Scrapbook Saturday

This is my September re-cap spread. I know it's November, but I've had quite a backlog of layouts to share.

This is the first time I made a book like this. It took quite a bit of my brain power, but I love it. I'm not really happy about the edging in pen, but it needed something. I'll come up with something better the next time!

AYM layouts for October and November:

This is Janet's:

Pam's Layout:

Karolyn's Layout:

Susan's November Layout:

Karolyn's November Layout:

Susan's October layout (for whatever reason, she arrived with only one page):

Pam's November layout:

My layouts:

Ten Things Thursday

Although my mind has turned to Christmas, I thought I would get one more Fall/Thanksgiving post in. I do love these beautiful tables and mantles. Plus, I threw in a really cute turkey charcuterie.

Enjoy!

Table #2 is my favorite! Those turkey plates!!

This one looks really easy to do. Don't know what the eyes are made of but you could even leave them off and you would still get the idea--although there needs to be more crackers.

On to the mantles.

It was kind of hard to pick a mantle. I'm going with #3. But, one thing that really stands out is that these work because the room colors and furniture all go together perfectly. It would be a completely different look if the furniture was red or even blue. Anyway, I love the #2 is all lit up. But I love the leaves in #3. 

I didn't do any fall decorating this year. We're staying home in for Thanksgiving, but I'm not cooking. We're going to the club. Everyone will come here at 9 for Nicky's famous bloody Mary's and the Macy's Day Parade. It's a tradition. We love it! In fact, we're thinking we might go to New York next year for the 100th anniversary of the parade. Just going has been on our bucket list, but going for the anniversary would be pretty special. I'm not getting my hopes up as it's the kind of thing that would be super expensive and mostly likely already sold out--the rooms overlooking the parade route. We'll see.

Anyway, it's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just one week away. Where has the fall gone?

What I Buy Wednesday

Let me start out by wishing Stephanie a happy birthday!! She's closing in on 50! We'll be celebrating over dinner tonight. 

On to What I Buy Wednesday.

So, my Christmas shopping is well underway. I don't really have much more to do, but I need to start wrapping so I can see where I am as I take inventory. 

On Monday, I had an itch to go to Target. So, I did.

I won't really need to go again. I was a little disappointed. I didn't really know exactly what I was looking for, so I guess that's why I didn't find it! I am going to start wrapping so I can get a handle on it. 

How are you doing with your shopping this year?

Tuesday Thoughts on...

...wrapping up the gardening.

A few weeks ago, we brought in many plants. There were some that we just had no way of taking in:

This wandering jew was started with about 6 sprigs I just poked in the planter. So simple and not look at it! We already brought the main plant inside, so we can easily do this again next year. 

It seems to like its new location as it's blooming!

Oh, and those broken windows? The painters we had a few years ago did not put them back properly. We've had 3 fall out now. They are old and hard to get. We're still waiting on our "guy" to have them replaced.

Next, we brought in these plants:

I have hated this one for years. This year, I decided to fertilize it. I've determined that it's a banana plant. It has grown gangbusters. We'll see how it does through the winter. Our sunroom is a heated room, but, as you can imagine, with all these windows, this room is cold! Last year, we bought a space heater and that really helped. I'm kind of anxious now to see what happens next year when I fertilize it again.

This, tropical hibiscus has continued to bloom inside. 

Can you see all of the new buds? We'll see how long it continues. The only problem with hibiscus, is that the blooms only last one day. Actually, it's probably more like 12 hours! Luckily they are big flowers and put on a good show.

I don't really like having to care for these plants all winter long, but it's not that hard. I'm just kinda' lazy--and "over it" by this time of the year. It only takes about 30 minutes of maintenance a week--usually on Sunday. That's not too hard, but I still don't like doing it. If they hold up well, I'll probably be happy come spring!

Speaking of gardening chores, Butch undertook this big job a couple weeks ago. Our house is 40 years old--which means everything is 40 years old--including this planter bed which has rotted.

He thought it was going to be a breeze. But as with most projects, it's never easy. Something always goes awry.

After several hours over a couple days, he got it done!

I'm always amazed at what he can do. He can figure out anything! And usually does! One more thing updated. At some point, we're going to have to tackle the driveway and patios. They are all cracking and crumbling. We got a bid about 10 years ago and we wouldn't even consider it. It's got to be way more now. At some point, we're going to have to bite the bullet! But not this year!

When you have a 40 year old house, it's always something!

Me on Monday

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!!

On Saturday morning, I went over to Stephanie's to give her a hand with her new table scape. You might recall that we shopped earlier in the week. 

It took no time at all, but the results are amazing!! 

I love that she went with pastels--so bright and cheery.

I just love the how whimsical it all is--just so darn cute!

This was the very first thing she saw when she walked in the store. She carried it through the store while we shopped! It's about 4 ft. tall.

We felt like it needed to be elevated a little. She had these games sitting out and it was the perfect thing. Kind of goes along with the whole "Christmas is all about fun" theme she has going!!

It's always so much fun to change things up. She made some great choices!

When I was leaving, she said that they were going to do the fire pit with their neighbors if we wanted to come over. We did.

The weather was so nice 70-something at 5:30. 

Basically, it was happy hour around the fire.

Their neighbors, came over--I've already forgotten their names--even though we've met them before, but it's been over a year or more.

We stayed until after 8--it was so much fun. 

As we pulled on to our street, we were greeted by all the lights in our neighborhood. I love it! They do tend to get earlier and earlier each year.

As soon as we got home, I told Butch that I was going to sit on the front porch. At first he said "no" but then he joined me for about a half hour. I snapped this picture.

This is our next-door neighbor. It looks so good. And then this picture below is our neighbor across the street. The picture doesn't do it justice. I didn't realize that it wasn't so good, or I would have taken another.

Wait, let me go take another one right now.

Not much better. 

Anyway, I sat out for about another hour. I tried calling my sister, Jeanne and brother, Matt. Apparently they were partying together and unavailable to talk. (Jeanne called me on Sunday and verified that).

I ended up talking to my cousin, Chrissy for about 45 minutes. By the time I went inside, it was 10 p.m. It was such a peaceful, beautiful time to be able to sit outside at this time of year. 

I'm loving how this holiday season is starting out!