What Goes Around. . .

Comes Around. . . Do you remember, back in the day when we stenciled EVERYTHING?  I even had my own stencils that I sold to local "country stores".  My partner and I even stenciled rooms in both a local Kansas City Show Home and a Parade of Homes. That was before everybody got into it and die cut stencils were everywhere.  It was also before I started moving. Stencils of one kind or another have been available all these years.  I'm planning on digging out ye ole stencil brushes and trying it again.  Here and some pictures I'm using for inspiration.

Source: marcusdesigninc.blogspot.com via Karen on Pinterest

Source: bontempsbeignet.blogspot.com via Karen on Pinterest

Source: royaldesignstudio.com via Karen on Pinterest

Source: vintagerevivals.blogspot.com via Karen on Pinterest

I already have the damask stencil in photos 2 and 3 so that's what I'm planning on using.  Although, I love the more contemporary designs in 1 and 4.  Not loving the pillow as much.

Source: akadesign.ca via Teresa on Pinterest

This beautiful entryway has been all over pinterest and the blogosphere.  So pretty! We'll see how this goes.  You know I'll keep you posted!

New Additions

We have a new addition to our Master Bedroom.  It's the Cardiff Tufted Armchair from Pottery Barn.  It's poised next to the books for reading, facing the window for gazing and in the quiet bedroom for dozing.  I think HH is going to love it! Do you have a favorite spot in your house?

Fall Decorating

I now have three mantles to fuss with, which can be fun.  I'm attempting to use what I have, some of which is still in boxes.  Other things are being used on shelves or in another room.  So, this is just my first year for Fall fluffing.  I'll get my act together before too long.  I've gotta get better organized so I can retrieve things.  Somewhere there's a big bin of pinecones.  Somewhere. . .

I'm coming a little late to the Fall Mantle Party.  There are over 500 attendees.  Check them out for great decorating ideas!


I'm also participating in "Show Off Your Cottage Monday".  Come visit and see the Fall decorating!

Appearances

Appearances can be deceiving.  These radishes were beautiful at the Farmer's Market yesterday. I'm not a fan of their flavor, though. People can be like that. Pretty on the surface but bitter on the inside. What kind of fruit or vegetable would you be? I'm not talking shape, as you're a pear or an apple.  I think I want to be a peach, fuzzy, delicious and dripping with goodness.  How about you?

Floral Fridays

Source: designspongeonline.com via Karen on Pinterest

Having some busy days while my Mom is visiting.  Sorry for the non-blogging.  

I hope you're having special times with the ones you love around.  

Mom Time

Mom's coming for a visit. Need I say more?

Rest

{traditional home}

I hope you are able to enjoy the fruit of your labor this weekend!

Fall Inspiration

Source: bhg.com via Karen on Pinterest

Fall inspiration is already popping up all over the blogosphere and pinterest.  Better Homes and Gardens sent an e-mail chock full of outdoor decoration photos.  This photo is absolutely by far my favorite!  I love the unusual color palette and canvas bag.  Let's see, don't we have a military surplus store around here somewhere. . . . See ya later!  Have a great weekend.  

Try, Try Again

I found this old, very old, ancient photo of me knitting at my Grandparents house probably about 4th grade or so.  I wish I had kept this up all these years.  I again took a knitting class in about 1986 when we lived for one year in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  Now that was a place to take up knitting!  Way back then, the knitting shop was so fabulous.  Which was unusual.  I was enthralled with fibers even then. I'll have to pull out the "lovely" fushia colored vest I made.  I know I have it somewhere.  Then I stopped knitting again.  Until about 2000, when skinny scarves came back with a vengeance.  I knew my girls would again, wear something I had made.  Since then I have been fairly consistent with my knitting.  Although, it has taken a back seat to moving and blogging.  Just think how amazing my talents would be if I had kept it up all the way from the 4th grade!  It's never too late to try, try again.  

Creative Display

I love creative accessorizing.  My latest favorite is anything and everything that Joan does at 

For The Love of A House.  A Renovation Style Magazine issue just came out that features her home, along with fabulous photos.  

 You can't see if very well, but the urn in the hallway is filled with marble grapes.  Stunning in mass.

After seeing this I really want an abandoned wasp nest.  I'll keep my eyes open.  

Abandoned, though, to be sure! We certainly have the wasps out here in the country.

This makes me want to go hiking, well a little anyway. There is a beautiful photo of this in the magazine.

 Rope is big lately.  This is from BHG.

 I don't know where I got this photo, but it's photos like this that make me want to start new collections. Uh oh!  That's a problem.

Here's another one! Maybe if my Father had been a barber. My maternal grandfather was a pharmacist.  Maybe I need could collect mortar and pestle bowls. My paternal grandfather was a banker at one point in his career.  Maybe I should save money instead!  

  BHG

Tailgate Pasta

I was going to post this recipe for a Tortellini Salad that I made for our Tailgate Party on Saturday.  I had so much to do and pack that I didn't take adequate photos.  So, these are my only shots of the salad.  Sorry about that.  All this to say, that it is still a fabulous, easy pasta salad to feed a crowd.  

Tortellini Salad

2 (16 oz) bags frozen cheese tortellini

1 head broccoli, cut into flowerettes

2 green peppers, diced

1 or 2 zucchini, sliced

3 large tomatoes, chopped

1 lb. mushrooms, sliced

16 oz can small, ripe pitted olives

1 lb provolone, cubed

12 oz hard salami, cubed (no peppercorns)

1 cup (or more) grated parmesan cheese

Italian Dressing

The day before cook tortellini, rinse in cold water.  Drain well.  Toss with 1/2 bottle dressing. Cover and chill.  Next day, add remaining ingredients.  Toss with parmesan cheese.  You can add more dressing, if desired.  

Makes a very large amount and can be halved or items left out.  

I made this without some of the veggies and the salami.  We were already having several other things.  The menu included cold fried chicken, a slaw salad (no mayo), my pasta salad, chips, apples, homemade cookies, water, soda, tea.  They also got goodie bags full of necessities. 

Thanks to a friend, you can see almost all the crowd!

Maynard's Cookies

 I really haven't the foggiest idea who Maynard is.

Whoever he is, he makes a great chocolate chip cookie.  I got this recipe from my MIL years ago.  It's my DD2's favorite cookie recipe.  I'm making these today for our tailgate lunch on Friday that I told you about here.   I also had an "interesting" morning and chocolate chip cookie dough helped distract me a little.

MAYNARD'S CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

1 c margarine

1 c sugar

1 c brown sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

3 c flour

1 c oatmeal

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1/2 lb chocolate chips  (I use more, maybe 10 oz)

Mix margarine and sugars; add eggs and vanilla.  Stir in remaining ingredients and mix well.  Bake at 358* for 8-10 minutes on ungreased cookie sheets. Makes 4-5 dozen.

EASY PEASY AND YUMMY

ENJOY

Sky Show

 The sky put on quite a production today.

 From dawn (well, maybe more like 7:00 a.m.)

 It was a beautiful show.

 Till dusk.

The day ended with a pink rainbow!

Goodies for Girls

I'm getting ready for the Women Of Faith conference next weekend. There are 30 ladies in our group.  I've been using my very remedial Photoshop skills for little gifts. I would have NO skills, except I took a little free class from Kim Klassen. I'll definitely be taking more. I made these tags to embellish some plain white envelopes. I know they're simple, but I'm pretty proud of them. I used instructions for printing from Jane.

You just tape the tags on top of the printed design on the paper and run it through the printer again.

I used vintage ribbon, swiss lace and a little "locker" pin to hold it together. I wanted red tape, but you can't find it in stores, only on line.

The 30 bags are finished.  I posted about them here. 

We're making food for a tailgate party at lunch. I took this photo on my iPhone then played with it on Photoshop to make the invitations. 

 Homemade cookies are for dessert.  

Thank you to Julie Collings for the custom vintage labels.

My work is done, except for baking some more cookies and a pasta salad.  I love making things a little more special. I hope they enjoy our weekend!