Girl

2013 - Singer/Rockstar and Twin Hula Girl Costumes

 2012 - Ladybug Girl, Butterfly Girl, and Dragonfly Girl

 2011 - Homemade/DIY Crayola Crayon Costume (made of Felt Fabric & hot glue) 

2010 - Fairies (DIY Tutu's and wands)

 2009 - Wizard of Oz

 Off to See The Wizard!

 

2008 - Cinderella and Twin Pumpkins

 

2007 - Giraffe 

 2006 - Little Lamb


 Be creative, have fun and treasure these precious moments!

Summer Blossoms

And It Was Good

"I think this is what hooks one to gardening:  It is the closest one can become to being present at creation"
- Phyllis Theroux

 When I began to garden I intensely researched and studied as much as I possibly could.  The more I dug in the dirt and became hands on, gardening became less of a challenging chore and more of a relaxing, rewarding hobby.  Watching a seedling form into a beautiful plant is an exciting event.  However, in my opinion, it cannot compare to the births of my children.  If you are a parent, you are a witness of this great joy.  Both events are similarly breathtaking and beautifully display Creation all the same.

Cleome and Knock-Out Roses 

 Verbena and Rose of Sharon

 

All Things Bright and Beautiful

 - Cecil Frances Alexander

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colors,
He made their tiny wings.

 He gave us eyes to see them,
   And lips that we might tell,
How great is God Almighty,
 Who has made all things well.

Cleome (an annual in Michigan that happily reseeded itself)

Asiatic Lilies

  Shasta Daisies



 Yellow Sundrops

  Perennial Garden (Part Shade) - Sundrops, Spirea, Iris, Ferns, Moon Flower, Stella De Oro Day Lilies, Dianthus, and Hens and Chicks

 Entrapment Lily, New Guinea Impatiens, Geraniums

 

 Day lilies, Purple Catmint, Peonies 

 Knock-out Roses and Spider Wart

Small mailbox flower garden added 

 

 

 Knock-out Roses

 

Perennial Garden

 Bright pink Dianthus, Lt. Purple Balloon Flower, Knockout roses, Daylily and Sundrops, Hosta, Blue Salvia, Knock-out Roses 

Hydrangea (Purple flowers turned from pink after blending spent coffee grounds into the soil to change the acidity  It started out the same color as the pink hydrangea shown)

Huge Hydrangea - This is one flower in a large vase

Dianthus (typically an annual, but happily reseeded & were gorgeous this year) 

 

Annual August pictures of my girls in front of the Rose of Sharon 

 

Pansies lasted well into Summer

 Marigold

Cana

Shade perennial garden (Astibe, Sedum, Hosta, Columbine, Heuchera

Neon Flash Spirea Shrub

Coleus and Creeping Jenny trailed out of this old wheel barrow and added color, height and character to the shade garden this year.

 

Looking through Spring & Summer pictures has me excited about watching it all over again a few months from now.  First we will be busy raking and watching as the gardens become covered in blankets of snow. 

 

Stay cozy as we anticipate another season. my friends!

~Thanks for stopping by~