Sunday post

Hi there, getting much chilly after the sun lowers in the evening.  We started putting lights on the shrubs today but have a long way to go. Hope to get everything out by Wednesday.  Will not light until after Thanksgiving.  I will put my wreaths out Thanksgiving evening.   

My potpourri is scented  now with the orange oil and orange slices I dried in my air dryer.  Cloves, lavender buds that I crushed and used as a fixative, orange peels all make for a festive scent this time of year. 

I placed most in a silver tray I purchased for $2.00 near me at a secondhand store.

The Putka pods hold the scent really well.

I decided I am going to buy some pies for Thanksgiving and some other premade items.  No point in rushing around and cooking so much when some things are just as good coming from a bakery. Pre cut fruit and vegetables help out a lot. 

This cherry pie is delicious. 

Little Debbie cakes

Taking the wrappers off and placing on a pretty plate makes these little Debbie cakes all the more attractive and they are very good little cakes.  I know they look like Christmas but that's o.k.

They can snack on them while I am putting ornaments on the tree in the evening 

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I found these pretty paper napkins by Pioneer Woman.  They are pretty and will be using these Thanksgiving.   A recipe on the inside for baked mashed potatoes

I did put the tree on the porch with the Santa.  I will put lights on that probably tomorrow.  Will brighten the area nicely in the evening.

I found this picture on Pinterest, and I copied it.  I will darken the nativity with a sharpie, place a star, then frame it for my table.   I have some other ideas for different prints like this. 

That's it for now

Bye, betsy

Little bit of this and that.

November is ticking away and I need to get some shopping done along with many other tings. 

First a look outside at these pretty purple mums.  The Crepe Myrtles are so pretty.  

I have been harvesting little rose buds from my rose bush to dry for potpourri.    I put some in my air dryer to hasten them along.  I am drying orange peels too. 

The orange rinds, I will show you later what I do with them when dry

A wreath I just finished of roses and other flowers I received from children and husband.  I have some hydrangea from the yard, lavender, black-eyed Susan, marigolds, zinnias, peonies and anything else I could find to dry. 

A little more tweaking I see here and there.  I have another to make, and I will put the rest of the roses in arrangements or just in a pretty glass bowl.   

I think I showed these before, not sure but anyhow I made these coasters from packaged leaves.  I glued them to a circle I cut from felt. 

Not pretty on the back.  I used what I had.  We only see the pretty part.

In the dining area this evening I have my faux candles lit.

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Took another trip to Hobby Lobby to look at their pretty Christmas decor.   The wrapping paper is a deal at 50 percent off.   Pretty paper that is strong, won't tear so easily.   I think at 50 percent off almost 10 dollars a roll is more of a bargain that the dollar stores.  Stronger and more on the roll when I add up what 5 rolls would come to cost wise.  

I said I did not want one of those revolving tree stands.  Well, I walked around the tree revolving about 6 times, got ready to leave and said, what the heck, I want it.   It was 50 percent off.  It's a gift to me for Christmas.  I would never pay the original price. 

 The tree that is pictured in the stand, I purchased a month ago.  I wanted one that was not so big around. This one is less wide.  My granddaughter doesn't like it.  She wants me to put up the wider one.  Will see. 

I purchased this fabric bag

My sister was with me.  She makes her pretty Christmas pillows from these.  I am going to do the same.  Great idea.  She said to just use hot glue as that makes it fast and easy.  I think I may sew mine.

🦃

little autumn decorating here and there and car

Autumn doesn't begin til September 23 and some days it still feels like summer to me.   I just started putting out a few decorations of the season inside and some on my front porch.  I just haven't been much in the mood for doing so. 

I made this year's wreath with leftover leaves and some ribbon.

 Along with the coming of a new season is the cold and whatever else is going around.  Husband is getting over his finally.   In the meantime, while going out to get him some Thera flu and Robitussin which does help a lot, a deer hits my car.  Came out of nowhere.  I usually can see them before hand as I am always on the lookout.  Three came hopping across.  I am sure the car is totaled.  I reported the deer so no one else would hit it.

Seems like more deer than ever these past few years.  

The deer must have been stunned or the two vehicles that stopped behind took care of it.   It wasn't to be found when looking for it afterward.  

Now the worst time possible to be out looking for a new car. Crummy time actually. So much thought and research.     This car I had since 2006, 234,000 miles and still in very good condition as we always take great care of our vehicles. Deer brought that to an end. 

  I have been looking, no hybrid or electric, a gas-powered car is what I want, a minivan type vehicle maybe.  

Back to Autumn 

🍂

I started out with leaf garland for my mantle.   I changed my mind though.  I put this around my front door instead

Decided on magnolia fall garland.  I don't put a lot of stuff inside, just little vignettes here and there. 

A beaded picture I did about two years ago is placed above.  Still, haven't decided on any window treatments.  Maybe take down the venetian blinds and put-up decorative shades. 

The little gourds were purchased from a local grocery store last year.  I cut the bottom off and scraped out the inside, then left them to dry.  Now they are hard and can be used every year. 

In the kitchen around the window

I like the night glow.

My entry way

flower pumpkin I made last year.  the lantern I purchased at a little shop in Fredericksburg Va.

I cut a few of the large grass leaves I have growing near my fence to bundle and put near the metal pumpkin on patio

Need more grass bundles I see

Children gave me this last Christmas.  

flickers so pretty in the evening

Til next time

~BH

October

Days are going fast it seems. It has been  a little while since I posted.  So much to do outside getting things put away for the winter to come. 

I love the Autumn. The  leaves are just starting to turn here.

A few mums and pumpkins I have on the porch. 

These two are cuttings from established ones I have at the tree.  They took root over the summer.   

   

 

Plant shopping at Home Depot last week.  Beautiful flag flying with such pretty blue skies. 

Before putting them on the porch. Derek power washed  the front porch and steps.  They need it every year around this time but it's wasn't done last season.  Feels nice and clean and pleasant to use now.  Much brighter.

I still have more pumpkins to put out at the chair on sidewalk with a few hanging pots.

The mums around the dogwood are ones that I planted from previous years.  

Looking good so far.  I try to keep them cut to have that oval shape.

Yellow shows up the best.

Probably should remove the ugly tag on the blue pot on my porch.  Will do that as soon as I am finished here.  

Some cornstalks purchased today will be put out at the lamp post along with some fall color tomorrow. 

 

From fresh corn

Potatoes cream and other spices I made corn chowder.

Perfect this time of year.

Bacon bits on top and a tuna salad sandwich is what Steve wanted with his.

Locally grown food from Berry's Produce in Mechanicsville Va.   Beautiful Hanover tomatoes, beets, collard greens, squash and my favorite Okra I purchased on the way home from running errands Friday.

I must go back to get turnips. .  All types of root vegetables we eat here.    

Our mantle in Den has fall color now with a garland and candles.  The little lights are maple leaves in various colors of Autumn

Off to fix a very late dinner.  Will be light with vegetables.  I have Brunswick stew in the slow cooker and it smells heavenly but will have that tomorrow.  My husband thought is was for tonight.  The  scent woke him up from a 15 minute nap.  

Hugs, Betsy