Tuesday, September 9, 2014

SHORTER DAYS AND A FALL MANTEL







 










Yesterday morning it felt good to be on my own again and I decided to change the mantel a little.  I normally wouldn't start to get into fall so soon but I had a real beachy theme going on here all summer long and it really looked out of place.  So I just removed all the blue ocean hues and starfish and gathered up some things with deep colors.




I love this sign.  It's from one of those flash sale deals.  I'm not always crazy about them but I have gotten a few really unique pieces from Antique Farmhouse.  





Gosh, I wish I had something to complain or lament about!  Just life as usual here.  This weekend we will be back to our regularly scheduled program at the lake, which I believe will be one big chill party! :)

Jane xx

Joining Weekend Retreat at AKA Design.  Please visit!!

37 comments:

Julie Marie said...

Hi Janie... glad you went to the shower and had a nice time... and that is a darling little jacket you gave!... your pizza looks good in spite of the rating you gave it... and I like how you did your Fall mantle... love that Autumn is here now!... Milo looks so sweet laying at your feet... Tessy is always at my side too... oh, and you look gorgeous in the photo with the girls!... xoxo Julie Marie

cathy@my1929charmer said...

It's good to have alone time, isn't it. I wish Mr. C would head out more, but he's always home :-{. I've been working on our fall mantel too, with the cooler weather it puts you in the mood. Yours look good and a great fall look!

Jacqueline @ HOME said...

Hi Jane,
Well, first of all, it's so refreshing to hear when a recipe isn't quite what you thought it would be !!!!!
Absolutely LOVE the little jacket …. we have a new grand daughter so, I'm really into girls clothes at the moment !
….. and, everyone that I know who grows tomatoes always gets fed up with them by September !!!!
Last but not least, I absolutelty LOVE the way that you and other Americans dress your homes for the seasons and special occasions ….. it's not something that us Brits do very often { apart from Christmas } but I think that we should follow your lead !!
Have a lovely week Jane. XXXX

Stacey said...

You mantel looks great! I love the orbs on the end. Love your sedums too. Ours are very happy but aren't quite fallish color yet. Milo looks so happy. :)

Susie said...

Blondie, You do keep busy. :):) You daughter talking to you, so funny. I know you laughed. You just seem to be someone who can get along and enjoy the day. I like little girl clothes too. But once there was a little denim jacket that my oldest grandson had and everyone wore that jacket...tooo sweet. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

Rita C at Panoply said...

Hi Jane, oh my, laughing with you on the onesie (have another peach mimosa, honey). A crowd of 50?! I think I would've had plenty of mimosas before they ever got there - that's a crowd, and you were smart to cater (I'd be stupid enough to try to manage it).

Love your mantle and the spheres remind me of yet more items just recently organized and put away that I need to get out - maybe after the barn sale at the end of the month.

So you're moving and going nowhere in the room with the carpet? Keep us posted, you know we want to see the reveal!
Have a great rest of the week!
Rita

Susan Freeman said...

I laughed when I read that you don't like crowds but ended up having a good time. We went to a big party last Friday night. I was dreading going to it because I don't know that many people and this group is kind of cliquey. But I ended up having really good time. Never say never. Love your onesie;-)

Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

Anonymous said...

I also tied that recipe and it was not a winner for our family, I usually like her recipes and have great success with them , not this one, I love the mint and coral color scheme for the shower and that is a lovely little jacket, I am not a person that likes crowds at all, my vision makes for a an anxious time for me, your fall themed mantle is lovely, its time, Autumn is here,

TexWisGirl said...

milo is adorable. what a sweetie.

Vicki @ lifeinmyemptynest said...

Your salsa looks yummy. I am going to attempt to make some freezer salsa next week and will probably combine a couple recipes to get the flavor I want. The freshness will taste good when winter is here :-)

Melanie said...

Isn't this weather just perfect lately? I love being outdoors this time of year, but the mosquitoes at our house are still so bad. We haven't been able to sit out on our patio, which is a shame. That's what happens when you're surrounded by trees and water. That salsa looks so good...I could eat a serving bowl of it myself! I know what you mean about being apprehensive about going to parties where you really don' know anyone. Glad you had such a nice time though. Your mantel looks so pretty for fall. I'm not at all in the mood to decorate for fall yet, so I haven't changed anything around. Probably not for another couple of weeks for me. Talk to you soon! xoxo

Brenda Pruitt said...

I love to read your daily doings posts! Just life being lived.
Brenda

Kathleen Grace said...

The pizza looks good, but avocado is not my thing unless it's in guacamole. Have you ever tried Jiffy mix pizza crust? I use it a lot and have even made grilled pizza with it. I think it's pretty darn good.
The baby shower looks like fun, I always love buying girl clothes too:>) Love the mantel, especially the twinkle, twinkle little star sign. It's always fun to get a new look!

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Hi Jane,
It's always great to hear what's going on in your part of the world. I wish that I loved to cook like you do. I'm afraid my cooking skills end at take out!
Love the photo of you with the girls....you look beautiful!
Love your fall mantel and I can't wait to see your remodel.
The little jacket is adorable!

hugs
Sissie

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

How exciting that MC will find out the baby's sex, Jane. Will they be sharing that information? : ) Your mantel looks lovely. I have not been in the mood to decorate for Fall just yet, but if the temps stay cool, I think next week I will.

Gina said...

Your mantel looks so pretty, Jane. I love the warm colors of Fall.

It's a good thing you went to the baby shower. You ended up having a great time so it was all worth it!

I also enjoy chopping veggies and stuff. I don't know why, I guess it's relaxing in a way?

"Cottage By The Sea" said...

What a fun and busy weekend you had! Those are the weekends I love to have, then I love to have over with. That onside about the Irish was adorable. I must make one for some Irish baby I know! Have fun at the lake and relax you last days of summer away.

Unknown said...

Jane dear, Sounds like you have all kinds of late summer fun going on at your house. I love seeing the beautiful photo of you and the girls....sweet! I enjoyed this peek into life at your place. Happy September!
xx, Heather
PS-you may want to check out my 83 year old mom's wedding video on my blog-she's pretty fab! ;)

Elaine said...

The shower sounds like fun. My sister got all the artistic talent in the family so I probably would have drawn a heart and called it a day.

Your dogs have the life, comfy beds and sofas to lounge on all day and a lake house for the weekends!

Enjoy your weekend at the lake!



Mary said...

Glad to hear life is good Jane - you are certainly packing in a lot of parties and celebrations, good for you!

Mantel looks really good! I've done nothing really Fall inspired yet, except did buy two huge potted mums yesterday for the front steps.

Any idea yet as to when you may come to the mountains this Fall? Don't forget to let us know.

Hugs - Mary

P.S. STONEFIRE make great pizza crusts - also their Indian naan breads are delish!

Debby said...

Glad the shower was fun. Sometimes the things you dread aren't bad at all. It's starting to cool off here snd I am ready for soup, hah. Have a good weekend at the lake. Hugs

Debby said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Debbie said...

Your little onesie shirt was adorable! It does look like a little rat but that's what makes it so cute!
You may want to try Trader Joe's pizza crust. They have plain, whole wheat and garlic. We love them in our house. Your fall mantel is lovely. I'm starting to pull out my fall decorations but I'm a little reluctant to give up summer.
Hope you have fun at the lake!

Maria Elena said...

Looks like you have been busy. A little crazy around here also. :) I am glad you had a nice time at the baby shower. Your mantle looks sooo beautiful! It reminded me I need to get busy with all the Fall decor. For some reason, I am really behind this year. By the time I get it together it will be Christmas time. LOL Oh, well, sometime it is just the way it goes. Take care. Hugs Maria

The Quintessential Magpie said...

I am cracking up at you and the mimosas and cute as a mouse/rat. LOL. You would hate to see some of my crafts. I thought yours was cute!

I am excited for you getting new flooring. We need to do hat, but I am putting it off.

xoxo

Sheila :-)

PS I hate big parties, too!

Beth said...

Hi Jane, It's great that you went to the shower and met some new friends. Soon, there will be baby showers where you will be the grandmother-to-be! Won't that be exciting? The little jacket is just adorable. :)
Regarding tomatoes: I planted 17 plants this year. We have had so much rain the past 3-4 weeks that several of the tomatoes, which are taller than me, have toppled their tall tomato cages and are lying on the ground. What a difficulty then to pick those tomatoes! We ended up pulling 4 plants as they were blighty as well as lying on the ground! I have a lot in the freezer and have shared many; there are a lot fewer coming on now and that's perfectly fine with me...as Jacqueline says, people who grow tomatoes get fed up dealing with them (perhaps even eating them?) by September! We still eat them daily. Delicious, free, good source of nutrients. What's not to like about that? ha ha ha
Feels like fall, temps in the 60s and predicted high for Friday is 51 ???? Crazy! Imagine that cool air is headed your way too. I kind of like the cool air.
Hugs, Beth

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Jane, Looks like the shower was a wonderful time for all. Love the sweet jacket you gifted!! So precious.
Love the pic of all your girls together. Your fall mantel is beautiful. I did mine, but I think I need to tweak it a bit as the more I look at it the more I see room for changes. LOL
Your fur baby looks so sweet at your feet. I sure miss my sweet Miss Beazy who did the same before she left for rainbow bridge.
Lovely post and great to catch up with you this morning.
Have a blessed day.
Hugs xoxo

Jane B. said...

My you are busy, busy! I love your Fall mantle and I'm excited for Fall too. And wow, that fresh salsa looks delicious!

Primitive Stars said...

Morning Jane, happy the shower turned out so well. ...love Fall, starting decorating already too. Love your mantle, looks beautiful. Blessings Francine.

Lisa @ Texas Decor said...

Glad you had fun at the shower. I don't look forward to large gatherings either, but I always end up having a good time. Your mantel looks great! I'm still waiting for it to cool down below the 90's before I bring out too many fall things. I was amazed when you said your windows were open! How nice for it to be that cool already. :)

Teresa@1800 Farmhouse Rd said...

Oh my gosh, I am laughing so hard about the mouse/rat thing, lol, but actually, I think it is really, really cute! Anyhoo, if you have any leftovers of that food, send it my way, wow, that looks good.

Sherry @ Thrift My House said...

Hi Jane! I think your crafting was just fine. Your food pics look so good and congrats on no more tomatoes. They can surely overtake you if you let them. Your fall decor looks so pretty... I've got to get busy with mine. I don't like crowds either... Hate them as a matter of fact... but love baby showers.
Congrats on getting rid of the last of the carpet. I wish I could say that about ours!
Have a great rest of the week!
Sherry
xoxo

deb @ frugal little bungalow said...

I am glad that you had a good time at the shower after all...the mantel looks nice..just perfect for late summer.

Love that little jacket :)

Jacqueline~Cabin and Cottage said...

Hi Jane! Your salsa looks like a winner. But I kind of agree about the pizza recipe. I need pizza to have pizazz! Sounds like you are making a nice transition to fall.

Traci said...

Sounds like a fun weekend! The shower looks so nice. I love the little jacket.

Carla from The River said...

Your mantel looks great. And your sedums are amazing. Mine have never looked like that. ;-)
Have a great weekend at the lake.

chateau chic said...

Hi Jane,
Sounds like you've been keeping busy...as usual! Fun parties...beautiful picture of you with the girls.
Love the change on your mantel. Even though I'm decorating for fall, I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to summer.
Mary Alice