~An Autumn Appetizer~

Playing with dishes in anticipation.

 

Fresh Alstroemeria from Kroger.

Votive cups, Michael’s a couple years ago.

Nothing new on the table other than two vases. The tall vase and larger of the small vases are new from Michael’s seasonal clearance. The smallest vase is from a long ago garage sale.

The tray is from All About Home, in our town.

The dinner plate is Autumn Monarch, from Johnson Brothers.

The blue plate is from Home Goods. 

Animal print salad plate from Wal-Mart, several years ago.

The small white plate is one of 6, in a stand, from Home Goods, last year. 

The pumpkins are from Wal-Mart, several years ago. 

I don’t remember where I bought the stemware. 

White luncheon napkin is vintage.

Flatware from Bass Pro Shop. 

Placemats are from Wal-Mart.

Appetizer: A small, light, and usually savory first course in a meal. 

In this instance, a table setting and images to whet the appetite for Autumn.

Thank you all so much for your response to Exterior Design and the Zebra.  You can imagine our surprise!  Definitely unexpected in rural Missouri.

~Subtle Changes~

The urge to rush the season is very strong for me this year.

  

Missouri has had one of those Summers when we “old timers” talk about the hot Summers of long ago. 

The Summer of 1954 was very hot, with temperatures at least 109, in July.  I remember this, because that was the month of my 11th birthday.  I don’t remember all my childhood birthdays, but my 11th was memorable, not just because of the heat, but other life changing events.

As children of the 1950’s, we had a large window fan, no central or window air conditioning.  J and I wonder how in the world we ever managed.  The answer is, we were used to it.  Now we are acclimated to a controlled indoor environment.

I am ready for Fall, this Summer of 2010.  I don’t think I am alone, in wishing for Autumn.  We were spoiled with our pleasant 2009 Summer. 

This one has definitely been a scorcher. 

Our friend is mowing our yard this year, giving J a break from this chore.  R has kept our lawn looking green through summer with calculated mowing.  He was here Wednesday. 

After mowing, it is green, rather than the sometimes crunchy brown of late Summer in Missouri. No watering, of our yard, other than occasional showers.  The key is to cut it a bit longer and wait awhile between cuttings.

A little less manicured, but great for keeping the grass green during these hot Summer days.

 

The title of this post, Subtle Changes, has everything to do with Fall approaching, here in the Midwest. 

I am beginning to see the subtle changes that mark the end of Summer.

 

We returned from the lake, late Tuesday.  I didn’t set foot on the back porch until Wednesday evening.  As I stepped onto the porch from the master bedroom, the first thing I noticed was the oppressive heat and mugginess. 

The second thing I noticed was the welcome scent of approaching Fall.  I can’t describe this scent, just that it arrives toward the end of Summer.  I know when I catch the subtle scent, it won’t be long until the temperatures cool, the leaves change and the color of the sky and sunrise and sunset will take on an autumnal glow.

 

Have you guessed my favorite season is Fall? 

Some believe it is a time of dying.  I always see Autumn as a time for trees and plants to sleep awhile; resting through winter, before awakening in Spring.

I snapped these photos, at sunset, Thursday evening.  It seems like yesterday when we brought these geraniums home.

 

This picture is from a post, dated September 1, 2009.  I believe we were having cool temperatures by that time last year.  Putting me in the mood to decorate the back porch early. 

Although it’s tempting to bring out the pumpkins, I’ll wait until September again, this year.  After all, Summer doesn’t officially end, until next month.

 

A storm passed through Thursday.  We are hoping it brought cooler temperatures that will stay around awhile.

I’m linking to Laurie’s Favorite Things Saturday

and

The Tablescaper’s Summer Sundays

Family Health Update

Our appointments, Thursday morning, went very well. 

My tests showed a drop in my cholesterol numbers, with a rise in the good cholesterol.  Other tests showed great results, as well.  Overall, I am very healthy. When my mother was my age, she had already been diagnosed with Ventricular Fibrillation and other serious health issues.  My sister, who is 3 years younger than I, has Rheumatoid Arthritis and other health problems.  When she was in her 50’s she suffered four strokes.  Knowing my family health history, I am extremely grateful for my good health.

While J’s tests came back great, the Pro Time taken at the office showed his blood is much thinner than before.  He is now off Coumadin over the weekend and will start a smaller dose Monday and have another Pro Time in a week.  We all are puzzled, including the doctor, about this sudden problem, after so many years on the same dosage.  We are hoping for better test results in about 10 days.

I talked to our daughter this afternoon.  While still not feeling quite up to par, she is feeling better.  She said she will see how she feels Friday and go from there, as far as further tests.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

~Blackberry Winter~

 

Have you heard of Blackberry Winter?

"Blackberry winter" is a late-spring cold spell that follows the blooming of Blackberry vines.

Saturday morning, we were experiencing a bit of a cool spell here in northeast Missouri.  The temperature was predicted to drop into the 30’s overnight.  I would say this qualifies as Blackberry Winter because the wild Blackberries, at the edge of the creek, are in bloom.

 

We were sitting in the hearth room, having our coffee, talking about how cool the morning was.  A brisk breeze augmented the coolness.

I had one of those Blog fodder light bulb moments.

I threw on a jacket and grabbed my camera, hoping to get a couple of shots of the Blackberry vines.  J went along to offer a steadying hand, should I, in my amateur photographer’s enthusiasm, go rolling down the bank and into the creek!

  

If the creek side Blackberry vines bear fruit, it will be sometime around the 4th of July. 

I didn’t want to wait…

Mother’s Day Flowers

Thank You Family!

Mosaics for Mary’s Mosaic Monday…

Several photos, for this post, were taken with my Canon Rebel Xti, using the Tameron 18-200mm Lens.  Others were shot with J’s Canon G11 Camera.

~Back Porch Spring-Summer 2010~

 

Back Porch Dresser Before

I shopped for inexpensive furniture pieces, when we purchased the condo, seven years ago.  I was able to find accessories and furniture, in a sort of British Colonial style, to furnish and accessorize our room, without spending much.  One of the pieces was this dresser, found at Big Lots.  A small matching bedside chest was purchased at the same time.  The cost, for both pieces, was just at $100.00. I’m still considering whether to use the smaller chest on the back porch.

I changed the look, of the condo bedroom, to a lighter more coastal feel.  We moved the dresser to the deck, where it sat all last Summer, Fall and Winter. It looked great on the deck, but turned into a cluttered catchall for minnow buckets, nets and other fishing gear.

 

I make small changes to our back porch, each season.  When I was thinking about what direction I would take the porch, this Spring, I remembered the dresser.  I thought my idea over and made the decision to bring the dresser home and paint it white.  I found the colorful knobs at Hobby Lobby, 50% off and purchased eight, for the dresser, at a total of $12.  I picked up a gallon of white paint, at Lowe’s, in a satin finish. I hope this finish will make it a little easier to clean the dresser of dust and pollen.

The cushions for the chair and settee are from Lowe’s. The pillows were found at Home Goods.

There will be more photos of the back porch, throughout the Spring/Summer seasons.  We tend to have our meals on the back porch, warm weather temperatures permitting.

 

 

A little back porch reading…

I’m adding this post to Today’s Thrifty Treasures, at Rhoda’s Southern Hospitality.

The dresser was something I already owned, for several years.  I used inexpensive paint and 50% off knobs from Hobby Lobby, for a thrifty makeover.

The shell lamp is from Marshall’s, Osage Beach, the butterfly was purchased at Screen Porch, Asheville North Carolina, a few years ago. It is made from salvaged metal and wood.  The frame holds a photo of back porch flowers in years past.

~Back Porch News~

Seasons

A Back Porch Fireplace Screen

Burlap is stapled onto the back of the window we were given by our friend Greg, at All About Home.  The shutters, from Artichoke Annie’s Antique Mall, Columbia Missouri, were added to either side.

The gate is from another nearby antique shop.  I’m working on an idea for the basket, that hangs on the gate.

Seasonal Weather

Several Tornadoes passed through here, Friday night. At least one, a mile or two from our house. Some touched down, doing damage to trees, as reported on KMOX Radio (St Louis), this morning.  We had no wind, but we did have a pretty powerful thunderstorm with heavy rain.  After living in Missouri all our lives, we expect this sort of weather every Spring and knew something was up, yesterday afternoon, when the temperature dropped.  It’s dark out again today.  The stormy/rainy weather is expected to last through Sunday.

Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.

~Stanley Horowitz

J’s Aunt Ruth is traveling, with us, to the lake, Sunday morning.  Weather permitting, she and J have fishing planned.  I’m going to read and take photos of this and that.  We’ll return, sometime during the week, with the wicker chest for the back porch.  We will complete that little fix up and I will write about it, here at Back Porch Musings, soon.

 

 

Thank you for your visits, e-mails and comments on the posts about our trip south and the garden post.  These give me incentive to continue blogging.  Your affirmation is very much appreciated.

I spent almost all day, Friday, trying to catch up with visiting, which I have missed, in the busyness of our life. 

I believe my decision to participate in fewer events is a good one for me.  That decision was not meant to be a snub toward anyone. Even doing less events, I still don’t get to everyone and this concerns me.

I need to spend less time on the computer and more time doing the things I love, with J and family.  I also need to spend more time keeping our homes. 

An added bonus, through this; I have more to write about. 

I hope my posts and photography improve, with this decision about time and how I spend it.

Thank you, to all my readers, for standing by me through this decision.

I will still post about three times a week.  I hope the posts will be varied and interesting.

Spring and Summer seasons are always filled with little day trips.  I’ll write about those and our home projects. We have a few of those in mind, as always.

I want to keep Back Porch Musings as enjoyable for me, as it has been since March 2007 and hopefully, for you as well.

Perhaps I’ll  add the mosaic to Mary’s Mosaic Monday.  I’ve prepared mosaics, in the past, and linked to Mary’s then decided not to add mine to the list, due to time constraints.  As always I am adding Mary’s link here, whether I add my mosaic or not.  Visiting Mary on Mosaic Monday is a treat.  You won’t be disappointed.

I’ll be around to visit, soon.

Hope your week is wonderful!