Fall is definitely here.....

The leaves are gorgeous in Missouri and falling like crazy.  Perfect time for an antique show at Dry Creek Cabins just outside of Dixon, Mo.  It was a beautiful day but cool.  They always have a fire going and a big black pot of chili cooking.  Just a wonderful place to spend a fall afternoon.

 

It's so much fun and such an escape to visit this wonderful place.

I've been trying to work on all the things I've gathered for Leola's Holiday Open House....

Seems like we just did this!

Check out my sweet annie tree.....

Love these chairs!  After a good cleaning and an oil finish rubbed in, they turned out so good I kind of hate to part with them.

This is what it looks like out my front door this morning.  The leaves are changing so fast and dropping even quicker.....

Well, it's back to work for me.  Hope everyone has a wonderful week.

Happy Memorial weekend....bring on summer....

School is out, pools will open this weekend.....bring it on!!!!  Always love Memorial weekend for lots of  reasons.  First of all, I know the relevance of the weekend and certainly respect that but my whole life, it's been family reunion weekend.  We always gathered for a big picnic and then headed to the cemetery.  My mother was so adamant about decorating loved one's graves so we have tried to uphold that tradition.  Today my four sisters and I headed to Dallas County to do our duty.  I'm afraid our generation may be the last one to do this in our family....kind of sad.  I'm determined to take my daughter and grands to visit their ancestors this summer.  They've all shown an interest in finding out more about our families' history and that's a great place to start.

Even with the cool temps the last few days, my yard is looking great.

This is actually a flower garden but everything is so big this year.  My sage is like a bush!

And the birds love it.....

Don't ask me what the deal is with these two birds but it actually happened.  I'm not even certain what the birds are.  At first I thought they were woodpeckers but don't think so now.

I have so many of these tiny wrens.  They've made a nest in a gourd birdhouse right outside my screened-in porch.....

 ....
My first coreopsis.....

Hopefully, next week I'll get my house listed and get this show on the road.  Things look so good right now and I've planted a garden that's growing fast.  I couldn't stand not to plant stuff (just in case).  If you remember, last time I listed it, I ended up taking it off the market.  The offers I got were ridiculous and it was a time when houses were not selling well.  Just figure I have little to lose by trying again and lots to gain....we'll see!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Memorial weekend.  Let's all pray for good weather!

PEACE.....

Holiday Open House at Leola's.....

What a busy couple of weeks we've had but the hard work and long hours have been worth it.  Open house has been a huge success and we're hoping it's a precursor to a fantastic holiday season. 

 

 

We started decorating on Monday morning and a few finished just before we opened the doors at 5:00 Thursday evening.  The crowd was unbelievable and for a good part of the evening we had a long line wrapping through the store as Kelli and I wrote tickets and several of the other girls pulled tickets, wrapped and helped customers.  Gratefully, people were very patient with us.

 

 



Now it's time to get busy and re-stock......the fun never ends!!!!  What keeps us all working through the exhaustion is that we all love what we do.

 

 

We're preparing for a bit of winter weather in the Ozarks but it's November, so inevitable.  Maybe I'll just light a fire, put on some soup and get some work done.

Have a great week!

The falling leaves.......

I love my trees but they sure make the lawn guys job a lot harder.....

 

It's been a beautiful fall.  According to the weather people, this weekend we're to have a killing frost so goodbye to the garden. 

Last weekend Judy and I made the trip to Dry Creek Cabins in Dixon, MO, for their annual Fall Antique Sale and open house.  I love this place.  It's just hard to explain the feeling I get when we pull into the driveway.

They always offer their guests coffee and have something cooking in a big black cast iron pot on an open fire......so inviting!

Loved the sheep......

There were wonderful artisans there selling their wares and lots of wonderful antiques....

 

It was just a wonderful way to spend a beautiful fall day.....

 

 

 

Looks to be a perfect weekend for building a big ole fire in the fireplace and finish some of those projects I have started for Leola's Holiday Open House that starts next Thursday.  

 



Trip to Door Co., Wisconsin.....

What a wonderful week we had!  Judy, Jean and I drove through Iowa and Wisconsin to spend a few days in one of our favorite places.....Door County.  We had wonderful weather and the leaves were on their way to being turned.

Our first stop was in Fairfax, Iowa, where our friend, Barbara, was having her yearly fall sale.  She has an amazing store that she calls the Rabbit Hole and things were strung out all over her yard and in outbuildings.  We couldn't buy large pieces but our goal was to find items for our Holiday Open House at Leola's.....and that we did!

I kind of got into blue transferware while Judy was buying up all the brown transferware that wasn't too expensive.  We found some wonderful pieces plus Judy bought some amazing vintage blown glass ornaments.  So we started packing the car on the first day out.

The next day we made it to Door County.  We stayed in the village of Fish Creek less then a block from Lake Michigan.  It was cool and crisp and smelled of wood smoke.

 

The moon appeared our first night and treated us to its beauty for the next four nights.  It was breathtaking over the lake.

 



One of our many favorite things to do is go to the fish boil at the beautiful White Gull Inn.  It was very cold that night and you're seated outside to watch the actual fish boil.

 

They put the fish & potatoes in the big pot and when it starts boiling over, it's ready and you go inside to eat.  It's honestly a wonderful dinner and the inn is so quaint.

After dinner we walked back under the light of the moon to our house.  There's never a time when you feel it's unsafe to walk in the dark or down a deserted road. 

We always have to eat at least once in Bailey's Harbor at this well-known eatery.

It was just a wonderful trip and we all felt like we were coming home with a good attitude and anxious to get started with the preparations for the coming holiday season.  When you're in retail you have to stay ahead of things.

Have a wonderful week!