Fall in the Dining Room

 

Although I love summer, I can embrace the warmth of fall and the beauty of the changing seasons.  I just wish that cold, snowy winter didn't follow beautiful fall!

 

I was in HomeGoods recently and found this bushel of wheat.  I love that it has some height and texture. 

 

 

I put it in this grower's box that I bought at Barb's sale this summer.  I added leaves, gourds, cobs and acorns to the box. 

 

 

 

 

 

Also at HomeGoods, I found these great bowls in the shape of a leaf.  Add in some plaid napkins and my fall table is ready to go!

 

 

Thanks for your visit!

 

Pam

 

 

I am linking to the following parties:

 

 



 

Salsa! We love Salsa!

We love Mexican food and good salsa.  One morning I was watching The Pioneer Woman's show and she was making salsa.  I liked all of the ingredients she put in and decided to try it.  Yummy!!  We love the recipe and make it often.

 

 

 

I use the following ingredients:

 

28 oz. can of Diced Tomatoes

2 cans of Rotel original

2 jalapenos (stems cut off)

A bunch of cilantro (stems cut off)

1/4 onion

1 clove garlic

1 T. lime juice

1/2 t. kosher salt (I think her recipe calls for 1/4 t, but I used 1/2 t. the first time and we like the taste...)

1/4 t. sugar

 

 

I have to put several loads into my little Cusinart, otherwise it'd overflow.  I add everything in except the lime juice, salt and sugar.  I put it on chop for 10-15 seconds (or until there aren't huge chunks of jalapeno), then pour it in a bowl.  After everything is chopped, I squirt lime juice in, add the salt and sugar and stir it up. 

 

This time I put about 1/2 of the recipe in this canning jar so it's easy to grab.  I refrigerate for a few hours before we eat it the first time.  It lasts about a week.

 

With two jalapenos, it comes out pretty 'hot', so if you like a more mild salsa, adjust the amount of jalapenos that you use.

 

Thank you to The Pioneer Woman for this recipe!

 

 

Do you have a favorite Salsa recipe?

 

Thanks for your visit.

 

Pam

 

 I am linking to the following parties:

 

 

I Just Can't Refuse a Neat Birdhouse or a Green Scale!

 

 

 

 

I scored at a yard sale the other day!  I knew it was my kind of sale by the ad--Lots of farm equipment, rusty metal, antiques.  Yep-the trifecta of a perfect sale!  :)

 

As I was talking to the gentleman having the sale, I looked up and saw this HUGE birdhouse!  Now how could I pass something like this up?!   It was connected to the top of his shed and weighs about 30 pounds.  He immediately pulled out a ladder and a drill and sold it to me.

 

 

 

After being teased by my friends (and yes, my husband chimed in too) about buying another birdhouse (yes!!), I started digging a hole and cementing in a 4x4 cedar post. 

 

 

 

After it dried for a couple of days, I screwed a board to the post that would be big enough to screw the birdhouse into from the bottom.

 

 

 

Up it went, with 4" screws through it!  We get some strong winds here and I sure would hate for it to take a tumble.

 

I treated the board underneath and the post with my apple cider vinegar and steel wool solution for instant aging.  It worked perfectly and just about matches the aged look of the birdhouse already!

 

 

 

 

 

 

We added these additional supports (which I also "aged" with the apple cider vinegar and steel wool).  Hopefully this birdhouse will stand through all kinds of weather and have some birds calling it home next spring!

 

 

 

 Here's the new scale.  Yes, I definitely needed another one!  I love the rusty green goodness.  All I had to do was wipe it with water and it's good to go.

 

What fun things have you found at a yard sale recently?

 

 

 

Thanks for your visit!

 

Pam

 

I am linking to the following parties:

 

 

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

 

Mom Had Some Talent!

My Mom used to spend every evening doing some sort of craft making.  She made beautiful crocheted afghans that we all treasure.  But I think her biggest talent was in counted cross-stitch.  She made SO many pieces, it was astounding!  Luckily, I was a fortunate recipient of several of her creations!

 

 

A couple of these were from kits that I purchased and asked her to complete, but most were just from reading a pattern on a piece of paper.  The patience required for this type of handi-work is amazing to me!

My favorite pillow!



This calendar has hung in our house for many, many years.  It's definitely one of my favorites!

 

(Please excuse the flash in some my pictures.)

 

Birdhouses (of course!)

 

 

 

We had pigs while growing up.  This Hampshire reminds me of one of our favorite pigs, Lucy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Birds and Gardens.  Perfect!

 

 

 

 



 

I love Americana!

 

 

 

This one was a very special gift to my daughter.  My Mom's good friend, Jan Jameson, is the artist of this picture and a couple of others above.  She made her artwork into cross-stitch patterns.  What a great keepsake.

 

 

It definitely makes me happy to have her amazing creations all over my house.

 

Thank you for your visit!

 

Pam

 

 

I am linking to the following parties:

 

That DIY Party

 



Adding a Little Character to a Rickety Vinyl Fence

 

 

 

Around part of our backyard, we have an off white vinyl fence.  It's been rickety since we moved in, but it wasn't falling down and my husband said he didn't want to deal with it unless it fell down.  I was not happy about that, especially since our pond is right there and my plants are getting bigger each year.  I also have several birdhouses around that area and didn't want to lose any. 

 

A few weeks ago we had some very big gusts.  We came outside to see the big white and green birdhouse on the ground where the fence had swayed enough to knock it over.  Ok, that was IT!  Time to tighten up that baby!

 

We found out that not only do we have an unstable fence, but the neighbors on the other side have an identical fence that is just as wobbly and touches our fence!  So each time the canyon winds would blow, both fences would rock back and forth.  (ugh!!)  When we took some parts down and lifted up the 'post', it was just sitting on the concrete.  No cement inside, no brackets, nothing!!  No wonder it moved like crazy!

 

 

 

We started by digging down in the dirt next to the cement wall.  We dug down about 15" for each of the three posts.  There was concrete down there, so we couldn't dig deeper.  We drilled holes (meaning he drilled holes...), then attached anchors through the new 4x4 into the concrete wall.  We then poured concrete in each hole. 

 

 

The next day we attached brackets between the new 4x4's and vinyl 4x4's.  The funny thing was that the vinyl fence was SO un-level, that we were sure our boards were off, but lo and behold, the new ones were perfect. 

 

 

 

 

We put lattice between two of the new 4x4's and planted vines.  We put the birdhouse back up  and are very happy with the results.  Last week we had strong winds again and not a bit of creaking anymore!  Success!! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We didn't add lattice to the other section because of the slope of the hill that it's on.  There just wouldn't have been enough lattice to work with to look right.  Instead, we hung a birdfeeder there and will patiently wait for the Weigala and Rose of Sharon that are right there to grow and cover the area.

 

 

 

 

We spent two days and about $200 and now have a sturdy fence.  It certainly saves us from the huge expense of putting in an entirely new fence along that wall.  And, now I have more places to plant!

 

Thank you for your visit!

 

Pam

 

I am linking to the following parties:

 

 

 

End of Summer Blooms

I love summer and gardening.  My yard is at its peak in May-July each year; however, there are still some good blooms to enjoy into August and September.  One of my favorite flowers, Cosmos, are in full bloom right now!  In fact, they were going SO crazy along the entry to my front door, I had to put this little fence up to corral them in.  My husband thought I should cut them back...  now that's just crazy-talk!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This area is fairly newly planted.  A few months ago I decided to pull all of the boxwoods that were lining this planter.  I was able to give them to a friend and they are now thriving in her backyard.



 

We already had this amazing Weeping Cherry and Tree Peony.  They both bloom in early Spring.

 

 

 

Is there anything prettier than a clematis climbing up a birdhouse and blooming?

 

 

Here it is a few weeks after I planted the area.  Many of the flowers that were blooming back in May are done now, but the Cosmos are happy to keep going!

 

 

 

And because I love birdhouses, I had to throw this picture in.   The fern is a volunteer.  I love how it's growing around the birdhouse. 

 

 

What are your favorite flowers? 

 

Thanks for your visit!

 

Pam

 

 

I am linking to the following parties: