Autumn Decorating and the Grandboys 09.26.15

This morning Jenny and the boys came over for a few hours.  The boys had so much fun playing with Nana and Papa!!  Jenny doesn't like the mess Play-Doh makes, but at Nana's house you can play with Play-Doh and the boys did!! 

Jack loves Play-Doh so much that he was hugging it :)!!!

Mama telling Jack all about Play-Doh.

Owen and Papa making Play-Doh logs to building something.

Owen was teasing Papa while playing with Play-Doh.

The last time the boys were here, Owen asked me to make a garage for him and a road.  I took all the couch and loveseat pillows and made a tunnel-like tube and then draped one of the throws over it and then I folded 2 throws in half and put them end to end coming out of the "garage.  They loved it and of course, we had to repeat that today!!

Owen and Jack outside the garage/tent.

Jack resting and watching TV outside the garage/tent.  So cute!

After Jenny and the boys left, I decided it feels like autumn with the rainy Saturday we are having so it's time to decorate for Autumn and Halloween.  Here is what I accomplished:

Dining Room Table decorations

Candle arrangement on the kitchen counter

Front door wreath.  Megan made this for me last year.  Just love it!

Living Room Mantel

Left side of the mantel

Right side of the mantel

My swan is swathed in bittersweet (Not real bittersweet but it sure does look like the real thing!)

The stained glass Jack-0-Lantern I made 25 years ago.

So now all the decorating is done, hubby is taking a nap upstairs, Teddy, our Golden Retriever is alseep on the oriental rug outside the office where I am typing and I am enjoying visiting with all of you drinking my Vanilla tea and burning a pumpkin spice candle!

This is one of my favorite mugs made by a potter in Seagrove, NC.  The gallery is called Dirtworks.  I have had that mug for about 12 or more years.  I just love!!

I am now off to read a mystery I have been reading (Ming Tea Murders by Laura Childs) and have some "me" time!  If you haven't read any of Laura Child's Tea Shop Mysteries, I would highly recommend them.  They are quick reads but great books for a rainy afternoon (or really any time). 

Enjoy your weekend everyone!!

Sherri

Autumn Has Arrived!!

Well Autumn has arrived in Mint Hill!!  It is alot cooler and the humidity has finally left for the most part!  I am looking forward to Autumn because I can already smell the firepit burning some chilly night, apple crisp cooking in the oven making the house smell so wonderful, pumpkins, mums, Halloween, sweaters and anything Fall.

I love sitting on the front porch with a book.  Reading out there and sipping tea.  For some reason I love shortbread cookies more this time of year too!  I seem to read more also this time of year.  I guess I just like to cozy up with a blanket, some tea and a good book. 

I always love the Halloween costumes Jenny picks out for the grandboys too!  I love watching all the little kids trick or treat!  They are all so cute.

I let my hair grow long, so it keeps my neck warm as the weather gets colder.  I also go a little darker with my hair color too!  I have started going over all the clothes I have for the cooler weather.  Today I just ordered 2 more pants for work and a sweater today.  I'm wearing shoes and socks again-no more sandals for me.

I have started cooking warmer types foot too!  Tonight I made lasagna for dinner and it felt good to eat something warm, comfort food.  I think this weekend I might make an apple crisp with vanilla ice cream to start the Autumn off right!

I hope everyone enjoy Autumn as much as I do!!  Enjoy the season!!

Labor Day 2015

Well another summer season has come and gone!  Labor Day is today.  Happy Labor Day everyone!!  John and I pretty much just chilled out today.  I got up to let the dog out, read a little and fell back to sleep, got up read a little more, slept again, finally took a shower, headed to Harris Teeter for some veggies and fruit, came home and had a wonderful dinner with John and now I'm chilling in front of the computer and then I'm off to read!  Now that is my kind of day!!

I have noticed little changes around the garden and yard towards Autumn.  I really cannot wait for Autumn to come.  We have had a very hot and humid summer this year.  While I love summer and I am looking forward to some crisp, cool days, a fire in the fireplace or the firepit outside, making bread, apple crisp and drinking lovely hot tea in the evening!  I don't know about you but this is one of my favorite times of year. 

Time to get the Autumn Wreath I made last year out and hang it on our front door!

I saw some flowering Kale in amongst some grasses and creeping Jenny at Lowes the other day.  I think I will like them for my front 2 black urns at the bottom of the front steps.  I won't decorate my mantel yet, but I'm already planning  what I will be doing on the mantel this year. 

I love the smell of cinnamon and spices.  The lovely orange of pumpkins, the little faces on the Winter pansies I'll plant around the garden, the beautiful Autumn leaves and all the other wonderful Autumn things!!

I hope y'all had a wonderful weekend and I hope you are looking forward to Autumn too!!!!