Fall fun in Vermont!

I just got home from a fabulous girlfriend trip to Vermont and beyond (beyond will be another post). 

I went with Teri and Sue, sister-friends since grade and high school. We stayed in a camp
on Lake Dunmore. I Learned from November's Country Living magazine (page 52)
 that location generally dictates what a 2nd home dwelling is called.
In New England and the Adirondacks, it is a camp. In the West,
South and Midwest, it is called a cabin  and along the coast
 or Great Lakes, it is a cottage (who knew). 

The best part of Vermont is most all the roads are just two lane and they have very few freeway

type roads. Also, we were told, no billboards! Around every bend, it looks just like the
postcards you've seen, Sometimes it is green, sometimes the colors of fall or winter bare.

This video shows some of what we saw. We arrived on Sept 29 and didn't see the leaves we were hoping for but by the end of our visit Oct 7, the colors were gorgeous. Sorry the pics do 
not do  them justice. The dialog is weak too but enjoy the view.

We visited too many small towns to mention but several displayed these darling
"leaf people", especially Brandon, VT, a darling town, south of our Lake.

 A few other sites in Brandon. We had a fabulous lunch at this French cafe and enjoyed
the shops. Met a few fabulous artists.




Here are the three of us in a leaf peeping selfie groupie). Melin, Teri and Sue, besties forever!

 
The farther North and the deeper into the mountains we went, the prettier the colors, especially in Stowe! The
hillsides look like a fall patchwork quilt.

  A few of the sites in Stowe. We arrived late in the day but the colors did not disappoint. They were breathtaking! 

 This is our beautiful Lake Dunmore!

As we said goodbye to Vermont, we had to make one more stop at this darling country store
who had the best homemade fudge with salted caramel and they ship!

 All photos are taken with my iPhone. If you want a fun fall vacation, consider
visiting Vermont. We are so glad we did.
Melin

New Antique Hutch

I spent this past weekend painting the inside of this French antique hutch

WE bought from a designer friend, shout out to Shelley McGinity

 of Kiski Design & Construction, Inc.

I am not a painter at all but it felt good to accomplish this easy task. 

It took many coats of Antique White to cover the Sky Blue!

My big reward came today, when I got to add a few pieces of collections, 

family favorites and a few touches of fall.

I started with Granny's Hall Jewel Tea Autumn Leaf mix. I love this because

Granny had it although I don't think any of this was actually her's.

I thrifted this gorgeous hand painted fall plate and the love the old 

Hallmark Thanksgiving turkey S&P, even if they are plastic.

This turkey platter was my Mommy's from the 50's. We ate every Thanksgiving turkey

off this platter. I am so grateful to have used this platter for my

family, as well, and it will go to my older daughter.  

So that is what I have been up to for fun! 

Please share you recent projects with us for inspiration.

Wishing you and yours a blessed

Thanksgiving.

Melin

xoxo

Finally Fall

I know it is just October but it has been so warm that I thought fall would never come to

 our mountains. It is here now in all it's glory. I have not been taking pics of the trees but

I thought I would share a few of my fall decor.

I used a tin from my web store (sorry, it is sold out for this year already) for my base. 

The faux sunflowers, leaves and gourds are from Hobby Lobby. 

Are you as glad as I am that sunflowers are back in vogue? 

My squirrels are vintage finds. My mom had some like these when I was growing up. 

Am I the only one buying back their childhood memories? 

The birdies are still available at Wren Elizabeth Gifts. You can find them here http://www.wrenelizabethgifts.com/item_1753/Small-Birds.htm.

The best place I have found for pumpkins this season are at Trader Joe's! I bought the gnarly green one above and the pretty Cinderella below for only $5.99 each! These are big and make great front porch decorations. While you are there, pick up a couple of bunches of sunflowers for $3.99 a bunch.

I love to mix faux, dried and real finds, especially in the fall. Don't you just love

 the colors of Indian corn?

We went to this pumpkin patch with our local kids and had a ball.

I have never seen a pile of pumpkins this big.

Happy fall!

Melin

xoxo

Fall Decorating With Thrift Finds

I enjoy sharing my love for thrifting and decorating for the season. These simple 

ideas use a base of a thrift store find or a new one that can be found

on the cheap. I used super-market gourds, faux leaves 

plus a few decorations from my store.

I used a pretty "silver" curved  platter that I found for $3 and added fall touches.

A long ago find of a wooden box with a serene fall landscape makes a 

great container for a touch of fall!

This centerpiece uses new items on a vintage yellow Fiestaware platter. I filled a new aqua

Ball jar with candy corn and added a "chalk" type topper. Aqua or turquoise 

are the latest way to add a fresh touch to fall colors. 

Old trucks may be easy to come by where you live but I searched high and low and

finally found this one on the way to the Farm Chicks Show. Add candy pumpkins

 to an old metal truck...an idea I stole from Serena Thompson.

One little pumpkin and leaf on a vintage Hall Jewel  saucer...small perfection!

Find an unusual real pumpkin or gourd and place them on a large

 cake plate with leaves and smaller gourds.

I have used this old picnic basket in many different ways but isn't it beautiful stuffed with 

as many fall colors as I could gather around the house and shop?

I hope you can use an idea or two in your fall decorating. See what you have around in your kitchen cupboards and add a few gourds and leaves. Keep your eyes open, as you thrift, for a

 few new pieces that you can use as next years bases. They look great all around

 the home. Add a touch of aqua for a fresh approach!

Happy fall decorating!

Melin

The Pudding Incident!

It is a warm early fall day here in the Tahoe National Forest, where I am blessed to live. I have been working hard all morning adding new fall goodies to my website and I decided to take a break and make my favorite butterscotch pudding. A taste of fall, right?

I had the milk poured into a small vintage Tupperware pitcher, I was lucky to "thrift". I removed the inner package from the pudding box and shook it a bit before opening it but...it ripped. Butterscotch powder flew everywhere, I mean EVERYWHERE! 

It is AMAZING how, when airborne, that powder can increase to a gillion times it's package content. It was all over the stove, counter, two sinks and everything else within three feet of that package. I should of taken pictures but I wanted to get as much of it up in powder form before any liquid touched it. Know what I mean? I cleaned off my glasses, arms and the most of it, determined to not let it ruin the rest of my day. I discovered more on my face and even my neck as I sat to write this. I hope I got it all. 

Still determined to have my pudding, I searched my pantry for another box (or two) of my beloved BUTTERSCOTCH but none is to be had. What to do?? I found three boxes of chocolate and made three boxes of revenge pudding! It tastes great or at least the left-over pan coating is YUMMY. I hope to enjoy my chocolate for days but you can bet I will be stocking up on several boxes of butterscotch before this fall is over. Plus, I do love it year round!

Happy Weekend,

Melin

Easy Fall Decorating Ideas

 

 I just love decorating for the fall , don't you? It can be as simple as displaying a pumpkin or

 much more, as YOU like it. I had the fun idea of using some of my husband's deer sheds

 in my fall decor this year. I used them to hold a sign here. I also added 

orange lights to my mantle leaves and gourds. 

  I found this old tote on my Farms Chicks adventure last summer. I filled it with sheds

 and faux fall for my mantle. I have just cherished this tote! 

My giant, cinnamon-nutmeg colored, pumpkin is real! I bought it for only $5.99 at 

Trader Joe's. They also had carving pumpkins for only $2.99...what a deal!

My pumpkin truck idea is from Serena Thompson, the original Farm Chick. Check out her blog 

for more ideas at http://thefarmchicks.typepad.com (see the link under "favorites" on the left).  

I used my grandson's vintage truck. Thanks so much, William!

I love my butter churn I found from a collector in Oregon. I filled it with a few faux 

fall leaves around the wooden paddles to make it a fall centerpiece.

Can't forget the yard. I think this old yard art "cutter" looks much like a toothy

pumpkin year round, especially with the flowers vines all around.

And on my porch is my old wooden cart with the season's "bounty". 

However you choose the decorate for fall, a little or a lot, I wish you a fun time. 

Plus, your efforts last from back to school right on through Thanksgiving.

Gotta love that!

Melin