Happy Halloween

Gosh this week just seems to have flown by! I just want to wish everybody a very happy Halloween, and invite you to participate in Mosaic Monday this coming week. Mr. Linky will be up by 8:30pm Sunday.

For those who have asked for instructions in making a mosaic, there is a link to a tutorial on my sidebar. Just click on the little blue mosaic. :)

Tell Me, Do: Kitchen Edition

I was totally amazed at all the wonderful links this week for Mosaic Monday. You guys blow me away with your talent and your generous comments! I have tried to visit all of your blogs, but I am so behind on leaving comments. I promise I will get to you all by the end of the week. :)

Because it was so much fun last week, I thought we might play "Tell Me, Do" again. Are you up for that? Here are the questions:

1. Are your kitchen counters crowded or empty?

2. Do you have just a few recipes that you return to again and again?

3. What is your absolute favorite dinner?

4. Are you "meat and potatoes" or "nuts and berries?"

5. What would your dream kitchen look like?

My answers are in the comments section. I can't wait to read yours! :)

Mosaic Monday: Autumn Hues

For some strange reason, I don't have many pumpkin pictures in my archives. I was all set to do a Halloween mosaic when I found a decided lack of winter squash on the hard drive. lol

So, I thought a ramble through some autumn landscapes might do the trick. :) What do you love about autumn? For me, it is the golden hues all around -- from the drying grasses in the fields to the touch of orange in the evening sky. Hope you enjoy my autumn hues.

Now let's have some mosaic fun! Here are the instructions:

1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.

That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: mrcarroll(at)optonline.net. I can't wait to see your mosaics! Here is Mr. Linky:

Beautiful Autumn

I snapped this through the car windshield a few weeks ago, driving home from my favorite park. Before you go and get your panties in a twist, let me say that my husband was driving at the time.

Sorry, I just couldn't resist saying "panties in a twist" -- it's not exactly something that comes up often in daily conversation. ;)

Anyway, I hope you are all having a nice fall weekend (or spring, for my friends down under). It's quiet and rainy here this morning, and a lot of leaves came down yesterday in the wind and rain. :(

I hope you will join me for Mosaic Monday this week. Mr. Linky will be up by 8:30pm Sunday. :)

What I Got at the Rummage Sale

First of all, I have to say that I had an enormous amount of fun reading your answers to Wednesday's questions. It would seem that the Felixes outnumber the Oscars by at least two to one. And several of the Oscars harbor a secret desire to be a Felix! On the other hand, almost everyone -- Felixes and Oscars -- go to triple red alert the day before they entertain.

So my question is this: What's the use of being a Felix if you still freak out before your guests arrive? ;)

I was encouraged to read that several of you don't feel the need to get dressed up to visit the supermarket. In fact, I'm thinking of emulating Mental P Mama and going to Stop 'n' Shop in my jammies. :)

Not surprisingly, chocolate in any form was the number one comfort food listed. There were several unusual cravings, though. Sorry, Chris, but I don't think I'll be reaching for waffles with cream of chicken soup anytime soon. lol

I do have to say, however, that I am totally down with Chris' wish for a glass conservatory with a brick floor. How wonderful does that sound?!

Anyway, thanks so much for taking the time to play along. Should we make it a weekly feature?

By the way, the photos here show a few of the items I got at the semi-annual Visiting Nurse's Rummage Sale earlier in the month. Don't you love this pair of flower prints? They are hanging above my desk in the library now. And you know I just can't come home without a few pieces of milk glass to add to my ever-growing collection. I love, love, LOVE the little cachepot with the lid!

But then you knew I would, didn't you? ;)

Have a wonderful weekend, dear bloggers!

Edited to add: I'm linking this post to Cindy's Show & Tell Friday. Go visit her at her beautiful blog, My Romantic Home, for other meme participants. Thanks for hosting, Cindy!

Tell Me, Do

I wanted to show you this bouquet of flowers given to me by my dear friend, Robin. Aren't they gorgeous? I love them so much that I am moving them from room to room, so I can enjoy them wherever I am.

OK, so I'm a little weird.

One of the strange things about having a presence online is that readers think they know you. Well, let me tell you about the real me: My house is a perpetual disaster area, I live in my sweatpants and fleece sweaters, and I desperately need an appointment at the hair salon.

Desperately.

But I thought it might be nice to learn a little more about each other, so I've shamelessly stolen an idea from my friend Kate, at Chronicles of a Country Girl. Here are five questions. I'll answer them in the comments section and I hope you all will play along, too.

1. Do you remember the TV show The Odd Couple? Are you Felix (the neat freak) or Oscar (the messy one)?

2. Do you go to triple red alert the day before you entertain, cleaning and worrying about how your house looks?

3. Do you feel the need to dress up to go to the supermarket?

4. What is your favorite comfort food?

5. What is the one item (big or small) that you would love to get for your home?

My answers are in the comments section. So come on all you followers and even you lurkers, I want to hear from each and every one of you. Won't it be fun to read all the answers? :)

All Things Cottage

I'm so honored to have been included as one of the featured blogs on the website All Things Cottage. Go check them out -- they have wonderful content on cottage style, food and wine, travel, gardening and much more! :)

I have some flowers to show you tomorrow along with a fun little questionnaire. And if I get my act together, I'll show you my recent rummage sale purchases on Friday.

The excitement never ends here at Little Red House. ;) Have a wonderful day, dear bloggers!

Mosaic Monday: In the Pink

Welcome to another Mosaic Monday! I have to admit that I chose this subject for my mosaic simply because I was in the mood for (as they say on Monty Python) something completely different. :)

Also, we spent much of Sunday (still raining) on a college tour at Fordham, so I was not completely prepared. Luckily, I have a bajillion photos to choose from, so it was not hard to put this together. I know there are a lot of pink lovers out there, and I hope you will enjoy this peek at pink. :)

Now let's have some mosaic fun! Here are the instructions:

1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.

That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: mrcarroll(at)optonline.net. I can't wait to see your mosaics! Here is Mr. Linky:

Thank You

I hope you are all having some nicer weather than we are -- it is in the 30's -- 40's and rainy here in New Jersey. I want to take a minute to thank you all for your very kind comments -- you are the best! Every time I open up my comments pages and read what you have written, I feel as though my day has been brightened by an unexpected visit from some dear friends.

Thank you so very much, my dear friends!

*****

Please join me for Mosaic Monday. Mr. Linky will be up by 8:30pm Sunday. I look forward to seeing your creative and lovely images! :)

Tablescape Thursday: A Tray in the Library

The weatherman has promised us a nor'easter here in New Jersey today, so I thought a little bling might chase away the dark and dreary rain.

So here is a tray in the library, with a bit of gold to brighten the day for all of us. :) The dish is Minton; it's the only one I have of this pattern, and it belonged to my mom. The flatware is my usual -- bone knife and German silver spoon. Are you sick of seeing them yet again? ;) The placemat is actually a napkin. I can't resist things with a bit of gold in them. Can you?

Mother of pearl napkin ring from Target. (We pronounce it Tar-shjay. Doesn't everything sound better when you pretend it's French?))

The silver cup is a thrift store find, and the flowers are (unfortunately) faux.

Wherever you are, I hope you are getting better weather than we are! Many thanks to our gracious hostess, Susan. Please visit her blog, Between Naps on the Porch, for more wonderful tablescapes.

Mosaic Monday: Autumn Color

Oh how I'm loving autumn color these days. It was another beautiful fall weekend here in New Jersey, and the leaves were gorgeous. I'm generally a springtime girl, but I have to say that autumn is tugging at my heart these days. I have two bags full of apples, and I'm going to make some applesauce tomorrow. ;)

Sorry about the double Mr. Linky -- he is just not playing nicely again this week!

Now let's have some mosaic fun! Here are the instructions:

1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.

That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: mrcarroll(at)optonline.net. I can't wait to see your mosaics! Here is Mr. Linky:

Autumn Rambles

We are given so much; the full bounty of the season spreads before us as we walk. Tall, arching trees overhead are like some great cathedral. Sunlight dances through their leaves, as through windows of stained glass, scattering red and gold jewels across our path. They are laden with autumn's gifts too, which fall to the ground, crunching beneath our feet as we climb the hill. Soon the sun will be warm on our backs as it wheels across the empty sky.

Already, though, we can smell the decaying leaves on the forest floor, and the sharp wind is a constant reminder of what is to come. It is so bittersweet, this season, with it's warmth and fruitfulness overshadowed by the knowledge of it's own end. Soon, all this is will be nought, and we will mourn the dying of the light.

So come, walk with me and gather in the bounty.

*****

Southern Living

I was contacted recently by Southern Living magazine, and asked to review their new redesign. In an era when so many publications are closing their doors, I'm really pleased to be able to give you a peek at this vibrant issue.

I probably should start with a disclaimer: I'm a Yankee who has never been farther south than Virginia. But I have to say that the October issue, with it's beautiful travel section, has inspired me to consider a closer look. I was particularly interested to read the story, A Tale of Two Trail Towns. It turns out that Harper's Ferry, West Virginia and Hot Springs North Carolina both sit astride the Appalachian Trail, and offer beautiful views, historic buildings and quaint shops. Now doesn't that sound like it would be right up my alley? ;)

photo: Laurey W. Glenn for Southern Living magazine

The home section is packed with great ideas for decorating projects. One of my favorites is a "family command center" -- how to transform the end of your kitchen cabinets or a bit of empty wall with magnetic boards, cork boards and ribbon into a stylish information center (shown above). It seems to me this would be a great idea for a mud room or a laundry room, too. There are also lots of great decorating ideas, including how to style your dining room sideboard.

photo: Laurey W. Glenn for Southern Living magazine

My favorite article was a look inside a former bishop's house in Atlanta (shown above). With gorgeous Gothic elements reminiscent of ecclesiastical architecture, the home has been redesigned to fit the needs of a young family. Eight pages of beautiful details are pure eye candy.

I would have to say that the newly redesigned Southern Living reminds me of Better Homes and Gardens -- the design, the photography, the food, the focus on traditional decor. It is bright and glossy and filled with ideas. Definitely worth a look. :)

Mosaic Monday: Fall Hike

Welcome to autumn in New Jersey! We are so fortunate to have some really wonderful hiking trails pretty close to our house, and almost every weekend when the weather permits, we go for a hike.

When we were first married, my husband used to go on overnight camping trips with some high school friends. I could never quite see the charm -- getting up at 5:30am to drive six hours, strap on a 50lb. pack and walk up the side of a mountain to a place where there is no bathroom. Yeah, no. But I do love day hikes.

These photos were taken at the Scherman-Hoffman Wildlife Preserve in Bernardsville, NJ. There is a trail called the Dogwood Walk which, as you might imagine, is filled with dogwood trees. In autumn, they are covered with beautiful red foliage and bright red berries. As the trails wind through the woods, the ground is littered with acorns and hickory nuts. And the field near the river is filled with beautiful waving grasses. Oh yes, autumn has come to New Jersey. :)

Oh, and sorry about the two Mr. Linky's. He has been very curmudgeonly this evening, and I can't seem to delete one of them. So you can just add your link to the first one and ignore the second. :)

Now let's have some mosaic fun! Here are the instructions:

1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.

That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: mrcarroll(at)optonline.net. I can't wait to see your mosaics! Here is Mr. Linky:

See You Soon

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend! Please join me for Mosaic Monday. Mr. Linky will be up by 8:30pm Sunday night. :)

Show and Tell Friday: Antique Print

Today is the huge semi-annual Visiting Nurse's Association Rummage Sale, so I'm off to do some bargain hunting. But I wanted to show you this small framed print that I got last spring at an area estate sale.

The unique black painted frame was what really drew me to this piece. I can't remember exactly, but I think I paid $5. for it. I have no idea how old it is, or where it was made. It says "Ellsworth Painter" along the bottom of the print.

It's displayed in my tiny den, along with a rooster lamp from TJMaxx, a floral arrangement that I made with silk flowers and container from Michael's, and a ceramic shoe and leather case that belonged to my parents. There is also a small bone dish from the thrift store.

I'm linking this post to Cindy's Show and Tell Friday. Please go and visit Cindy's beautiful blog, My Romantic Home, for more show and tell discoveries. :)