Autumn approaching

Ok - so I am not doing any better at posting.  Things just seem to always get a little crazy around here.  Life with kids!!!

So the other day I decided to break out all my fall decorations - even though it was still in the 90's here.  So I dig out all the boxes I can find.  Hmmm..there does not seem to be enough there.  So I completely empty one closet (insert snickers from youngest daughter here).  Nothing more.  Hmmm - so I dig through the Christmas closet - just in case. (more giggles and snickers from youngest one)  Nothing - hmmmm.  Garage - surely not.  But I check.  Nothing (laughter from youngest daughter)  Outside storage shed. Nothing.  Finally youngest daughter says - hey mom, you should see all the pictures oldest daughter just posted of "her" fall decorations. 

Yep - youngest daughter let me look for over an hour for my fall decor while thinking I had lost my mind.  Only to tell me that my two darling daughters have raided about 75 percent of my goodies for oldest one's house.  Really??!!??  Kids - gotta love em.  Well most of the time.

So I did set out what I had left

Kitchen counters



fall wax burner number 1



I have had this pilgrim tea pitcher for years, thank goodness I still do!!

The foyer

My zero dollar project.  Left over beadboard from stairs.  Leftover paint from laundry room.  Old basket.  Leftover picks and sunflower from wreath and old vase filler from years past

Lanterns with fall leaves in the window sills

Dining room

Basket of indian corn, leaves, and wood turkey on counter





Living room



cornucopia 1




 

wax burner 3 - scent-sing a theme?

And finally a bushel of fabric and book page pumpkins that I have started.  Hopefully I will finish - and hopefully it will cool down so that I will be motivated to do so!!  Here is the tutorial that I used for the fabric pumpkins.  They are easier than I thought they would be.  But a little more time consuming.  And here is one for the book page pumpkins.  These were super easy - and fast.  I have plans to make more pumpkins and hopefully a few other fall crafts.  Now I just hope I have the time to keep up with my ideas!!!

Since this blog is about keeping myself accountable, I have somewhat committed myself to join in on The Nester and Co. for 31 days of change. I am hopeful that I will complete this task and post. every. single. day.  It is daunting - but it is all about keeping myself accountable!!  I have chosen the topic 31 days of finishing what you start.  As in - yes - I easily have enough started projects to keep me busy for 31 days.  Embarrassing!! 

If you are game - link up with The Nester and Co. - or at least follow along.  There are going to be some great topics!!

Throw in 3 birthdays in October - youngest daughter, son-in-law, and grandson all in the same week - and this promises to be a crazy month in the hollow!!!

Happy DIY'ing!!!

Susan

Another reason why I love blogland

Wow - has it really been that long since I posted?  Yikes!!  I guess I need to get on the ball.  I am still in awe of the incredible  bloggers that post an amazing project everyday.  I think I want one of them to adopt me - or at least adopt my house!!

Since finishing the stairs I have been "catching up" on general household duties.  Like scrubbing all the walls - ok, I will be honest - scrubbing all the walls downstairs. I have not even thought about teenage land - upstairs - yet.  While scrubbing the walls I managed to touch up the paint on almost all of the walls.  There is one color that I ran out of.  So even though it is not really blog worthy - it is progress.

I also had grandson for the majority of the week-end.  What joy he brings!!!  You just cannot help but love that little guy.  But here is the thing.. at home he will entertain himself for hours.  Here - he is by my side every minute.  As far as he is concerned God placed me on earth for him.  Now I am not complaining - it is my current mission to make him the most spoiled grandson ever - but I get nothing done when he is here.

My youngest daughter sneaks through blogland once in a while and loves all the rainbow cakes out there.  So she decided that she and "booger-butt" as she calls him should make one while he was here.  She used this wonderful tutorial to make hers, but had to adapt it a bit.  I only had 4 cake pans.




yep - she turned a 4 year old loose with a mixer





yep -she gave the 4 year old full access to food coloring



But she had to have a little fun, too

She taught him to ice the cake with the whole knife - not just the tip.  Well, most of the time



And Voila!!!  Great cake and happy kids!!!  (oh - and unhappy kitchen!!)

I just love all the ideas you find in blogland.  This is such an easy thing to do, but I would have never thought of it.  And if you cannot tell from the picture - booger-butt was sooo pleased with his and his aunt's creation.

So.... Thank you bloggers!!

Happy DIY'ing!

Susan

da da da da done

I cannot believe it - my first big DIY is done!!  And I am super pleased with the results!  Of course it took me long enough.  I would like to blame it on all the unforeseens, but lets face it.  I am really slow at this DIY stuff.  Maybe as I get more projects under my belt I will gain some speed. 

So with out further ado - onto the picture heavy - extremely heavy post.

First the befores

And now the happily ever afters.......
First the lower half the stairs

The landings

And the upper stairs

And a few extras

Maybe - hopefully - as my DIY skills progress so will my picture taking abilities, but I am not holding my breath.  Augh... so frustrating!!

And I am sure you have noticed that I have not replaced the baseboards that I ripped up and threw away.  That is another post probably entitled "The great baseboard debate 2011."  Honey and I have very different ideas on that!!

So for now...
Happy DIY'ing
Susan


And you can bet your bipka I am linking this one up!