Halloween treat buckets

This delightful Halloween display came together in less than a minute.  I simply hung all of our various treat bags, bucket and totes on my foyer coat rack and done!  There are some beautiful vintage treat bags I have seen, but the cheesy plastic ones my children have been using for years are more precious to me than any pricey antique.  My bag is the gorgeous felted wool tote that I bought at the end of the season at a high-end shop.  Sometimes less is more when it comes to holiday decorations.

fall mantle

Every year I try to incorporate as many natural elements in my fall fireplace mantle as I can manage.  I always add the eerie crow as I do have a thing for birds of all kinds.  Also, this darling litle pumpkin gnome that I got from the chip & dent shelf years ago at Tuesday morning.  I am an avid fan of color, but must admit that orange is far down on the list - but this composition makes me think, "fall"!

the Dog and the Saint

St. Francis is the patron saint of animals.  Max has been digging in the hosta bed (looking for voles) and the statue came tumbling down!

 What's a dog to do?

blue ceilings

I love the way that a room can take on the feeling of being oudoors by painting the ceiling blue.  I first saw this years ago in Charleston, South Carolina on porch ceilings in "haint blue" to ward off the spiris or bugs or both.  But used indoors makes a room feel dreamy.  The first pic is of my sun room.  I painted the ceiling myself which is tongue and groove and barrel vaulted. Quite literally a pain in the neck - but the results were well worth it!  I used BM Teardrop, but it first appeared a very saturated aqua.  One trip to my paint store for a bit of white to lighten and and a dash of black for depth.  Ethereal!

fall is Upon Us!

The leaves are changing the most amazing vivid colors, that they truly take my breath away!  Autumn has always been my favorite season and I am particularly besotted with the color show after living in Florida for many years.  We had a terrible drought in the Midwest this summer and forecasters called for  a dismal turn, but Mother Nature prevailed.  What's your favorite season?

"Happier at Home", Gretchen Rubin

Recently I went to a book signing for Gretchen Rubin's new book, Happier at Home. This follows on from her previous book, The Happiness Project that are both New York Times bestsellers.  These are typically not my genre, but I read a snippet in a magazine while waiting for my daughter at the orthodontist and was intrigued.  Realizing and capitalizing on the happiness I already had was in my daily awareness after reading her books.   Gretchen is in the midst of a book tour and I was fortunate enough to be at the Chicago location held at Anthropologie on Southport.  Here are a few pics from the evening, champagne and lovely edibles were served. 

Have you read a self-awareness type book that has really resonated with you? Gift from the Sea, by Anne Morrow Lyndbergh still stays with me after many years.

nature in the home

My home brings me a great sense of joy.  I also love being outdoors in nature.  Bringing natural elements into my home is like the best of both worlds.  I have a fascination with collecting tumbled glass from the beach.  My collection first began when we lived in Florida near the Atlantic Ocean and that is sea glass.  But the lion's share of my  collection is found along the shores of Lake Michigan that makes it beach glass.   Whatever the title, I am besotted!  Each piece is like a precious gem to me.  Many people have asked me what I will do with it, make jewelry, etc.  My answer is that I will just appreciate it and the time spent collecting!
How about you?  Do you collect items from outside to bring inside?  If so, what?