ARCADIA ANTIQUE FAIR

Today was the day for the monthly Arcadia Antique Fair in Arcadia, Florida.  As I’ve shared in a previous post, the Antique Fair is held on the fourth Saturday of each month.  In addition to the 24 Shops in this delightful town, vendors set up on the sidewalks, parking lots and in the park.  We have not been for three months because it is just too hot in the summer.  So I was really looking forward to going today.

When we arrived we checked out the outside booths first, hoping to beat the mid-day heat, but it was already too hot to shop.  I only found one treasure outside – a small stoneware bottle to add to my collection.  (It is the one on the right, in this wooden cubby that sits on the Kitchen counter.)



My two prim friends and favorite vendors, Judi and Karen, always set up on the sidewalk in front of Maddy’s Antiques,  but they were not there today.  I was so disappointed, because they always have something I want to bring home with me.  Well, after we had made the rounds outside we headed to my favorite shop, Maddy’s, and as we walked up the sidewalk hubby said, “there is Judi.”  She was set up inside Maddy’s today, so I got to shop in my favorite store and with my favorite monthly vendor at the same place.
 
Flo, from Maddy’s, had recently returned from a trip to Ohio and had brought some bittersweet back with her.  I had never seen real bittersweet, since it doesn’t grow down here, and I just had to have some.  I hung it on my rolling pin dough bowl cubby for the picture, but I don’t plan to keep it there – not sure where I want to use it yet.

 
Maddy’s has beautiful prim greeting cards and I always have to pick up a few of those when I am there.  I also bought the 2011 Fall issue of A Simple Life magazine.  Somehow I missed getting the 2010 Fall issue, so I asked Flo if she had a copy.  When she looked through her back issues she found one and I was able to complete my collection.

I love this small pumpkin gourd (from Maddy’s)  and the pop of color it brings to this shelf.



Maddy’s has some of the most beautiful, primitive antiques you will find in Central Florida.  To visit Maddy’s website click here and check out the featured items for a sampling of what you will find in the shop.

I got some awesome treasures from my friend Judi!

A set of stacking boxes, in Fall colors. (I need to find a home for these.)

 

This fabulous old basket.  (I need to find a home for it too.)



And the buy of the day (from Judi) was this coverlet!  It is navy, red and cream and looks great in our “red” guest room.



After lunch, we met up with some friends and spent the afternoon visiting the shops with them.  I found one more treasure – the small pewter pitcher on the left.  I needed it to balance out the other small pitcher on this shelf, don’t you think.



What started out is a hot, somewhat disappointing day, turned into a wonderful day of finding treasures and spending time with friends.  A great way to spend a Saturday!

I hope you had a wonderful Saturday.

Autumn Blessings,
Sue

A BIT OF FALL AND A BLOG ANNIVERSARY

It’s hard to believe that it has been a year since I started blogging.  What a journey it has been!  When I began I had no idea what to expect, but it has been a blessed and fulfilling experience.  I have received so much encouragement, and made many friendships that I will cherish forever.  Thank you to all of my wonderful followers.  And welcome to my new followers – I look forward to getting to know you.


I haven’t been as active lately as I would like to be.  My surgery set me back a little more than I expected it to, and after doing what has to be done I just haven’t felt like spending much time on the computer.   When I’ve been able to I have visited my favorite blogs, but have not always left comments – I apologize and plan to do better as I continue to feel better.  I enjoy visiting with all of you and love for you to visit with me. 


Last week my DH got out my Fall decorations and moved the boxes around from room to room as I put things in place.  It took me several days – a little at a time – but by Saturday I had finally finished and we are enjoying Fall around our home.  Fall is definitely my favorite season – I love the rich, warm colors and the spicy scents.


I tried to keep it simple this year by just adding a touch here and there.  So here is what Fall looks like at our house.


Entry Way





Front Sitting Room

Side Table


Top of Cupboard


Coffee Table


Great Room

Drysink behind sofa


Coffee Table


Little bits of Fall tucked on a shelf here and there








I love this faux bittersweet – I have had it for years


Pillows I made last year


Kitchen and Dining Room

Stove Board


I made these salt dough pumpkins last year


Cubby on counter top


Hoosier Cabinet


Centerpiece on Dining table


Old chocolate box under Dining Room window


Hall Bathroom – Wash Stand





This may seem like a lot, but it really isn’t.  I only did a few touches here and there in the main rooms.  I hope you have enjoyed my indoor Fall tour.  We haven’t finished the outside yet, so I will share that in another post.  Just wish we had some Fall weather to go along with the décor. 


Wishing each of you a fabulous weekend!

Blessings,
Sue

VACATION GOODIES DISPLAYED

I had planned to post pictures of my vacation goodies a little sooner – but I had a medical procedure a couple of weeks ago and it was a little more extensive than originally expected.  So I have been a little under the weather and it took me longer to get things in place.  I am feeling better now and wanted to show y’all some of our goodies.

As I mentioned in my last post, we were blessed to meet Betty, Through my Backdoor, for lunch and afterwards she took us to The Speckled Hen.  When we arrived at The Hen, Betty had a gift for me – an adorable prim candle.  I had been wanting one of these for a while and already had a place for it.  I found this old iron ladle a few months ago and thought it would look good hanging on my cupboard door, with one of these candles.  It couldn’t have been more perfect.

 

Close-up of candle.  Isn’t the detail beautiful?




I had two things on my wish list, that I hoped to find while on vacation – Tobacco Cloth curtains and lamp shades for our Blue & Brown Guest Room.  I was so excited to find the curtains at The Speckled Hen.  I got the long ones and even after washing and drying them they are still longer than I was thinking I wanted for these windows.  What do y’all think?  Should I cut them off so that they only come to the bottom of the window?



I didn’t find the lamp shades while on vacation, but when I got home I found some online and ordered them.  They turned out to be just what I had in mind.  The tag said they are navy and kacki check, but the navy is actually a dark country blue.  The color doesn’t show very well in the picture, but I think it is perfect.



I now have all of the bones in place for this room – quilt, bed skirt, curtains, and new lamp shades.  I am thinking about painting the walls in a shade of kacki – they are now a soft gold.  Of course there will always be accessories to add and tweek – but that is the fun of decorating, isn’t it?

While we were shopping in Clinton for their “Christmas in July” sale day, my DH mentioned that he had two things on his wish list – a corn sheller and a pitcher pump.  We were so surprised to find a corn sheller, in a most unlikely shop, and the price was great.  The sheller was attached to a wooden bin – DH said he only wanted the sheller, but I wanted the bin, so we brought them both home.  We did see a couple of pumps, but they were not in our price range.
  
Adolph wanted to show me how the sheller works.



 You put an ear of dried corn in the top, turn the handle, and the corn kernels fall into the bottom of the bin.



See the kernels in the bottom of the bin?



Then when all of the kernels are off, the cob comes out of the back.



The corn sheller is so cool. I don’t know why he wanted one, except he said he used one growing up, to prepare feed for their animals. I knew why I wanted the bin though – I can’t wait to fill it with potted mums for the Fall.


Here is is sitting in our backyard.  Two of the bin’s legs are shorter, so that the bottom slants downward. I just love the way it looks.  We plan to enlarge the mulched area between the trees and add some other plants.



After shopping in Clinton, we went by Betty’s for a visit (see previous post) and when we left, Betty gifted me with a tobacco basket.  I have been wanting one for a long time.

I have it on the porch of Adolph’s workshop for now – I am still looking for that special place where it will call home.


Close-up – isn’t it primtastic?



We did find a few other small goodies, but I haven’t found homes for them yet.  They have been added to my other treasures that are waiting for that special spot or purpose.  I enjoy having a stash of goodies to pull from when I am in the mood to tweek, don’t y’all?


I hope y’all are all enjoying these last days of summer!

Blessings,
Sue