MUMS the WORD

Hello Friends!!
One of my favorite times of the year is when the mums arrive at the shop!
The porch takes on an instant transformation from summer to fall!
Today was the day.
Well at least I got the mums today. They will arrive at the shop tomorrow and I'll have fun putting them about.
Right now they are making the back of my truck look like an Autumn wonderland.
Today was all about corn stalks. I got those up and a fall breeze even blew while I was at it!
Such a great time of the year.

LOVE all the colors.
Can't wait to see them on the porch.

I am working on some awesome fall planters that will ready to go, mums and all!
Here's a sneak peek!
THese will be ready for the Boll Weevil Fesitval this weekend as well as our
HARVEST TYME at the MARKETPLACE  Open House
NEST WEEKEND!!!!

I Can't Carve.....

Hello Friends!
Are you ready for Fall like I am?
Last year I finally admitted to myself something that I have denied for years......
I can't carve a pumpkin.
I am Carve Challenged.
My pumpkins always look like a massacre , which would be great if that's what I was going for, but I tend to decorate more with a Fall Harvest theme instead of  Nightmare on Elm Street kid of thing.
Most of the time they just wind up in their natural state like the ones above.
Nothing wrong with that except I have been blessed with some creative genes or two and would love to do something a bit different once in a while.
Like this year for example.

Thank goodness for Pinterest!
You simply type in Pumpkin ideas and
BAM!
Don't you just love how E*A*S*Y this look is?
I wanna do it today, cept I don't have any pumpkins yet!

I know, I know.....the one in the middle has CARVED DOTS. Here's the thing,
last year I actually did this look but it wasn't what I was going for so I feel pretty confident that I can give this another try.
I'll let you know how it goes.

How much do you love this????
Apples...in a wreath.
You could use gourds or even mini pumpkins!!
All super ideas for me, the carve challenged!
Can't wait!!

sources: thesweetsurvival
centsationalgirl

Concrete Facts.......

Concrete fact #1: Today I turn 43.

No doubt about it....(the wrinkle on my forehead is a dead give away)

How did 43 get here so fast? In my heart am still the little girl playing Space Invaders on Atari with my brother and buying Forenza sweatshirts at The Limited!

Concrete fact #2: Time goes by WAYYYYY to fast. It's not a cliche but a cold hard fact.

Sooooo, since there is not a dang thing I can do about it~ I am just going to embrace the whole 43 thing and count all my blessings and look forward to this whole year.

There is ALOT to look forward to!

I have a nephew who is set to be born any day now....

Russ's niece is going to have a baby girl in November....

I've got a grandson coming in March from my beautiful step daughter Erin....

Russ's nephew is getting married in September....

and my other beautiful step daughter Shawna is getting married in Oct.!

So much to be thankful for.So in the spirit of Birthday's and all that goes with them....

I decided to get myself a present.

I knew what I wanted for months now( but have been too cheap to get it.)

Ta-Da!!

My Jeanne d'Arc Living arrived

and

I AM IN LOVE!!!

Oh my gosh. What a magazine.

The pictures, the articles , the inspiration.

Everything is so beautiful.

And ...my good friend Joy from savvycityfarmer is featured!!!

I went outside on the porch to read it this morning and as the sun was coming up it inspired me to take you on a stroll of all the different concrete pieces that I have in my flowerbeds.

(See...that magazine works fast!!)

This little girl was a bargain because she doesn't have a hanger on the back.
That's alright by me...I think she looks great resting at the base of my tree as my garden path winds around her.....





this stepping stone greets you at the start of the path.....

my favorite birdbath was handmade....

can't possibly have a flower bed without bunnies.....

my English Puddler is a fav with the butterflies....

(and also looks great when I bring it in the house for winter and set a candle in the center!!)

You can't have a garden without this guy!

Concrete pinecones are really for a gas fireplace but I found them at Goodwill for .49 cents each and thought they would also look good in a garden...

My concrete mushrooms are all over the place...I love um!

THIS is my favorite and to be honest it's not concrete at all

But solid rock! I lugged two of these back from Valley Forge Pennsylvania years ago and have carried them to each house I have moved to.

My hen and chicks planter is another piece that I have had for years!

These hen and chicks came from the first house I bought and have been with me ever since.

Thanks for looking!

Have a great day!!

Fall Shop Pics!

Good Morning Friends!

Don't have alot of time to chat today.

I have a mountain of feed sack pillows to sew up......

Some framing projects to finish up.......

A table to finish off.... (my first project with Annie Sloan paint!)

and that's just what I'd like to get done BEFORE I head into the shop this morning!

I leave for Nashville in 4 DAYS!!

Ackkkkkk!!!

So much to get done because I want it all to be perfect ya know?

I have that booth display in my head so I need it all to come together.

I feel like I am a bit out of my league and want to shine.

Sooooo Nervous!!

Anyway....I am happy to report that I was able to get at least 5 photos of the inside of the shop before the second batch of batteries died on me! Geez louise.

Apparently I need to cough up some cash on some new rechargeables.

So here is a mini tour of Fall inside the shop.

Fall definitely brings out my primitive side....

That Pumpkin Patch sign is made out of old barn wood and rust...a perfect combo!





The NEW CROSSROADS CALENDARS are HERE!!

The quality is amazing.

The photos are fantastic.

We even have the handy dandy wrought iron calendar holders.






The sweet face little pumpkin girl, I made. She has on an antique dress and looks to be quite happy nestled among the bittersweet garlands.

I got the porch all decorated yesterday!

Corn stalks.....

Hay Bales......

and

50 mums!

Pumpkins arrive Monday then we'll be all set!

Have a great day!