Fall Harvest Decor, White Palette

As Autumn drew near, this past September, I began to wonder how decorating for Harvest would look in my home, with my new light, white color palette.

I shouldn't have worried, after all, the Bible does say that "the fields are white unto the harvest...", so white and harvest should be two concepts that easily go together.

I know. That's a reach. And a little cheesey. But this is my blog, so deal with it. Anyhow, here are some shots I took today of how my harvest decorating finally all came together. I'll be leaving things "as is" until Christmas...

Of course, pumpkins and gourds are everywhere. I edited out the green gourds this year, because my carefully-chosen colors for fall are orange and blue, brown and white...

I took the turquoise coffee mugs down, and replaced them with brown transferware teacups (though I still drink coffee in them - shhhhhh...don't tell.)

A close up. Gotta love this.

whatever you do, do it elegantly - which means "as simple as possible, but still making an impact." Three white pumpkins placed on a brown glass mosaic leaf plate...this is perhaps my favorite idea I came up with.

replaced the usual candles on our covered front porch with three small pumpkins, and one large one on the table. That's it! That is all I did to our front porch, yet somehow it shouts "HARVEST TIME"...

Don't forget the fact that the outdoors needs no ornamentation. Please, no fall leaf garlands around your front door...(unless you have no trees in your yard!)...let the real leaves have center stage. This is our pond, right off of our front porch. It is overshadowed by a dogwood - whose leaves are luscious scarlet right now.

change out your kitchen linens...put out a fall cookbook...and again, elegant simplicity...just one white ceramic pumpkin on the wood counters.

Orange and blue play beautifully together in the dining room...(that tablecloth doesn't read well in this picture - it is a sweet shade of robin's egg blue print..)

A close up of the table centerpiece - just things I've gathered in years past - the only new thing is the (real) white pumpkin under the tiny cloche...the cloche was $4 at Hobby Lobby - a deal no woman can resist.

white, white, white...and orange.

White, white, white...and orange. (actually, depression-era peach lustre-ware teacups and saucers - love they way they stack and lean - with leaves and berries...) This speaks to my philosophy to decorate with what is real and ordinary and useful whenever possible. I'm real down on "knick knacks" these days...

My stainless steel double-timer, and a box of matches. Useful. Real. Beautiful. Decorative. I love this long box of wooden matches. I much prefer to light my candles this way. I know I'm weird and I'm okay with it. Kapeesh?

Savor this special time of year - it is over all too soon, swallowed up by cheesy boy-bands who mangle beautiful old Christmas carols. Fall will soon be overtaken by all things Santa Claus. Take time to set your harvest season apart by decorating for it, and truly "giving thanks", without letting the commercialism of the Christmas season overshadow this lovely autumn of the year. There will never again be another autumn 2010 - and it is winding up fast.

Grace and peace to you, friends. Isn't that all we ever need , anyway?

~linking to the Fall Nesting Party, over at Melissa's Inspired Room Blog...

No Reserves, No Retreats, No Regrets

William Borden, 1887-1913

William Whiting Borden, heir to the Borden Dairy fortune, already a millionaire in high school, graduate of Yale, gave himself wholeheartedly to Christ with this motto: “No reserves, no retreats, no regrets.” He died a missionary to Muslims in Egypt.

Dr. Samuel Zwemer said this at the funeral: “He won the victory over his environment. By some the victory has to be won over poverty; by others over heredity or over shame and temptation; but Borden won the victory over an environment of wealth. He felt that life consisted not in ‘the abundance of things a man possesses’ but in the abundance of things that possess the man.”

Quoted in Mrs. Howard Taylor, Borden of Yale ’09 (Philadelphia, 1926), pages 279-280.

More (Real) Birdcages as a Design Element

My most-read post on this whole blog has been "The Real Birdcage as Design"...(along with "The Refreshing Signs of a Gracious Woman" and "The Sad Signs of Legalism")...each of which have been read over 400 times.  The gospel and bird cages - isn't that hilarious?  That is just like me - a study in contrasts.

...So, with over 400 interested people,  I am not alone in my desire to see bird cages designed better, to make  them a beautiful feature in a room, rather than a utilitarian eyesore.  A well done bird cage can steal the show as much as a beautiful painting or fireplace.  It can draw the eye instantly to its artful, graceful lines and unusual hand-made quality.

Here are more pictures I've collected over the summer - to illustrate what I mean: 

Don't you love this?

I read somewhere that a round bird cage isn't good for your birds...that they need corners, and can get disoriented in a round cage.  I wonder if this shape (and the previous one) is too close to being round?  More research is in order.

How stunning.  I mean, really.  Lovely.

My favorite!  This sets my hair on fire...I want several little birdies, in wall- mounted cages like these.  So I'm the crazy bird-lady.  So sue me.

If I copied this idea, there would have to be trays in the bottom of each cage, easily removed...and clear plexiglass attached to the back of each cage, between the cage and wall to protect it.  (that is my husband's ingenious solution - and it works!  We have a pocket parrot named Audrey Hepburn positioned next to a white wall, and she is a messy, messy girl.  The clear plexiglass takes care of the problem, and protects our white wall.  You simply take the plexiglass off every couple of months for a good wiping down, and there you go...no splatters or spots on your wall.  My husband's solution is genius, because a happy bird is a messy bird - they love to splash in their bath...)

Can I somehow encourage you to let a small bird into your life?  Can I plead with you to buy a male canary - from a reputable bird dealer - the best you can afford?  The emotional payoff is huge - a canary's song is absolutely happy and lilting and it will lift your spirits and bless you continually.  Mine was a gift from my Tim for Valentine's Day, about two and a half years ago.

Canaries don't want to be handled...they love you from afar.  But they do love you, I promise.  My Bocelli calls out to me every day, enjoys my attention, adores the sound of my voice, and actually sings to me...on purpose. 

Sweet.

Monday

Are your Mondays crazy-busy?  I assume everyone's Mondays are like that.  Wanting the best possible start to my and my family's week, I cram all I can into that day-after-Sunday, beginning day of the work week. 

My favorite thing is to get everything done that I wanted to.  Needless to say, I don't get to experience my favorite feeling very often.

Today was no exception.  It is ten o'clock and I'm not yet done.  Sheets still need to be put on beds...among other things.  But oh well, I got all the grocery shopping done for the week,  balanced the checkbook, processed four sinkfuls of dirty dishes (my deep double sinks - twice), did the laundry, took care of my birdies, and blah blah blah I'm boring you.  Sorry.

Hey - I made an amaaaaaazing batch of home made shrimp n' grits for dinner!  That was some good eatin'.

Tomorrow, I'm planning on a beef and barley soup for dinner...with a salad featuring cranberries, toasted walnuts, and blue cheese...and I think I'll try to make some yeast rolls.  I think breakfast will be steel-cut oatmeal with berries.  After breakfast, there'll be Isaac's school to oversee - I've got a little bit of active teaching to do there.  And after that, all the stuff I couldn't get to today will be rolled into tomorrow. 

::sigh::

My knitting is calling me.  There was never a more relaxing, productive hobby (other than reading or walking, of course)...and to be productive while relaxing is a good, good, good thing.  I'm thoroughly addicted to Yarn Arts.  I do basic knitting and crochet - don't ask me which I like best, because I can't say. 

Hope your Monday was full of accomplishments, small and big!  And here's a hug and a prayer that your Tuesday  is brim-full of grace and peace and productivity.  Right now...think of something really important and amazing to do tomorrow.  Can't you just feel the happiness of that?  Can't you feel the anticipation beginning to brew?  If so, you have positioned yourself for a blessed Tuesday...you are wise.

Our Daughter's Final Days of Maternity...

(...many thanks to the talented artist-photographer-son-in-love Jonathan Howe for these beautiful, evocative pictures of our daughter and other son-in-love and soon to be born grandson...in the womb, still, of course!)

(Hannah and I howled over this one...she calls it "The Eclipse" - ACK!)

Justin's sense of humor...

Too adorable...

On Friday, Hannah measured at 35 weeks (!!).  So it looks like our mid-December baby, who moved to an end-of-November baby, might be an "any day now" baby!  We can't wait...seriously.  We can't.

A Thing of Beauty is a Joy Forever...

In recent years, my design style has taken a decidedly industrial turn...

I so love this kitchen!  Love all this weathered metal - the shelving, the light fixtures, the giant clock, and those tractor seats-turned-barstools make me happy.  This whole picture makes me happy.  My only "tweak" would be a punch of color...I'd probably go with color in those stacks of dishes. 

My personal signature has done a "180", to using a whisper-quiet background, with one color (or two) added in layers to make things interesting.  The color of this door....I adore it.  (Get it?  I "a-door" it?  Huh?  Get it?  Or am I the only one who likes a good pun?) I love the layers of texture here.  Please do not miss the vinyl records to the far left!  Whoever designed this space could be my "bff".

Can I get away from the whisper white canvas, with splashes of color?  Nah...and I emphatically do not want to get away from it.  It will never, ever go out of style.

I've collected these images over months and months...and the theme stays strong and true.  Neutral canvas, texture, layers, and bits of color.  I love this bedroom so much I can't stand it.

This is a new twist on my favorite "chalkboard wall" fetish.  (And I do have a chalkboard fetish.  I cannot imagine you being able to be truly happy without writing profusely on your walls.  I'm so glad I was able to get that out.  Now you understand me.)  Write on your large, gorgeous mirrors!  Love notes, scriptures, you-name-it.  I think this idea is positively charming.

I've included this as a shameless advertisement for my current-favorite color combination - orange and blue.  They play so well together!  In my own dining room and kitchen, even as we speak, these two colors are getting on famously.  Pictures forthcoming....if I do say so myself, orange and blue are adorable in my house.

I'm so stealing this storage idea...

Llllllove!  I'm adding this to my idea file (and to my love's honey-do list)!  Very, very doable...prime and paint some weathered boards, get your man to pop them on the wall sideways, add pegs and shelving, a bench and there's that nod to industrial, with the metal...this look will be appearing in my foyer forthwith.  I think the idea of decorating with my pretty umbrellas, scarves, and jackets is total perfection.  It speaks to my strong philosophy of decorating with real things, finding beauty in these everyday items, instead of knick knacks.  I actually think this picture makes my heart beat faster.

 I hope you have a fantastic Lord's Day tomorrow!  Go be a significant part of church life, with people you know and love, instead of being a religious consumer of a pre-packaged "experience", meticulously planned for you.  One is a lot harder to do than the other...one takes more effort than the other...one takes a working knowledge of grace - as opposed to an espoused knowledge of grace.  I'll let you decide which one.  

Church life is also a Thing of Beauty...it is every-day in its nature, but when it is done with continuity and faithfulness, it is an intelligent and artistic way to live...it is a beautiful way to live...it is a joy forever....its "loveliness increases."  Hope you have that kind of imperfectly-perfect beauty where you fellowship!  If you don't, come love and be loved at Harvest Church. 

Underlined Bits

“None are more exposed to slanders and insults than godly teachers.  This comes not only from the difficulty of their duties, which are so great that sometimes they sink under them, or stagger or halt or take a false step, so that wicked men find many occasions of finding fault with them; but added to that, even when they do all their duties correctly and commit not even the smallest error, they never avoid a thousand criticisms.  It is indeed a trick of Satan to estrange men from their ministers so as gradually to bring their teaching into contempt.  In this way not only is wrong done to innocent people whose reputation is undeservedly injured, but the authority of God’s holy teaching is diminished. . . .

[T]he more sincerely any pastor strives to further Christ’s kingdom, the more he is loaded with spite, the more fierce do the attacks upon him become.  And not only so, but as soon as any charge is made against ministers of the Word, it is believed as surely and firmly as if it had been already proved.  This happens not only because a higher standard of integrity is required from them, but because Satan makes most people, in fact nearly everyone, over credulous so that without investigation, they eagerly condemn their pastors whose good name they ought to be defending.”

                    ~ John Calvin, Second Corinthians, Timothy, Titus and Philemon (Grand Rapids, 1964), page 263, commenting on 1 Timothy 5:19.

The misbehavior that makes gospel ministry difficult is the very thing that makes gospel ministry necessary.