Autumn or Christmas?

Autumn has befallen the House from 1800, although temperatures in the high 60s and low 70s make it hard to believe Thanksgiving is only a little over a week away.

We're a little ahead of our game this year, with two new occupations that allow us to spend much more time at home and the old house has never looked better. We put the Christmas tree up last week.

The nine-foot slim paley pine. The quilt on the rocking chair was made by my mother.

Then today, I ran across a super sale on Christmas ribbon. At only $1 a spool, I bought four and searched online for a good tutorial on making ribbon tree toppers. This is what I came up with.

The tree topper crafted from discounted Christmas ribbon.

Then there's the pine boughs I gathered one day when I should have been working...

They make a nice bouquet and an even better distraction.

The tutorial I used to make the ribbon topper is at Kristen's Creations. She knows her bows.

In the Garden

Today's post takes place in the backyard of the House from 1800:)

Lavender garden phlox and bee balm

Hibiscus

Peacock cherry red garden phlox

David phlox

Hosta

Tiger lily

Cut flowers from the House from 1800

Roses

Summer Thrifting

So I haven't posted in awhile. I've been busy copywriting and editing. Business is booming this time of year:) I did find time last week to take in a second-hand store with my mom.  Check out the goodies I found:

Three vintage doilies that make a terrific shabby valance!

Tiny saucer that called to me.

Getting my shabby chic on with vintage Fire King handled bowls!

I'm completely unsure what to do with this cute little pot rack. Most of my pots are not display-worthy, but I've wanted a pot rack since Hector was a pup:)

Tin advertising tray from the Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company, also known as the A&P. My love of tin ad trays is building. I now have three in my collection -- all reproductions, but lovely nonetheless.

La Toscana Serving Bowls by Pamela Gladding

I recently purchased three of the prettiest serving bowls I've ever seen:

They are so pretty, they inspired me to remove two little cupboard doors so I could actually display them in my kitchen.  I cut a small piece of beadboard to line the back of the cupboard and painted it pale yellow to match the back splash.

This was the cupboard over the stove before...

...and after.

Vintage Tin Trays and Chocolate Cake!

I have a new obsession with old things.  I've always had respect for beautiful things passed down through generations and the stories they are waiting to tell, but my passion was rekindled a few weeks ago when I discovered a quaint little flea market on the north end of town.  It's really more of an antique mall, but on a smaller scale.  I was hooked from the moment I ventured inside.  These are a few of the wonderfully-old and interesting artifacts that called to me:

A Maxwell House tin serving tray.  Always Good to the last drop.

A lively and colorful Pennsylvania Dutch style tin serving tray.  This was on a bottom shelf, covered by pie plates when I spotted the colors and fell in love.

A Wilton retired sunflower cake pan.  I've actually picked up three different cake pans out there.  They always seem to be too good a deal to pass up.

A small wash board.  I think this is a reproduction, but it will look great in the bathroom with  two vintage hooks added for holding hand towels and maybe a stencil of some kind in the middle.

A bundt cake pan with an ivory-colored enamel finish.

The happiest shower curtain around.  Who can have the winter blahs with this baby hanging in the bath?

Once I realized how well the green wash board would coordinate with my new/old shower curtain, I made a little side trip to  Walmart for a warm and fuzzy bath rug.  It replaces the old one...Spongebob!

U.S. Navy Flatware

Vintage U.S. Navy flatware:)

So pretty with the tarnish.  Should I shine them up?

Made by International Silver Co.

My next dilemma...how to display them?  

I looked these up online and I think they're the King's Pattern.

There's a tiny fouled anchor stamped on each one.

Momentos from my father-in-law's military days, I'm guessing:)

The Wonder that is the Hobby Lobby.

My single find from our town's newest attraction...Hobby Lobby!  My new favorite hangout.

Isn't he just?  He was 2 bucks on sale.  He's the perfect color for the kitchen, he's a lovely harbinger of spring, and he spoke to me:)