It's Official............

      TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF FALL

YIPPEE.........the first official day of Fall...cool breezes...golden shadows...pumpkins ... crunchy leaves...yea boy...that's for me I am EXCITED....I already have all my favorite fall movies lined up to watch ...like HOCUS POCUS...SLEEPY HOLLOW...DR. QUINN EPISODES.....WHITE CHRISTMAS...the list goes on...I unburied my crock pot for cooking soups and chili...the pantry even has fixing's for corn bread....I am ....READY...

Yesterday I went through all my magazines ( no small task....) to separate the Fall issues into a plucky little stack of fabulous reading ...I really like this issue of "Autumn Cottage" from Victoria Magazine....have you seen it yet...there are some great pic's....recipe's ....and it's chuck full of ideas for making fall spaces fabulous...

This is the time for a perfect cup of coffee.....still steaming hot to drink while I build a fire in our fireplace ...this is high on my list of ALL TIME FAVORITE things to do in the fall....the smell is magical  nothing is more relaxing then sitting with my faces around the fire with a hot cup of coffee in our hands...

We bought this last weekend for our daughter....she wanted something to hang outside...It is tin so it won't get ruined...she loved it...she can bake pumpkin pie...I've never tried it especially from scratch do any of you have a good pumpkin pie recipe I would appreciate your sharing it with me...I'd like to try making one .....So girls how are you going to welcome our friend fall ...do you decorate your front porch...put out pumpkins....get some flats of Mum's...I bought some Yankee Candles last weekend off their sale shelf 1/2 price...I found 2 "Pumpkin Spice" candles for 13.00 instead of 26.99...that meant I could get 2 of them....I lit them up last night ...the whole house smelled enchanting....I am going to indulge myself today with some good Apple Spice tea from Celestial Tea ....sit in my favorite chair....and dig into that stack of fall magazines I mentioned.........you girls have a fun "FIRST DAY OF FALL"....thank so much for stopping by...blessings and hugs....Karena

Looking for Inspiration....

Hi there girls....how are you....I'm good...I am looking for some inspiration this morning...as I do I ask the question where do YOU go .... what tried and true thing or place ALWAYS inspires you.....

For me going to a favorite place...like "Bountiful" in Venice Beach California ....always engaging...full of product...and displays that get my creativity jumpin...

Dreaming of ways to create something spectacular with bits and pieces ...that in the real world were  intended for another purpose...I found this picture somewhere of this wonderful miniature greenhouse made out of window's on top of an old table....this idea is brilliant...the photo does something to my heart...as soon as I found it I had to have it...

I am a kitchen lover....the kind of gal that loves to cook...bake...create...It fascinates me to look at how other women out there  create their kitchen's ....the true personal reflection of a woman's heart can surely be found in their kitchen ....even if I have no need of re-doing MY kitchen......any time I see photos of this room ...I always stop to really look at all the details...I am always INSPIRED...

Talking to the Lord...praying...sharing my heart with him is a constant inspiration....

                                                                                  

Transferware is AWAYS...a great motivator for me ...it has to be RED to live in our house...but I can see the beauty in other colors ...

You might be laughing at this old car....past it's prime...full of issues ....but I smiled when I saw this picture...SOMEONE ...looked at this car with special eyes.....I've never seen a car that looks like it's been mod pog'd ...even though it's not something that I'd want to own....I still see beauty in it.......do you think I'm nuts.......

You might wonder what do I find special about this room...well ..I'll tell you...the fireplace is BIG...the background is light and airy...and the windows....oh my goodness...the rounded shape of these windows their shutters....make my heart go pitter pat...beyond that.... it's what I DON'T SEE that is inspiring to me....it is a room with great bones...BUT...I see it with different furnishings...darker floor...architectural style lamps...you know what I mean...this photo is a jumping off place for me creatively it is just the sort of thing that get's my mind snapping internal pictures

this Cath Kidston style background with one of my favorite magazines sitting on top is very inspiring ...for reasons I'm sure you totally understand....what's not to love......this is just a perfect serendipity of NEW IDEAS.........I get so much inspiration from all of you as well.....hours and hours of looking at your blogs...reading the things that make you laugh...or cry....you share your journeys with such honesty and passion...your all the best...I am so happy you stopped by...bless you....big hugs too........Karena

Living this sometimes Loblolly Life......

Good Morning girls...this is my front porch...we spend a lot of time out here ....especially this time of year....I thought this morning I would take you along as I walk through the house we call home...random pictures that will I hope give you a glimpse into  how I live my sometimes Loblolly Life.........

Let's walk through the front door...  they say good friends should ALWAYS feel welcomed at the back door....I wanted to have the experience of walking in this way.....

A counter in the kitchen that we use for "pretties"...this coffee pot is so sweet...we found it last year at an antique store just before we moved here....I thought it would help the kitchen look cozy...during this time of year I will change it up with pumpkins and tea lights..

I recently put this shutter screen in our bedroom...Terza's bed is right next to it...that's his favorite spot in the house...these shutters were purchased the same day I found the coffee pot...an antique dealer was fluffing up her booth...she was selling the 4 of these shutters for $7.00....I was shocked when I saw the sign...so I made sure she MEANT to sell them for that...she had brought new "OLD" shutters to replace these.....I was a happy camper...one day as I was moving things in the garage I thought "hey these would look great in our bedroom...I hope they fit"....they did...now as fall descends I will make some changes...new pic's will be forthcoming...

Geraniums...are one of my favorite flowers....now instead of everything being pink I find myself embracing RED...I think the brick on the house is a perfect back drop for this eye popping color....

This is my "sittin room"....the chair on the left is where you'll find me every morning posting on my blog...or visiting all of you...this is a perfect place to sit... the window looks out over the back yard...the birds are plenty happy as I look out ..singing all the time...swooping through the sky...playing with one another...I love it....I realized yesterday as I was thinking on things to be thankful for ...that I can always count on my love of home...giving myself permission to create ....looking differently at something  will always cheer me up...anything I can see in my minds eye ... I can create...it doesn't matter what kind of "MOOD" I find myself in....if I allow myself to move from worry or fear to a place where I'm dreaming...picturing the possibilities....everything seems peaceful....possible.....HOPEFUL...before I know it ...my mood has lifted...I am feeling myself again....what a blessing...I thank you so much for stopping by....you all have a wonderful Wednesday....I will too.......until next time...big hugs...Karena

I Have Something On My Mind....

Hello girls...I woke up feeling blue this morning...I have a lot on my mind....since we moved back to Virginia I have been looking for a part time job...I have sent out resume's...made phone calls ...driven to places I would love to work to introduce myself...NOTHING is opening up for me....it has been a painful experience in ways I can't quite articulate...

I'm  waiting on the Lord for an answer ...I know he hears the groaning of my soul

I know from the Red Sea Rules that I just have to keep taking the "NEXT LOGICAL" step...but it feels yucky to be in this spot .......waiting.....

On top of that my sweet friend Terza is getting slower and slower...having a hard time with his hips....the Lord is preparing me that soon it may be his time to rest in the ...Heavenlies....that is weighing so heavy on my heart....

I feel like this jumble of nuts...bolts...nails...and screws needing to be organized...cleaned up..and made useful...some of the things in this bowl are garbage  past their usefulness getting rid of the things I need to let go of that are taking up space on the landscape of my life does make sense...I have to keep believing that even in the pain of loss or disappointment of lacking a job ....with the Lord's help I can still smile...I can stand strong when I fall...I can dust myself off to be ready for the NEXT time...I know the Lord has a plan...I just get weary sometimes...Jeremiah 29:11 says For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. I just need to keep my eye's on him...tears...oh my....I don't have days like this often but when I do....it takes me some time to get rid of the sadness in my heart....any of you have any tried and true cures for the BLUE'S..........for now I think that's it....I will sign off.......blessings and big hugs...Karena

A Yankee Candle Co. Experience......

Good Morning Ladies....how are you ....Yesterday my sister and brother-in-law surprised us with a phone call in the early afternoon inviting us to take a drive with them to one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE places YANKEE CANDLE COMPANY in Williamsburg

This store is almost as big as a theme park....complete with every season of candle you could ever dream of...

As you exit the Candle store into the courtyard of the building ...it is set up like a mini "MAIN STREET AMERICA"....in the middle is this huge clock with animated characters singing about the days left before Christmas...ADORABLE....

This Fountain sits in front of the clock as a centerpiece to specialty shops surrounding the courtyard....like fudge...popcorn  and coffee shops

These tables in the middle of the courtyard were sweet....they reminded my of Disneyland...

This is the entrance to their Christmas Shoppe...

My brother-in-law standing at the bridge ....wistfully taking it ALL IN...

Of course they had Santa's Workshop....

Complete with smiling elves waiving hello...

Wasn't I surprised to see Santa sitting there as well......I thought for sure he'd be working on all the toy's he'll need for Christmas...I asked if I could take his picture for my blog...being the jolly man he is ....he agreed ...AND ...asked me what the name of my blog was...YES GIRLS SANTA IS COMPUTER SAVVY..........he said as I was leaving ....I want to wright that down...I will check it out....So Santa in case your reading this....THANKS FOR THE HOSPITALITY...don't forget to look for the plate of cookie's ... we'll put out just for you on Christmas Eve....

Well that's it for today girls...I hope you enjoyed looking around with me...I have to tell you our temp's dropped this weekend over 30 degrees bringing HEAVY rain fall too...it was FABULOUS.......I thank the Lord for family time....travel mercies ....all the smiles he gave us....and for you girls....I look forward to sharing  with you so much...blessings and hugs.........Karena