On to November

Here is Dorothy or "Dorfy" as she called herself.

You saw my two oldest the other day and here are the two youngest.

We had ghouls and ghosts but now I have packed it all away. I am exhausted. Anyone else feeling that way?
Halloween is a lot of work. This year I vowed to thin out the Halloween decorations. I threw away a huge garbage bag of stuff and will donate some other items. I want it thinned down to only a few bins so I need a few more of the orange ones. Makes it so much easier to store in those color coded boxes.

Now onto what is becoming more and more my favorite time of the holidays. The hectic time of Halloween parties and prep is over and onto the season of Thanksgiving. I will get my Pilgrims out tomorrow I think. We always have a quiet day at home with all the trimmings and movies afterwards. The time before the real hustle and bustle of Christmas is upon us. I have read a few of you also that are feeling the same way. When a holiday is full of a lot of work and prep it does sort of get overwhelming. I need to try and get as many Christmas things done before Thanksgiving so I can enjoy December more.

Halloween Party

Just some quick pics of the Halloween party at my sister-in-laws. We were Trekkies.
My attempt at an up-do. I added hubby's toy enterprise to my hair. He has had it since he was a kid.

My SIL's house...

My daughter.

My SIL rocked the black swan.

My two oldest.

Linking to:

Met Monday

A Stroll Thru Life

Halloween Preparations

We are carving pumpkins in shorts as always. It is always hot for jack-o-lantern carving day. Guests are coming for our annual potluck tomorrow night so we are busy bees around here. If I don't get a chance I want to wish you all a fun and Happy Halloween. Save me all the Mounds bars.

Haunted House

Took one of my girls and some friends to a local house that really goes all out. They even had a haunted house to walk through this year. Very cool. Screamed twice.

Now for a really scary house....

Hubs and the kids decorate the outside. On Halloween night a fog machine and spooky sounds will top it off.
I have to look out at this guys backside every day when at the kitchen sink.

The glowing orbs in the tree are all jack-o-lanterns but they didn't photograph well.

Then this guy creeps me out right outside the front window. Will be glad when he comes down on Tuesday.

Happy Halloween everyone. Off to a party tonight though I am not thrilled. Not a party person. I am a lunch out with girls or dinner with hubby and home in jammies by eight kind of gal but I have to go. We are going as old school Star Trek characters. Captain Kirk is my date.

Linking to:
SNS 105
BNOTP
Dittle Dattle

Patio Part Two

My pots have exploded with the cooler fall temps and lots of sunny days. The vines are turning and now the patio is under a carpet of leaves.

My chickens are of the garden decor type. He watches over me as I garden.

This purple sage doesn't do anything until October and then it explodes and becomes the deepest purple. Love that there are still plants that give a show after the summer season.

Linking to:

Show and Tell Friday

Inspiration Friday

Common Ground

Simple Lives Thursday

SNS 105

WOW Us Wed.

Little White Cupboard or Hiding and Outlet

We moved loads of things around this last weekend and I have been wanting something tall in this spot to hide a very hideous outlet that is about half way up the wall.The most inconvenient level to camouflage it.
Decided to move a little shelf from the kitchen out here.

Topped with my black can and lights that now conveniently have the plug right behind them. The plug is hidden from view now. They need women to decide where to place plugs when houses are built don't you agree?

Linking to:
Potpourri Friday
Feathered Nest Friday
LaurieAnna's
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Show and Tell Friday

Kitchen Bits

Some times it doesn't take much. I new set of kitchen cloths and I get excited. I use mine until they are embarrassing at which time they go to the rag cupboard. So a new set is a big deal around here.

I am currently painting a bookshelf to put in the kitchen. It is very old and was husband's great grandma's. It has been a dark green but in need of a change and new paint. It will be white and now in my kitchen. I am so excited. It has ugly old knobs and I am looking at replacing them with some glass knobs. What do you think of these?

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I think I love the middle one. And just look at this kitchen below I found online. Had to pin it. Now if that doesn't scream happy and cheery, what does?

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Linking to:

Common Ground

The Charm of Home

A New Willard

A new Willard is up. Go check it out. So warm and homey. http://www.susanbranch.com/newsletters/2011-10/

Fall Patio

You all know I love my patio. I spend time out there everyday if I can. Sippin coffee, watching the little one play but my favorite thing to do is putter and spruce up my pots for the seasons.

Right now it is all set for fall and the colors I love for this time of year are oranges and purples.

My little jack-o-lantern is all fitted with violas.

A scarecrow and ornamental kale dress up this pot.

My coleus is a monster now. It must love these cooler days of fall.

Linking to:
Wow Us Wed.
Women Living Well
Raising Homemakers
No Minimalist Here
Brambleberry Cottage
BNOTP
Fridays Unfolded
Common Ground
Home Sweet Home
Show and Tell Friday

Last of the Summer Blooms

There is a mish mash of summer holdouts in the garden. Dahlias, cosmos, a few small sunflowers and zinnias.

They grow tall and rambly as if reaching for the last warm rays of the sun.

These are all great self sowers except for the dahlia which just keeps coming back year after year. I can already see new hollyhocks coming up from seed. Soon my iris will start to shoot up. Our mild weather causes the early start.

Linking to:

Coastal Charm

A Stroll Thru Life

Bowl Full of Lemons

My Cozy Spot

I had mentioned before we moved my red toile sofa down to the den. Our den is large so we have the wall space down here to accommodate it. We put it against a far wall near the French doors to the patio. I have to say I love this spot now. It gives us much more seating for when we have family over but its position next to my garden windows it what I love most. A cozy spot for reading or napping now too.

I think the eagle on the wall maybe needs a new home and something more charming needs to replace it. The little end table with some fall touches make the corner so warm now.

I have flowers and plants right outside the windows now. I can look up and see the sky and watch the rain fall when that day finally comes. I am ready for some rain.

Linking to:
Between Naps on the Porch
The House in the Roses
Coastal Charm
Wow Us Wed.
miscellany monday