Repairing String Lights on the Pergola: Welcome to the 145th Metamorphosis Monday!

A few years ago I purchased some outdoor string lighting from Hobby Lobby.  It was perfect for my deck(s) because it was white and the decks are painted white.  I spent several hours one afternoon, running it around the top of the pergola to the right of the screened-in porch and under the arm rail of the deck to the left of the porch.

Within the year, something chewed through the wiring in several places on both decks.  Eventually I removed the wiring from under the handrail on the deck on the left.   You can just see it in this pic (below) taken before it was removed.  It was so pretty lit up...made me sad to remove it.  But the critter damage was in a place that couldn't easily be repaired.

A friend repaired the damaged area of the lighting on the pergola side.

It was chewed through toward the lower section--the part that runs a few feet away from the bird feeder on that side.

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Halloween Table and Mantel...Spooky!

Happy Weekend! Are you making final preparations for all the goblins and ghouls who will soon be knocking on your door? I'll be heading out today to buy candy.  Then I'll be trying hard to not eat it all by Monday!    What's your tactic for not digging into the candy and eating it before Halloween arrives? Some folks purposely buy stuff they don't like, but where's the fun in that? lol

My friend, Bonnie, has been readying her home for the big day.  I love seeing how Bonnie decorates her dining room hutch for the seasons and holidays.  Come a bit closer and check out her spooky table setting.

Love the orange candlesticks with skeleton candles.  Even the tablecloth is covered with skeletons!

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A Blue and White Pumpkin for the Guest Room

There were so many wonderful tablescapes posted for yesterday's Tablescape Thursday!  I got a kick out of all the Halloween table settings--so whimsical and fun!

French Bleu Vintage Giveaway:
The Shopping Spree giveaway from French Bleu Vintage is still underway.  Click HERE to leave your comment to be entered.

A couple of weeks ago I posted about these wonderful découpaged pumpkins I found in the October issue of Country Living.

That post (HERE) also contained a little tutorial showing how you could découpage a "craft" pumpkin.

You may remember the pattern I chose for my pumpkin was the floral fabric on this cute pillow.

Here's how it looked when finished.  I had so much fun with this one, I really wanted to découpage at least one more pumpkin before Halloween was all gone for another year.

I chose a fabric pattern from the guest room this time.

Can you guess which one?

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The Queen of the Ball: Welcome to the 166th Tablescape Thursday!

Happy Tablescape Thursday!  This week I'm so excited to share a beautiful, whimsical party table created for a fun crafting event I was privileged to attend recently.  You know those moments in life, those rare moments when you see something so wonderful your mouth flies opens and you just stand there in complete awe?   I had one of those moments this past Saturday evening.

After spending the day at the Country Living Fair and dinner out that evening with friends, we headed back to the hotel where the ladies from out of town were staying.  I had been invited by a friend, to a fun, craft event--a gathering of friends.

As we entered the room, we were greeted by a cute sign with a crown tipping off the top.  You can just see the crown on the top left.

And then...WOW!  Just WOW!

My pictures don't really do this room justice because the room was lit by fluorescent lighting.

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Country Living Fair in Stone Mountain, Georgia

I haven't been to a crafts fair in years.  We used to go to them all the time, but after a while you begin to feel like there's nothing new under the sun.  When I heard Country Living Magazine sponsors a fair at Stone Mountain Park each year, I knew I had to check it out.   It definitely didn't sound like your typical crafts fair from years gone by and it really wasn't.  There were crafted items for sale, but there were also lots of vintage and antique pieces, as well as new.

I didn't get to see it all; the fair was huge!  But I thought I'd take you along with me today to see some of what was available for purchase last weekend at the Country Living Fair.   Some of the photos may be a bit dark, so please excuse.  The booths were underneath the trees and they were not always well lit since we were in the great outdoors.

Click on any photo to enlarge it.  Click twice and it will enlarge even more.


Several booths were arranged as "rooms."   This was definitely not a typical "crafts" fair.  I loved the chandeliers in this booth.

A close up of one of the chandys...

Here's another fun use for your silver champagne/wine cooler in between those parties.  Turn it into a pretty fall planter.  Maybe that's what I should do with the one I bought HERE that arrived with a broken handle.  I'm pretty sure I still have it around here somewhere.

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How To Tighten a Screw in 15 Steps: Welcome to the 144th Metamorphosis Monday!

Sometimes the solution to a problem is right under your nose, but you just can't see it. Recently, I almost turned a super easy repair into an expensive repair. In the end, the home repair muses were watching out for me.

In the family room...

...there's a door that leads out onto the screened-in porch.  I rarely use that door.

Instead, this door leading from the breakfast area/kitchen is the one I most often use when I'm heading out to the porch.

About a month or two ago, I headed out to the porch through the door in the family room and this happened. Have you ever pulled on a door knob, only to have it come right off in your hand?  It's a funny feeling when that happens--like your house is playing a joke on you.

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Halloween Decorating and Pumpkin Carving

Sharing a few links from past Halloweens here at BNOTP and a new use for those manly power tools.  I love what he did with the Dremel!

Just click on the links to view each post.

Power Tools and Pumpkins:   Power tools make any job easier...even pumpkin carving!

Rat Infestation!  I saw these again this year at Michael's.  They may be my favorite Halloween decorating idea, ever.  I know the real ones aren't cute...but these totally make me smile each time I go up the stairs.
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Linzer Cookies for Halloween

Beautiful and Halloween-festive tablescapes were linked for yesterday's Tablescape Thursday. Be sure to scroll on down and check them all out. How about a little something to put on top of those table settings?

A couple of months ago I stopped by a local craft store to check out the Halloween stuff and I came across cookie cutters with a Halloween theme.  They were especially made for making Linzer cookies like these.

I've always wanted to try my hand at making Linzer cookies, but I just wasn't sure how.  This Wilton set of cookie cutters makes it really easy.
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Elegant Halloween Tablescape: Welcome to the 165th Tablescape Thursday!

Happy Tablescape Thursday!  With only two Thursdays left between now and Halloween, I was itching to create a fun Halloween table setting.

Since this table setting is all about candlelight, I didn't wait for nightfall to light the candles.
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Autumn Comes to the Porch

I've been playing outside today, bringing a little fall to the porch.  During the summer it looks something like this. (View this tablescape summer table setting HERE)

Because the porch is all white (for the most part) it's a blank slate for anything you can dream up.  For the 4th of July, it looked like this. (4th of July porch, HERE)

It was time to add a little fall  to the porch.
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Carapelli Olive Oil: Taste Testing Isn't Just for Wine

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Carapelli Olive Oil. All opinions are 100% mine.

Think all olive oil is the same?  If your  answer is, yes, that's what I thought, too.  That is until I was offered the opportunity to do my own taste-test of three distinct olive oils made by Carapelli.  You may recognize the Carapelli name.  They were the first olive oil producer to promote bottle extra virgin olive oil in Italy and it's ranked #1 there.

Carapelli Olive Oil is the real deal. Their headquarters is located just outside Florence and their olive oil is made solely from the first cold pressing of olives from the finest Mediterranean olive growers.

I started using olive oil years ago when I read about all the health benefits of olive oil vs other types of oil. Of course, the fact it adds so much flavor to foods doesn't hurt either. I use olive oil in salad dressings, for dipping and for adding flavor to the foods I cook out on the grill. I especially love it on grilled asparagus. Yum!

Ironically, though I've tried various brands of olive oil over the years, the last olive oil I purchased a couple of months ago and is currently in my cupboard, is the Carapelli brand. That's the bottle I already had there on the right.

The other three bottles are the ones I received  for the taste-test.  They came in this neat box.

When I opened the box, here's how it looked inside.  The little bowls on the lower right are for dipping.  I wouldn't need them for the taste-testing, but the small blue glass was to play an important role.

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Make a Wind Chime from Orphaned Spoons and Forks: Welcome to the 143rd Metamorphosis Monday!

Happy Metamorphosis Monday!

For Met Monday, I'm sharing a fun Before and After you can make at home.  Recently, I posted a movie house tour of the amazing house in the movie Practical Magic, HERE.  While watching the movie, there was a scene that reminded me of  something I had seen recently while out antiquing.  In the movie, the Aunts (Aunt Jet and Aunt Frances) have a fun wind chime hanging out back in one of the trees.  This was the best view I could capture...it was only on the screen for quick second.  I could see it was made from spoons, knives and forks.  Looks like they spread out and curled the tines on some of the forks.  

The wind chime in Practical Magic made me think of two wind chimes I saw a few weeks ago hanging outside a local antique shop.  (These next two pics were taken with my camera phone.)   Is this not amazingly clever?   It appears they just punched some tiny holes in the bottom of an old tin and suspended beads and odd pieces of stainless flatware with fishing line to create this cute wind chime.  I love the salt shaker hanging in the center.  Fun metamorphosis!

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Practical Magic: Tour This Beautiful Victorian Movie House

Last October, I posted a movie house tour featuring one of my favorite comedy movies, The Burbs, starring Tom Hanks and Carrie Fischer. The Burbs is a fun movie to watch around Halloween time.  It's not scary or gory, just mysterious and funny.

When I posted about The Burbs, several folks suggested I post a tour of the Victorian house in the movie, Practical Magic.   I couldn't wait to watch the movie to see the house.  The movie, Practical Magic is based on the book of the same name by author Alice Hoffman.

I can't really say I liked the movie that much, parts of it were a little too morbid for me, but it was definitely worth watching to see the interiors of the house.  If you would like to know more about the story line, Wikipedia has a really comprehensive overview.  This post is a detailed tour of the amazing Victorian house that is so prominently featured throughout the movie.

The Victorian House:
The house. Oh. my. stars!  It's awesome!  There are a couple of rooms (Parlor and Dining) that are a definitely Victorian style and quite dark.  But the kitchen and conservatory are light and bright.  The gardens are wonderful, too!  While watching this movie, you'll find yourself craning your neck to try and see more.

Of course, the exterior is fabulous!  Just look at it!  I've always adored the exterior design of an historic Victorian home.  And you know I"m loving that white picket fence!

Victoria Magazine

You're going to disown me for telling you this, but you gotta know.

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Book Sale: Bring Your Rolling Cart!

So many beautiful table settings were posted for yesterday's Tablescape Thursday. If you haven't had a chance to visit them all, just scroll on down and enjoy! You'll find so much inspiration for fall and fun Halloween tablescapes!

This morning I got up bright and early and did something I've never done before. No, not exercise...that would be way too practical. ;) Well, I did get a little exercise, now that I think about it.

Ever since I added much needed bookcases to my home office, I've been on a quest for books. I've been focusing primarily on Home, Garden, Craft, Art, Decorating/Design books since that's what I've decided to keep on the bookcases in my home office.

So early this morning I headed out to a huge book sale. Have you ever been to one of these?  This one was held in a large building out at the County Fairgrounds.

As I walked around, I periodically got a slight whiff of cows and chickens...definitely a barnyard smell.   I think I know what that building is used for during fair time each year. lol

I wish I could have taken pictures to show you the crowds and the "gear" folks brought with them. You could tell the seasoned book-sale-goers because they came with crates strapped to rolling luggage carts.  They came with wagons.  They even brought suitcases...the kinds that have wheels.  Yep, these guys were ready to do some serious book buying.  I wonder if they are the folks we buy our used books from on eBay and Amazon?  Ummm.  I came with just a book buying spirit and two strong arms.  Rookie!

The prices were amazing, as you can see from the price list below.
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Country Living Inspired: Découpage a Pumpkin

There is sooo much inspiration to be found in Blogland these days, the cover of a magazine has to REALLY grab me to convince me to buy the magazine.   The October issue of Country Living did just that. I loved the toile covered pumpkin on the cover. I glanced inside and saw there were directions with the "how to."  I couldn't wait to give it a try.

Another pumpkin inside was decorated using images from Pictorial Webster's: A Visual Dictionary of Curiosities

I was stunned to see this pumpkin in Country Living because this was one of the books I purchased right after I added a small library to my office, HERE.  I would love to make this one, too.  Isn't it awesome?

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Yellow Cottages and White Picket Fences

So many amazing Before and Afters have been posted for yesterday's Met Monday! Be sure to scroll on down and check them out once you finish reading today's post. You are going to be amazed at all the talent and creativity!


Yellow Cottages and White Picket Fences:

I've always had a weakness for yellow houses.  When we built our first home in Jacksonville, AL, we chose a soft (exterior) yellow color by Benjamin Moore called "English Ivory."   Looking at this pic below, if I were building this home today it would have 3 or 5 dormer windows across the front.  Wouldn't that be perfect?  Wish we had thought of that at the time, but I guess it's a good thing we didn't.  We were young (23 and 26) and had already upgraded so many features, we really didn't have it in the budget to add anything else to the design.

We did include a screened in porch...you can just barely see it there on the back of the house.  I've had a warm spot in my heart for screened-in porches as long as I can remember.   This house also had a large deck on the back.  I'll have to dig out some of my old pics (interior and exterior) and share more about our first little house some day.

I just realized, you can see the mountains in the background in this pic.  The Jacksonville, Anniston, Oxford area is down in a valley and surrounded by mountains.  It's a beautiful area.  We lived in this house for 4 years while my husband was stationed at Ft. McClellan as a JAG officer.   This is the house we were living in when our son was born.  After that tour, we moved back to our home state of Georgia.  Speaking of our servicemen, Lana, whose husband, Tom, just deployed to  Afghanistan, has written a beautiful tribute for those who serve our country, HERE.

This was the home we bought when we moved back to Georgia.  It had just been built so we were the first owners of this home. The builder had painted it white with bluish/gray shutters and door.  It was a two-color paint scheme and was pretty boring.  When it needed painting after about 6 years, we painted it yellow, too.  We went with Benjamin Moore, English Ivory once again.  The shutters and door were painted a dark green called Essex Green, another Benjamin Moore Color.  And the trim was painted white...don't remember the exact color of white, now.  This house would have looked cute with a red door.  I hadn't discovered red doors, yet.

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Decorate Your Pumpkin with Ribbon: Welcome to the 142nd Metamorphosis Monday!

Happy Met Monday! How was your weekend? I've had a busy one. Saturday, I drove down to Macon, Georgia and attended a class for "extreme couponing" with my sister and niece. I watch so little TV, I didn't even know what extreme couponing was. It was really interesting. If you have a good size family, I can see how the savings could really add up. I'll share some of what I learned in a post sometime soon. I had no idea using coupons had become such a big thing...practically a sport!

So, there I was the other night, lying in bed and trying to envision a way I could decorate a pumpkin without cutting into it or painting it, when suddenly I had an idea.

Ribbon!

Here's a pic of my finished pumpkin out on the porch where the lighting is a bit better.  This may be the easiest pumpkin decorating idea in the history of the world of pumpkin decorating.  Seriously!  If you like easy, you're gonna love this.

I used the pumpkin I already had...the one that's visible in the background in this fall setting on the porch.

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Halloween Decorating and Party Ideas

I haven't decorated my front porch for Halloween, yet, so I decided to go through some of the pics I have stored on my computer for a little inspiration.  These are definitely some of my faves!

We decorate our front doors with garland for Christmas...why not do the same for fall?  I absolutely love this leafy garland!  I so want to make this!  Notice the scary "curtains" on the door.  Those would be easy to make from cheesecloth.

Pottery Barn

Here's another one of my favorite front porches.  Doesn't this make you want to paint your front door orange?  If it just wasn't so much trouble to change it back after fall/Halloween.

Pottery Barn

This would be such a great way to decorate for a Halloween party...and so simple.  You would have the added bonus of a little extra protection against spills on the furniture.   Love the candelabra!  So amazing how a candelabra can be made to feel elegant for a dinner party or scary for Halloween with just the addition of black candles.  I think I'd also string some spider webs on the candelabra, too.

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Dual Monitors: How I Use Them to Blog and Work

Each time I post about changes in my home office HERE, someone will usually ask why I have two monitors.    Before I really get into the whole dual monitor thing, I need to tell you about how I came to buy the system I have today.

When I began working from home about a year ago, I worked each day on an HP laptop I'd had for around 3 years.  I decided to purchase a desk top computer since I knew I'd be working my laptop to death.  I wanted something super reliable and my plan was to use the laptop as a back-up computer and for travel.

I had my computer built by Vision Computers here in Metro Atlanta because of all the awesome things I'd heard about them.  They are known for quality and service and have technical support available 365 days a year with a hold time that averages less than 15 seconds.  I wasn't sure how they were able to advertise a hold time for tech support of less than 15 seconds until I bought a system from them.  Now I understand....you never need them.  I love that their systems come with just the programs you've specified...none of those awful spam programs filling up your hard drive that you didn't want and don't need.  Their warranty is amazing, too:  3 years on parts and labor, Lifetime for technical support!  Love that!

In case you're wondering, Vision Computers hasn't paid me or perked me in any way.  I'm just sharing this information because of how pleased I've been with my computer.  It's hands down the best system I've ever owned.  After a full year of working on my mine a gazillion hours a week and adding a bazillion photos to it, it's still as fast and efficient as the day I brought it home.

When I first met with Adam, my salesperson at Vision Computer, I told him how I would be using my computer.  Adam listened and gave me his opinion regarding what type system I would need to achieve my goals.  I had heard about dual monitors and felt they would be helpful for the way I work.  I'm so glad I went with two monitors because the additional expense was minimal (monitors are pretty inexpensive these days) and I adore how they work and make my life so much easier.

I thought I'd share a few of the reasons I love using dual monitors, in case you're debating going that way.
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Warming Up on the Porch: Welcome to the 163rd Tablescape Thursday!

Cool fall nights are perfect for hot chocolate out on the porch.

Where would you like to sit?

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Playing in the Office

For last week's Metamorphosis Monday, I shared a couple of ideas I had for this big ole blank wall above the seating area in the office.  (If you're new to reading BNOTP, you can follow the evolution of this room from a child's bedroom to an office in THIS post.)

I've decided to keep the mirror that's a wee bit too big (for now) as well as the clock.

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Tour The Library, Drawing Room and Gardens of the Mount, Home of Edith Wharton

For last week's Tablescape Thursday, I posted some photos Mandy took recently after she toured The Mount, the beautiful home of American novelist, Edith Wharton.  If you missed that post, you'll want to check it out.  The tablescape we viewed was created by Bunny Williams, one of my favorite designers and author of An Affair with a House.

If you aren't familiar with Edith Wharton, here's a bit of info about her from the website for The Mount:

"Edith Wharton (1862-1937) was born into "Old New York," a tightly controlled society that positively discouraged women from achieving anything beyond a proper marriage. Author of The Age of Innocence, Ethan Frome, and The House of Mirth, she wrote over 40 books in 40 years, including authoritative works on architecture and gardens. Essentially self-educated, she was the first woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (1921); an honorary Doctorate from Yale University (1923); and full membership in the Academy of Arts and Letters (1930). In addition to being a prodigious author, she was a master house builder and gardener."

Mrs. Wharton built her home based on the designs and ideas she outlined in The Decoration of Houses, a book she co-authored with Ogden Codman, Jr. in 1897.

Mandy also shared photos of some of the other rooms she toured while visiting The Mount.  Mandy said, "We also came across the drawing room that was decorated by Charlotte Moss."

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Change Your Decor for the Seasons Easily and Inexpensively: Welcome to the 141st Metamorphosis Monday!

Happy Met Monday! Hope your weekend has been grand!

Do you have a room in your home that you love to change up and transform with the seasons? Kristy, a talented Interior Designer who lives on the West Coast of Florida with her husband and two daughters, enjoys transforming her living room to reflect the changing of the seasons and holidays.  Kristy's home, Starfish Cottage, is decorated in a style she describes as "laid-back coastal cottage."

Kristy shared a few pics with me recently showing the transformation of her living room beginning in early spring going into late summer.  Let's take the tour!

In early spring, Kristy gives her living room a fresh, springtime look!

Absolutely love these fabrics!
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September 2011: A Look in the Rear-view Mirror

Wow!  It's October.  How did that happen?

It's time for a little recap for the month of September, complete with links in case you may have missed a post or would just like to revisit it.  This month, I'm also paying tribute to the Sponsors of BNOTP.  You'll find links to their shops or blogs interspersed throughout this post.  Their support helps make BNOTP possible, so please take a moment to visit.  You'll come away delighted and inspired!

♦I kicked off September by sharing my favorite Decorating and Design books.



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