Welcome Wagon Friday Anniversary!

Here we are, the last week of October. I posted my first Welcome Wagon Friday on October 30, 2009. So this is my anniversary edition.

I've met so many wonderful people scouting the internet. Clicking around with the dogs snoozing in my lap as I search for new bloggers getting their feet wet.

And I've made so many fantastic friends in the process.

Down to business now. I have four new bloggers for you to visit.

Modern Country Style is Sarah's blog. She lives in the United Kingdom. Her blog is all about renovating her Edwardian home. Naturally, she loves Modern Country style! She has a keen interest in pared-back interiors, infused with the warmth of country. Gentle grays, accents of red, and a hint of industrial.

Craftberry Bush is Lucy's blog. She lives in Ontario. As a little girl, she dreamt in colour, and still does. She says in the winter, she longs for colour, but finds calmness in the whites of snow. Springs welcoming tulips fills her with joy. Summers glow of the sun over the fields of ferns makes her want to dance. And in the fall, as the leaves dress in their royal reds and oranges to say farewell, she is inspired to create.

Foxglove Spires is by a childrens writer living in Australia. The release date for her debut book is January 2011. (Congratulations!) She and her daughter enjoy frolicking in nature, gardening, reading many books, and of course, writing.

Ten June is about a couple who does everything on a budget, and always has paint under their fingernails. Michelle is a lawyer by day. But her true passion lies in all things crafty and thrifty. David is an engineer. Together, they are renovating and redecorating their new-to-them 1952 ranch-style home in Georgia. They have two silly pups, Tucker and Maggie.

Okay, bloggers, put the tea kettle on or start the coffee maker. Get a sweet dessert and bring that steaming cup to the computer to commence visiting. Tell these ladies that we wholeheartedly welcome them to our little community. And spread the anniversary love.

Roses, Acorns & Falling Leaves

There is a bit of a strange phenomenon taking place in my yard right now. I have leaves and acorns falling, but roses still blooming.

I had the flagstone beyond the deck and pavilion filled in with decomposed granite on Friday. I'm wondering what took me so long. As I've tripped and fallen on those rocks for months.

I suppose it was the fact that I wanted to do it myself. And I finally came to the conclusion that I can't do it all out there. Though I'd love to.

They took this giant pot (with the drain hole in the side) and put it on the west side of my house. I could never have lifted it or dug the hole in this root-entrenched dirt.

Above is the west side of my house. So many times I've wished my garden home wasn't on the corner. I have someone come in to mow it. It's all I can do to take care of the east side.

This is the bank across the street I speak of. I'm standing in my driveway taking this photo. On the other side of the bank is probably the busiest highway in this town.

Below is the side of the house where I spend all my time.

There is an elderly woman living in the house you see to the left. However, there are no windows on her side. So it is extremely private.

Above you see me taking a pic from the back of my yard.

And then, the photo below is just to the other side of the pavilion going toward the front.

About twenty-five feet from the spot I'm standing taking the pic above, is the view of my front gate looking out onto the cul-de-sac.

I have to say that this is my favorite of all the yards where I've lived. Because this is just so cozy with the way it's laid out. We rented this house when we first came to town. Then bought it three years later. It is actually perfect.

The pondless waterfall is simply heavenly. It is teeming with wildlife. Dragonflies and butterflies and all sorts of critters and creatures enjoy the running water.

I am very pleased with the results. It's taken me three years to get to this point. First was to have the dining room brick walls taken out and replaced with two walls of French doors. I could finally see my gardens.

Then came the wraparound deck and pavilion. And lastly, the flagstone, stone gardens, and pondless waterfall.

So I may live one block from a six-lane street that sees thousands of cars per day. But I have my own little slice of paradise that I feel extremely blessed to get to enjoy each day.

I don't feel the need to go on vacations. Mine is right here outside my door.

This & That Tabletop Tuesday

Today is one of those days that can't decide if it wants to rain or not. It gets dark and quiet. Then the suns rays come streaming through the clouds.

And I'm in one of those moods where I want to get something done, but I'm too busy chasing my tail. Start one thing, go on to another.

Sift through an old picnic basket full of linens. Leave stacks piled on the dining room table...

I've been visiting blogs this morning. And came to a conclusion about what new blogs I want to read on an ongoing basis.

The deciding criteria will depend on whether I have to type in word verification. Yeah, I know, some of you are adamant about using this feature.

There's two very distinct sides to this debate. But you know what, Blogger is doing an excellent job these days of holding down spam.

I have never had word verification in nearly three years of blogging. Though I clearly understand the concern of those of you who choose to do so.

It is clearly a very personal choice. That, or you haven't checked your settings to see whether you have it enabled or not. So if you don't know, maybe you should check.

Because I read so many blogs, and thoroughly enjoy this hobby of reading and searching them out, I will no longer take anymore on to read if I have to go through this step.

Nope. Nada. Gonna have to be stringent about this so I don't cave. As I always like to leave a comment.

Some of you will say it is a small price to read an exceptional blog. And if I just read fifty or so, that would perhaps be true.

But that does not happen to be the case for me. I read many more. So this is just my way of still getting to enjoy reading and visiting those of you who feel as I do.

I do a lot of hopping looking for Welcome Wagon Friday blogs to feature. (Which is a labor of love, believe me.)

I have never heard anyone say they actually like to type in those silly letters. Some put up with it better than others. Of course some say tom-ate-o. Some say to-mat-o.

I'm linking up to Marty's Tabletop Tuesday over at A Stroll Thru Life.

Kim's Before & After Party

I'm trying to decide, on this gray and rainy afternoon, whether I've had an "artful" day. Or I've just plain lost my mind.

I've always wanted to do something with this window that is between the kitchen and my garden room. But I never quite knew what.

This is how I started out this morning (above.) I was fueled by coffee and ready to roll. Determined to have something new ready for Kim's debut party.

Except in this windowless room, you can't really see it very well. And I had to practically stand on my head (not a pretty picture) to get some photos of it.

So what on earth is it, you ask?

Why, it's a... it's a vintage spool and beaded...a...swag, I guess you'd call it. Yeah, I guess you could call it a swag.

I didn't actually mean for it to loop three times. But once I got started with my needle and spool of twine, I didn't quite know where to stop. I'd put a vintage spool on my needle, then three various-shaped beads. (I went through a phase about 12 years ago when I thought I wanted to make jewelry. And the result is a plastic box of supplies.)

Are you laughing yet? Well, it's okay. There's even a sign over my stamps that tells you to.

This is a case where I was trying to kill too many birds with one stone. And too many birds showed up. (Where do they get that expression? I'd never kill a bird.)

I've also wanted to do something with the various tags I've received from bloggers from time to time when I order on Etsy. And so the "swag" became a display for those tags.

And so what is said swag hanging from, you may be asking? Well, that's an extension curtain rod I found in the garage. And I put one of those fabric cord covers over it.

Oh, all right. I should have just stayed in bed today.

Or made something with my stamps.

You see, some days, despite your best intentions, inspiration is just not going to be there when you come knocking.

I'm sure it's happened to all of you at some point. Please tell me it has.

So...ahem...my before and after project for Kim of Savvy Southern Style's first B & A party, is something I worked on for much of the day. I don't really know what to call it.

Please go visit Kim's other participants. I sure hope they fared better than I did.

(Kim, I'll work on this Before & After stuff. I promise I will.)

Inspiration Everywhere

Something above was the inspiration for the changing today of my blog banner. Of course there's the red and white pillow Kim sent me. I smile every time I pass by it.

The other day I got my Etsy order from Becky at Sweet Cottage Dreams. It's that gorgeous burlap table runner with the lace. Love it, Becky!

So I made a little tablescape in my garden room. I tied some burlap around the silverware.

You know what? I'm finding that I really like the natural elements mixed in with my reds and blues.

And then there's the vintage suitcase I found at the antique mall the other day. I layered the inside with burlap and some frills for contrast. I haven't decided what other treasures I'll put in there besides the little Christmas trees.

I know, it isn't even Thanksgiving yet. But I'm seeing so many holiday pretties on blogs that I just couldn't resist!

I'm linking this to Jami at Freckled Laundry's Air Your Laundry Friday.

And at Friday Feathered Nest over at French Country Cottage.