Nell Hill's

Yesterday I visited Nell Hill's and Garrity's in Atchison, Kansas. The original stores of Mary Carol Garrity. Nell Hill's is named after her Grandmother. It's already dressed up for Christmas. She used a fairly natural and neutral palette for Christmas this year. My photos aren't the best, but give you an idea of this fabulous shop.

I love wall galleries of pictures. So, does Mary Carol, evidently.

Really great "cow" bells on this wreath.

Upstairs she used a lot of old window frames for her decor.

It will help to click on the photos for more detail.

She used big pine cones with paint and glitter.

I loved this perspective above my head.
Each room downstairs has a different color palette. This was blue/gold/copper.

They have such a fabulous selection of "greens" for your Fall and Christmas decorating. Mary Carol loves pedestals, boxes, trays, stools and books to prop up all your pretty things. I'll show you more photos tomorrow of Garrity's which is decked out for Fall. When I return home next week I'll show you how I incorporated my purchases into my own home. I could've done so much more damage. Actually Hunky Husband helped!

A Tribute

We drove through the Leavenworth, KS National Cemetery today. It was humbling. Soldiers who gave their lives in WWI through Iraq and Afghanistan. There were brand new graves of soldiers that died last month. If you've never seen a cemetery like this, I encourage you to visit one.

Leaving On A Jet Plane

Aeroplane, originally uploaded by √oхέƒx™.

Hunky Husband and I are heading out in the morning to catch up with parents and children. Those kiddos are celebrating their First Wedding Anniversary today! Can't believe it's been a year already.  I posted about it here.  I think I've recovered by now.  So has the checkbook, thankfully!  

Floral Fridays

I hope your first Fall weekend is full of beautiful sights, scents and sounds!

Knitted Gifts

Isn't this sock yarn beautiful?  It was one of the winners in the primary colors category at Sock Summit last month.  I'm curious to see how it knits up.  It was hand dyed by Spindle Cat Studio.  You can find them here.

I wanted to make slippers for a retreat give away in October.  I remember my Grandmother making these for me for Christmas every year.  This slipper is a very cute, updated version of Grandma's slippers.  I've finished one so far.  The pattern is from Sarah. Her website is here.

These are my next endeavor.  They are designed by Kathy North.  These are made out of TLC Essentials Solid.  They are named Ballet Slippers.  You can find her patterns here.

These are also Ballet Slippers, the same pattern, but made by Rachel. Not my Rachael, btw. They are of Lion Brand Lion Wool.  I think they're oh so cute!

Fall Fluffing

Welcome in!  I've done a little Fall fluffing recently. No, decorating, silly.  Even though it's, 104 out here these days!  I think I'll just turn the air down really low and pretend.

You are greeted with some, not all, of Fall's natural decorations. No, the pumpkin isn't real.  I don't think they're even in our grocery stores yet. Lesson learned from last year, don't put real mini pumpkins in apothecary jars.  Mold INVASION!  They sure were cute, though.

I shredded an old and falling apart book for the silver bowl.  Aren't the felted acorns cute?

Specially chosen jelly beans in a candy jar from DD1's wedding.  The dish, not the candy.  Whew, I keep having to explain myself.  The photo on the right is a beautiful Fall snapshot of my 3 favorite people from A LONG time ago.

What?  You need a place to set your coffee?  Sorry, pretty decor comes first. Real dried leaves from 13 years ago when we lived in Massachusetts.

The blue candles may have to go when I find something more autumnal.

  (said really fancy because it's a big word that I don't really use). I added a little more to the mantel that you can see here.

I saw this idea on someone's blog, to use old book pages as a bobeche.  I like them as long as there's not a burning candle below them.  Oops.  No! I did not.

I received this cute little sparkly clothes pin and feathers in a gift that I won from Star's Fault. Check her blog out, she's very creative.

Finally, thought I'd let you see what I have to put up with around here.  

I just have no support, no support for all my hard work.  ;-)

*Just tagged onto the Hooked on Houses Fall Home Tour.  Check out the other participants. 

Fall at The Farmer's Wife

It's lots of fun working around pretty things.  But, it has made it more difficult for me to decorate my home for Fall.  I think I've managed, though.  I'll show you later.  

Floral Fridays

This is my friend, Leslie's, fabulous sunflower.  Doesn't it just make you smile?  Thanks, Leslie!

I hope everyone has a big, happy, sunny, sunflower weekend.

Peach Fabulousness

I shared with you the other day about an amazing dessert I made. Well, I've made it at least three or four times since then. And, NO, I'm not counting those calories. It's just a baked peach with brown sugar on top, half peach to be exact. Sprinkle brown sugar on it and bake at 350 till warm. Serve, of course, with ice cream. Duh! This photo is certainly not styled well. What was I thinking, a peach, with purple ice cream (black raspberry chocolate chip, btw) in a blue and white bowl? Well, whatever, it's about the taste. It's sort of a take on peach melba. Seriously yummy, though.  

Fall's Natural Beauties

{country living}

I think this wreath is absolutely GORGEOUS! I thought I'd show you some of my favorite Fall inspiration photos.  I  just realized that these are all made with natural items, Oak and Maple leaves, gourds, Pine cones, berries and rope. Almost.  

{bhg}

Isn't this simple and beautiful?

{bhg}

I'm in a Fall Decorating Funk these days. I think it's the result of working in a really great store with beautiful Fall displays. If only I had all the possible resources to work with. So, I'm searching for inspiration. Probably not unlike many of you. Maybe I'll come up with something of my own to show you one of these days.  

Laughing at Myself

"Looking For My Car Keys"

I don't know about you, but I just can't relate to this video at all (said facetiously). 

Now my DH, on the other hand. . . I'm just saying. 

Floral Fridays

{country living}

Simple. Beautiful.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Clipboard Invasion

I've been working on a new project for our church's Women's Retreat.

Lots of painting, cutting, gluing and sticky fingers.

Transforming 40 clipboards into pretty gifts.

Two full days with two helpers and we're not finished yet.  How do I manage to come up with these things? I thought it would be a simple project. I'm adding this to Melissa's list of Labor's of Love at The Inspired Room.  Visit her here and check out what other's are doing.