St. Patrick's Day in the Holiday Cupboard

Here in the lower Midwest, March is coming in like a lamb, and what a wonderful way to start my birthday month. We have a week of upper 60's and low 70's. It won't last of course, but it's a lovely, optimistic way to bring on thoughts of Spring. I'm just hoping that buds won't pop out and then we have a freezing spree.

Early Spring Faux Daffodil Centerpiece

It's cold, snowy, sleet-y, and generally yucky outside but there's a little bit of Spring in the Garden Room. I really like to keep my floral arrangements and decorating "seasonal", with what is happening outside be what is happening indoors. It's about time for the Daffodils to show up; their happy little faces peeking up through the cold garden soil and even snow. 

Using Vintage Chairs for Decorating in the Garden Room

Hi Friends! Today I'm part of a great group of vintage loving gals who get together every other month and share some fun themed vintage and antique items that we use in our decor. The Lifestyle of Love Blog Hop, is hosted by our wonderful friend, Cindy of County Road 407, so if you're coming from Cindy's, thanks so much for following the Hop. These gatherings showcase our vintage pieces that we often consider "out of the box" ways to use. This month our theme is Vintage Chairs and Stools. It just so happens that of all the junk that I do have, I'm short on old chairs... 

Romantic French Couples in the Holiday Cupboard

Love is in the air in the Holiday Cupboard!

In my meager quest for a bit of organization after Christmas, I went through a few more unopened  boxes in my storage room in the basement. One of them has been in plain view but haunting me for the last 3 years because I just didn't have a place for the contents. Two houses ago I had a curio cabinet in the dining room where I kept a few of my more delicate pieces of porcelain and china. During my "shabby" French-y phase I collected a few porcelain couple figurines... but they've been packed away for the last 9 years. It was time to open the box and enjoy them again. 

Valentine Vignettes in the Garden Room

Hi Friends, are you all digging out of the latest snow and ice storm like we are?

We had a big blast of ol' man winter come through last Wednesday and Thursday with a layer of ice and then about 8-9 inches of snow on top. We stayed in and I had to postpone a doctor's appointment, but other than that we managed to keep our power and no ice damage (that we know of). Valentine's Day is definitely "winter" around here so in my Valentine decor I still have out some evergreen and bottle brush trees mixed in.

Easy Ivy Topiary for Valentine's Day

Hi Friends, hope you all are well and staying warm. And I'm hoping all our friends on the East Coast are safe and staying home somewhere away from the blizzardy snow and winds. Although we're having a sunny day here in the lower Midwest it's still cold and shivery. Anytime I can sit still for awhile you'll find me wrapped up in an electric blanket or throw. It's days like today that make me want to play with some plants and then put out a few vintage Valentine's to brighten up the house and shelves.

A Winter's Walk in the Holiday Cupboard

Hello friends, since Valentine's Day will be here in a few weeks, I knew I needed to share my January edition of the Holiday Cupboard. January has been cold and often dreary here, but I'm trying to be present and look for the good to enjoy each season... including winter. One of the fun ways I celebrate each month and season is to refresh my old pie safe, aka "The Holiday Cupboard". 

The Baker's Rack with a Woodsy Theme

It seems I have an abundance of shelving pieces. Yes, I've been blessed with the space at this house to have a few extra pieces to display all my vintage goodies. And then there's the fact that I love decorating with the seasons, so there are always fun ways to mix it up every month or so. Since the new year I've been leaning toward decorating with neutrals with a woodsy theme.

Nature's Neutrals for a Winter Farmtable

One trend I've seen in the bloggyworld this last few weeks is that so many of us are leaning into January and winter weather using nature's cue with more neutral colors. Whatever our basic "style" might be, doing it in neutral colors, is a clean feeling way to start the new year.

The Snowy Day

When we bought this house three years ago we got an added bonus with a finished basement. It's a 1964 brick rancher that had all we needed on one level, which was the requirement. So the basement became my husband's domain with his office, a storage room for him and one for me. It also has a large living space for a big screen TV and fireplace, bath and exercise area. The stairs are easy to navigate, unlike what we had before which were terribly steep and daunting. I was thrilled to have a lower level and the storage; even better because I didn't have to visit it each and every day. 

New and Old Finds for Christmas in the Garden Room

I just had to share a couple of sweet new finds for Christmas. Once I saw them they pestered me until I said yes and found them in my online "cart". I rarely buy on impulse (unless I'm at the vintage market); I take time to think on things and roll them around in my head for awhile. I hate to pay full price for something, and usually wait for a good sale. But, I just happened to be Christmas shopping, when I found something adorable (and on sale) that really needed to come live in my Cookbook Cupboard.

A Very Merry Christmas in the Holiday Cupboard

Hello there friends. I know you all are feeling it too, just one week till Christmas and it seems I don't have everything accomplished that I've wanted to do. I still have a few pics to share from around the house. Here we are in the Garden Room where the Holiday Cupboard is my fun spot to decorate. So I'm squeezing it in with a few more posts around the house next week. 

Christmas Cheer with Father Christmas and Friends

Hello Everyone, can you even believe we're heading into December and the official start to the Christmas Season? I've been busy for a couple of weeks making the changeover from Thanksgiving to Christmas and I'm so excited to be a part of a fun holiday gathering today,

Farmhouse Thanksgiving in the Garden Room

Hello Friends, even though many of us have moved on to Christmas decor and posts, I still have several photos of this year's Thanksgiving decor that I want to share. I like to keep a visual diary of my holiday decor here on the blog. That way I can look back next year for some inspiration, and maybe some of you might like to take a peek, too. I've tried to condense a lot of photos so that I can cover the whole Thanksgiving Garden Room into one bigger post. 

Celebrating Thanksgiving in the Holiday Cupboard

Hi there Friends, I'm feeling a bit behind on getting all my Thanksgiving posts out in a timely manner. In truth, this season rolls by way too fast for me. I love Thanksgiving and love to savor this time of year, when the temps are finally cooling off and a warm woolen blanket is welcome in the evening and when enjoying a cup of something hot on the back porch.

October Garden Room and the Baker's Rack

With October slipping through our fingers, November will be here in a quick minute. Then come preparations for Thanksgiving and before we know it Christmas is on our doorstep...literally. I love late Fall and Thanksgiving, so I'm not one to skip it and move directly to Christmas. I brought out my tubs for Thanksgiving goodies and started to clear off the Baker's Rack and wicker pieces when I realized that whoops... I hadn't actually shared the Garden Room since August.  

Romancing the October Holiday Cupboard

Last year for the "first" October Holiday Cupboard, it was natural for me to come up with a whimsical theme for late October. But this year, as I do in any seasonal display, I like to stretch a little bit and use different vintage items to create something seasonal and holiday compatible. So instead of just using vintage pumpkins and Fall critters (which I love), this time I brought out some "romantic" vintage items to give it an altogether new look.

Welcome to October

Hello Friends and Happy October!

It's always been one of my "favoritest" times of the year.

No birthdays or special occasions.

(whoops, well yes, my husband proposed in October)

I just love the crisp, colorful changes that happen in this month.

Fall Centerpiece Basket with Pumpkins

I knew I wanted to try something different on the farm table this early Fall for a centerpiece. I usually have my big wooden vintage ice cream bucket filled with faux florals, and I love it... just wanted something a bit different. When I find something that works well in a space I sometimes get a little lazy and do the minimum. But after my vintage shopping trip a while back I had some new inspiration and ideas to try.

Late Summer Farm Table

Hello Friends...

With the last week of August, I'm sharing a few more pics from the Late Summer Garden Room. Earlier in the month I changed up the ice cream bucket with sunflowers and hydrangeas. During the earlier part of the summer I was using white geraniums and the white sunflowers. As Summer progresses I love to see how the hydrangeas change color, so I added some hydrangeas in darker hues to the mix. There have been times I've tried to find an alternate receptacle for flowers, but honestly, that wooden bucket was made for this spot!