just thinking outloud...

I've realized after 3 and a 1/2 years of blogging, that this little niche on the www has become somewhat of a pictoral  diary of my decorating style. What I loved 10 years ago, I'm not so crazy about any more, or even 5 years ago; how my ideas and concepts have evolved. What started out as a home with lots of extra space has become a little crowded, but filled with things I love and enjoy, and that hopefully reflect who I am.

I love "pretty", but I also love comfort, functionality, and simplicity. I love a good "trend" but you won't find me being a slave to it. I'm a mesh of a lot of decor styles, but "vintage" will always be the fundamental and basic premise of my style. I find myself, with each new season or holiday coming up, going back through my archives of posts to see what I did last year, or the year before. Let's change it up a little, I don't want to get into a rut. Some things are basically the same, but just tweaked a little. Other things are retired and sent the way of the antique mall space, but each loved and enjoyed for the time that it's part of my world.

I guess I'm going over all this to say that sometimes, I just like to have a place to peek back at, and then form a new plan for what's ahead. One of my favorite things to do is to go back through your blog archives and see what you all did last year. We really are an everchanging, growing, and inspirational bunch!

(my new plaid wool throw from Leola's, 

which brings in a little "Christmas Color")

Each season on the sunporch I start with a different quilt. 

Then layer on the pillows.

It's my place to have some fun.

I told you I had a couple more turkeys up my sleeve...

Now that it's cold outside,

 I enjoy the visual warmth of the Fall inspired woolens.

The kitties love their snuggle spots out here.

almost like being outdoors.

I'm pretty sure I enjoy this space more than any other in my home.

A lot of wind and a hard freeze a few nights ago,

took down most of the maple leaves.

Love the golden hue this casts.

In a week it will be time to put away "Fall" and Thanksgiving,

then bring out "Christmas".

Time to turn another page in the book.

I don't want this blog to ever be thought of 

as a place that is "show-offy".

I hope when you come to visit 

it's like coming by for a cup of tea

and a warm muffin...

put up your feet,

and tell me about your day.

Hope you're savoring the moment.

Enjoy life and the small pleasures.

thanks for always being here.

...for being a friend.

Thank you for being part of my life.

xoxo,

oops a p.s. here
If you haven't entered Dee's Give Away
CLICK HERE

Welcome to The Marketplace

Hello Everyone!

We're heading in to the busiest shopping days of the year, so I hope you all are ready. I'm ordering Christmas Gifts full on right now and I know you're doing the same. So I hope you'll check out all the great links here at The Marketplace. If you're an Etsy Shop or Online Boutique owner come link up some of your shop favorite items. 

We had such a great turnout last week! It was wonderful seeing all the new "faces" over here. There's lots of shopping going on, 'cause I found lot's of sold items linked. YAY! Here are a few fun links from last week.

StellabyStar Vintage Turkey Gravy Boat

Follow Your Heart Woodworking Wedding Signs

These are wonderful. If you're planning a wedding be sure and check out this great shop owner who customizes wedding party signs.

Vintage Floral Hanky from GirlMakesGood

I just love these colorful hankies;

what a tradition that was to always have one in your purse.

So pretty for Christmas, this 

Mother and Child Heart Charm Necklace

by BrendaLeesJewelry

Do you need these for Thanksgiving and Christmas?

Set of 5 monogrammed silverplate teaspoons

from The Lazy Peacock

And this wonderful

Victorian Santa Original Die Cut

from Rosekraft

My gal Dee from French Bleu Vintage
has this beautiful instant collection of

3 Flow Blue Dishes

I'm hosting a Give Away with Dee
for a $40 Gift Certificate to her shop.
Also a 20% discount code to my readers.
So Click HERE to enter!

Just wanted to share a couple of the new pieces I have in my shop

The Petite Boutique.

This design has been floating around Pinterest

 and I've had several inquiries,

so I put a few together and just have them listed.

OK, so time to link up, Remember this party link is for items that are FOR SALE or your shop. Please have a link within your post to your shop or individual item. Link up to three of your individual items, and you don't have to have a blog to participate. If you do have a blog it would be so nice to have the Link button on your sidebar, and be sure and let people know about this selling venue. The more people who come to link and shop, the more fun we have!

Have a great week, remember this link is live all week, so check back to see the new items being listed.

Happy Shopping!

A little tweaking makes it Thanksgiving...

Drum roll please...

"The Late Fall Mantel"

da ta da da!!

OK, hope you know I'm kidding.

Just a matter of bringing out the turkeys 

in exchange for the snowy owls.

I've kept everything else that I started with back in September. My mantel has been through a few change outs, but now that it's Thanksgiving, most of it will be swapped out for Christmas in just a little over a week.

Here's the Mid Fall Mantel

and the "Super Early Fall Mantel"...

you can see I tweaked the flowers a little too.

Now my Johnson Bros. Turkey Platter gets center stage.

A few small changes in the Entry

 with a white turkey covered vegetable...

same for the hallway sideboard;

you guessed it...

more turkeys.

another turkey platter...

(I got more folks)

Salt and Pepper turkeys

big fat turkey painted white...

(He used to be multi colored but was obnoxiously loud,
so he was slapped with the paintbrush)

I'm not done with the turkeys.

You have to suffer through at least one more post of them.

maybe more...

Be sure and come by tomorrow and visit

for some Etsy and Online Boutique Shopping Fun!

And if you haven't entered Dee's Give Away from 

French Bleu Vintage

 then click HERE

joining in with these parties this week:

Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

TTT at A Stroll Thru Life

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

Knick of Time Tuesday

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Mod Mix Monday at Mod Vintage Life
Cowgirl Up at Cedar Hill Ranch
Blissful Whites at Timewashed
From My Front Porch to Yours
Stone Gable
French Country Cottage
Shabby Art Boutique
Rooted in Thyme
At the Picket Fence
My Romantic Home
Jennifer Rizzo

Thanks for putting up with all my craziness,
Have you seen the chipmunk video?
it's a must see!!

xoxo,

Some chipmunk fun...

I have to say "sorry" for the blurry photos up front. This post is sort of an experiment, hope you all don't mind being the "guinea pigs" for my lackluster techy skills. Actually this is close to "guinea pigs", since I'm showing you one of my little visitors on the deck the last few days.

These pics were taken through my kitchen window above the sink,

 that's why they're so blurry.

Early in the week I put out this old enamel wash pan filled with seeds for the birds. The cats and I need our entertainment from the sunporch you know. So besides the birdies, we've had our regular squirrels and then my favorite little buddies, the chips.

This one is having a great time filling his pouches with all the yummies, but what's been the real laugh, is seeing him bob up and down making sure no one is going to grab him. He's on the alert, but really wants to take advantage of his good fortune in finding the mother load of seed.

My camera has a video option, so this is my first time using it. I'm hoping it works. If it doesn't, then just look at the blurry pictures and imagine you see him doing his thing. He had me in stitches, but then it doesn't take a lot to amuse me now-days.

It's a minute of up and down, up and down. But like I said, this was my first time inserting a video into a blog post. Stay tuned later today for the cliff hanger on my "Late Fall Mantle". I know you all are on the edge of your seats waiting for it. Oh and the racket in the background is my dryer. I have a load of rocks in it evidently...

Thanks for indulging me, 

hope you have a chuckle from this,

xoxo,

A Give Away with French Bleu Vintage

Do you all know Dee, aka, Adrienne?

Hope so, but if you don't, now's your chance!

Dee is having a Give Away for all you vintage lovin' peeps out here.

She's the proprietress of the wonderful Online Store

French Bleu Vintage 

Dee has one of the best shops around
 if you're looking for authentic vintage pieces,
Dishes, objets d'art, even furniture...

I love how she styles her items.
Here are some that you can find listed in her shop.

Wouldn't this set make your Thanksgiving table divine?

Wedgewood Patrician Creamware Set

What a wonderful vignette of a few of Dee's items

French Madonna Statue

Limoges Demitasse Set

Taylor Smith Red Staffordshire China

An 8 piece gorgeous lot of dishes, perfect for Christmas.

Just gorgeous

Ironstone Bowl and Pitcher

We've seen these French beauties around blogland

Vintage Metal Washstand

And we all love a French Wicker Bottle

These lovely Vintage Violets Urn Style Lamps
would be beautiful in a soft shabby bedroom or living room.

These are just a few of the beautiful things in Dee's Shop. She has new items coming in every day, so be sure and bookmark her Store. And right now with each purchase there will be a complimentary current magazine being shipped with your order.

Now on to the Give Away...

Dee is Giving Away a $40. 00 Gift Certificate 

And making available a 20% Discount code ComGr20

to all you Common Ground readers.

We have lots of ways to enter,

be sure and leave a separate comment for each entry.

1. Visit Dee's Store, French Bleu Vintage, browse around and then come back to leave a comment on what you'd buy with your gift certificate.
2. Like and subscribe to French Bleu Vintage on Facebook, HERE
3. Follow Dee on her blog, French Bleu Vintage, HERE
4. Blog or Facebook about the Give Away
5. and I'd love you to follow Common Ground  (thanks everyone)

Vintage Inspiration Friday 

is still going strong.

If you haven't linked up 

just scroll down to the last post

to join in on the party!

Have a great weekend, everyone,

xoxo,