Autumn Pinterest Mash-up

I have a fondness for rainy fall days. There is a gentleness to the drops, and a magic to the light. I want to cook chili, take a hike in the woods, and afterwards snuggle under a warm throw and get lost in a good read.

Source: flickr.com via Diane on Pinterest

And sunny clear fall days fill me with energy. I love to explore the city to the countryside with my camera.

Source: subjectschosenatrandom.blogspot.com via Diane on Pinterest

The theme for fall food, definitely "comfort."

Source: tasteofhome.com via Diane on Pinterest

Fall decorating is filled with the warmth of autumnal hues. I love the organic touches of distressed wood, burlap runner and bittersweet. Candles in jars would be a safer bet though. :)

Source: tinywhitedaisies.tumblr.com via Diane on Pinterest

Welcome all! Don't you just love historic homes, and this one with it's whimsical railing is spectacular. I love how they have the wreath hanging on the door knocker. 

Source: theinspiredroom.net via Diane on Pinterest

Autumn is a wonderful backdrop for portraiture. This is one of my favorite candid shots of my daughter, taken at our family reunion a few years ago.

Source: flickr.com via Diane on Pinterest

Autumn is natures warm embrace before winters chill. To see more of my Autumn pins, check out my Autumn board on Pinterest.

Source: flickr.com via Diane on Pinterest

Time Management Pie Chart

Time Management Pie Chart

Maybe it's a gender thing, while I feel compelled to check-in on facebook, my husband resents the time I spend on social media, pinning, liking and sharing. For me, sites like Pinterest, Flickr, and facebook allow me to connect with others who share my interest (Flickr), catalog my interest (Pinterest) and stay in touch with family and friends (facebook). 

My husband would agree on this timepiece, you can check it out here Time Management Pie Chart .

What do you think? Has your significant other threatened to unplug your online time?

Things I Love Thursdays: Stand Up Paddling

Things I Love Thursdays: Stand Up Paddling, a photo by DiPics on Flickr.

In honor of Jeff's stand up board, of which I paddled sitting down on, I present my flickr mosaic, Things I Love Thursdays. This is a compilation of flickr member photos I discovered by searching under the topic SUP and 'stand up board.' None of the photo's are mine.

When creating my mosaics I look for a variety of perspectives, subjects --both human and aniimal--and theatrics. I think the women out number the men, and the humans definitely outnumber the dog.

I love the light on the top right pic, the perspective of the paddle on the second, the third shot was taken in Key West. 'nuff said about that one. The fourth with her amazing balance of a backbend--SUP meets BBP (back bend board). Ha!

The next shot of this fella with the beautifully honed body. Another looking up perspective, and the bottom right with the abstract reflection and saturated colors.Continuing clockwise, I'm not sure what this woman is doing, slipping or possibly springing off of the board and into the water? It looks fun! And this next shot is the celebrity edition of SUP, Rob Patterson of Twilight fame. Followed by a beautiful pregnant portrait, love the lighting on her belly and the stunning sunset. Doesn't she look absolutely fearless? Above, is a fantastic shot of a handstand--I would be happy just to stand. :)

The next photo features a mom with her kids,I love the subjects here, the beautiful color of the water and the processing of the photo. My final selection, the centerpiece, is this delightful mix of stellar photography, SUP, Yoga, dog and master. Don't you love her smile? And that cover up?

Below are the pics from this photo shoot, you can check out more from this talented photographer on flickr and at McKeever Photography.

Welcome Autumn!

I realize it's not officially Autumn, but it's getting so close! The first day of Autumn, or the Autumnal Equinox 'falls' on September 22. and I am celebrating by creating a new fall wreath.

I fell in love with this floral pic, the size is great for a vase, but for this wreath I needed shorter  bunches, by cutting the spray into multiple mini sprays, I was able to add a touch of this wonderful pattern throughout the wreath.

Working with floral's is one of my favorite crafts, in short time I have a finished piece...actually, the selection of what floral's to purchase cam tale me longer than the creating!

It's looking great, I just need one more thing to make it complete.

My grandmother was a floral designer, and her signature touch was always a feathered friend. I think this wreath would have Nana's stamp of approval.

Happy fall you all!

Linky Parties:

Twigg Studios

Thirty Handmade Days

The Shabby Nest

Shabby Art Boutique


Meet Me Monday Linky Party

Show it Off Monday

I've been featured!


No Minimalist Here: Open House Thursday Party

Bramble Berry Cottage

Believe

Defiance

Defiance, a photo by DiPics on Flickr.

Along the KATY trail.

Here is St. Louis

My hometown.

Gray barn

Gray barn, a photo by DiPics on Flickr.

delicious fall

delicious fall, a photo by DiPics on Flickr.

Mark Feja

Meet Mark Feja. I met Mark at his booth, Something Fishy, at the Festival of the Little Hills in St. Charles, Missouri yesterday. I am drawn to people that live, what I term, authentic lives. What is authentic? To me, it is doing what you love, and Mark met this criteria in a big way. Mark crafts coconut fish, he travels the fair and festival circuit May through September, tent camping alongside his Coconut Fish Camp booth, then returns to his home in the Florida Keys. Yes, he makes a living creating coconut fish and lives in the beautiful Florida Keys. I asked if he had a website, he replied, "Don't even own a computer." You can reach him via e-mail though, coconutfishguy@gmail.com.
This picture is #1 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page




The Coconut Fish Camp.



My bug eyed coco-nutty purchase. Honest now, doesn't he make you smile?

A Roadside Friend

Today we went to Augusta (MO), for some antiquing, but the big find was this little fawn  taking a rest in the shade.

Things I love Thursdays: Patriotism

Things I love Thursdays: Patriotism, a photo by DiPics on Flickr.

A collection of photos from flickr.

Our New (Old) Kitchen Island

We have an oak kitchen, the kind of oak kitchen cabinets that everyone is painting white these days. I have a love for farmhouse style, and to me white cabinets evoke that laid back country feel. I'm also a sucker for a well constructed piece of furniture, one with the patina of age to its old wood, the kind of patina you can't buy new. Today I found my dream kitchen island, I didn't know exactly what I was looking for, until I found this gem. Our kitchen isn't large, so an old general store counter wouldn't fit--I fell in love with one last year in a Maine antique shop. It was too short in height as well. 

Today's antiquing foray was in search for a vintage dresser to convert to a bathroom vanity, but quickly changed when I discovered this tall industrial cabinet. I believe it once held blueprints. 

The drawers are 36 inches deep. Yes, 36 inches! imagine the cookie sheets, pots and pans these heavy duty drawers will hold. Each drawer has a file label thingy, and I can label them with ingenious names like: pot lids, cookie sheets, muffin pan, etc. I'm original that way. 

This photo below features a double towel rack on the island, I like this look.

Vintage French towel racks, which Susan Dossetter added to the antique baker's table .

This Gatco towel bar would do. 

Gatco 4754 Austin 24-inch Double Towel Bar, Bronze $54.

I like the mix of painted wood and some stained in this kitchen. This kitchen has quite a bit going on, White and green above the exhaust hood, stained pieces, a lighter green below the counter and in the forefront, and off white piece. Definitely not matchy, matchy.

 

I love this kitchen below, and see, I'm back to the double -rack towel holders. The white cabinets add a fresh crisp look, while the antique wood from the reclaimed floors, kitchen island, dining table and cabinet lend a warmth to the room.

This picture and description is copied from Miria Killam  "The antique oak cabinet, originall made for a French store, is perfect for a collector. Susan Dossetter found the reproduction Windsor chairs in Nantucket and had the table made to work with the chairs and the cabinet. The floor is hand-rubbed wide-plank red oak."

I would love a mix of white, green and stained oak with the signature piece--my new (old) island remaining antique oak. 

The kitchen below works well with the stained oak cabinets lower and the painted cabinets above. Where to add that pop of green though...

 Coastal Living's 2011 Beach House

I am so pleased to have our island on layaway, now we know the footprint of the work area in the kitchen. Next, we will rework the laundry room and remove the wall going into our dining room and finally we will be ready for hardwood floors. 

To be continued...much later. 

Shared here:

4th of July Desserts

Don't you just love the 4th! And what is a 4th of July celebration without the red, white and blue! Here are some of my favorite pins...I have a whole board dedicated to the 4th, follow me on Pinterest.

Source: nestofposies-blog.com via Diane on Pinterest

Source: tasteofhome.com via Diane on Pinterest

Source: myrecipes.com via Diane on Pinterest

Source: partycity.com via Diane on Pinterest

Source: indulgy.com via Diane on Pinterest

Summertime Mantel

I should be stripping wallpaper in our guest bedroom, but who can resist a Linky party for Summer Mantels? 

So, I immediately went about the house collecting items that fit the summer theme.

Although, it could be argued that this collection is summertime too. After all, many people escape to the clean cool streams and lakes of the mountains during summers heat. Robert Woods is the painter of both scenes, the larger of the two is from my hubby's parents home. He remembers picking it out with his mom and it held the place of honor above the couch in their basement family room. When my in-law's moved, it was regulated to storage. 

I'm a sentimental sort, from heritage gardening--those plant's that used to reside in my family member's yards--to simple things like pressed glass relish dishes. If it pleases me, is useful, I keep it. This carved Indian is in a whole other category, this guy was hand-carved by my dad. I guess you can tell he was crafted in the 1990s, this is when we used to do craft shows together. The rose color tips on the headdress give the decade away. :) 

I love cabins  by a lake or stream, and I love moose. If I could find a picture with both of them that would make my heart sing.

I'm always on the look out for a Robert Wood's print, but the mandatory cabin must be in the scene.

So, lil' bird...it's time you found a new place to nest, it's time for some seaside fun.

It's about time summer got its due, instead of an obligatory shell or two...

...I added a whole mess of them, filled a couple of vases to their brim with them and added my Nana's little shell box too (This covers that sentimental thing.) ;)

Propped a starfish against our photo at the Southernmost point in Key West and draped a string of shells for good measure.

Time to put some Chesney on, sit back with a drink in my hand...

No shoes, no shirt, no problems
Blues what blues..hey I forgot them
The sun and the sand and a drink in my hand with no bottom
And no shirt, no shirt, and no problems!
No problems

After some Chesney, maybe it was 'the drink in my hand' or the bare wall in the loft--the wall the lighthouse picture had hung--on that gave me yet another round of inspiration.

Yes, this one is the keeper. Allie agrees.

My pup's watching the mantel makeovers.

Since the loft looked so empty without the lighthouse painting. I snagged an unused mirror--vintage--and yet, another heirloom, as a backdrop for this beach inspired mantel.

Now for some Beach Boys.

See you at :

The Charm of Home