Simple Fall Projects – Part I

Okay, you say you don’t have time or money to create all the loveliness that you see out in blog land! Wow, I know there are some extravagant and B-E-A-utiful stuff out there. Well read through their blogs, because if there is one thing that I have learned…it is that the beauty is your inspiration to make something on your own that you love.

Most of the blog women that I follow are thrifty and creative and that together can create great stuff!

So….I have decided to make some simple posts with simple natural ideas that are cheap if not FREE!

(Every post doesn’t have to be extravagant either… Right?)

Want to add something that can stay out from fall through Christmas? Me too! (I don’t mind changing my decor, but it is always great if something can last through it all).

What about cinnamon sticks!!!!

See how cute!

This idea was free to me, but to keep it cheap for you if you don’t already have everything think about this.

Don’t buy your cinnamon sticks in the spice aisle.

1. Look for cinnamon in the seasonal section at Wal-mart, the dollar store, or the craft store. (Not sure if it is different quality, but it smells just as good and is usually cheaper).

Don’t have a canning jar already?

2. Look at the thrift store. You can find all kinds of canning jars for mere cents.

Doesn’t have enough flair for you?

3. Consider using ribbon or fabric to tie around the neck of the jar that can be changed from beautiful fall colors to match your traditional Christmas decorations.

And finally, this can be a stand alone project. But still want more, consider layering and adding this to other things you love. My thrift store has tons of fall and seasonal decor. The dollar store has some great fall garland.

Remember the beauty of fall is all around you and most can be found not purchased.

Stay tuned for more projects. You never know what you will find…nuts, leaves, pine cones, bird nests, wood!

Fall Sprucing – Part I

Okay so I am absolutely crazy about fall and all the beautiful colors. Rustic reds, pumpkin orange, golden yellows! Living here in Colorado always requires a fall drive in the mountains to see the colors begin to burst from the hillsides.

These are B-E-A-utiful stock pictures!

My trip and pictures are coming soon! We have had warm weather and the leaves were green a little longer this year :)

Recently I updated our mantel for fall and began to look at other spaces where I could spread some of the fall loveliness that I am crazy about.

I have a love for roosters! I know hold the horses…I had a country phase in the past that I have been moving from. Well, let’s just say that I am updating it. You know what I mean! There are not any checkered curtains, but there are some items that I still love. Like roosters!

I found this great metal rooster at Goodwill for $5 and couldn’t wait to 1/2 price day as I knew it would be gone. When I first met her she was country red! Then I was in awe of all the heirloom white out in blog land that I decided to give it a try.

She sat inside like this for a while and then I decided that it wasn’t working!

So fall had me thinking that I needed to dress her up and give the proper greatness that I knew she had in her. So my all time favorite ORB (oil-rubbed bronze) paint would do the trick.

Here she is being transformed.

I thought that she would need a friend in her new home though and found this large and substantial candle stick at the thrift store also.

I know I am horrible at before pictures (promise, I will get better). But mid painting I remembered and here you can see how wonderful ORB is as this is transformed with a base coat of black and then finished with ORB.

A little bow and the perfect little pumpkin and my new little friends are a perfect fit for there new home atop the entertainment center.

Hope you enjoyed and if you viewed this, I would LOVE a comment! I read them all!

I know sounds a little sad since I don’t really have any followers or many comments yet, but I know I will soon as I begin partying and following others!!!

Fingers crossed :)

2010 Garden – Part II

Well our patience and daily care of the garden is paying off. As fall approaches, the garden is giving so much to enjoy in the coming months.

Let’s take a close look….

These Big Jim peppers are a favorite on the barbeque. We de-vein and seed them, stuff them with cream cheese, and wrap them in bacon. Yummy!

Our beans bloomed twice and although we didn’t plant many, we had enough to eat them a few times.

The sweetest little strawberries that seldom make it into to the house :)

Broccoli…Hum? This was our first year and although they started well, they then quickly bloomed flowers. My MIL says that they need cooler weather than we had. It was fun, buy might not work for us.

On the other hand….Spaghetti squash is abundant and going crazy in the last week. There is definitely going to be enough to share.

So much zucchini that we are eating it grilled, raw, and making bread for the winter.

Occasionally one hides until it is the size of our little one!

We also have a lot of tomatoes. I don’t can, so there are almost more than we can eat.

Mr. B&P is so proud of this 6 foot tall tomato plant.

The red bell peppers are a first this year also and starting to turn color.

As an afterthought for the little one, we decided to put one little pumpkin plant in and we are getting pumpkins. Oh so pretty!