Upcoming Parties

Debra at Common Ground is hosting 2 great parties to celebrate fall. You can decorate for either for fall or Halloween to participate. Since I already did a party featuring my porch decorated for fall I plan to haunt my porch.  What a great way to get ideas and show off your creative side.I hope to see you there !

A Stitch in Time

 

Today I am participating in Vintage Thingie Thursday with Suzanne at  The Coloradolady, 

 Show and Tell Friday with Cindy at My Romantic Home

Also joining Debra at Common Ground for Vintage inspiration Friday.

 Stop by and say hello!

One thing that I am very proud of owning is pieces of  my family history. Holding on to items that used to belong to my long passed family is very dear to my heart. Hiding in this trunk is a small piece of my past.

Let's peek inside.. Don't you just love how someone put their own personal touches in here? Now I have to admit, this trunk is vintage too,but an auction find and not a family heirloom .

Inside is vintage quilts,quilts and more quilts. Most were made by my grandmother, mother and great-grandmother. I remember laying on the floor,  under the quilting frame in my grandmothers bedroom and  watching them quilting away. I loved how their hands would work so deftly to create some of these works of art.

These two quilts are baby quilts that were in all of our cribs when we were little. Yes they are stained a little, but I do not want to ruin them trying to remove the marks. 

This is just the quilt top that my great-grandmother made. She died before it ever was made into a full quilt.  Imagine the hours put into cutting and sewing all those little pieces. This along with the following quilt was featured in a book by our local quilters guild.

You will notice most of the quilts have a very Pennsylvania Dutch pattern about them.

Don't you love all the time and love put into each one?

Of course someone else decided he needed love and time too.....

Helping preserve these for future generations is also important. Wrapping your quilts in cotton sheets and refolding them to keep from putting stress on the seams and will help keep your quilt around for years to come.

I hope you enjoyed my small trip down memory lane. Until next time....

ESP

I wish I could say that we saw tons of ghosts on our day trip to Philly but alas no. It seems that nothing went the way we would of liked to but it was still a day out just for us girls.

How would you like if this ghastly duo was leering down at you just as you where being taking to the pen? Eastern State Penitentiary, that is.

Built to reform instead of punishment it was the first penitentiary opening in October 1829.

 The unique wagon wheel design was to promote watching, convenience, economy, and ventilation.

Here is an idea of how it may have looked like when in operation. This is how it looks now.

Not exactly the Hilton.

Of course Al Capone stayed here and his cell was the quite plush for his stay.

I wish I could show you more pics but since the bus got stuck in traffic and we were over a hour late unfortunately we got the nickel tour. Hard to take good pictures when you are being rushed. I do not blame the prison as much as I do the bus company for very poor time management. I guess that we will have to make a second trip on our own. On the bright side, we did enjoy the candlelight ghost tour.

Our guide was very nice and told us many stories of haunted places of Philly.

I would recommend this to anyone, but just be sure to be prepared to walk ALOT!

I Ain't Afraid of No Ghost!

Ever since my daughter was young we would go on trips together, just us no men. I'm afraid since this is her senior year this will soon be a thing of the past. She's growing up so fast. While driving the other week I saw a local tour bus co. advertising a trip to Eastern State Penitentiary along with a  candlelight ghost tour of Philadelphia. Deciding that since this would be a trip she would like to go on I reserved us 2 seats.

I can't wait to be able to see the cell of  Al Capone. Quite the plush cell for a prison.

We should have fun even if we don't see one ghost! HA

Every year we try to do something to get us in the fall/ Halloween spirit, whether it is a corn maze, craft show,train ride, or a trip to some historic place when the leaves are in full bloom. This year it is something completely different. What do you do to get into the fall spirit? I would love to hear your traditions whether it is small like just buying pumpkins or going to the apple orchard. I would love to hear from you. Till next time Happy Haunting!

Small and Simple Changes

Sometimes when I am redoing things for a change I tend to overthink and make more work for myself. I'm trying to make subtle changes for fall since I seem to have more on my plate than usual. One place I tried a simple fall fix-up is in my kitchen. This is my usual way I have one corner of my kitchen counter.

This is now for fall. Not much difference but just enough to satisfy me.

Before one of my signature pink roses teacups after....

A few fall leaves, a great smelling cinnamon roll candle and and a more golden colored teacup. Short, sweet and simple.

Above my refrigerator is usually brightly decorated.

Now with a few autumn leaves and gourds.

Before...

After...

Sorry I did not really have more time to post more changes it was a really busy weekend, hence the need to simplify decorating. (Please don't scream at my seventies kitchen walls and counter, one day I will actually have a idea of what I want and finally decide and have a new updated kitchen.)

Joining Susan for Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch.

Fall Table

 I started to decorate my kitchen table for fall. I'm not really happy with the look yet. I really want to put some candles in the middle for a more cozy feel. Anything I do has to be low profile since my hubby hates tall decorations that prevent him from full view of the room. I guess I have to do a candle shopping trip to the dollar store. I just don't have the right colors to suit my needs. Candles never seem to be able to survive around here.

Until then a more simple look is what we got.

I found these pumpkins last year at CVS. I love their darker hues.

.As much as I love bright colors my table took on a more earthy tone for some reason. Must be in a more subdued mood

The pumpkin plates are last years find also from CVS I think. The tablecloth, napkins, placemats and napkin rings from Boscov's.

The leaves underneath I had for a few years but were misplaced. I had found them at a after holiday sale and they never were put in the right box. Believe it or not they were in my Easter boxes. I love them, sure wish I could remember where they came from.

It's a start but.... I'm never really happy with some things until the season is just about over. I'll show you pics once I find just the right candles. But since I wanted to join Susan for Tablescape Thursday I rushed it before I realized my candles were ruined.
Please be sure to go to Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.

Until next time happy fall decorating!

Doing the Happy Dance!

Rarely do I run to the mall on a work day but since I did an earlier shift yesterday I had 2 extra hours to do a little quick shopping. All I wanted was to find a new tablecloth and napkins since mine are starting to look a little tired. Simple right?

Did I forget to tell you my hubby was with?

While I was doing my thing he walks up to me and says "Is $10 too much for a Royal Albert tea warmer?" Of course not... I'm sure almost everyone has seen Old Country Roses somewhere. I fell in love with this set and my hubby is my supplier. He then tells me they are on sale and the sales lady is upstairs looking to see what else is there. OK...... About 15 minutes later we are loaded down.

What did we get you ask?

1 soup tureen (way too cheap to say)

16 soup bowls (about $1 a piece)

9pc. completer set consisting of 4 cups and saucers with a sandwich plate ($10)

tea set - teapot- sugar- creamer ( unsure of price he won't say just smiles)

teapot warmer ($10)

teacup nightlight ($5)

Not too bad for a day trip.

I LOVE MY HUBBY! 

Now to find a place to put everything.

Fall Porch Decorating

There is a cool nip in the air and it seems like just over night leaves started to turn. With the cooler temps, I was finally able to venture out to the shed to dig out some of my fall decorations.  Since it was such a nice cool, rainy day I decided to start transforming the porch . To see the usual summer look click here.

I am still waiting to see what color my volunteer mum is going to be. Out of all the mums I bought last year this one managed to survive.

I decorate in the fall in 3 stages. First is the traditional fall leaves with pumpkins and indian corn. Later it will transform into a more dark, eerie feel closer to Halloween. Soon after it goes back to more of a harvest feel to wrap up the fall season for Thanksgiving.

I just love all of autumns reds, oranges and gold colors!

I love to sit here and enjoy the cooler weather.

I had to redo my horn of plenty since years of being in the weather took its toll on it something fierce.

 If you happen to of visited my blog last week you saw my wreath that I did. To complete my door I added the swag and entwined twinkle lights in the leaves to give it a soft orange glow to greet nightly visitors. 

Stop back again as I will be turning to inside my home to begin more fall decorating.

Until then be sure to stop by these others parties to say hello and get great ideas.

Joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday

 and

Cielo at The House in the Roses for Show off your cottage Monday.