Monday, October 12, 2015

HOLEY MOLY PUMPKIN !

So we went to our daughter's for Thanksgiving .................and she had this pumpkin sitting on her wine cabinet


When we were getting ready to leave and she was filling plates of leftovers for everyone - she asked what I wanted.

Your pumpkin......I said
And out we walked with it ( plus leftovers lol )
They made the holes with a drill bit for doors  - 2 sizes - all over - took them all of 5 minutes apparently!
It looks pretty magical at night !

I even grabbed the faux leaves she had wrapped around the stem





And that little ceramic pumpkin and gourd in the background?
They were on her table and promptly went in Mama's purse
( I'm ok taking knick knacks out of my kids houses - they take furniture out of mine ! )
I've had that lantern for years and years - never dawned on my that it's kind of pumpkin shaped !


The flowers that were in this bicycle plant stand died this week so the timing was perfect to plop a pumpkin inside
The poor man's version of Cinderella's coach - in this version a coachman has to peddle his butt of to get her to the ball - not quite as glamorous I know but it's better then having to walk to a ball, right?




I've got another pumpkin coming up - for someone who never decorates for Fall - I'm sure on a roll
Somebody stop me !



Have a wonderful day everyone
Hugs,
Me


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HELLO FALL !

That explanation point in the title is deceiving ............
I'm NOT excited about Fall - not in the slightest - but it's kind of here whether I like it or not and so I've been changing things out a little here and there.

I took my wood slice sign and added a piece of paper saying Fall because I didn't want to paint the word on to it ( hey there's 3 other seasons to decorate for ! )
It's resting against a galvanized tray I found this summer.................

DECOR WITH WOOD SLICE

Now - all of a sudden - my wood " slice " feels like it has limitless decor potential !


Some of  you may remember I did both sides of this - the other side looks like this

PAINTED WOOD SLICE

It usually sits in the enclosed front porch - but I decided to borrow it for the bedroom
My fall mantel - a few books ( that I've been dying to read )  a couple of stars -


some branches - even my squirrel door stopper has found it's way up there LOL
and of course my Paris Christmas ornament that's out for every season



PAINTED WOOD SLICE

Last month I looked for a pair of Hunter boots on line.....................it's been popping up on my screen for 30 days or so - a constant reminder that I haven't bought them
I'm ordering them today - partly because I love them - and partly because I'm sick to death of seeing the ad
This is the new style of them ( I had the older version for many many years - they last a long time ! )
It's a more tailored version

And what on earth they have to do with my mantel I have no idea except these boots are probably the only part of Fall that I really do like .................I may put them on the mantel.

Hope you all have a wonderful Monday -
And since most of you LOVE this season I hope it's filled with warm colors and crisp weather and fireplaces and soup on the stove and pie in the oven and

a pair of your favorite boots..................

Hello Fall !

Hugs,
Me


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BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH

Friday, October 9, 2015

A FRIDAY CHAT ( about this and that )

Good morning - you have to make your own coffee this morning - I can't walk around at the moment and here's why !

The other night I was laying on the bed and I saw something on my leg out of the corner of my eye.

IT WAS WRINKLES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wrinkles on my leg - I swear to you - my left leg ( I think my right one is aging quite gracefully )
It was in a relaxed position obviously - but I thought I'd throw up on the spot.
I immediately flexed it and they disappeared.

I already walk around looking perpetually surprised - because forcing your eyebrows up as high as they'll go takes a couple of years off................it also give you severe headaches but that's a small price to pay.  So now I'll have to make sure my leg muscles are flexed at all times - it's exhausting getting older.

Next time you step out of the shower ( and only if you have a full length mirror on your bathroom door ) while you're standing butt naked - lift your arms above your head ( like you're about to spring into a jumping jack - but don't really spring into a jumping jack or you may dislocate something )  O.M.G. - I swear to you your body looks like it's supposed to look !  It's amazing.
So I may start walking around with my arms above my head - that with the startled expression and the stiff walk from flexing leg muscles  may make people think there's a hold up nearby but who cares really................it's free.

Oh and by the way - when you're laying in bed don't bother lifting your arms - it only works when you're standing up for some reason -
Everything still sags when you're horizontal - just keep a blanket up to your chin.  And look surprised.
_________________________________________________________________________________

Well the latest argument was the front door as you can well imagine.

I wanted to go Apple Green or Yellow.....................John wanted Red -
John won.............just in case any of you are under the assumption that Suzan always wins.
He literally sulked for a week over it and I couldn't stand watching it so I caved.  There's something so pitiful about seeing a grown man sulking over the color of a front door that's just heartbreaking really.

I've now discovered that a person can move mountains just by sulking - it never dawned on me before -
I'm going to try this method for the next project - it's exciting actually - a new experiment !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
_________________________________________________________________________________

Ok I'm going to tell you one of the reasons why I wasn't keen on going red.
You already know that the normal rules of the universe don't ( and never did ) apply to me - so don't judge.
It's because of the stupid Fall wreath I made.
It took me 56 years to make one - and now I really like it - BUT IT DOESN'T GO WITH A RED DOOR
Plus there's orangey-gold leaded glass in the side lights and the door itself - I was afraid it was going to look like a Halloween door for 12 months of the year.

John says - YOU DON'T WANT TO PAINT THE DOOR RED BECAUSE OF A WREATH YOU MADE?
Suzan says - It'll clash
John says - MAKE ANOTHER ONE FOR GOD'S SAKES !
John says - You got the supplies from the dollar store.
John says - Of all the ridiculous reasons.................
Suzan says - But I've grown partial to that wreath
John says - WHO GROWS PARTIAL TO WREATHS - OMG - YOU'RE OUT OF YOUR MIND
John says - You spend hundreds of dollars on a pair of shoes you never wear and you're attached to a wreath you made for 10.00
Suzan says - YOU spent 1000.00 on a leather jacket you never wear
John says - I'm going to start wearing it now - it was too warm - do you want me to put on a leather jacket in the sweltering heat????????????
Suzan says - YOU BOUGHT IT 10 YEARS AGO !!!!!!!!!!!
Suzan says - It's ugly now - please don't start wearing it - it's completely out of style

And that's how we roll around here...............we completely forget what we were originally arguing about and move on to the next item rather quickly.
Otherwise things can get stagnant pretty quickly don't you know?
If you want to keep the magic alive - DO NOT ARGUE OVER THE SAME THINGS OVER AND OVER AGAIN................otherwise he'll find someone new to argue with.
Someone who doesn't have to walk around flexing her leg muscles and looking surprised.
_________________________________________________________________________________

This summer was so hot - gloriously hot - that I can't bear the cooler temperatures.  My body is going into shock - or shutdown - it just can't deal with it.
And there's this constant niggling thought that it's going to get much much colder as we progress.
OMG - as I was typing niggling I realized I haven't heard that word in ages..............I had to google it because it feels like the start of a bad word, doesn't it?  But it's fine to use..................being politically correct is as exhausting.as aging.
_________________________________________________________________________________

Speaking of politically correct - we have a woman running for office in Ontario that didn't know that Auschwitz was a death camp.  And her background is in public education   Her friend had posted a photo of herself  ( facebook ) in front of the electric fence at Auschwitz she was standing in front of - 7 years ago - and here was the candidate's reply

"Ahhh, the infamous Pollish (sic), phallic, hydro posts … of course you took pictures of this! It expresses ... how the curve is normal, natural, and healthy right!"

When questioned about it her response was that she did not know that Auschwitz was a death camp.
And that this " mudslinging " was the kind of thing that turned voters off.

No lady - it's ignorance that can and should turn voters off.

Comments made on social media stay out there forever - I've said things that would probably embarrass me as well - but I'M NOT RUNNING FOR OFFICE.
And I know that Polish is spelled with one L.................good grief.
Our public education system is in worse shape than I thought.
Unbelievable - just completely unbelievable.
_________________________________________________________________________________

I was looking for my exterior color chart the other day - searched everywhere and then had an AHA moment 
( thank you Oprah - I had absolutely no idea what to call it before you came along ! ) 
and ran into the den and opened one of the drawers in the armoire and there sat a grocery bag..........
I've been looking all over for my bag of dresser knobs so was thrilled to see it there..............



Except it wasn't my bag of dresser knobs at all...........
Now before I go any further you have to remember that Fall is upon us - full force - and I get that it's a primal thing to hunker down for winter.
I've been changing out pillows and scattering throws around the couches - putting candles out - laying books all over the place - rearranging mantels - making soups and stews- etc.  Whether I want to do all of that or not it's just an instinct that it needs to be done.
But this?
Nestled inside of a drawer?
It's beyond my comprehension - obviously John's way of hunkering down for winter is a lot different than mine.



AND buried under that was this



Suzan says - PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE FOOD IN DRAWERS 
John says - It's shells - why not - I'm not finished with them

Honestly?  I'm not fond of squirrels - for those of you that have been reading awhile - you KNOW that -
So I'm flabbergasted to discover that John has traits eerily similar to them. ( the element of surprise is also very important in a relationship )

Who does that?
I mean - really - dear God - who does that?
This may be the straw shell that broke the camel's back............

Suzan says - IF YOU CONTINUE BURYING PEANUTS AND SHELLS IN THE HOUSE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BUILD YOURSELF A TREEHOUSE !!!

John roars.............
But I'm not being funny - I'm serious - he can build it - and I'll decorate it for him.
I'll even paint the little door red.
And he can scurry around gathering all the nuts he wants in peace and harmony.
_________________________________________________________________________________

And speaking of squirrels - one climbed up the wall outside and pressed it's face against the screen in my office where my desk sits right in front of.
I screamed bloody murder and it scurried away.
So did the UPS man across the street after worriedly looking all over to see where the scream came from.
They're out to kill me those things - I swear to you ( the squirrels not the UPS men ) 
If you're new here you can read about my very traumatic experience in our last home HERE
They terrorize me - seriously - they completely terrorize me.
_________________________________________________________________________________

I had a dream last night that Oprah sent me an email telling me to measure all my windows because she was having them all replaced for me.
She asked me not to tell anyone or everyone would want new windows................
Told me to come up with a story.
We're having a few windows replaced before winter sets in.................we're paying for them ourselves
( well that's my story and I'm sticking to it ) 
________________________________________________________________________________

My heart with pleasure fills







and dances with the daffodils..................
_________________________________________________________________________________

And I think that's all she wrote folks.................
I've got to make sure John doesn't have any acorns in his underwear drawer !

Much love,
Hugs,
(even kisses) 
Me

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

I WANNA live there Wednesday # 141

These homes are not for sale - but they're just too adorable and i most certainly would WANNA live in any of them.

Fairy tale houses !

The Storybook cottage in Rhinebeck, N.Y  - follow the link for more photos including the interior !




The Hobbit house in Vancouver B.C.
CANADA.COM
Blaise Hamlet - England

STANDOUT CABIN DESIGNS
Again - Blaise Hamlet

STANDOUT CABIN DESIGN

And of course this post couldn't be complete without including Hugh Comstock's fairy tales homes in
Carmel by the Sea ( California )
All images from TALES FROM CARMEL.COM
I've added the link beneath each photo - click on them to see details of each home - amazing photographs with links.

Lilacs & Laughter

TALES FROM CARMEL

Hansel

TALES FROM CARMEL
Gretel

TALES FROM CARMEL

The Studio

TALES FROM CARMEL

The birthday house

TALES FROM CARMEL

Honeymoon Cottage

TALES FROM CARMEL
Sunwiseturn

TALES FROM CARMEL
The Tuck Shop

TALES FROM CARMEL
How amazing !
Visit the site - it's absolutely dreamy.
I have a sudden urge to pack up and go visit (although really what I want to do is live there - in any of them )

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone
Hugs,
Me


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MEMORIES BY THE MILE                                         AN EXTRAORDINARY DAY
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Monday, October 5, 2015

MY PAINTED FRONT DOOR

RED FRONT DOOR

The DIY shutters...............I'm happy with - actually I'm a little in love with them ( diy shutters HERE )


The front door?


Not so much..............
And now I'm in a real conundrum ( that's the FIRST time I've used that word ever in my life but it's so fitting because this really is a conundrum )
John loves it
I know this because every time he steps out and comes back in he booms out " I LOVE IT "
And I don't .


Suzan says - I don't like it
John says - Well I do - leave it alone - you said you loved red doors
Suzan says - I lDO love red doors or I wouldn't have painted it red - but it doesn't suit this little cottage
John says - Yes it does - I LOVE it - leave it alone.


He asks for so little when it comes to decor that I feel guilty about not liking it - and the more I look at it the more the dislike is growing ( the word hate comes to mind )

Suzan says - I think for this house it would best to paint the door black
John says - NO !  LEAVE IT ALONE..............please - I really do love it.
Suzan says - It looks like the house is dressed in a santa claus suit.
John says - Don't be ridiculous !
Suzan says - It looks like the beginning of a bad house joke
John says- What the hell does that mean?
Suzan says - You know - what's black and white and red all over?

And I don't want the house to look like the punch line..................

WHAT. HAVE. I DONE?
Well I've created a monster...............of a front door.and I think I may be doomed to live with it ( at least until Spring )
I don't have the heart to change it on him.........I just don't.

I'm gong to buy two urns for either side of it and fill them with greenery ( all the flowers will be gone in a couple of weeks - it's getting colder here now ) but it's not the flowers that are throwing me off.............it's the door itself.

Suzan says - I wanted a yellow door
John says - Well that would have looked like a bumblebee for crying out loud.


Oh my God - the more I see it the more I dislike it - and I'm feeling a little nauseated over the whole fiasco.
This is how I FEEL the conversation should go

Suzan would  say - John I can't live with it - I'm really sorry - I truly am - because I know you love it - but I can't even look at it without wanting to throw up
John would say - Oh sweetheart - if you feel that strongly about it - just paint it whatever color you'd like - I didn't realize you hated it that much - and really - my only purpose in life is to make sure you are happy at any cost............change it - I love you too much to see you in such distress - it isn't worth it - you have my blessing.

But that conversation isn't happening LOL - instead I'm told I should be in an asylum - and maybe I should be ( what color are the doors in those places anyway? )

I was trying desperately to add a little curb appeal of which this little cottage had absolutely none ( we've really only concentrated on interior renos - of which we're far from finished ) and for some inexplicable reason I DO like it a little more in the evening..........( the operative words being " a little " )

In the twilight's glow I see  ♪♪♫


As you can see we still haven't painted the building and I don't suppose at this point it'll be this year........but I'm hoping to get all the shutters on the sides done





Here is was before - and it's definitely an improvement - just not exactly what I was going for.


I had this post ready to go yesterday and was so hesitant over the color that I was going to delete it completely.................but that would be dishonest wouldn't it?
I mean we all make mistakes from time to time, right?
And it is better after - no?
Dear God - please tell me it's better after because I'm not sure what I've done here.
( and I should get kudos for having the courage to post this - I really should )

RED PAINTED DOOR - DIY SHUTTERS
..


Anyway - that's the story of my front door..............
But Mick Jagger says it so much better than I ever could.



I have a lot in common with him don't you know?

Have a wonderful day everyone............feel free to be brutally honest - I can take it ( I think )
Just don't use the word " clownish " because that's kind of how I'm feeling it looks.
A clown house - with a big red nose smack in the middle of it.
I'm going to go play around with a mantel or something - nary a paint brush will touch my fingers today.
I'm scared to paint anything right now

AND this must be the most negative post I've ever written in my ( blogging ) life LMHO - I just reread it
how utterly depressing !  I must be having some type of " episode " !
So I'm going to sign off with a positive note - I can't believe how green it still is outside - nothing has started
" turning " yet and the flowers are still pretty vibrant !  ( that's the best I can come up with at the moment LOL )

AND I should add that the whole transformation came in at under 100.00 ! ( in fact well under 100.00 )
Much love,
Me

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JOIN ME AT THESE FABULOUS PARTIES !

FLUSTER BUSTER                                                   SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE
LEHMAN LANE                                                       MY SALVAGED TREASURES
DAGMAR'S HOME                                                  IVY & ELEPHANTS
NO MINIMALIST HERE                                          LAMBERTS LATELY
I GOTTA CREATE                                                    LIVE LAUGH ROWE
THE DEDICATED HOUSE                                       GRACE & GOOD EATS
FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE                            CRAFTBERRY BUSH
MY TURN FOR US                                                  THE GIRL CREATIVE
MISS TOODY GOO SHOES                                   ONE MORE TIME EVENTS
LIFE ON LAKESHORE DRIVE                               THE DIY SHOWOFF
REDHEAD CAN DECORATE                                  DWELLINGS THE HEART OF YOUR HOME
BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH                        MY UNCOMMON SLICE OF SUBURBIA
CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT                 AN EXTRAORDINARY DAY
MEMORIES BY THE MILE                                     KATHE WITH AN E
ELIZABETH & CO.                                           ORGANIZED 31
THE INTERIOR FRUGALISTA                                IT'S OVERFLOWING
MY ROMANTIC HOME