Thanks to Razmataz’s Red Challenge for the inspiration of my post!
Looking up into the maple tree, I’m struck by these two leaves, side by side.
One green ~ hanging on to summer hues.
One red ~ proud to have changed to autumn’s splendor.
Which are you?
Hanging on to yesterday’s hues or…
Reaching for tomorrow’s changes?
We’ll smell smoke then,
and feel an unexpected sharpness,
a thrill of nervousness,
swift elation,
a sense of sadness and departure.”
~Thomas Wolfe
This week Cigar Man and I are working on building a rock wall around our patio. I’ll show you some pics if it turns out. If I don’t, you will know it didn’t! ;=)
We took a break yesterday to walk a two mile path along some lovely historic homes. I love to see the homes decorated for autumn and Halloween. I took lots of photos which I’ll display later in the week. It was kind of our version of “trick or treating”. You see, instead of walking up to the porch and knocking on the door for treats, I just took photos from the street. The photos are my treats, for sure!
but not before these delicate Monarchs found them.
I couldn’t help but stop and take some shots.
They won’t be around much longer, you know.
Hope you’re making time to stop and enjoy!
The weather lady said 80 degrees at 7am and rising quickly. So I’m thinking better stop drinking this coffee, get out of this chair and out for my morning walk or it won’t get done.
Crepe Myrtles are in full bloom here in Tennessee. I love what Popso said a post or two ago. “Crepe Myrtles are a graceful “compensation package” for us having to endure our hot summers here in the south.” So true!
So I got to looking around at all the lovely crepes draping from yard to yard in an array of various colors. Before you know it, I’m heading back home to get my camera. Yep, done that before.
Here’s the beauty I enjoyed on my morning walk.
I think this color’s my favorite!
and transformed it into this really cool lamp.
NOT!
Can you believe I bought this lamp with the chipped paint and the burlap shade??
Oh, can you LOVE a lamp?
I DO!
Something new (especially something new that looks OLD) inspires me to
DECORATE!
How about you?
doesn’t bother me in the least,
but I decided to drape some burlap over the top anyway. 
and layered it in a diagonal across the table.
I’ve enjoyed this old wooden bowl in many places in our home
and its served all kinds of purposes,
except for its original purpose that is,
kneading dough!
Only wish it could talk. Wouldn’t it have stories to tell!
Now it works great for storing current magazines and reading material.
secures an embroidered hanky.
Nestled in between it all is a dainty Waterford clock, a gift also.
and you have a cozy place to settle.
And since this is a tabletop in my little “cottage”, I’d thought I share with others over at
Cielo and Marty’s place.
Want a keepsake from your vacation that’s not a cheap cheesy souvenir that you’ll toss out soon?
Let me tell you about something I tried the other day you might like.
It all started when I rearranged my bookcases on each side of my entertainment area and it got my creative juices to flowing. On one of my shelves sets a souvenir from a recent Alaskan trip that Cigar Man and I took. This adorable little bear was crafted by a local Alaskan artist who fishes in the summer and creates during the long winter months. I fell in love with him. Isn’t he adorable! The platform he’s standing on is fashioned from stone from the area and his rust color goes so well in my room.
I had an idea to place a picture of Alaska in a frame behind it. You know the kind where you’re smiling real big and a majestic snowy mountain juts out of your head. Yea, you’ve been in those. J
So I went to my computer reminiscing over our vacation pics and playing around with ideas. I ran across a postcard texture from Shadowhouse Creations and the wheels started turning.
Over my scenic photo, I layered Shadowhouse Creations’ Texture ABT2 at 35%. Next, I layered the postcard also at 35% and then placed the photos of Cigar Man and I in digital frames with Photoshop Elements. Lastly, I wrote a message and the date and place the photo was taken, printed and placed it in a frame.
I know. You’re thinking that’s not such a big deal. And it’s not. Just a simple idea to make a vacation souvenir a little unique and something you can display and enjoy for a long time.
Sharing this decor idea with some other great ideas at Funky Junk Interiors, SNS.
Let the sea resound,
and all that is in it;
let the fields be jubilant,
and everything in them!
1 Chronicles 16:32
If you’re interested, the effect above was achieved in PSE.
I first applied Gaussian Blur at 20% and then applied the texture “Swirls” at 33% Opacity.
You can find the texture “Swirls” at Shadowhouse Creations.
They have some awesome free downloads.
As they say in Tennessee, “if you don’t like the weather, stick around, it will change.”
So true this week,
Monday – a breaking record 89 degrees WARM!
Thursday – 50 degrees COOL!
This morning – 37 degrees COLD!
Cigar Man tells me it’s Dogwood Winter. He grew up on a farm so that makes him an expert at this kind of thing.
He’s says there’s Dogwood, Locus, and Blackberry Winter. There may be more, but that’s all he could tell me about before heading to work.
Have you ever heard of such a thing?
By the way, I edited my backyard dogwood photos with textures I found from various sites I learned from dropping in on Blue Ridge Gal and Chronicles from a Country Girl. I layered textures on my photos with Photoshop Elements. Sometimes I use “soft light” and lower the “Opacity” till I like what I see. Other times, I may just lower the Opacity. Try it. You’ll like it!
I’m sharing with others at Show and Tell Friday.
Just had to show you this sequence of pics, I shot at an Easter Egg Hunt this weekend.
No, this isn’t Pretty boy, although he’s certainly pretty or maybe I should say handsome.
First he SEES the EGG in the shot above.
Next, he TASTES the EGG.
UGH!
Ever had this experience in life? J
I’m sharing at Mary’s Mosaic Monday.
Remember all those Easter pasts?
Ahh…yes!
The memories are as sweet
as pink marshmallow chicks,
pastel colored jelly beans,
and malted milk eggs
with speckled candy coating.
Well, we only have one week
to make this Easter holiday as nice
as all those in the past.
So have you gathered all your colored eggs…
and your Easter frocks?
Have you mailed your special Easter packs
so this year will be as nice as those of Easter past?
Well, don’t worry if you haven’t.
Just do your very best.
Because memories are always sweeter
as the years go past.
I’m sharing with many other mosaics you must see at
view from my window
This was the view from my bathroom window last autumn. Cigar Man planted this Crabapple tree a few years ago when the house was new and yard was sterile. I didn’t think much about it then. Just another tree. Cigar Man is ALWAYS planting trees. But as it’s grown and changes from season to season, it’s become my favorite…
in the Spring,
Summer,
Autumn,
and Winter too.
It gives me pleasure from my window.
By the way, you can find some beautiful scenery,
photography and who knows what all at
Sunday Eve
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”
Proverbs 27:17
I am sharing with others at Spiritual Sunday and Mosaic Monday.
I just know Spring is coming, but I had to put these photos together from past Springs to remind myself.
I am seeing evidence though. On a walk today I spotted crocus, always a first sign of Spring in Tennessee.
And pansies too!
And a white tulip!
Well, only because I bought it at Krogers. J
Stop by Mary’s dear little red house to see other mosaics.
" In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy." 
Now, since I'm a southern gal, I don't own a pair of snow boots but that didn't stop me from braving the icy snow and the bitter cold. I just tied some plastic bags over my shoes and secured them with a rubber band. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do! LOL!
And was it ever COLD! BRRRRRR! 
You can see here, the accumulation of snow from Friday afternoon to Saturday morning. 
My cardinal friend looked me right in the eye as if to say, 
And then he played peek-a-boo with me.
Even the dried up crab-apples...
...and crepe myrtle buds transform to a renewed splendor in the snow.
Of course, I'm not the only one in our household who enjoyed the snow. 
before he got the hang of it! 
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