On the Porch

I'm going to admit that I've been dragging my feet about posting any photos of the outside of the house, because I just haven't been able to get good ones. The front is heavily shaded and if it's overcast out, then just forget it. blah, boring, washed out. So we had some sunshine the other day, and I managed to get a few shots, but I'm warning you they are sort of lackluster. I did my best to dress them up a little for you. This little half park bench that I keep out here is my favorite pic.

I did bring out one of my Fall Pendleton wool throws to bring in a little color, and then added  some of that "worth it's weight in gold" bittersweet vine to the mix. I'm going to have to include bittersweet in every blog post I do this Fall, just to get my money's worth out of it!

I always have a hard time decorating the porch, so this year I invested in some vintage concrete urns that are painted white, for the mums. They are heavy little boogers, so hubby had to deal with them. But they do class it up a little, which always seems to be the issue.

Thank you PicMonkey for all your help!

I guess I just need about $200 worth 

of extra pumpkins sitting around out here.

 Maybe that would help.

That, or a personal visit from Martha Stewart.

Wonder how much she charges for house calls?

We're in for a freeze tonight so this will all have to be covered. I can usually keep my Boston ferns until the first of November, but it might not happen this year. I hate throwing them away until it's just too cold for them.

I'm really loving this plump one here in front.

white, with some green and orange veining.

And I think this one is called a Peanut Pumpkin,

see, what did I tell you about the photos?

OK, gotta round up those old sheets and blankets

so I can tuck these babies in for the night!

(click here for last year's porch pics)

Deck photos coming right up...

joining in for 

Seasonal Sundays at the Tablescaper

Sunday Showcase at Under the Table and Dreaming

Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Make it Pretty Monday at the Dedicated House

Cowgirl Up at Cedarhill Ranch

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Knick of Time

Primp

WOW at Savvy Southern Style

Welcome Home Wednesday at Vintage On A Dime

The Inspired Room

xoxo,

Pumpkin Urn with Bittersweet

I've been on the hunt for the perfect white Pumpkin and some Bittersweet, and finally tracked down those elusive little berries yesterday at a local nursery. Wow, these are expensive little berries, and why haven't the manufacturers of  "all things faux" not come up with a version that looks real?

Now having my Bittersweet, I was able to decorate my Pottery Barn Urn on the coffee table. I put this Frenchy faux grain sack on the coffee table this Spring, to bring a little "rustic luxe" into the mix. Love that tagline...Rustic Luxe. Helps tone down the over-the-top white foo foo.

Also keeps the coffee table clutter from scratching the paint finish.

I don't know if I can keep the Bittersweet here, as I just read where it's toxic to our feline friends. OK, where's the faux stuff when you need it?

At least it looks pretty for the moment...

(This was the urns Summer look)

...cause look who's lurking?

"The Nibbler"

Linking up with:

Mod Vintage Life for Mod Mix Monday
Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
The Polohouse for Favorites on the First
Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House
Table Top Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Finding Fall with FOLK Magazine
Make it Pretty Monday at the Dedicated House
Treasure Hunt Thursday at From My Front Porch to Yours
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Sweet and Simple Fridays at Rooted in Thyme
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Stuff and Nonsense
The Charm of Home
At the Picket Fence
French Country Cottage
2805
Shabby Art Boutique
Jennifer Rizzo

Hope you're having a great week,

Shells and more, decor...

More on my short season of shell decor here in the Living Room. I found this wonderful urn at Pottery Barn a couple of years ago, in St. Louis, and since then it's been sitting on my coffee table holding whatever is seasonal. It's one of my favorite decorating pieces. 

I've picked up these great conch shells at the fleas for just a few dollars,

so they are piled in here, at least for the next few weeks.

Here's the rest of the mantle. I found these wonderful starfish at The White Rabbit in St. Louis. What a great shop, wish I'd taken photos, but Anne and I were headed back to Springfield and it was a quick visit. Such a great store, if you're in the area be sure and stop by. It's packed with great vintage, shabby, chippy, white goodness!

If you didn't see yesterday's post on making some faux soldered bottles,

then scroll down to the next post.

Also, a fixture on the mantle are my super duper love'em so much

Wolff Pottery vases. A huge bargain from Restoration Hardware

a while back. 

About 10 dollars each.

...but I did have to paint them white.

(Did I tell you how much I love them?)

More Living Room; no shells, 

but how about some repro Staffordshire dogs instead?

nothing says "Summer" like repro dog figurines.

(just kidding)

and my white desk in the corner...

This however, does say summer...

my vintage botanical specimen window.

Hard to believe, but I found a large college notebook from the 1940's

 filled with them for $11.

I know...

don't hate me cause I'm lucky.

oh, and another tapestry stool to feed my addiction.

Not cheap, but still a bargain at 40 dollars from Robin's Vintage Suitcase.

(Her new tearoom opens next week...yay!)

OK, you know me...

I'm itching for Fall...

I LIVE for September 1!!

Until then, I'll just have to play with my shells.

While hunting for photos I just realized it's been a year this week

since I started my Living Room transformation by painting over 20 pieces

of furniture white...yikes.

I'll be joining these gal pals for parties this week:

Rhoda for Thrifty Treasures

Susan for Met Monday

Marty for Table Top Tuesday

Linda for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Angie for Knick of Time Tuesday
Nita for Mod Mix Monday
Anita for Cowgirl Up
Mary for Share the Love Wednesday
Kathleen for White Wednesday
Kim for Wow Us Wednesday

Michele from Primp
The Style Sisters
No Minimalist Here
StoneGable
Stuff and Nonsense
At the Picket Fence
Rooted in Thyme
The Charm of Home
French Country Cottage
2805
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Shabby Art Boutique
My Romantic Home

Hope you're having a wonderful week!

xoxo,

Vintage Inspiration Friday #3

My Fall decorating is more in the category of

"nature inspired"

 rather than out and out Halloween.

I have a few favorite black cat items and figurines,

but I really love the look of fall leaves, pumpkins,

 mums and bittersweet, that can take me through

the middle of November.

The pumpkins and mums are just starting

 to make it to the corner farm stands,

so I'm still looking for some inspiration for my front porch,

which right now is somewhere between

late Summer (impatiens)

and Fall. (a wreath with real bittersweet berries)

not a particularly good look....

So today I put together my

Fall Pumpkin Topiary

 in my entry hall.

At least you're not confused when you come inside.

Following images from google

if you know the source please let me know.

Once again, inside, I'm using faux pumpkins.

Due to a few unfortunate tumbling pumpkin incidents last year,

I've hot glued these babies for this season.

I just wish I had two of these monster concrete urns for my porch.

I'm wanting to do something a little more "traditional"
this year out front.

hmmmm...

I have an idea that just may work.

stay tuned...

Hope you join in on
Vintage Inspiration Friday
and let us know what's inspiring you this week.

Please be sure to link back to

this blog, Common Ground, within your post,

so others can join the party.

Hope you have a great weekend!

love,

Debra

White Wednesday, Little Girl Lost

With the brilliance of October behind us, I am transitioning from bright oranges and golds, and moving into more subtle tones. I'm letting go of the masses of fall leaves and foliage and starting to appreciate the later fall tones of browns, and then adding back in my whites and creams.

I found this little French girl a few years ago at an antique store in Hollister, Missouri. She captured my heart from the moment I saw her. She had been a "bust" on a pedestal, but that had broken away many years ago. Now it was just her sweet head and delicate neck and shoulders. She is so very pristine, even in her current state of neglect and disrepair.

I don't have any history on her, but she looks as if she may have suffered the same fate as Lot's wife, in the book of Genesis. She is so lifelike, she could have been turned into a pillar of salt, or in this case, plaster, I assume. She has several layers of material. I would love to know about the age and composition of a bust such as this. I'd love to hear from you if you have information on this.

My fall floral arrangement in the entry,

faux hydrangeas and stems.

And the chippy wicker settee in the Dining Room

has found a new cream coverlet.

Mercury glass globe in an iron urn in the Dining Room.

 This is just the start of my transition from fall into winter.

Please visit Kathleen over at her wonderful cottage,

 Faded Charm.

Hope you're enjoying the season.

If you live in southwest Missouri or nearby

be sure and visit Leola's in Ozark

and Inspirational Home in Springfield.

This is the Christmas Open House weekend!

Debra