A Mantle in Transition and A Rustic Centerpiece

Are you ready for Thanksgiving, friends?

We're on our own, the two of us, so I've been using this last week to do the transition from Fall / Thanksgiving to Christmas decor. I won't say it's been a quick process, but I did have one area that was relatively easy because I had a few of the elements already in place... The mantel in the Hearth Room.

Late Fall Mantel with Woodland Friends

I did a little tweaking in the Hearth Room for late Fall by bringing out my two Fall Friends to hang out on the mantel. My chippy concrete owl and the old squirrel bank took their spot of honor. Our weather has finally changed to the cooler temps that should come with the last week of October, so some darker and heavier textiles will be feeling at home in here.

Fall Leaf Wreath on the Mantel

We finally made it to Fall and I'm so excited! I've been looking forward to this season for a while now. I love each season, but decorating for Fall is just my favorite time of year!

Sunflowers in the Late Summer Hearth Room

August is all about Sunflowers around here...

 Late Summer into Fall is their time to show their happy faces,

mingle with some hydrangeas, and wait for some fall leaves to show up.

Sunflower Botanical on the Mantel

When August rolls around I'm starting to think about Fall decor, and sunflowers always signal that it's about time to make that transition. The flowers are changing color and growth, a few dry leaves are starting to fall off the trees, and the light is showing that soon the days will start to get shorter.

The After-Easter French Country Mantel

Hi Friends, I hope you had a wonderful Easter. 

Were you able to be with family and friends?

We were on our own still, 

but we did have a lovely day.

Not Quite Spring in the Hearth Room

Most times, I go from Valentine's Day directly into Early Spring decorating. But this year we've all had a strong blast of winter that just sidelined me (you guys too) With temps below 0 for about a week in a row and several good rounds of snow I just wasn't up to getting out the spring-y stuff. As I said, I'm sure next week when it hits 50 I'll be more in the mood, but for now it's still "February" and the tail end of winter.

Not Quite Spring Mantel and Hearth Room

I want to be transitioning to "all things Spring", but I'm finding it difficult when the temp outside is 5 degrees and there's 8 inches of snow. It's too cold to go into the garage and search thru the spring flower tubs, so I'm making do and sharing what I'm living with this last couple of weeks in February. 

Woodsy Christmas Mantel in the Hearth Room

I love a cozy, vintage, "woodsy" look in decor, and Christmas seems as good a time as any to make that happen. I'm a person who loves to snuggle up by the fire with a hot cup of something and relax. Lots of blankets and pillows, cushy furniture; basically a place where you feel comfortable putting your feet up and watching a movie or reading a book... not to mention finding a cat crawl up in your lap to enjoy it all with you.

Thanksgiving to Christmas in the Hearth Room

Seems like the last 10 years or so, I've been putting up the Christmas trees a few weeks before Thanksgiving to get a little jump on decorating for Christmas; at least since I've been blogging. Once they're up then it's much easier for me to get some inspiration on how I want to decorate, whether that's colors, or theme, or to try something new. By blogging standards, I'm late to the game, but behind the scenes I've secretly been thinking "Christmas!". 

Using Vintage Frames for a Thanksgiving Mantel

Hello everyone! Hallelujah, it's November and so close to Thanksgiving! And we're all looking forward to celebrating, then moving in to the long awaited Christmas Season. Today I'm joining in with a great group of vintage-loving friends who are sharing some ideas and inspiration on how we use Vintage Frames in our home and seasonal decor.  Since it's mid-November I'm going to share my Thanksgiving mantel and show how I've used vintage frames for a fun seasonal mantel.

Oh the little junky vintage frame... 

how many ways to use and love you?

Cozy Early Fall Hearth Room

Last week I shared my Late Summer mantel here in the Hearth Room.

So now that the calendar says September,

 I'm ready to bring out the cozy factor for Fall!

Transitional Late Summer Mantel

Time to bring out the wreath for this small sliver of time known as Late Summer. Nature doesn't just wake up one morning and say, "OK everyone, it's Fall!" Trees, weather, the light, and all the growing things are reaching that extended moment where they begin to wane. Summer is winding down. All you have to do is look at my yard, scattered with green walnuts and yellow leaves to know it's that time of year. (I was going to take a pic, but it's so dry and looks too sad)

Easy July 4th Decorating

Spring Thing in the Hearth Room

Hello everyone, hope you're well and keeping your sanity. (I'll get back to you all on that one...)

I took a lot of pics several weeks ago when I was decorating for Spring and Easter. The Hearth Room didn't get Easter decor; no bunnies or things, but more of a Spring theme. Actually it hasn't changed too much since early March. Lambs and sheep are a favorite of mine, so the little bench in front of the sofa has one of my sheep and a twiggy basket of Paperwhites.

Early March Mantel

I have a confession... 

I struggle with mantels. 

Do I use more, or less?

Christmas Mantel in the Hearth Room

It's my first Christmas here at our new-to-us cottage, and I finally have the fireplace and mantel I have hoped for. I had a few criteria that were on my wish list in a new home: an actual hearth room that had either a wood burning fireplace or a gas fireplace that didn't make me nauseous from gas fumes, a lower mantel that I could actually reach to decorate, and that it would be white. Is that too much to ask for? I didn't think so.

Woodland Creatures and the Late October Hearth Room

As October heads into it's last weeks, I'm tweaking a few things around the house. I'm bringing in a few darker colors now that the heat wave is over, and some heavier textures. Two old friends are joining me on the mantel to add a little woodsy charm in the Hearth Room.

Transitioning from Summer-to-Fall

Hi Friends, I've been a little all over the place as I've started to decorate for Fall around here. Maybe it's because I'm trying to locate florals, decor and vintage pieces that have been packed away. Maybe it's because I have more space to work with and I'm just disorganized! I've needed a focus to get started so this Blog Hop is helping me get my act together. Thankyou Amber for hosting this fun Hop for Early Fall. If you're coming from visiting Marty at A Stroll Thru Life Welcome, so glad you're here!

Fall Naturals on the Mantel

I've been putting the Mantel together in the Hearth Room for Fall, so I've been on Pinterest searching for inspiration. I found several pics that I Pinned and have kept coming back to. Can I just say that when you type in "Fall Mantel" you will be looking for hours. I realized that they all had several elements in common...