Rainy Day and Monday

Monday is one of the calmer days in this household. Things settle down and get back to "normal." There's the big build up to the weekend, and then suddenly it's all over. But this is what it looks like here in Albuquerque as fall begins to show. Mostly green with a litter of cottonwood leaves starting to happen. That is chamisa turning to seed and looking a bit scruffy this time of year.

It rained overnight leaving things fresh and a few puddles in the road. The desert willow still green but minus the pale pink blossoms that stay all summer.

The ivy is just barely turning a few leaves to red before it abandons them altogether. And it has finally turned coolish, so Autumn has finally made a believer out of me.

I want to show you this cover small so that we aren't jumping the gun too much here. But I want you to know what to look for! This edition passed the page flip test and came home with me this weekend.

There is a gorgeous island of pages in the middle from House Of Harvest that gets me right where I live these days. Here's the link to their Instagram. I am showing less than half the images, and all askew so that no one will pin them, but they are a sample of an earthy simple style with great vintage ideas that I am loving to look at.

You might enjoy a whole look at the issue yourself.

It works for me for fall almost as much as for December!

The other fun thing for me is this transfer ware find posted on someone's Instagram. These are from Pier One. If you have trouble finding vintage brown transfer ware, you can just order these online! I was lucky to get them at my local store. They are smallish dinner size plates with no other pieces to match that I could see.

I don't put my vintage plates through too much because I take extra care with them, but I'm going to enjoy these without fuss all season long.

All the images just make me cozy and happy!

And I love all the details.

It's all fuzzy and overcast, but some Mondays are just like that!

 I hope it's the start of a great week for you though!

 Thanks so much for stopping by!

Jacqueline

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Shabby Art Boutique~ Create, Bake, Grow, and Gather Party

Autumn Images & The Sugar Cookie Recipe

Happy October everyone! It's been such a long strange year, and here we are near the end of it already. My first blog comment of the month was strange too. It appeared today on a post I wrote in December of 2011 (that's seven years ago folks) about finding a sugar cookie recipe from a long lost cook book we had when I was growing up. The post is called Yummy Soft Sugar Cookies and is found here.

I posted this recipe with the story. It's one of the most pinned images from my blog on Pinterest. Pinned thousands of times. So it's understandable that out there in the internet universe it was spotted by someone who has never visited my blog, and doesn't know my shtick. (Ah, my no-cook blogger shtick, that is. LOL!) I don't think I have ever even accidentally posted pictures of something that I have baked/cooked in almost eight years of blogging! Lots of pretty pictures though! Which was noted in this comment of faint praise:

"Always keep my eye out for the cookies my grandmother used to make. This could be the one, but was disappointed to see that there were lots of 'prop' photos but not a single photo of the actual cookie. You seriously wrote a whole post about a special cookie and then didn't even actually make the cookie?? An old neighbor said the secret to soft sugar cookies was to use lard, would also allow them to keep for a long time. Was glad to find this here because it could be the one I've been searching for." Clair Kathryn

But here's a photo (with fabulous props!) for the visualization challenged among us. More cookies to see with your own eyes on this post (Sugar Cookie Love) here. (Okay, so I seem to have made this one exception.)

On a different note, it's Hot Air Balloon Fiesta time in Albuquerque! Still gorgeous days of early fall. There is only a hint of change in the foliage, but a few leaves are beginning to litter the expansive green of the lawn. We will get rain in a day or so, but if not, at some point soon we will find ourselves on some very cool and darkish day when a storm blows in and pelts down a swirl of colored leaves to the ground pronouncing the first real day of autumn. There are not many such days here, and even so you might miss the moment if you are not situated at the best view when it occurs. So it is quite memorable to me. I can see it very clearly in my mind. But you'll just have to take my word for it.

Thank you Sharon, Naomi, Rebecca, and others for leaving word!

Wishing you many lovely days ahead.

Jacqueline 

Join me at
French Country Cottage~Feathered Nest Friday

A New Fall Tablescape

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I like a feeling of bounty on fall tables, but I like a soft color too. And since I am also attracted to very dark tones in fall and winter I always feel like I must balance things out to keep them from becoming too overstimulating and heavy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The afternoon light picks up the textures and the sparkle of the glass on the table, and I am using one of my favorite antique runners in the center. I realized only after I got started that the runner was more wrinkled than I wanted, so I ironed it right on the table! I always have two or three layers padding the table underneath, so it's a good surface for it.

 

 

 

 

 I found this new brown damask tablecloth on sale at Williams Sonoma after the holidays last year. It must be ten feet long, which is probably why it was such a bargain. Originally $160, it had been reduced to $40 when I bought it. Though it is longer than I usually need, it's perfect for a large gathering when my table is fully extended.

 

 

 

 I am giving it a dry run before the holidays, and seeing how it works with my things. The antique transferware plates are new to me this season. They have no mark, and I haven't investigated to find a pattern name.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The glassware is a mix, as are all the plates and napkins. I tend to buy sets of four, but in compatible styles and colors.

 

 

 

 

I also like an off center "centerpiece" that is easy to move. The plates on the cake stand could be another serving dish instead, or simply whisked away to make room for one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The small dishes at center are for interest. A lone ironstone lid, and an ivory embossed plate I recently found in a vintage shop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The table is set for eight, but I have enough coordinating dishes for four more with the table extended.  

 

 I have alternated the dinner plate patterns underneath, as well as the salad plates on top. Two different sets of napkins are also at the table.

 

 

 

 

 

 One version has the transferware on bottom, and a homespun napkin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The other has the transferware on top, and a ruffled napkin. It's a very unified look with a bit more interest when you examine it closely.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I'd rather mix and match than find room for sets of eight or twelve for every pattern I like!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another trick I have used on this table are these small lacy coasters. They cover imperfections in the runner I chose, and are laid randomly where needed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's a good view of the differing settings side by side. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's been a while since I took the time to set a full table, and it was fun planning ahead. I can already think of a few variations to this theme. But there's no reason to wait! Fall's already in full swing.

 

And thank you for swinging by for a look!

 Happy Tablescaping!

 

Jacqueline

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Join me at

Savvy Southern Style~Wow Us Wednesday

Between Naps on the Porch~Tablescape Thursday

Common Ground~Vintage Inspiration

French Country Cottage~Feathered Nest

My Romantic Home~Show & Tell