Farm Animals in French Country Decor

Somewhere deep in my DNA I have the Farmer/Shepherd gene that has been dormant for many years. When I was growing up my dad always kept a few beef cattle at the farmhouse, but we weren't allowed to name them or pet them because well, you know why...  So, next best thing is to just collect cows and sheep to decorate with in my vintage Cottage, Farmhouse, and French Country decor.

An Encore Autumn Outdoors Tablescape and Getting Started at the New House

It's so hard to believe that it's actually October now... and that it's my favorite time of the year, AND that I don't even have one real pumpkin on my porch. Really... no pumpkins on my porch, real or faux. I DO have some pretty rust colored mums and my orange pillows that I bought last year for the little iron bench. Here are a few pics from several years ago from an outside Fall Tablescape to keep me in a "happy place".

A Few Finds for Fall

Sometimes I forget to let you all see what I bring home from my vintage market shopping. But I had been looking for one of these standing vintage baskets for a while, and I just had to share it with you all. You can never have too many white pumpkins for Fall decor, so when I found a crop of these  "new" metal distressed pumpkins, one had to come home with me. and... I have a Brown Transferware detector built in, so I also grabbed up this little Brown Aestheic Transferware pitcher/gravyboat that was only $5. It's a cloudy and rainy day, so I had to quickly take some pics here in the Dining Room, where the light is always good.

Creating My Fall Mantel and other Conundrums

I really love Fall. That is an understatement by a long shot. I mark the days off the calender so to speak, until I can start decorating the house. But if there's one part of decorating that I would want to shove to the end of the list it would be decorating the mantel. Yes, you've heard it before, this is my least favorite, and most difficult to come up with ideas for, part of Fall. 

It's even hard coming up with a post title for this. Let's see... "Exercise and the Fall Mantel", "How to Climb a Step Ladder for Fall", or maybe, "Scratching Your Head While Avoiding Small Animals". 

Vintage Valentine "Love"

I'm getting a few things together for Valentine's Day here in the Kitchen Sitting Area,

 but it's taking me a little longer this last week to get things accomplished. 

So, I thought I'd share a little Valentine's Love while I'm getting the rest of it together.

Gathered #4

It's been a while since I shared one of these mishmashed posts, so

  Welcome to another edition of

Random Musings of a Wandering Mind...

Is "Mushroom" the New Gray in Wall Color Trends?

Have you checked out the February Issue of Country Living? They have a feature in their "Field Guide" section on decor trends called "Wild for Mushroom". Here's what they say: "Warmer than Gray but cooler than Taupe, this neutral, earthy shade is popping up everywhere."

Country Living Magazine

Just a Little Christmas...

I'm working in the Kitchen China Cupboard this afternoon;

Changing out the Transferware from Brown to Red.

But I can't seem to finish that little project,

 because I keep seeing things that I want to add to another spot.

Nothing is finished around here,

so I thought I'd just share some snippets

of what and who are celebrating with us this year..

Lighted Twig Pumpkin

Each year I see the wonderful twig pumpkins all lit up with fairy lights and I think, "I'm going to get one of those next year!!", and each year it escapes me until we're already into the season. So I thought of this idea, not near as much "wow factor", but still pretty. It would work for a Thanksgiving or any Harvest Tablescape, since it wouldn't interfere with conversation across the table.

Vintage Metal Bench on the Fall Porch

I finally have some pics of the front porch and the "new/old" bench dressed for Fall.

It's taken me long enough, if I'd waited much longer we could go straight to Christmas!

My Favorite Urn...For Fall

I've had this Pottery Barn Urn for the last 5 years I think, and I have to say it's one of my favorite pieces to use in decor. It's almost always in use no matter what the season, but Fall has to be my favorite look. 

It's just the right size to plop in a big fat pumpkin, 

no matter whether it's faux or real.

Welcome to September...

Hi Everyone, are you like me and get excited when you can turn over that calendar page and see that it's finally September? It may still be hot outside, but in our little Fall Lovin' Hearts we know we can now actually put a pumpkin on our blog and not have to disguise it as "Fall Inspiration"!!

Classical Statuary in Eclectic Settings

Anyone that has "moved" can tell you that there will be certain items, that no matter how much you loved them in your old home, that just don't work well in the new abode. The architecture, furniture, setting...whatever...the personality of the new house just doesn't mesh with all your old decor.

French Cottage

Hi Friends, I wanted to share a new publication by Hoffman Media that I think many of you will really enjoy, but may not have heard about. It's from the company that puts out two of my favorites, Victoria Magazine and The Cottage Journal. Last Spring they released a Special Issue called French Cottage. It was in magazine form, but could have been a hardcover "coffee table" edition. This year Hoffman came out with a second edition, this time in the hard cover.

The Decoratin' O' the Green!

I don't go all out to decorate for St. Patrick's Day, but I do like to tip my hat to the Irish Holiday. I'm sure I have a little Irish blood in me from someplace and I have a daughter named Erin, so St. Patty's always gets a little attention from me around the house...

Christmas Fun on the Baker's Rack

I always like to keep the Baker's Rack in the Kitchen Sitting Area as a place to have some fun with vintage pieces. And what can be more fun than Vintage with some Christmas Cheer. The Baker's Rack is my place to mix and match and bring out the Kitsch for the Holidays.

Velvet Pumpkins for a "Timewashed" Give-Away

Becky and I have been wanting to do this Give Away since earlier this Fall,

so we're sharing this opportunity now, still in time 

for you to create your own wonderful 

Fall and Thanksgiving Centerpiece.

Blue Willow Transferware Tureen

So, let me ask you a question...

Do you do "Blue and White"?

Do you have an obsession with 

Blue and White Urns, Ginger Jars, Tureens, Transferware,

and all things Blue?

Me?...not so much.

First Fall Tablescape

I'm not even going to try and name this "Early Fall Tablescape", because I'm sure I'll change this up in a few weeks for something a little more "Fallish" with some colorful leaves and berries. So let me be honest here and just call it, "First" Fall Tablescape. te he. I've already turned my calendar page over to September. I did mark a "31" on today's date, but I am ready to move into one of my favorite months and seasons. yep, more than ready. Last week I painted a French-y metal basket for the Dining Room table, and put together an arrangement that whispered the first nuances of Autumn. Here are some pics of the rest of the table.

Ideas on Styling a Cabinet or Cupboard Top

I started a little "project"on top of my Dining Room China Cabinet right after we moved into this house last November. We have really high ceilings here, and I love them, but sometimes the furniture looks lost. Believe me, these pieces are huge (this one is about 7 1/2 feet tall) but there is still a big distance between the ceiling and the top of this cabinet. So now 3/4 of a year later, I finally have some kind of decor up there to help fill in this space.