Fall Kitchen Table

Our Kitchen table is a work horse.  I can't even begin to name all the countless things that take place at our table that also includes eating.  It is often difficult to keep the table free of other items but at the beginning of the holiday season I give it a real go!  This assortment of pumpkins dominates the table along with the lantern.

Speaking of lanterns, this one always gets pulled out in the fall due to the copper finish.  Inside the lantern I've placed a pillar holder with an orange candle and 2 fall napkin rings.  Yes I took the round part of the napkin ring off but, the small pumpkins were ideal to put inside the lantern.

I always look for small votive holders to place around displays like this in the fall.  The candle light sets a certain ambiance to the home.

In case you didn't see yesterday's kitchen tour here is a view of the table looking into the kitchen!

Fall Kitchen Tour

Fall Kitchen Tour

The kitchen did get a fresh fall look over the weekend.  As I've said many times, fall is my least favorite of seasons.  That said, I've made an effort to make the kitchen a bit festive for fall!  The Island is the most fall of the spaces.

The small touches of orange work well for the kitchen.  I've put a few of the treats my crew likes on the tiered server.  Honey loves candy corn and the boys though not home often have always loved a sucker!

The Happy Everything plate always brings a pop of color to any space.  The glass pumpkin was a clearance find last year at Pier 1.  Have I said how sad I am that they have closed?!  We all love Goldfish so I've added those to a small Blue Willow bowl.

The oil painting over the stove was a find during our vacation.  I'd looked for ages to find an oil painting that would work in this spot.  

Rarely have I ever brought fresh flowers into our home and that had to do with the fact when our cats were living they would eat the flowers.  That never had a positive outcome, so I just never had them around.  Now that we are a pet free home I often forget I can bring in real plants and flowers!  These certainly brighten this corner of the kitchen!

 Maybe I'll bring out a few more pieces the closer we get to Halloween.  For now this is a perfect start!

Pop back tomorrow as I share our kitchen table!

Happy Fall Ya'll!!!

The Bar Cart

With every change of season or holiday the bar cart gets a refresh.  It is a fun spot to decorate and best of all it is mobile!  For sometime now I've adored bar carts so much so that I have 2...3 really if you count the one in the attic!  Here are a few pics of the 2  used the most.

Usually, the one I use indoors resides in the dining room. For special days like birthdays and other events it gets moved about the house.  Clearly, bar carts aren't just for bar accessories and spirits.

Last year, I was inspired by a blogger that shared her bar cart with china and serving pieces on it.  Meanwhile, this fabulous monogrammed china I found at Scott's Antiques was languishing away in the bottom of the china cabinet just waiting to make its debut on the blog! Having seen hers I didn't hesitate to  clear summer items off the cart and carefully placed the china on it.  The look was perfect for the fall and Christmas holidays.

Pictures won't do this darling 2 arm boudoir lamp justice. It was a terrific find at Montgomery Antiques in a booth having a 50% off sale!  The barrel shades give it a bit of an updated look!

Added to the bottom shelf are a few assorted pieces I've picked up here and there.  Ya'll know how much I love a decanter so it was fitting to put a few from my vast collection on here! HA!

With Valentine's day coming soon, no doubt the bar cart will get a new look!  But for the next few days I'm still loving the way it is right now!

Sophomore Year Dorm Life

Most parents of college aged children will agree when I say life is speeding past at break neck speed!  I find it incredibly hard to believe that we moved our youngest back into the dorm last week.  Last year I shared every detail of his dorm in this post.  Well of course, I'm sharing his dorm with all of you this year as well.  Along with 5 friends they all decided to room together in what is called a cluster, think 3 bedroom apartment minus a full kitchen.  Let's start with a before of the bedrooms.

 I've tried to keep the photo editing to a minimum for those that might find this post organically as they search for photos of the dorms at Huntingdon College. 

Here is the after of John's side of the room.

All the bedrooms come with a lofted twin xl bed/mattress, chest that you see, a night stand and a desk.  We opted to move the night stand and the desk out of the room into their storage area.  Had I seen the room prior to move in I might have put the chest under the bed and placed the desk where his chest is.  John loves having the elevated shelf on that chest, he remarked that he would have been unable to have used the desk as intended with that shelf.  He typically studies in one of the other buildings.  Blount Hall has a study room so maybe he will study there if he needs to.  Three of his roommates also have aspirations of going to medical school so, these kids are serious students all on the Dean's List with High Honors last year.

John might have been happiest that they have their own bathroom that is inside their cluster.

 On either end of the vanity is a tub and toilet combination.  There is plenty of storage below the vanity.

The family room looked pretty sparse upon arrival.  I'm told by other parents and John that some of the other guys brought a a rug, tv stand and an assortment of chairs and futons.

The kitchenette is as expected.  Other than a Keurig they are not allowed to have appliances such as a toaster.  The storage is more than adequate for this area I think.

This shows the roommate's side of the room prior to his arrival. 

 You might look at these photos and wonder where the other roommates belongings are.  As a section leader in the band, John moved in a few days ahead of the other 5 guys for band camp!  I will admit it was nice to have the place all to ourselves!
I never posted a recap of John's freshman year but it was a very good year.  He was on the Dean's List with High Honors both semesters, became a brother with Sigma Nu, was first runner up at the Mr. Huntingdon pageant, was elected as the sophomore class president and was awarded the highest average in the general chemistry classes.  He might be the most proud of being dubbed the #buf all over campus!  I'll end this post by saying:

GO HAWKS

HAWK 'EM

Antique Crests

Botanical prints have long been a fav of mine to use in our home.  These prints have been in this spot for 6 years now.   For ages I've wanted to shift the prints that were on the wall going up the front stairs to another location.

What was I going to put on that very large wall?!  Meanwhile, my growing collection of shields/crest were spread out around the house without much notice.  I decided to group them all together on that wall.

Ya'll these were  picked  up all over the place, thrift stores, junk stores along with a few of the antique stores I love!  The big red one, $6 at a true junk store.  

 

This large gray and red one isn't that old I don't think, though weathered so my guess is that is was hung outside.  I picked it up at Scott's Antique market from Hedgerow Antiques!  If you haven't met  Laurie at Scott's you need to!  She always has the most incredible and unique pieces!

Some of these are absolutely new and I selected those for the color!  The wooden plaques came from England and I believe they are of a military background.  

Regardless of where they came from they all marry quite well.  Since I'm forever on the hunt for more, I'm certain the collection will grow!