IT'S FALL YA'LL PARTY TIME.....

HOW FUN !!

RHODA is throwing such a fun FALL PARTY for all of us..

I can't wait to see what she has lined up and to see all of YOUR fall decorations, tablesettings, fall clothing...

Be sure to go thank RHODA and leave sweet word for all....

MANY THANKS for coming by to see my

FALLNESS....

I think all of us HAVE to have a Fall wreath...

This one is in my dining room...

I need to make another for my living room...maybe this week...

With temps still in the 90's out here in WEST TEXAS,

I am finding it hard to get into the fall mood...

I'm doing it, tho !!

:>)

I am so enjoying the dried flowers JUDI sent me...

dried flowers always seem a part of fall to me.

My thanks again, sweet JUDI.
**

Ahhh, and I'm still loving this sweet, vintage cup towel from GLORIA.

It goes so well with my fallness in the dining room.

Thank you, Gloria.
**

AND.....BRAND NEW SET OF DISHES...

TUSCAN RETREAT

**

I am totally in love forever with these darling dishes...

Oh, yes....I know ! ....I KNOW another set of dishes was the LAST thing that I needed...

I actually need a PINE HUTCH to put my OTHER dishes in ....and here I am...

owner of a 16 piece dinnerware set...

from WALMART....$39.95.....

I JUST COULDN'T PASS THEM UP !!

they are soooo purdy !!

**

So, I set my fall table with a centerpiece of pretty little yellow mums..

in a terra cotta pot that Beautiful Daughter gave me about 20 years ago...

I just love it and use it INSIDE much more than OUTSIDE....
**

**

Aren't the little matching mugs cute ?

**

I've never been much on EVERYthing matching on my table...

But, I loved these dishes....these napkins....these napkin rings.....

and I DID resist the matching placemats and chose, instead, the solid, light golden ones.

(HOWEVER...I just MIGHT go back for the matching ones, too...:O)
**

These are the adorable, cast iron tea light holders that I was blessed enough to win at

ARTIE'S giveaway.

Thank you, Artie.
***

I think my little cast iron angel looks cute here...

well, actually, she looks cute ANYwhere....
**

The amber stemware is from clearence at BIG LOTS...70% OFF.
**

...and I was soooo excited to find these CHARGERS on clearance at Wal Mart...

$3.00 each and I GRABBED them....so fast !

These are going to look good with my vintage CREMEWARE dishes, too...

I'm excited !!
**

...they are nice and heavy and a beautiful color...

It just surprises me so much to find great things at WalMart or Big Lots...or the Dollar Store.

I just love it !!.......just proves that BEAUTIFUL doesn't have to mean EXPENSIVE !!
***

*****

"On the outside...looking in."
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goat cheese on ritz crackers, juicy red seedless grapes and

A HINT OF AUTUMN CUPCAKES...
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Little poppy seed cupcakes from the bakery..

a little homemade MAPLE flavored icing and ...

sprinkles of AUTUMN ....

**

This is so so good....just the rightness of tangy, creamy and sweetness...

all together on ..

ONE PRETTY PLATE....

:o)

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HAPPY FALL, YA'LL.....

O, RHODA...this has been such a fun FALL party..

you really know how to throw a great one, girl !!

**

THANKS to everyone that came to my part of this wonderful time together...

I am linking with SUSAN for TABLESCAPE THURSDAY.

*note...reposted to add a link to FOODIE FRIDAY by MICHAEL

LOOK ALIKES....(please bear with me..i'll get this right in a minute!)

I am linking with SUSAN for this fabulous day...

****

Not ALL of my photos were taken outside...

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I've sighed and *sighed and dreamed and dreamed

about these beauties on the POTTERY BARN website....

They are so far over my Social Security budget that I could just SPIT !!
***

Mr. Sweet and I went to THRIFT STORE ALLEY
and here's a few things that made my heart sing !!...

See those big, brass candlesticks.....

be still my heart !!
***
Mums the word......


......little UGLY table...$2.92

POTTERY BARN CANDLE STICKS...$149.00 AND $129.00
**
MY Brass thrift store candle sticks, spray painted SATIN black...$4.00 AND $3.00....
**
Mine aren't quite as tall ...but just nearly...

nearly enuf to make me burst into song each time I look at them !!

:O) :O) :O)
**

O...and I'll show you what I am doing with my little $2.92 wooden table shown here really soon....

***.
Don't you think these brass candle holders look a LOT better in their new FALL dress of

SATIN BEWITCHING BLACK .......?

NOTE ADDED:

Don't forget to check out the PET PARADE

at KatillacShack tomorrow, SEPTEMBER 30TH...

RED and APPLE CAKE....

MARY at WORKS OF THE POET is hosting this very RED day...
Thanks so much!!
***

Remember the bright red, perfect little PINK LADY apples we picked at the orchard this week ?

So perfect that everyone just KNOWS they are fake...until they take a bite, that is...
Ummmm
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I wanted to make a cake for my friend that is having a few health problems right now...
Thought an apple cake would just make her feel better !
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Sooo, I got out SOME of my cookbooks that I thought might have a good recipe for an
apple cake..
**
....and, I DID find a good sounding one in my ISN'T LIFE DELICIOUS cookbook...
**
I love this old gym locker basket with the number 65 on it....it's perfect to hold some of my
favorite cookbooks...and looks good sitting on the bakers rack.
I bought two of these little wire baskets at a garage sale about 10 years ago for 50 cents a piece.
These were the only two she had....I would have bought 50 if I could!! :O)
****


OF COURSE, I had to put my beautiful black and white apron on before I started cooking !!
Sweet PENNY had KATHY make this for me and I have never been so surprised in my entire
loooong life....and so delighted !!
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I gathered all the ingredients together ....
**
I have tried, all my life, to peel an apple without the skin breaking...just one long apple skin !
I never have been able to do it...
O, and the grating of the apples....I didn't like that one bit. Afraid I was going to skin my fingers and nearly did !
I am pretty sure they make better graters than I have !! ??
***
AND...if this apple cake is really good....I'll post the recipe a little later...
AFTER MARTHA and I give it the TASTE TEST !!
There's an apple cake recipe, made in a cast iron skillet, over at THE PIONEER WOMAN COOKS..
I am going to try it next....

:o)




I hope you are having a wonderful day...
I love all of you and I thank you so much for coming by to see me.

NOT BLUE ON THIS MONDAY...

FROM THE KATILLAC SHACK.....Announcing A PET PARADE BLOG PARTY! And You Are Invited To Link ..

I am thrilled to announce a Pet Parade Blog Party on September 30. You are all invited to attend and link to the event. If you have a pet or just love them post a pic or project! It is in celebration of our summer-long scarf decorating project to raise money for the abandoned pets of foreclosure. Over 130 internet friends and bloggers/blogsites from 43 states participated. Now, you can help too by linking to the party and by posting photos of your pets, pet scarves, and pet craft or decorating projects. By linking to the event you will earn a $3.00 contribution from us at Design Gives Back to give to the total donation. You post and we donate on your behalf! Gee, I sure hope you can attend...and see the ferret in his scarf...the cat in his hat...and the fairy princess poodle! Can't you just imagine seeing all of your furry family members on parade? Oh, come on, hop on this ark! There will be prizes and a fantabulous GIVEAWAY! NEW UPDATE 5:23 p.m. We now have 59 links for the party...be next! That means you have earned $177.00 more!

*NOTE...from bj..

please click on the above link if you would like to participate in this project.
*************************************************************************************************





MONDAY...
THRIFTY AND BLUE.....








It was cloudy and dark and promising more rain....just my favorite kind of day....
I decided on making a cup of vanilla chi tea.....

I cooked some of the orange cinnamon rolls that we like so much....they go GREAT with tea ...

These vintage BLUE WINDMILL canisters are from Germany. I've been collecting them for over 40 years and I do have an extensive collection that I love love love...
I'll be posting more of it along....

The prices for complete sets have just gone thru the roof...and even just the individual pieces, if they are the "good" ones, can be pretty expensive. I bought most of mine before the prices started skyrocketing.

Five or so years ago, I found several complete or near-complete sets on Ebay. I seldom see a set anymore.

....and....then the rains came...

O, how beautiful it was. Out here in West Texas, we have what we laughingly call FROG STRANGLERS...

it just POURS rain so hard for a little while and then it's all over. I can remember when we lived in Dallas that we had soft, gentle rains that might last all day and into the night...

BUT I'M NOT COMPLAINING!!

NO, MA'AM...I sure am not complaining!!

AND...you probably know that I couldn't stay in the house!! Not with such a wonderful rain going on outside. I just made myself a tray and out I went for my tea and rolls on the FRONT PORCH in the SWING...AGAIN !! :o)

**
*you know...having a front porch and a porch swing is just good for my soul....

rain or shine !!

PINK for OCTOBER BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Trying to do my part of OCTOBER BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH,
I pledge to post some PINK REMINDER each day for the entire month of OCTOBER.

I hope you will consider to do the same.
Blogs are such a wonderful way to spread good cheer, strong support and blessings..
we can, together, reach so many people that may need reminding of their annual mammograms,
or to just let those know that are suffering from this horrid disease or loved ones that have it, that

THEY HAVE PEOPLE !!
People that care, that pray, that donate, that stand up for THEM....
People that are FIGHTING FOR THEM !!
***
These are such strong, courageous ladies....
PLEASE PRAY HARD FOR THEM....

THE PINKEST DAY OF THE WEEK....

Since I do not live with the color PINK...

I have to live PINK through some of my granddaughters...

PINK SATURDAY

Great Granddaughter, CATE and friend...

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While getting to have the company of two granddaughters while their parents were out of town....WE HIT THE MALL !!!

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My little DEEDS...shopping and wishing.....

at the magical age of 7, you are totally in LOVE with EVERYthing !!

*sigh......

Mizz BRYNNA...spending her own money for the ca..utest pink pants....

when I asked her how she earned that money...she said......"Uhhh, I dunno!"

AIN'T LIFE GRAND ....!!

BEVERLY asked us to mention a blog that we really liked, that might be new,

or at least new to us...

Here is one that is fast becoming one of my very favorites....

MISS MUSTARD SEED

does the most beautiful, handpainted furniture......

makes the neatest slipcovers you've ever seen ......

loves antiques and vintage.....

has her own business.....and has two little boys!!

whew..how do you do it all, Miss Mustard Seed??

AND....

she also has an adorable blog that you are going to L.O.V.E.

You'll go back for more....I sure do !!

***

When you go over, will you please tell her bj said "Hey" !!