Cozy Evenings With A Fire

One of my favorite things about Fall in the Smokies is having a fire going every night.

I like that we can see the fireplace from the dining room table when we're having dinner. We even light the fire in the mornings to get the chill out, and enjoy it while we're having breakfast.

Cozy evenings just watching TV.

and enjoying the fire.

Lucy warming up after a walk outside.

Stay Cozy!

Rita

Links: A Stroll Thru Life

Master Bedroom

 The master bedroom was put together with
things we had, some older pieces of furniture
 that were used in previous homes,

 and great sale and found items.
Very budget decorating.

 A Longaberger basket filled with knitting supplies.

 I'm still working on that chunky colorful scarf. 

That's the extent of my knitting skills.

The bedding, matelasse' set, log cabin quilt set and 

the lamps were JCP outlet sale items, 80% off. 

The original watercolors were from Larry's parents. 

We had them reframed and rematted. 

They look better here than anywhere we've

 had them in the past.

 Now, the log headboard was a real find!

 It was a twin bed that was discarded in 

my Florida neighborhood on bulk trash day. 

You should have seen me trying to load 

these heavy pieces by myself into our van. 

They are perfect here. Larry joined the headboard

 and footboard (luckily the same size) 

to make a king size rustic log headboard.

Drapery panels $10/pair . 

The set of 4 oil paintings, also outlet deals.

They were found on sale

at the JCP Outlet store.

The colors work great in this room

The ceiling fan has a rustic mountain motif.

It has two lights with the top one a soft night light.

The wild oil painting above the mirror was from 

a church yard sale here. I got it for $4.   

Larry built the rustic wood frame from a

 discarded pallet, as he has done HERE. 

A Jack Schmitt watercolor we've had for years.

 It's great that the art we've had works so

 beautifully with the decor we have here in NC.

Rustic frame I found on sale at Target and

an old lamp.

A collection of thrifty throws. 

I find these handmade afghans at thrift 

stores here. I wash and dry them, so they are 

fluffy soft to snuggle with.   

Some are stored in a Longaberger basket.

This branch ladder was found at a local crafts 

show. I've added a few lap blankets, 

a cowboy hat and rope I found in the garage.

The top of the dresser had an old oil lamp 

that I've added electric to, a dough bowl 

filled with sweetgum balls that I gathered 

on a road trip stop by a Florida forrest. 

That's a poster sized picture of me

 a few years ago....OK many years ago.

TEMPUS FUGIT

That was carved into the stone walls above the 

entrance of my junior high school in Florida, 

 Robert E. Lee. 

I never knew what it meant, but I do now!

Rita

Links: Between Naps On The Porch, My Romantic Home

Nature's Decorating Freebies

I love using natural elements that I can pick up

and use to decorate.

Pinecones!

Sweetgum Tree Seed Pods!

Sweetgum Balls have an interesting spiky texture.

Acorns!

All available for gathering this Fall!

Links: My Romantic Home

Autumn Leaves Tablescape

I pulled a few items together that I had, most of them for years, and a few local finds, to create an Autumn leaves tablescape.

 The rattan chargers that I used last week are here again. That black fabric place mats reverse to red for   another look. Two for one placemats.

 The leaf print service plates are fabric backed glass.

 They were a thrifty find at a local craft fair. Someone had decoupaged fabric on the back of glass plates. I got 4 for $1.25.

 All the leaf pottery is from Walmart. I bought it on sale last year.

A wreath of fabric Autumn leaves encircle a glass hurricane pillar candle.

 Clay pot saucers are used as wine coasters. The classic amber stemmed German wine glasses were bought in Germany many years ago.

 Grapevine napkin rings.

 I used a long hand knitted scarf as a table runner. These scarves are great to find at all of our local towns art and craft fairs.

An Autumnized table! Ready for a autumn dinner... start with my Baked French Onion Soup.

Cheers!
Rita
Links: Between Naps On The Porch, My Romantic Home, Domestically Speaking, A Stroll Thru Life

Blogging On The Deck

The weather here during the day has been perfect. Warm sunny days. Perfect for sitting outside on our deck. I'm loving my new computer, the MacBook Pro. I can take it anywhere. No more being stuck inside. This is the best of both worlds, blogging and enjoying the view!

Cheers!
Rita

Scenic Drive Day

Since the Fall Foliage report said that the colors are at their peak we decided to take a drive. We took the
Cherohala Skyway, "A Drive Above the Clouds" from North Carolina thru the Nantahala National Forest into the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee.

Of course we took the doggies along.

 The road switchbacked the mountains.

It was a beautiful sunny, warm day.

 We made it to the the top.

I can see my house from here!

Great fall views.

I thought ahead and put a pot roast in the crock pot before we left. When we got home hungry at 7:00pm
 it was ready. It's always good to walk in the door and smell something delicious cooking.  For the recipe click on  Rita's Recipes . 

Salvaged Wood Shelf

We added a thick wood shelf to the wall with the black bear.  It's only 7"wide and  82"long, so it fit perfectly in that space.

Then I moved the black camelback trunk underneath .

I moved the antique pottery churns to the side of the trunk.

It stores our out of season clothes.

Leaf art.

This is the wall -BEFORE.

This is the wall-AFTER

This is how it started. Our son-in-law, Mike had this piece of wood in his garage. It's a salvage piece from an old bar. He had used most of the wood building a table and had this piece leftover. He knew the scavenger in me would love it. I didn't know exactly where I would use it, but was thinking shelf. He had it sanded in no time so that I could stain it. We loaded it into the van when we left New Jersey. 

I found the perfect spot for it, on the bear wall, behind the love seat.

"We" stained it, and attached it to the wall with wrought iron brackets.

It's very thick and rustic looking.

It has a thick bullnose edge and great wood grain.

I couldn't wait to put stuff on it accessorize it.

 Thanks Mike!

To see how we made the bear click HERE

Links: Between Naps On The Porch, The House In The Roses,

  A Stroll Thru Life, Savvy Southern Style, CSI

My Romantic Home, Color Outside The Lines, Coastal Charm

May Days