. . . Cabin & Cottage

Monday, September 26, 2011

Home on the Grange

Sometimes I just want to play French Farmhouse. Grange is the word for barn in French. In English it simply means a farmhouse with outbuildings. But it's mostly used in old stories with a gentleman farmer. Okay. Old story works for me.

I've thought of this setting for awhile, but now my ivy covered wall is going to start thinking of turning on me, and dropping its leaves, so now it is!

An old French farmhouse has piles of linen everywhere that are used every day, wicker, baskets, and tons of garden implements. Check, check, check, and one more small check. Some years ago my son brought me a green handled pitch fork for Mother's Day or my birthday. I hadn't asked for one, but he knew I would love playing gentleman farmer with it.

Everything has to look utterly ancient. Which is remarkably difficult to do, but I've given a stab at it. If you squint your eyes a little, and suspend your disbelief for a moment, you can play French Farmhouse along with me too. . . .

Now wasn't that fun?

We'll do it again sometime!

Ciao! for now!

Jacqueline

Join me at

A Stroll Thru Life

Table Top Tuesday

Faded Charm

The French Cupboard

Saturday, September 24, 2011

The Vintage Rose Trunk

What could be more romantic than a trunk full of vintage roses?

I recently took this plate down from its display on the wall, and it hasn't found a new place yet. But it's looking fine nestled in with a pile of vintage linens and laces.

This vintage curtain panel gets to come out and parade for awhile like the bloom of late roses. The ones I don't have.

A pile like this leaves me feeling a little girlish, like I once felt draping my dolls on a Saturday afternoon, imagining I was whatever and wherever I wanted to be. . . . It seems to be working its magic on me again. . . .

I hope you get a little carried away today too!

Ciao! for now!

Jacqueline

Join us at Beverly's for

Pink Saturday!

How Sweet the Sound

A Beach Cottage

Friday, September 23, 2011

Hello Fall

Well, it's official. The cozy season has arrived. I like the variableness of this time of year. A little bit of everything. Chilly mornings. Hot afternoons. A dramatic storm on occasion. Here in the desert southwest there is still plenty of sporting weather to come. In fact, we will have our annual International Hot Air Balloon Festival in a couple of weeks. It's a good time for visitors.

Still, it's a time of gathering up, and planning ahead. Of putting up and putting away things from the garden. When my family was young I had a canning shelf in the kitchen to hold gleaming jars of applesauce and peaches that we had canned. And fruit leathers that we had dried. It was a satisfying season.

It's also the season for acorns and berries. For gathering oak leaves, either from the woods, or from the china cabinet! Has there ever been a better season of your life than now, these times, for staying home, getting out the good stuff, and enjoying the company of good people?

Autumn is the best time of year for the beauty and comforts of home. Ask any furniture retailer. Even Target is probably astonished at the run on those French dish towels this year! There's the old adage "use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without" that applies as much as ever. And there's something quite satisfying in that idea.