Halloween Love Story, Illustrated

I love this charming story and the illustrations are wonderful.

Original artwork by Bree Paulsen. View them full-size here.

Halloween Pot Luck Lunch at My Office

We had our office meeting today and most of the agents dressed up for Halloween. I went dressed for a Safari Hunt with a pith helmet, binoculars around my neck, khaki pants, hunting jacket and white turtle neck. I bought the white pith helmet at the fireman's rummage sale the end of September and I have worn it several times outside when I do yard work. Our manager made turkey chili and we all brought something for a pot luck lunch after the meeting. Pictured above is the best Halloween party food that one of our agents found on Pinterest and copied. Isn't it great? People dived right in and the guacamole was gone in a flash. Happy Halloween. Don't eat too much candy. xo

Vintage Halloween Costume Photos

I love looking at vintage photos from days gone by when Halloween costumes were homemade. See more here and find your favorite. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Glowing Jack-O-Lanterns

So many carved pumpkins. I love the idea of putting some of them up in the tree. People really get into Halloween decorating in a big way, don't they? via

Leaded Glass Windows and Door Love

Those Windows. The Door. Do want!

Need I say more? Love.

See the building process here.

Lawn-Mowing Sheep

It looks as if these sheep are behind in their lawn mowing, doesn't it? I am waiting a little longer before giving mine the last mowing of the season. The Nor'easter yesterday wasn't bad at all in my area, thankfully, but it did bring down a lot of leaves though not enough to rake. Enjoy your Sunday and the last whole week of daylight savings time. via

Beware of the Sheep

Look at the fleece on this sheep!!! Not afraid, are you? via

Vintage Postcards for Halloween

We are supposed to have a Nor'easter tomorrow but it's as calm as can be outside right now. It's supposed to start raining at midnight and continue all night and all day Saturday. Yuck. There was supposed to be a Halloween Parade in the neighboring town that's always a lot of fun but it has been canceled so I will continue mending my sweaters. I have worn two that I mended this week and felt as if they were brand new. I am very pleased with this project. Right now, I am looking forward to watching Penelope Keith's Hidden Villages in just a few minutes. See you tomorrow. xo

Over The Bed Artwork for My Cottage

It only took 14 years to find the perfect artwork to hang over the antique bed in my guest room used as my dressing room. I found it yesterday at a thrift shop and within 30 minutes of getting it in the front door, it was happily hanging on the wall. I was standing in the doorway to get this photo and you can also see an antique tile, a hogscraper candlestick with a brass "wedding band" and a miniature chest on the table next to my bookcase.

It was very hard to photograph too. The bedspread is not pink, it's white. You can see the blue and white curtains in my bedroom through the window in this photo. This lithograph was made from an original 1987 painting by a deceased local artist. I always thought her work was very much like a Wyeth. 

I found a photo of the print entitled: "Wild Rose Berries" circa 1987 by Pauline Eble Campanelli online by searching Google Images. Don't you think it's perfect for my room? It was worth the wait and I don't mind that it's a reproduction because everything else in the room is antique. The basket and cupboard that were the subjects of the painting were antiques and I bought the framed print for a song. The frame is stained a dark green and the matting is beautiful. Score!!

See you later. xo

Laura Ingalls Wilder Quote + A Fall Cake

You can't go wrong with this advice, can you? via

I love this idea of using fall leaves to decorate a powdered sugar covered cake with something yummy between the layers. via