My Fall Kitchen Mantel...

Well my friends....it is below 90 degrees here today!!!!!  It is finally going to feel like fall this week...temps in the mid 70's, a few leaves starting to fall, a little drizzle today but that is o.k.  We have been blessed with wonderful rainfall this summer but I tell you....it has been sooooo hot for such a long time that most everyone around here is ready for a change of seasons.

So I told you I'd share my fall mantels with you and I thought we would start in the kitchen.  Now I know that I have told y'all many times over the years about these few areas in my house....but it seems that most of my decorating happens in these places.  So you all just pretend you have never seen it before....o.k.?  

This mantel is one I purchased at our local antique mall from some great pickers /friends of mine.  I just loved the color...weathered gray with a touch of blue.  I hung that window frame over it 5 years ago and it is still there because well...I like it and it makes a nice backdrop for wreaths, baskets or nothing for that matter!

My starting point was my white platter that I love plus a few other ceramic pieces that were given to me by my Momma. 

 I used some artificial gourds, some real pumpkins, lil' pots, antlers, hydrangea and dried okra from the garden.

I placed some of my dried gourds in the ceramic pieces and added some natural looking stems to the vase.

A sweet little light that stays on all the time and a touch of wheat warm up the spot.  

  I do love little Baby Boo pumpkins...

 My simple "FALL" banner that I use from year to year...

 My burlap covered chair with an orange pillow that I already had....in my ever growing pillow stash.  I do believe I must have an addiction to pillows ;-)

This kind of gives you an idea how it plays into the den....and....

 

 ...in relation to the rest of the kitchen!. 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 I hope that you all have a wonderful "fall-ish" week! 

 Enjoy the cool down and God Bless You!

Cathy

The Fall Spruce Up has begun...

...I know... it is not "officially" fall but I have already started to add some seasonal touches to our home.  I couldn't help it - I just couldn't wait.  One of the areas that I change out seasonally is my shelves in the kitchen...and I say that meaning...only 2 of the 3 shelves change - I just love my blue mason jars...so they stay put regardless of the season.

As you know...these shelves are just to the right of my kitchen sink.  It is an area that I get to enjoy daily (if I wash the dishes that is) ;-).  

 

 On the bottom shelf...I simply added things that I already had...some faux acorns, leaves, rattan balls, pine cones and some little distressed pots for some height difference.

 There is also a Long Island Cheese pumpkin raised up on a wicker basket and an old woven plate that I picked up at the mission store... 

 I added some paper mache (I don't think I spelled that right) pumpkins that I lightly white washed to bring out the texture...

 ....I also added in a small bundle of wheat and a few miniature gourds.... 

 ...and up on the top shelf, I placed a "Home" sign that I made when we first moved here.  I just used an old cabinet door and covered the letters in burlap...easy!

 And there you have it...a touch of fall.

I'll be sharing my fall mantles with you soon!

Hope everyone has a wonderful week!

Cathy

Harvesting Hydrangeas....

Well my friends....it is getting just about time to harvest your hydrangea blooms.  The blooms need to be cut before they get to far along and the changing of the colors of the blooms is a good indicator of the right time to cut.

You can see my Little Limelight hydrangeas just outside the kitchen window below.  They have simply been beautiful this summer.  However, the rain has been weighing the huge blooms down lately and it was just time to give them a good trim. 

 

 

 There is nothing complicated about saving hydrangea blooms....just a few quick and easy steps.  

Step 1.  Cut stems several inches long...

 

 

 Step 2.  Remove all leaves from stem.  I simply run my hand down the stem and they just slide right off.

 Step 3.  Group 5 to 6 stems together using twine.  Make a loop in the end of the twine for hanging.

 

 Be sure and not bundle to many stems together.  They need to have good air circulation so they don't mold.

Step 4.  You will need a good place to hang them...preferably somewhere that is relatively cool and dark.  I use our cabin - it is only a couple hundred feet from our house and we have the perfect hangers...deer antlers!

This is Moe.  He even gets his own special pair of earrings.  My husband doesn't like this so much ;-)  But thankfully....he is patient with me.  

 Our cabin just happens to be the perfect place for me to dry my hydrangeas. Consider using your basement, garage or potting shed. 

 These are last years blooms...already dried and ready to be used in fall decorations.  Speaking of fall...

...I believe tomorrow after church....I'm gonna start the fall spruce up.  I'm ready and it is my favorite time of the year so I like to enjoy it as long as possible.  

I hope everyone has a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

Cathy