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. :)