This and That, again!

I know that my posts have been very sporadic and sparse. My life feels a little sporadic, and not
 scheduled these days. With all that said, here is a little of what I have been up to.

We have been enjoying the cooler temperatures here. This morning it was a wonderful 57 degrees! We even have lots of leaves falling. Hints of fall for sure! A welcome relief after the scorching temperatures that we have had this summer!

We attended my best friend's, son's wedding out of town this weekend, and I was responsible for decorating for the rehearsal dinner. All of the decorating was done on a budget. Since I have a small supply of decor that I gladly lend, everything we used was either free, borrowed, or loaned to us, with the exception of the apples, and ribbons that were used to tie the napkins. One day I will have to put together a post on some of the budget ideas that I have used. The table runners are actually tablecloths that were folded to make runners Wal-Mart after fall clearance last year, $2.00 ea. I used them in February for a friend's, daughter wedding reception.

Last but not least, I got to spend time with this little one. Since he started walking, I can barely get him to be still long enough for a picture. The 50 cent thrift store outfit that I bought him a while back was pretty cute for his wedding outfit.

Blessings to you all!

Fall

I have said so many times before, that FALL is my favorite time of year! Right now I am wishing for those cooler fall days. We had a little tease a couple of weeks ago, and now the AC is running again! Along with fall comes the opportunity to bring out a few decorations. We are not into Halloween at all, so I prefer all of my decor to remain simple and natural. I picked up this old fashioned pumpkin this afternoon. I have another for the kitchen table (as soon as I get it cleaned off. I have a few artificial pumpkins, and I may or may not pull these out. Right now I am just into plain and simple.

How about you, how are you decorating for fall?

Shades of Fall

Just a little of what Fall is looking like at our house.

Don't you just love pumpkins?

Vibrant colors.

Rembember that jelly?

I love the colors, and everything about the fall season.

However, it reminds me of change. Something I don't always welcome. It is a reminder that another year has come and almost gone, and I am sitting here wondering what have I done this year that really matters?

Really matters to God?

In the mean time, I will be reflecting, praying, and asking where do I go from here? What changes does God want me to make in my life?Changes that will bring beauty, just as this changing season does.

How about you what does this season look like at your house?

Have a blessed week!

Jackie

Fall in Maine

     We returned Sunday evening from our trip to Maine. The fall weather was beautiful! We left cool, crisp fall days and returned to our muggy South GA weather. Being in Maine during the fall was truly a treat!

     For those of you who are wondering, I did make it through the flight without freaking out. Thanks for your prayers! I wouldn't say flying was my favorite thing to do, but certainly was not the worst either.

     We stayed in Freeport, which had plenty of places to shop in addition to all the LL Bean stores. LL Bean Home was one of my favorites, and the bike store certainly had some great bikes!

     Friday we traveled to Pemaquid Lighthouse pictured below.

    We then traveled back to the little town of Damariscotta, where they were preparing for their annual Pumpkinfest.

Check out these PUMPKINS!

Many of the stores had these LARGE pumpkins out front. Each waiting to be carved or painted with something unique.

This gentleman had started carving while we were there. Just seeing all of these Giant pumpkins was a lot of fun!

I love this house that sat on the edge of the river. Nothing fancy, just very peaceful.

So  how did you spend your fall weekend? More on Maine to come when my camera battery is recharged. Have a wonderful week.

Jackie

Fall Fluffing

A nice big pumpkin for the table.

Picked up a little pumpkin at HL the other day.

Remember these?

Now I have this!

I pulled these pint jars out of the attic and some of them  had these cute little flowers instead of the standard canning jar stamp. There were a couple of different ones, and I thought they had some character and wanted to show you.

Headed out to Florida once again, so gotta run. Hopefully I will be back a little later on in the week. For more DIY head over to ASPTL for DIY Day.Have a blessed and wonderful week!

Jackie

Blah Bogger

These days I am feeling a little like a Blah Blogger! Not much creativity going on around here, lots of cleaning, and more than just the surface that needs to be done. It doesn't feel like fall quite yet, but even so, summer is over, school has started back, which means subbing has started back for me.

I need to get out some fall decor, throw away some of my summer plants since they are looking pretty pitiful! We have these lovely worms that build nests in our trees, and they seem to be eating up everything!

Sometimes we all need a little inspiration to get us going. Fall is my favorite time of the year!!!!!! I am sure I have told you that at least a dozen times or more. What are you planning to do, to change things up for the Fall season? Let me hear from you. Inspire all of us with some of your fall decor or just great ideas! Have a wonderful weekend. Hope to be back with lots of inspiration next week.

Jackie

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:"

Ecclesiastes 3: 1

A Little Show and Tell

Just a little show and tell for today. These are a couple of the items that my husband and I found at an estate sale last weekend. The basket is old,again reminding me of days on my grandparents farm. I am thinking of lining it with something pretty to hold some of my small crafting projects. I love the old Bingo game with wooden pieces. Again some nostalgic purchases. Reminders of a simpler time.


Look what I found at TJMaxx half price!! These acorns are huge! I actually bought 3 of them and I am thinking they will possibly be added to my mantel for Christmas decorations. I have nothing silver in my house, and I am thinking about spray painting them. What do you think?

Made a stop at Hobby Lobby also and they had some deals! All of their fall decorations were 90% off!!!! I purchased two ceramic pumpkins at 1.29 ea. Fall treat bags @.19 for a pack of 20. Two large ceramic leaves .79 each, scrapbook paper and stamps were 50% off. If I had arrived just a little bit earlier I probably would have had a better selection, but I was excited about the bargains I stumbled upon. Needless to say the ladies were excited and were piling up the buggies. I tried to only choose things that I knew I would use. Remember it's not a bargain just because it's on sale. Have a wonderful evening. Jackie

Thanksgiving Swap

Today was another day of subbing. I am enjoying it so much! I've had 8th graders today, and I think they may be my favorites. They ask a lot of personal questions, like who I am voting for and hopefully my honesty will speak to them in some way. Today I made it clear that the color of your skin should have nothing to do with the way you vote. "For God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." I Samuel 16:7b

It has truly been a blessing for me to have the opportunity to do this.

On another note, when I arrived home today my Thanksgiving Swap Package was waiting at the door. What a fun surprise for the day. Some very sweet and thoughtful items.

Everything will be added to my collection of favorite Fall decor. A cute little crate of pumpkins and pine cones, stalks of wheat, my favorite chocolates...Lindt Lindor Truffles, which needless to say will not be around long. I am not a real chocolate lover, but these are truly a favorite treat of mine. Another favorite item is the journal you see, custom made by my swap partner.

It came with this little tag on the inside with a note from my swap partner that she had received one years ago from her mother, and that every night before she goes to bed she writes down what she is thankful for. Anything as simple as a warm bed to sleep in to a thoughtful thing that someone did that day. She said looking back makes her really appreciate how much God has given us, and that when our day seems bad there really is something to be thankful for. I will start using it tonight.

Isn't this little felt pillow wonderful! My photography is lacking a little, but I love it!
Thanks so much Amy!

Have a blessed evening! Jackie

Simple Project

Today I am posting a very simple and quick little project, because most of my time was spent on a big project.........mowing, raking, and clipping bushes in the backyard. It was badly needed, so I spent half the day out there and considered this my workout for the day. Monday nights I have Bible study, so I had to wrap things up a little early. I did however finally hang the wreaths on my doors.

Here's the front.
and here's the back.

Last of all this is the quick and easy little project that I promised you. This is the small jar candle that I told you I purchased from Wal-Mart. Very fragrant, I am still amazed that such a wonderful smell comes from a Wal-Mart candle. I wanted to pretty it up just a little. I measured a strip of scrapbook paper. Wrapped it around the jar, hot glued it. Added a strip of ribbon and glued the little resin pumpkin right in the center. A simple companion for my "Give Thanks" sign. These little goodies will be on their way by Friday. Now I am off to my first project of the day today....a little hair color. Have a blessed day! Jackie

I'm Still Here

This has been a busy week for me. When I saw my name on some one's blog roll and it said I last posted 4 days ago, I was surprised. I was called in to sub two days this week, and with an extra puppy to tend to, I just seem to be running in circles some days. On another note of good news, it has been raining since Thursday, off and on. Today it began raining @ 7:00 A.M. while we were walking the girls before church, and today has rained by the bucket fulls! Now for the bad news. Do you know what it is like taking two dogs out in the rain off and on all day. Since this morning ,other that going to church, I feel like I have walked dogs in the rain and dried them with the hair dryer. We needed the rain so badly, so I will not complain.

We also went to see the movie FIREPROOF yesterday. It was a great movie and one that I hope you will choose to see. We are not big movie goers but a good movie is worth seeing. This is a valuable message about what God intends for marriage. I hope you won't miss it.

The above arrangement is one I finished on Monday, and have been meaning to share this picture with you, just kept forgetting. I had seen a similar arrangement in a specialty shop up town and I thought to myself, I have everything at home to do the same thing, and I did. The small pebbles in the hurricane, make for some easy arranging of the sticks and feathers.

Thanks for all the great suggestionsyou gave for the Thanksgiving Swap, I think I am headed in the right direction. I hope to post some pics of what I am working on this week. Have a wonderful and blessed week!

Jackie

Another Taste of Fall and A Question

Kim had a beautiful post this evening and so was the inspiration for my photo tonight. As I have said before,Fall is my favorite time of the year! There is just something about those cooler days after a long hot summer, the changing colors, that bring a refreshment like nothing else.

My posting has been a little sporadic, but I am trying to get used to substitute teaching, along with having Chloe with us again. She is a lot of fun, but still very much a puppy. There is something to what we have heard, that when children get really quiet they must be into something. Well, the little girls were really quiet this afternoon and when I checked I had forgotten about the stick that Chloe came in with after our walk. Needless to say by the time I found them the stick was in shreds all over the bedroom floor, but it could have been worse. This is my third week as a substitute, and I have been in a different school each week, and it is surprising to me, how much I have enjoyed it.

Now for my question. I need a little help from all of you. I am participating in Emilie's Mini-Thanksgiving Swap. Being new to the Blog World and Swaps, I am asking for a little help. I want to be sure my partner is blessed, so here is where you all come in. The rules were to spend around $10-15 minimum, send at least 3 items related to Thanksgiving, and we were given a little survey of some likes, styles etc. If you were on the receiving end what 3 items would you like to receive. Keep in mind it can be store bought or homemade. So how about it, will you help me be a good partner? This is my big pumpkin sitting on my breakfast room table with the best value in a candle this season. A little over $2.00 for this spiced cider candle from Wal-Mart. Well worth it and very fragrant. I am not usually a Wal-Mart candle purchaser, but this one was a good deal.
Hope you have had a blessed day. Jackie

Fluffing the Nest and a Conclusion

I have been working on adding touches of fall all around the house. This post would have been up earlier today, had my batteries in my camera not died, again! Did I happen to mention that I have a camera that drains a battery in a heart beat!!!! Very frustrating, any more camera advice would be helpful, cause I've got to get a new one soon!

Another conclusion that I have come to, is that every time I see my decorating pictures, I realize more and more of what a Plain Jane decorator I am. I believe that I could probably benefit greatly from some advice, from all of you marvelous ladies out there, that may happen to visit my place from time to time. So here goes.........

This is the top of the pie safe in my kitchen, and I promise my kitchen walls are not hot pink! It's this wonderful camera that I have.

A little more of everything that is on top.

What might you change?

Bowl of pumpkins, some candy corn of course and......

...........this little gadget is an old nut grinder that I got at a yard sale this weekend. I am a nostalgic kind of girl, and this reminded me of something my Grandma had. The cute little design

was sort of black and orange which reminded me of fall colors.

Some thrifty little acorns in a glass decanter that I also picked up at a yard sale.
I have been walking around the yard collecting these.

Jen over at Lipstick and Laundry loves acorns, so these acorns are for Jen.

Now it's your turn give any suggestions that you like for my fall decorating, and I promise I will not be offended. You all have such wonderful ideas and are so creative, that is why I ask.

Thanks, Jackie