September Mantel with Ironstone and Transferware

Does decorating for Fall sound better once it becomes September? I think there is a subtle shift in my brain's ability to bring out some pumpkins and leaves once we're officially past Labor Day. I've had my Fall tubs out for several weeks, but I just couldn't get excited until this last week. Plus the weather has cooled down a bit and the light seems to be making those longer shadows that don't happen till Autumn is on our doorstep.

All About Home #160: Let's Celebrate September

Happy Labor Day, and Welcome to the 

All About Home Link Party!

Let me tell you, I'm thrilled to have changed that calendar page over to September!!! This has been one whopper of a summer and we've finally had some rain and lower temps. Our grass has even greened up and had a little growing spurt. I'm not a fan of hot weather so I'm usually over summer by the end of July. Not to say I don't enjoy the wonderful summer months, I just need to live somewhere where summer isn't all about the drought and scorch. 

Thanks so much for coming by each week and sharing the fun things you're up to. Now, after Labor Day we can have some great Autumn DIYS, decor, and recipes.

Elegant Urns for Fall

The Creeping Fig

If you're looking for a way to make a statement with your Fall decor, especially in an Entry, Dining Room, or really, anywhere you want to grab attention, use an urn as your focal point. Whether it's inside or out, urns command a second look and always seem to elevate the French Elegance factor. Today I'm sharing a load of inspiration and ideas on ways to create a one-of-a-kind decor centerpiece.

Fall Beginnings in the China Cupboard

Some people like to create tablescapes, and some people like to style vignettes and bookshelves. Me? I like the best of both... to play with dishes in a china cupboard, cabinet and shelves. Although I don't decorate inside this cabinet as much as the Holiday Cupboard, I like to play around with some seasonal bits and bobs in here amongst the transferware.

All About Home #159: Farewell to August

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All About Home Link Party!

Countdown to September is on!!! Fall is popping out all over and I've been pouring over old Fall magazines and my Pinterest boards on Fall. I've been working on transitioning my decor on over to early Fall. I "do" Fall in stages, especially late August and early September. I like to use sunflowers and pears and just a few pumpkins. When it's still upper 80's and low 90's outside I have to take it slow. Thankyou all so much for coming by each week to share what you've been up to. I love seeing all your great ideas and beautiful inspiration throughout the seasons. 

My 10 Tips to Transition to Fall

If you know me and have been a reader of my blog for long, you'll know that Fall is my favorite time of the year. I've always loved the cooler temps, changing leaves, and knowing that Thanksgiving and Christmas are on the way. It's a fun time to cozy up our homes and spaces. Here are my own Top 10 Tips to Transition from Summer to Fall.

Sunflowers Bucket on the Farmtable

Hi Friends, August is zipping by and decor is changing as fast as a chicken can peck a bug. Okay, I'm no chicken lady, but I bet it's fast! My momma and baby vintage chalk chickens have been out here in the Garden Room since mid July and I'm just getting around to sharing the farm table for Late Summer.

All About Home: #158: Late Summer Inspiration

Hello friends and Welcome to the 

All About Home Link Party!

Gosh folks, Fall is creeping up on us, and this last week we had several great Fall inspiration posts. I think we're all enjoying the last of August and summer things, but many of us look forward to the beauty and transformation that Fall brings. (and cooler weather!) 

We had a visit from our adult kids from St. Louis, and our daughter and hubby who live here in town, joined us for a dinner out. We had exciting news, friends. A baby girl is on the way. We never thought we'd get to be grandparents, (younger daughter) but thanking the Lord for a precious new member of the family! 

Thankyou all so much for coming by each week to share what you've been up to. I love seeing all your great ideas and beautiful inspiration throughout the seasons. 

Late Summer Sunflowers in Bloom

August is all about Sunflowers around here...  Mid Summer into Fall is their time to show their happy faces, mingle with some hydrangeas, and wait for some fall leaves to show up. By the middle of July they start mixing in with the early Summer arrangements and as Summer gets closer to Fall, they easily transition from light and bright into early Fall arrangements that are a little deeper in color. 

Summer to Fall Garden Florals in Vintage Containers

Today I thought I'd share a few pics and posts with my garden grown Hydrangeas from this house. I've really enjoyed the large lush bush out front and start snipping those blooms in late June for display and drying. After a few weeks of enjoying the fresh cuttings, they can be dried into lovely delicate dried specimens that range from delicate pinks and greens to darker mauves and purples in the Fall.

All About Home #157: Late Summer Blooms and Projects

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All About Home Link Party!

As August hits the middle of the month we're starting to see a few posts on inspiration for Fall. I used to not be fond of the month of August, but I had an epiphany a few years ago... "Hey, next month is September, so instead of complaining, start thinking about ideas and transitioning to Fall!" Thankyou all so much for coming by each week to share what you've been up to. I love seeing all your great ideas and beautiful inspiration throughout the seasons. 

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.

Late Summer in the Cookbook Cupboard

It seems like August brings all the chickens out to gather in the kitchen and Garden Room. I think of them "down on the farm" hunting and pecking in the barnyard; waiting around for a sprinkle of feed then heading to cooler shady spots for a siesta. So here we are on the Cookbook Cupboard now in late Summer with a few of my vintage flock...

Relaxing Outdoor Spaces at All About Home #156

Hello friends and Welcome to the 

All About Home Link Party!

Thankyou all so much for coming by each week to share what you've been up to. There were so many great link ups this last week. August is a transition month for me, as I start thinking about... thinking about Fall. I love seeing all your great ideas and beautiful inspiration throughout the seasons. 

A Sunflower Mantel and Late Summer Inspiration

Hi friends. Today I'm sharing a look back post with a late summer cottage mantel from our last house. This time of year I'm captivated by sunflowers. They are the symbol for late summer, relaxation, casual dinners al fresco, and all things French Country... and I love to have them taking showing out on the mantel.

Feeling Fruity on the Baker's Rack

August is the month I think about the harvest in the garden from when I was growing up. And memories of a farmstand at the edge of town with fresh corn, cucumbers, tomatoes, and watermelons... all sorts of produce fresh from the fields. Often there was still a little dirt still hanging around. So thinking about the summer fruit harvest this month, the Baker's Rack is all about Summer Fruit  ...

Summer Flowers and Tablescapes at All About Home #155

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All About Home Link Party!

WOW, August is here and before we know it we'll be heading into Fall. This has been a rough summer weather-wise, so many of us are ready and looking forward to cooler temps. Thankyou all so much for coming by each week to share your lives and homes. I love seeing all your great ideas and beautiful inspiration!

Mid-Summer Door Basket with Ticking

Hi Friends, I just wanted to pop in with a quick few pics of my current Mid-Summer Front Door Basket. You may remember we have a bit of a bird problem on the front porch, as they try to make nests in the basket within about 15 minutes of me hanging it out. But this year we put up a nesting box in the corner, so the illegal nesting in the basket has stopped...

Summery Looks in the Garden Room

The end of July has me thinking about mid-Summer but with a decided shift toward winding down and bringing out a bit darker, deeper, harvest colors. Golds and darker greens and a few browns start showing up with some sunflower vibes. Out in the Garden Room I've changed up the wicker seating area to include some golds, black and white Buffalo Check, and of course my always current ticking stripes.

Mid-Summer Inspiration at All About Home #154

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All About Home Link Party!

Thankfully this is the last week in July!! I'm ready to move on to August, and hopefully a change in the weather. I hope you've been having a wonderful summer... maybe a vacation... visiting with family and friends... Thankyou all so much for coming by each week to share your lives and homes. I love seeing all your great ideas and beautiful inspiration!

Christmas in July Ideas and Inspiration

Hello Friends, today I'm doing something a bit different, this hot and humid day in late July.  Actually I'm going for a mental "reset" with an opportunity to start thinking about and grabbing some inspiration for the Christmas Holiday that will be coming before we know it. I'm joining in with a fabulous group of talented gals that have amazing ideas throughout the year! Our friend Rachel from The Ponds Farmhouse has put together this fun Hop and if you're coming from visiting CoCo at The Crowned Goat, thanks so much for coming by and continuing the Hop. Lets get going with some Christmas ideas and inspiration slightly ahead of the curve.

Coastal Vibes with a Seashell Buffet

Hello Everyone, do you love Coastal Design... and Vintage... and Summer? Well, you're in the right place because today a group of us are sharing our Summer Coastal Vibes and how we use all those elements in our decor. Amber, from Follow the Yellow Brick Home  has put this great group together and if you're coming from Christy's at Our Southern Home, Hello and Welcome; so glad you're here!

Summer French Country Wagon In the Dining Room

It's mid summer and I was ready for a dining room refresh from my Spring look, which meant adding in some sunflowers, late summer pears, and changing up my floral table runner from a spring-y brown floral to a summery one with reds, golds, and taupe. 

All About Home Link Party #153

Hello friends and Welcome to the 

All About Home Link Party!

Let's take a break from the hot, hot, hot and enjoy some fun summer decor and gatherings. Thankyou all so much for coming by each week to share your lives and homes. I love seeing all your great ideas and beautiful inspiration!

Seashell Decor and More

Next week I'll be joining a group where we are sharing Coastal Vibes this summer. Since I live smack dab in the middle of the USA, going to the beach or coast isn't something I've done often. Trying to think... the last time I saw the ocean was back in the 90's. What can I say, I'm not an aficionado on the beach or coastal decor. Oh, but my dad was in the Navy, does that count? 

Anyway, I still love shells and of course the summer months are the perfect time to display a few along with some other vintage decor. Since I've been thinking about them, here are a few pics from the past of my posts with seashells. 

Mid-Summer Entry with Blue and White Transferware Tureen

Hi Friends, I know many of you are "Blue and White" collectors with gorgeous dishware, ginger jars, and amazing decorative Chinoiserie pieces. I admire it and love that elegant and traditional design "look", but I've just never started a collection of it. I think it's gorgeous in the summer when I love using Blue and White accessories. I've stuck to the Browns, Reds and Green patterns in transferware, but I do have one piece that I totally stumbled upon years ago at a flea market for just a few dollars. 

Summer Fun at All About Home #152

Hello friends and Welcome to the 

All About Home Link Party!

Well, I'm not going to sugar coat it, this is my least favorite time of the year. Too hot, too dry. Working outside is impossible unless you want to risk a heat stroke. By mid July my brain is fried and wandering toward Autumn and cooler temps. I know many of us are feeling it too. I'll try not to complain... August will look better as we slide toward the more moderate temps of early Fall. In the meantime, (insert happy face) we can all share what we're doing, have a good dose of inspiration, and enjoy beautiful pics of vacations and DIY projects. How about you all?... are you gangbusters this time of year or is it just me?

Thankyou all so much for coming by each week to share your lives and homes. 

I love seeing all your great ideas and beautiful inspiration!

Majolica and Crockery in the Summer Holiday Cupboard

Hi friends, today I'm sharing A Cottage Re-View of my Long Lost Crockery in the Holiday Cupboard in Mid-Summer. I hope you'll enjoy seeing a few posts from years past of fun vintage summer decorating. I love peeking into the archives of my favorite blogs. So many times I've missed that particular post, so getting a chance to "view it again" always brings inspiration and fresh new ideas. Today I'm sharing some of my pieces of old crockery and Majolica.

Mid Summer Formal Living Room; Yes I Have One

Hi Friends, I've been wanting to share our formal living room for a bit, since it's been a while. I don't usually tend to do a lot of seasonal decorating in there. (Many of you may not know this room even exists) Things don't seem to change too much, probably because we use this room so much. The coffee table is right in my husband's sight line to the TV, so whatever I decorate with there has to be compact and not distracting. He tends to keep some of his "stuff" out on the end table along with the remotes so it's always a bit of a pain challenge to clear off his personal area in order to take current pics. Since it looks just like it did several years ago, I just thought I'd "re-share" those photos which were actually taken this time of the year. 

Welcome to July at All About Home #151

Hello friends and Welcome to the 

All About Home Link Party!

Hope you all are having a great 4th of July, enjoying a long weekend and celebrating our country's birthday. Thanks so much for coming by in the middle of a holiday; we appreciate you all taking time out of your week to come and party with us. Sunday we finally had a good (really good) rain after a long month of hot weather. We've been trying to water, but we have a big yard and it's been difficult to keep up with the 90+ temps. It was a refreshing afternoon just watching from the back porch.

Thankyou all so much for coming by each week to share your lives and homes. 

I love seeing all your great ideas and beautiful inspiration!

Red, White and Blue on the Baker's Rack

Hello friends, Happy July 4th Weekend!

I had a few spots with Patriotic decor that I haven't had a chance to share yet. You all know I love decorating for holidays with vintage pieces, so here are a few more pics from the Garden Room dressed up for the July 4th holiday. I like to keep a visual tour for how I decorate each year and then look back year to year to see what I've used and styled. 

Patriotic Front Porch in the RWB

I started thinking about decorating the front porch for the July 4th holiday back in late May when I joined in on a roundup for patriotic ideas and inspiration. This house has a nice sized front porch where I have an old train depot bench so there's plenty of room for some fun seasonal and holiday decor. I really prefer using a basket on the door for faux florals with coordinating color and decorative ribbon, but since I have a problem with birds making nests in the basket from late March to June I usually just do a wreath in early spring to summer. I took a chance that by late June the birdie problem would be over. I think I'm safe...

All About Red, White, and Blue at All About Home #150

Hello friends and Welcome to the 

All About Home Link Party!

The 4th of July is next Monday, and it's amazing that half the year is past and we're heading into mid-summer. We're having a mini cool off which is so welcomed, since that cuts down my plant watering schedule and the utility bill. Still no rain, but the cooler temps help. Do you all have travel and party plans for the long 4th weekend? I hope you have a great week with lots of fun and family gatherings.

Thankyou all so much for coming by each week to share your lives and homes. 

I love seeing all your great ideas and beautiful inspiration!

July 4th Patriotic Hearth Room

Summer Decor DIY at All About Home #149

Hello friends and Welcome to the 

All About Home Link Party!

I hope you all had a wonderful Father's Day and enjoyed some family time. We're still in the 90's here in Missouri, without rain for a couple of weeks. Way too hot for June. Even the squirrels get too hot by noon to raid the birdfeeders. They'd rather lounge on the patio chairs.

Thankyou all so much for coming by each week to share your lives and homes. 

I love seeing all your great ideas and beautiful inspiration!

Mini Patriotic Makeovers on the Mantel

Hey there friends. I know we all like a good project and DIY, but today I'm going to share with you what happens when things don't turn out quite like we might plan. I'm going to share a behind the scenes pair of mini makeovers that I decided on for the patriotic mantel here in the hearth room. Many of us don't like to share those blah frustrating moments when you have a plan that gets off track. (me included). Personally, I think sharing setbacks and makeovers #1,#2, and #3 help all of us and save some time. Even if we have to cringe a bit and admit it was my best shot. 

July 4th Farmtable in the Garden Room

Last month, I did a little DIY paint transformation with a breadboard to give it a more "subtle" look of gray-washed aging. That one little difference made a big impact on styling further tabletop centerpieces and tabletop tableaus out here in the Garden Room. I like to use more than one element in a tabletop grouping, but I don't want them scattered all around willy nilly. I like to corral those crazy knick knacks and vintage items!

All About Home Link Party #148

Hello friends and Welcome to the 

All About Home Link Party!

Summer has come down on us with a heatwave. Now, I know some of you all live in Texas, so you're used to the mid 90's in early May, but I'm just not acclimated for that yet. Watering container plants and shrubs has had me busy every day. A fun little miracle this week, is that I was able to see 4 little fledgling wrens leave their nest box and fly away with mom and dad. I'm a bird watcher for sure. I had a smile on my face for several days! 

Thankyou all so much for being here each week 

and sharing all your great ideas and beautiful inspiration!

Vintage Watering Cans for the Patriotic Porch

Hello Everyone, we all have a real treat today with a fun vintage Hop. I'm joining today with a great group of gals who love vintage goods and absolutely love using them to decorate our homes and porches. Our friend Cindy of County Road 407 came up with this unique way to share our vintage pieces with the Lifestyle of Love Bi-Monthly Hop. Our theme this month is galvanized tin containers and vintage items. Summer is the perfect season for sharing our metal farmhouse goods with an industrial and garden vibe.

Cozy Wicker Seating with Patriotic Color

As you all know, I like to keep things changed up in the Garden Room, and especially in the little wicker seating area next to the Holiday Cupboard and the baker's rack. During June and July it's filled with red, white, and blue accents and decor. I have several vintage quilts and coverlets that get to set the stage with mix and match pillows. 

Hello to Summer at All About Home #147

Hello friends and Welcome to the 

All About Home Link Party!

Are you all getting into June and the fact that wow, it's now summer? I've been out puttering in the yard and on the back porch trying to stay ahead of the wildlife. I'm really loving all the great plant and garden posts along with the patriotic tablescapes and decor. Thankyou so much for being here each week and sharing all your great ideas and beautiful inspiration!

Vintage Cottage Weekend on the Patriotic Back Porch

Hi Friends, Happy Sunday. I think most of you know by now, and after 13 years, that I'm not the type of blogger that's into big reveals, major projects and complicated DIYs. I consider you all friends and I'm just looking to share my interests, little decor things that excite me, and my daily life. When I find something I love and enjoy I want to share it with you all. 

Summer Patriotic Cupboard with Red Transferware

June is here and it's time to add a bit of the RED/WHITE/BLUE to the decor around the house and inside the Holiday Cupboard. This year I thought I'd try something a little different by combining my usual "summer" dishes, my French faience, along with the few red transferware pieces I've collected through the years.