THE MIDAS TOUCH. . .

A wonderful holiday event was held in our home today. . . . . . . . not only did I work to repurpose old furniture, but I had to get our home holiday house ready and still be ready for Thanksgiving (with a touch of Christmas)   How would I integrate the two holidays tastefully?  There would be 4 other talented friends depending on a venue that would help sell their wonderful talents.

I thought you might enjoy seeing what I did to my sideboard in the dining room . . . . . How to dress up a pumpkin in a festive way that would also be a part of Christmas and Thanksgiving.

I started with this green pumpkin that had been a part of my

September/October sideboard. . . . .

I found the perfect 24 K gold spray that looks like you have used

real goldleaf sheets to coat the pumpkin. 

I put an extra large dome over the column base and voila!!!

I have used lots of gold sprays and this is by far the best ever!

A great Thanksgiving to Christmas sideboard that everyone loved.

I also collected leaves outside and many had beautiful red tones that

when sprayed lightly with the 24 K gold paint left the tones of the

season show through. . . .

You can also spray real fruit with this spray and because it seals the pear, or apple

from the elements, it will last about four weeks with out having to throw out the fruit.

After the leaves dried, I glued them around a cornicopia that I had also lightly

sprayed and the end result was amazing.  I ever so lightly also sprayed the

cornicopia with the gold as well.

Last night as we prepared for our guests. . .

Lots of repurposing, lots of column tops with domes,  tables that

had been painted the perfect gray . . . .

There was also home made Michigan blueberry jams with

antique silver spoons displayed in a copper tray. . . .

the perfect holiday hostess gift!

My flower viles from Paris had cedar greens, with red roses and

eucalyptus pods. . . . . glorious!  That was all reflected in the mirror

behind my sink. . .

Wonderful gold statuary, perfect for the holidays,  bottles

with glass crosses and more domes with stories inside.  Note the

wonderfully aged mirror in the background . . .

Laurie, from Santa Fe and of Bittersweet Designs was

here showing her fabulous handmade necklaces.  Go to her

website, http://www.bittersweetdesigns.com/, to see more

of her wonderfully creative designs.

It would have been a treat to have all of you here.

I hope you enjoyed a little tutorial and a smidgeon

of what happened at our house today. . . .and to Joy of

the Savvy City Farmer, Holly of Livingston Porter and

Laurie of Bittersweet Designs I thank you all for a more

than perfect day.

FINDING THE QUIET CENTER IN OUR LIVES. . . .

While on my way to a design appointment a couple of days ago I began looking at how quickly another season was exiting our lives.  It hardly seemed possible that September and October had come and gone and the beauty of still another season already spent!    The colors were still beautiful, but just not with as much intensity as the week before.  Definitely, there were now more leaves down than up!  The tree above seemed to be holding on. . . . as was the Sugar Maple that seemed to be 'on fire'.

I reminded myself that we had never taken that drive to
Wisconsin to enjoy the breathtaking leaf display and just

enjoy the quiet that a beautiful Fall afternoon can bring.

The kind of afternoon that still brings warmth from the sun

with blue cloudless skies overhead.   That annual trip

to the apple  orchard with our grand daughter did happen and it

was a most enjoyable Sunday afternoon. . . . .a long drive it was,

but we had so much fun.  As we reached for apples and picked them

with just a blush of red, Gracie exclaimed, "Nana, that one way

up on top is the sweetest apple on the tree, I have to get it!"

Yes, somewhere in that bag is an apple from the very

top of the tree. . . . . she got it!  Is she not just adorable

and so proud of her cart with the apples she had so

much fun picking?

After arriving home a couple of days ago, I decided to walk

my yard to see what this quickly changing season had done to my

garden.  My rose garden, with cold rainy nights, and

blustery days with falling temperatures still had two roses blooming,

 seeming to be oblivious to natures changes. . . . . I decided to

pick them and bring them inside to enjoy.

This coral rose in all of its glory, picked on November 7th.   In

the midwest, a rather unbelievable phenomenon when snow was

falling less than an hour away.

As for the Astromeria, right from Whole Foods.

Planted not all that long ago, my flowering Kale was telling me

that there could still be color in the garden.  I so love the grey green

of the outer leaves and the magenta interior.

Another calendar day gone by and it was out to Geneva, a garden club visit

to Scentimental Gardens to enjoy a presentation of fresh holiday arrangements

created for us by Debbie Phillips.  I almost didn't go because of a big holiday

shopping event in my home on Sunday. . . . but, I remembered to STOP, RELAX

and ENJOY what had been scheduled for us . . . . so happy I decided to go.

Deb did a wonderful job and I learned a few tricks!!  Plus, there was shopping after

the presentation in her wonderful store that was Christmas ready!  The displays were

so inspiring and full of interest.

So much to see and so beautifully displayed. . . . . topiaries, lanterns, wire domes,

vintage wood boxes and cement urns.

More statuary adorned with fresh greens and giant pine cones.

This vignette was waiting for us as we came in the back door.  Have you

ever seen such joy?  The mix was breath taking!  Recognize that little

guy in the center?  One of his brothers takes residence at my house.

This wonderful green, chippy statuary anchored the

great garden elements that surrounded him.

As for this clock.  .   .  .  .I would have taken it home in a minute, but

no room in the car.  Still thinking about it.

Ever notice how the old and the new look so FAB together?

More wonderful displays of great merchandise with monogramed

vintage linens.

A vintage carousel horse .  .  .

Rosemary in mossy pots

Ivy topiaries

Chippy statuary and Rosemary

Part of a fresh green swag gracing a window at the checkout counter.

Fire wood stacked, golden leaves fallen, I am reminded once again

how fast the days tick away. . . . . take the time to enjoy and be a part

of what is enjoyable and fulfilling before you make out your 'to-do' list.

LIFE IS PASSING YOU BY . . . . . . A lesson I learned and hope to keep next to

my heart in the days ahead.   What needs to be done will always await you,

but those special moments that inspire and fulfill you will be gone.

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR YOURSELF TODAY?

A GATHERING IN THE BARN . . . . .

It was an event that was a first for me and the creator, Amy Cox of Suburban Homestead, told me that it was one that was not to be missed.   Gayle Gand, chef and author of Brunch and a new book, Chocolate and Vanilla,would be the speaker.  The real treat was the venue, Cherry Lane Farms, Trudi Temples', home away from home.  As you may recall from a post late spring, Trudi is the creator of Market Day in the schools across the nation.  I have been to her wonderful home and garden in Hinsdale, but had only heard of what she always referred to as the farm, followed by, "you must come and visit sometime."  Now was my chance with lunch being served and prepared by Chef Gayle Gand in the barn at the farm!

THE BARN

THE FARMYARD TOUR INCLUDED SEEING SOME OF

THE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THAT WERE BEING

GROWN.  THERE WAS AN ABUNDANCE OF RHUBARB

READY FOR HARVESTING.

ONE OF THE ELEVEN BUILDINGS ON THE FARM.

THERE SEEMED TO BE BIRDHOUSES EVERYWHERE.

I LOVED HOW THE SUN CAUGHT THE RED BARN SIDING

TRUDI ALLOWS NOTHING TO GO TO WASTE.  THESE BENCHES

WERE MADE FROM TREES THAT HAD TO BE CLEARED WHEN

ANOTHER BUILDING WOULD GO UP.  I LOVE THE STRIPPED, RAW

LOOK OF THE BLEACHED WOOD BENCHES.  THESE BENCHES SURROUND

A FIREPIT.

TRUDI HAS ALWAYS HAD A VISION AND SHE CONTINUES TO

KNOW AND BE ABLE TO CREATE HER VISIONS.  SHE COLLECTED WINDOWS FROM AUCTIONS, FLEA MARKETS AND ARCHITECTURAL VENUES.

ACTUALLY, I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF A FEW HADN'T BEEN PICKED

OUT OF 'TRASH' PILES.  THIS BUILDING IS THE MOST RECENTLY BUILT.

THE BUILDER SKILLFULLY USED HER COLLECTION OF WINDOWS ON

EACH SIDE OF THIS TEACHING BUILDING.  TRUDI WILL HOLD 'HANDS ON'

EVENTS HERE.  ONE SCHEDULED FOR LATE NOVEMVER OR EARLY

DECEMBER ON MAKING A FRESH GREEN WREATH FOR YOUR HOLIDAY

HOME.

WHEEL BARRELS, FARM INSTRUMENTS AND WAGONS ARE

ALL OVER THE 'FARMYARD'

SOME ARE SMALL. . . . .

AND SOME ARE LARGE . . .

BECAUSE TRUDI COLLECTS BIRDHOUSES, YOU CAN ONLY

IMAGINE HOW OFTEN SHE IS GIFTED OR HOW MANY SHE

HAS COLLECTED. . . .

THE OLD SCHOOL BELL HOLDS GREAT SYMBOLISM AND ALMOST

HOLDS COURT OUTSIDE THE MAIN BARN.  A WONDERFUL CONIFER

SPECIMEN IN THE BACKGROUND.

TRUDI'S WAS BORN IN GERMANY AND HER HERITAGE

IS OFTEN FOUND AT THE WINDOWS THAT GRACE LACE

WINDOW TREATMENTS.  THE WINDOW BOX IS EXPLODING

WITH AN END OF THE SEASON ABUNDANCE.

AS WE ENTER THE BARN FOR LUNCH MANY BIRDHOUSES

GREET US. . . .

HANDMADE BY A FRIEND

HANDPAINTED

A WONDERFUL BASKET OF WILLOW UP IN THE RAFTERS

THE BARN WHERE LUNCH WAS SERVED.

THE CENTERPIECES RIGHT OFF THE FARM.

PRECIOUS TRUDI SHARING FRESHLY PICKED APPLES

OFF THE FARM WITH A FALL FRAGRANCE THAT TRAVELED

PAST OUR NOSES AND EMBRACED THE SEASON!

THE FAMOUS HAT. . . . .WHERE EVER THERE MAY BE AN EVENT,

THERE WILL BE TRUDI IN THIS HAT!

INSIDE, OUTSIDE, BIRDHOUSES AT HOME WHERE EVER

THEY MAY BE.

NATURALLY BLEACHED WAGON WHEELS WITH A POT OF

FRESH YELLOW MUMS.

SEVENTY ACRES OF PROPERTY AND TRUDI TAKES RESIDENCE

IN THIS DARLING LITTLE COTTAGE WITH THE BARE ESSENTIALS

WHEN SHE IS AT THE FARM.

HOW APPROPRIATE TO END OUR LITTLE FARM TOUR WITH ANOTHER

BUILDING. . . . . A BARN YARD BIRDHOUSE.

THERE WAS SO MUCH MORE TO SHARE, BUT THIS CRAZY BLOGGER LOST

CONTACT WITH REALITY WHEN MY CHARGER GAVE UP AND ALL WENT BLANK

BELIEVE ME, THIS IS THE LAST TIME THIS WILL EVER HAPPEN . I JUST

ORDERED ANOTHER  BATTERY PACK WHICH WILL ALWAYS BE WITH ME, CHARGED

AND READY TO GO!

THANKS TO AMY COX, TRUDI TEMPLE AND GAYLE GAND FOR A DAY

ON THE FARM THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET.  FOR THE LATEST ON

EVENTS WITH AMY COX, YOU MAY GO TO HER WEBSITE: YOURsubURBANhomestead.com.