Valentines Under Glass

Hello Friends, 

I've always felt Valentine's Day lends itself to a cloche vignette. Gathering small items into one grouping works especially well for a vintage Valentine setting. Mixing ephemera, antique cards, jewelry with dried flowers, and other bits and baubles can become one beautiful cohesive look when it's under glass.

Rustic Tabletop Vignette for Valentine's Day

When I think of Valentine's Day décor I tend to think about feminine, romantic, lacy settings filled with pink, white, and red. Maybe even some sparkle with rhinestones, sequins, and glittery baubles. This year I put together a few vignettes to celebrate, but in the Garden Room on the farm table I wanted to try to incorporate some Valentine looks with a more rustic vibe. 

Love is Like a Box of Chocolates... in the Holiday Cupboard

The sweetest time of the year is here.

I hate to admit it, but I DO love a box of Valentine's chocolates. Of course, a bouquet is lovely too, but I have a real love of chocolate and I'd never turn that down. I get excited over which one to choose first, and the surprise it brings. Forrest Gump's momma was a wise woman. I'm switching out her quote of "Life" to "Love". Sometimes love is a bit of a surprise too.

Winter to Valentine's Day Botanical Farmtable

Hello Friends, I've been tweaking a few spots around here to add some Valentine's Day elements without totally redecorating the whole house. I think having a few strategic vignettes are a good compromise this year. I've been looking through past posts to see what I'd like to do to bring in a bit of romance with vintage pieces.

French Toile and Burlap Dining Room Tabletop

Hi Friends, today, I'm sharing looks in the Dining Room for late winter from the last several years here in our current home. January décor tends to be a little more subdued than Christmas, so color is usually minimal. Often there are a few pieces held over from the holidays; maybe even a little sparkle.  

Warm Winter Scenes from the Garden Room

I'm working this week on a few Valentine's Day vignettes and the Holiday Cupboard, and at the same time I'm still enjoying my basic "winter" décor. Valentine's Day brings back the reds, along with pink and creams, so I'm trying to balance things out without going completely overboard by "redecorating" the whole house. Wasn't I just putting away the Christmas tubs a week ago? 

Love is in the Air Valentine Entry

Hello Friends, are you ready to start thinking about Valentine's Day? Love, Romance, and all that sweet stuff, or are you still tripping over yet-to-be-put-away tubs of Christmas decor? Today I'm part of a great group of gals who are sharing inspiration and some great ideas for celebrating Valentine's Day. Our sweet and talented hostess for the gathering is Laura from Decor to Adore. If you're coming from Lora Bloomquist's Blog, Create and Ponder, then I'm so glad you're here and following the Hop. 

Winter Mantel with White and Neutrals

After putting away all of the Christmas décor I have to admit I'm enjoying the pared down look and feel of January. At first I felt like things were a little bare and blah compared to my usual style, but I wanted a breather regarding decor and life in general. How about you... are you enjoying a little down time these last few weeks?

January Tabletop with a Quilted Runner

I think many of us this week are literally freezing our tootsie rolls off. Winter has finally hit us here in southern Missouri and we had a bit of a mini blizzard. It was so cold that even the birds and squirrels didn't want to come out for their late afternoon snack. Blowing snow and low temps have made me need to keep busy getting my house back to normal after Christmas.  

7 Easy Tips to Transition Your Home to Winter Décor

Okay, I can't really say that these are mine alone. Because all you have to do is take a look on Pinterest to see that there are a bunch of bloggers who follow these same tips to change up their Christmas décor to a cozy, comfy, feeling of winter.

Common Ground Top 10 Posts

Welcome Friends, as I share a bit of what happened here during this last year, 2023. Here are my Top 10 reader favorite posts, not in any particular order. Thankyou so much, each one of you who comes by to visit and is a part of my blog and life. It's been a long journey this last 14 years and I'm grateful to have spent it with you all!

Last Minute Ideas for a New Year's Eve Tablescape

Hi Friends, I wanted to share a few images and ideas in case you are thinking of an impromptu New Year's Eve dinner or small celebration. I'm not a "tablescaper" like some of you, but I thought it would be fun to see a few vintage inspired tablescapes and gather some common themes that will work for a last minute plan.

Heavenly Holiday Entry

I've realized at Christmas I lean toward a white and ethereal look on the entry console; white lights and white and neutral colors with a light and bright look. For Christmas this year I've tried to bring out a few pieces that are some of my early Christmas décor that I haven't shared for years. 

Holiday Dining Room with Holly Topiaries

Hello Friends, Wow what a weekend. Filled with family and so much fun and so many blessings. I hope you all had an equally Happy Christmas. I'm playing "Christmas Catch-up" this week, trying to get in a last couple of Christmas posts for my video diary. I like to do this for myself even if it's on the back side of Christmas. I try to mix it up each year so I won't get décor lazy. A Home Tour each year gives me a visual of what I've done for Christmas décor. Hopefully, you might enjoy it too. 

Welcome Home Christmas Tour 2023

Many Christmas Tours are done at the beginning of the Season, but since it's a work in progress here from late October until Christmas Eve, it becomes a pictorial blog diary of our home at Christmas room by room. 

Garden Girl for the Holidays

Over the years I've picked up a few old garden statuary pieces, but I can't let them be outside in the elements any longer. Some of them have survived for about 100 years, so they deserve to be in the comforts and safety of shelter. I found this precious Garden Girl fountain around 13 years ago in a little hole-in-the-wall antique shop in St. Louis. I spied her in an alleyway along with many other old pieces. Her graceful lines and sweet face called out to me. 

Reindeer Games on the Christmas Mantel

In middle November while browsing ideas for my Christmas mantel I came across a pair of woodsy reindeer that checked all the boxes for decorating my large hearth room fireplace. I had told myself that I didn't need any new decor items, but well... they ended up on my Thanksgiving mantel, then stuck around for Christmas.

Christmas Front Porch

Invariably I get down to the last few days before Christmas and I start running out of time to share all my pics of Christmas around my house. So here are a few from the front porch. We went through a really cold snap about the time I was decorating it, so it sort of got lost in the fact that I wasn't going to turn into a popsicle working on more fluffing.

Out-of-the-Box Vintage Christmas Tree and "The Mystery Box"

One of the first things I do as I start thinking about an upcoming season or holiday is to start with Pinterest and spend time reviewing past posts and photos. We all have pics from Pinterest that we consider our favorites; those that come to mind each season. For me they are in the "vintage" category and I revisit them each year for a fresh new look and take on décor themes and ideas that I can include in my own seasonal décor.

Christmas Cheer in the Cupboard

Welcome Friends, to Christmas in the Holiday Cupboard! Each upcoming Christmas Season you'll find me playing in this old Pie Safe and transforming it to the Holiday Cupboard. It's one of my first decorating spots that I look forward to each Christmas. I love to bring out the red transferware, and this year some Tartan Plaid Christmas plates from Pottery Barn are added to the mix.

A Homespun Kitchen for Christmas

Hey Friends, Welcome to a fun gathering today, as I'm joining in with a great group of gals who are sharing their ideas and inspiration for a Homespun Christmas. Thankyou to Laura at Decor To Adore for putting this great group together. If you're coming from Lora's place at Create and Ponder, thanks so much and I'm glad you're here continuing the Hop!

Christmas Vintage Collections on Display

Hi Friends, Welcome to the Christmas Edition of our Lifestyle of Love Gathering hosted by our wonderful friend Cindy of County Road 407. If you're coming from CoCo's Blog, The Crowned Goat, you're so welcome here and I'm so happy you're following the Hop. 

Vintage Christmas Ornament Boxes

From the very first vintage ornament I saw many years, I fell in love. With the tarnished, chipped, and worn metallic finishes especially of Shiny Brite ornaments, they reflected my love for timeworn beauty.  I started out with every color I could find, then began to focus on the metal colors of silver, white, and gold. 

Father Christmas and the Woodland Wagon

My Father Christmas seems to think of this French goat cart as home each Christmas. He ends up here because after 40 years he has a bad back and needs some support. (can any of us relate?) It can't be seen from here but this year he's sitting in my old Tartan Plaid train case.

Plaid Greetings from the Christmas Baker's Rack

Hi Friends, the combination of Thanksgiving weekend and decorating for Christmas can be a lot of work, as you are probably experiencing right about now. I had a lot of things out and felt like I had a plan, but the more I puttered, the more I needed to do. Is that a sign of age...? Maybe just someone has too much fun Christmas stuff. But I've always been one to "decorate" up until December 24, no matter what, so I guess that explains it.

Christmas Centerpiece Basket with Greenery and Guest

I'm sure most of you are doing what I'm doing this weekend...

Recovering from Thanksgiving and getting started on Christmas décor. I have to admit, I did get started bringing in a few Christmas things and brainstorming last week. I did my Thanksgiving decorating early this year so I was able to transition to Christmas without feeling like I was giving it short shrift. I thoroughly enjoyed it by starting early.

Thanksgiving Greetings and a Mantel I Almost Forgot

Friends, wow, I almost forgot to share pics of my Thanksgiving mantel. I like to keep a visual diary of what I do each year but I've been in a bit of chaos with packing away "fall" and transitioning to more Christmas décor. 

Dressing Up a Centerpiece with Gold Gilt Pears

It's easy for me to get into a bit of a rut in my Dining Room with Christmas decor. If I find pieces that I like, I tend to rely on the same look from one year to the next. I have a lot of vintage "kitch-y" fun stuff that I use in the Garden Room, but in the Dining Room I like to do something a little more French Country with some "rustic elegance". Tartan plaid can still be found in here, but I've wanted to try some new and different ideas with a more frenchy country vibe.

Thanksgiving Baker's Rack and a Peek at Christmas

I still have a few bits left for Thanksgiving, but now I'm working on decorating for Christmas. I love Fall so much I always go overboard so moving from Thanksgiving to the Christmas Season can mean lots of packing up and storing away before I can really get to Christmas. I've been trying to make it easier, but as you know there's just no way around it unless you're a total minimalist, which of course, I am not. 

French Country Urn and Thanksgiving Centerpiece

Hello everyone, so glad you're here today to join us for the Grateful Gatherings Thanksgiving Hop hosted by our wonderful friend Laura from Decor to Adore.  If you're following the Hop and coming by via Lora Bloomquist at Create and Ponder then an extra special welcome and Hello. What a wonderful time of year to have a gathering of friends as we share our own way of celebrating a grateful Thanksgiving occasion.

Savoring Thanksgiving into Christmas in the Garden Room

Hi Friends, how are you coming along with this seasonal transition time? Have you put away all your Fall decor and going cold turkey (pun intended) headlong into Christmas? 

Cottage Review: Enter Thanksgiving

Hi Friends, I'm sharing some Thanksgiving to Christmas inspiration today of my Entry from a few years ago. For some reason, my Entry this year wasn't spectacular (tehe), so I'm sharing some the entry area posts from year's past. As I say Inspiration is Inspiration, no matter the year.  I especially loved this look because of the "Oatmeal Tree" and the neutral painted leaf wreath. 

I had a brief thought of just whizzing by decorating for Thanksgiving and doing a more Christmas look, but in the end I just couldn't get there. I love late Fall and Thanksgiving, and I just wasn't up for full on Christmas. So I compromised a bit and brought out my "oatmeal" tree (looks like oatmeal) and called it good.

Easy Woodblock Christmas Gingerbread Houses

It seems like each year there's a new trend in Christmas decor, and the Gingerbread theme has been popping up everywhere the last few Christmas seasons. I love Gingerbread houses and Gingerbread Men/Women/People cookies as they are so traditional and geared toward the "kid" in us. I think most of us at one time or another attempted a Gingerbread House or cookies. The fun is in the creative process. Also nice if it turns out cute and actually stays in one piece!!

Giving Thanks in the Holiday Cupboard

Probably most of you are thinking like me; "Where has this year gone?" I don't know why this surprises me because my lifestyle isn't particularly hectic or do I have a crazy schedule. But the weeks go by and I'm  amazed when Thanksgiving and Christmas roll around and come knocking on my door. I'm always thrilled to see them, but never really fully prepared.

Bronzed Turkey from Blah to Burnished

I know we all have holiday decor pieces that we've had for years; many of them holding sentimental feelings of family and tradition. Well, I have my share of pieces that are just simply part of the ritual of bringing out Thanksgiving and Christmas decor, but really need a spiff up to make them presentable and up to date.

Old World Nature Inspired Urn

Hi Friends, I'm sharing some of my favorite Fall and Thanksgiving inspiration posts from previous years, along with new posts with some fun ideas for making the transition of Fall and Thanksgiving to Christmas. Here's a magazine inspiration urn I put together several years ago from when I picked up a Victoria Magazine Special Edition, called Victoria Classic French Cottage . 

Heading to the Holidays

Hello Friends, thought I'd just wish you a fun start to the Holidays. So I found a couple of old buddies, living in the moment, that had it all together for the start of the Thanksgiving and Christmas Season. I'm doing my best to ease into both by celebrating Thanksgiving and looking forward to Christmas. Why can't we enjoy it all... real time.

We had a real deep freeze hit us this week with multiple night lows down to the teens, so I think I might be ready to start thinking about Christmas. I'm not ready for red and green, but I'm bringing some nature elements together that will tie November into December. 

I'm twisting my husband's arm for a drive in the country to enjoy the leaves. I remember one Halloween where my younger daughter and her friend Trick or Treated in the snow, but that's it. We usually don't have this cold weather until after November 1. 

Have Fun and Welcome to the Holidays!!!

Cottage ReView: Thanksgiving with Feathered Friends

Hello Friends, Here we go into the slide toward the holidays, so during the next few weeks I'll be sharing some inspiration for Thanksgiving and Christmas as I make the transition from Fall to Christmas.

French Country Dining Room for Fall

Hello Friends, welcome to the Fall Dining Room, where shortly it will make the transition to Thanksgiving. The mini French wagon is joining my Pottery Barn urn this season for a late fall look, that can easily transition to the Thanksgiving holiday with just a few minor change ups.

Cozying Up the Back Porch for Late Fall

We're heading into my favorite time of the year. Late Fall's brilliant color, cool days, and cozy nights have always been the season that renews my mind and heart. I always enjoy the change of seasons; winter to spring is my next favorite time of the year. But the brilliance of the leaves in late fall paints a canvas that undeniably lifts me body, mind and soul.

Late Fall Looks on the Sideboard and Cookbook Cupboard

Last post I shared my hearth room mantel and décor along with a few woodsy friends. I guess you could call this part 2 of the hearth room as the sideboard and cookbook cupboard are actually in the hearth room. 

Woodland Vibes on the Fall Mantel

Hi Friends, welcome to my late October Hearth Room! If you've known me long you know that I gravitate to woodsy, vintage themes in the hearth room and on the mantel, especially during the fall season. Quilts, pillows and accessories all take on the colors of the season to create a cozy space for relaxing and conversation.

Fall Leaves and Tea Time On a Tray

We're here in the sunroom today, which is also known as the Garden Room in the sitting area. This spot is such a great spot for coffee or tea, which is cozy, comfy and full of seasonal color.