Christmas in Michigan!

I rarely find time these days to post on my blog, but I wanted to take the time to do so today.
This is my home decorated for winter/Christmas. I have fallen in love with neutrals over the last
several years and that shows in my decor. I did add a few pops of red this year though.
 I know...shocking! lol

Most of my decor I have accumulated over the years adding a piece or two every now and then.
I found these reindeer at Home Goods this year and I love them!

How cute is that little spool with printed fabric on it? I found it at a local antique store.

This is my antique buffet. I have mulled over painting it WHITE for years, but haven't
taken the plunge yet. I'm thinking maybe I can remedy that soon. I KNOW it would
make the details POP and it isn't perfect so...what do you think?

I've had my cement angel for years as well and I just love her. She gets dressed up for winter,
fall and other sesasons, but I love her winter robe most of all.

This pottery set is Rae Dunn which I'm sure you all know. It has the word plant and two other words
 on it. I forget just now what the other two are.. lol I just turn it backwards in the winter so the words
don't show and then I add snowy trees. 

I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my crooked little tree! I picked it up at Lowes last year after
the holidays or right before. I don't remember. It was the last one they had and the
display model. The lights worked for one month and then half of them burnt out. ugh.
This year we added our own lights and hopefully they will last through the holidays.

See the trees in the background. Yep, hubby is still turning trees. These are BIG ones.
I think the biggest is 17 inches tall. LOVE THEM!

My birdcage that I have had forever and it seems to sit in the same spot. I really need
to move things around a little. I just get so busy and then tired and don't think about it. 

I add an ornament every year for our beautiful stillborn granddaughter Eden Rain and
this is the one for 2019. I added the paper banner. We miss her so...

This is on my back porch/laundry room. We live in an old house and while it has it quirks and issues I
don't mind one bit. It just seems cozier somehow.

Back to my buffet again. You would think I could get my act together for just ONE post. HA!
I give up.

This MIRROR! We bought this a trillion years ago at a garage sale for 50 cents because it was coming apart.
A little glue and clamps and she was good as new. She is even beveled!
She looks perfect with my buffet that hubby purchased before we were married and had stored in a barn!
Goodness. I'm glad that I rescued it. :)

Still in LOVE with this old faux fireplace. The theme of this post seems to be LOVE doesn't
it? This is in my tiny bedroom and it make me happy every time I look at it. I really enjoy
decorating it for the different seasons.

Back to our back porch/laundry room. Hubby made this pallet box for me a few years ago and I white
washed it and added the words. It is perfect for faux candles that are on a timer.

My Target basket and greenery that I purchased for a song last year when a store
was closing. I bought many quality greenery items. A girl can never have too much
can she?? lol

It is what the season is all about...Jesus is the reason for the season.

My fun piece in the kitchen. I bought the star lights at a discount store where you
never know if things will work, but I took a chance and they did. I adore them.

Back porch decor again.  This is on a long shelf above my washer and dryer. I should
have taken a photo of the whole room. If it had been clean I would have....lol
I can do close-ups,but for heavens sake don't pan out in the whole room right now. My house
usually looks like a bomb went off at this time of year from all the decor here , there and
everywhere until I get it all done. 

That was a little glimpse (Okay a LOT of glimpse) into my Christmas decor this year. I do have
more, but all good things must come to an end right? I'm tired and I'm sure you are tired from
viewing all these pics.

(I must change my header now! I just noticed it is still fall up there. HA!!)

 I pray you all have a wonderful holiday season!
 God bless each one of you!!

Mother Nature has opened her box of crayons in Michigan ~

"And all at once summer collapsed into fall"

Mother Nature has opened her box of crayons and used the most amazing colors!
I absolutely adore fall colors every year!

It makes me get outside more and snap a few photos. I love being outside, but I tend to
hibernate when it gets colder. Just like a bear...

I bought one mum this year and I love the color of it. I tend to go for pinks and purples.
However, I do throw in a orange or yellow every few years. 

If a year was tucked inside of a clock,then Autumn would be the magic hour".

These trees are all in our front yard and require a lot of cleanup, but aren't they pretty?

My Rosemary plant is still looking great! I can never get enough Rosemary.
I love the intoxicating smell.

"The heart of Autumn must have broken here, and poured it's
treasure upon the leaves".
I did say that I LOVE fall colors, but I will put a disclaimer right here. I don't like the clean up near
as much. I'm getting too old for all this work. lol  Truthfully, if we don't get an Indian Summer, it will
probably stay like this until next Spring. 

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers"
Do you have fall color where you live? I would love to hear about it.
We complain a lot because of the highest car insurance rates in the nation ,but when
you look at all this color, it almost makes up for it, right? :)

Happy Tuesday and may you be blessed!

A Fall Farm Visit with Unique Pumpkins and Squash

It's been a very busy weekend for us and one of the things we did was to visit
Carpenter Farms
just outside of Adrian, Michigan. I can't believe we have lived 30-ish miles away from this
place for years and never knew about it. Well, we know now and I am thrilled!

They have amazing prices and a huge assortment of pumpkins and squash. You can shop
until you drop and then some. If you haven't started your fall decorating yet, this post
should surely get you in the mood. 

This is a real pumpkin that was grown by the inmates at the Gus Harrison
Correctional Facility Adrian, Michigan.

Can you say HUGE?

This grain bin is inside their huge pole barn that also houses another smaller grain bin
with a bit of corn in it for children to play in.

Look at all these

BABY BOOS!!!

25 cents each!!!

I was in heaven!

 Can you believe that ALL THE ABOVE pumpkins and gourds were only

25 cents each also?? 

They had very unique pumpkins and squashes and I loved reading each sign.

I am a specialty pumpkin/squash

JARRAHDALE.

I am a native of Australia. The golden-yellow flesh is medium sweet, string-less and is
very good quality for baking. I will make a great addition to your fall decorations.
The skin is quite hard, so use caution when cutting this one open. If stored in a cool, dry
place it will keep for up to three months. I am a cross between a Blue Hubbard and a
Cinderella. 

PORCELAIN DOLL:

I am a specialty Pumpkin/squash

Porcelain Doll is an exotic pink pumpkin. The pink pumpkin is very eye catching for all holiday
decoration. Porcelain Doll exhibits deep ribbing with an almost square appearance and exotic
pink exterior. Porcelain Doll's deep-orange, sweet flesh can be used for pies, soup and
culinary delights.

YUGOSLAVIAN FINGERS

I can be eaten as a summer squash when young, or when I'm mature I make an
interesting conversation piece on your fall display.

 My name is

TURKS TURBAN

I am a winter squash.
An old time favorite for traditional fall decorating. The red color will deepen as the fall
progresses. It can be eaten and is terrific stuffed with meat loaf. Sadly, today it's cooking
qualities are overlooked and it is most often used as a decorative gourd.

My name is

LONG ISLAND CHEESE

I am a specialty pumpkin squash.

This heirloom variety is widely remembered as a great pie squash by the people in
the New York and New Jersey area. It was prominently used throughout the 1800's.
It's coloring and flattened shape suggests a wheel of cheese thus the name.

My name is

FLAT WHITE BOER

I am a pumpkin. Perfect for pies etc.

Large Speckled Apple...a gourd.

Speckled Swan...a gourd.

LUNCH LADY

I am a gourd. It is not edible , but makes a great decoration.

BLUE HUBBARD

I am a winter squash.

This squash is known by its huge size, funky shape, blue-gray color, and very
hard skin that makes it especially long lasting in winter storage.  The meat inside
is orange, sweet, flavorful, and fine grained. Great for baking, pies and soups.

PINK BANANA

A winter squash

I have a sweet, yellow-orange flesh that is excellent for pies, baking, canning
and homemade baby food. I can be stored in a cool, dry place for up to 3 months.

My name is

GALEUX D'EYSINES ...pronounced Gal-OH deh-ZINE

I am a winter squash.

An elegant French heirloom with an appropriately elegant sounding name.
Magnifique! This stunning squash has beautiful salmon-peach colored skin
covered with peanut shell-like warts caused by sugar in the skin. Traditionally used in
France for soups and sauces, when cooked, the sweet, orange flesh is as smooth as velvet.
Each flattened squash weighs 10-15 lbs. and can store for up to 6 months. Definitely a show
stopper in the garden or on the table.

SQUASH NECK PUMPKIN

relative to the butternut squash

Did you learn anything? I sure did! I never know for sure what were pumpkins and what were
squash and I didn't know so many of them could be eaten.

Have you started decorating yet? I have. I think I am almost done. Maybe I can get some
pics posted soon.

HAPPY FALL to everyone!!