Welcome Fall!

 Fall is my favorite season of all.  I love all of the seasons, and am grateful that I live in an area where we experience all of them, but fall wins every time.  The first time I walk outside and smell a fire burning, the first time I have to put on my slippers in the morning before venturing down the stairs, and the first time I have to slip on a sweater before I head outdoors are all welcome signs to me that fall has arrived! The weather is not feeling very fall like here yet, but that has not stopped me from getting the house looking cozy and ready for cooler weather. Since this is the first fall in the farmhouse I am still playing with where things go, adding and editing as I do, but I think the porch is done.

I love a very layered look in the colder months, so the minimalist look that has been the theme of the house this past summer has been added to by bringing in the fall accents that will carry our home through Thanksgiving.  I have been adding in blankets, pillows, candles, and all kinds of coziness throughout the house the past week or so.

Phase one of the fall transformation was our porch.  Now, trying to find mums when it is 100 degrees out is tough.  Keeping them alive when it's 100 degrees out is even tougher, but I have been watering like crazy and so far so good.  One thing I am NOT known for is a green thumb, so I usually add in some artificial flowers here and there if I am really on a roll of forgetting to water.  I was able to collect a few different sizes and colors from my local HomeDepot and Tractor Supply, and was able to fill the porch for under $50, and nothing has died, so that's a victory for me!

The rockers are an eclectic mix, but unified by the black Rustolium spray paint that was used to give them a quick facelift.  I love using spray paint on chairs because it's faster and easier than rolling paint on, and since they are exposed to the elements, I can freshen them up easily when needed by just taking them out  to the grass and giving them a quick once over. I wanted to add some texture and color to the rockers for fall and happened to score the Woolrich buffalo plaid throws for $29 ea! This was truly my find if the week because I had been eying this blanket for years, I mean YEARS, but could never pull the trigger since they sell for $98 on the Woolrich site.  When I came across these in Gabes, a discount store, I snatched them up. They are seconds, but who cares? They look perfect, and will be nice on the cool fall evenings when we want to sit out front.

In addition to the rockers and mums, I have added in some wonderful vintage apple baskets, a vintage  bench, an antique English pine desk, and some other accents for a layered, cozy, and welcoming entry.  I also added several artificial pumpkins, and will add some real ones as they become available.   To get a layered look, start with your tallest items, then work forward ending with your smallest in front.  Different textures, and colors give interest to a fall porch display, so don't be afraid to add something vintage or unexpected for a truly layered look.  Vintage lanterns, old galvanized buckets, and even mason jars with cut flowers in them are a wonderful addition to your fall porch, and don't break the bank.

I will be adding some more as time goes on, and hopefully I have inspired you to "get your fall on!"

Cheers!
Joanne

Sunday Morning Rituals

I am such a creature of habit, and you can pretty much find me doing almost the same thing every week.  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday are set aside for meeting with design clients and working on painted furniture either for the shop or commissioned pieces for clients.  Thursday, Friday and Saturday are my days in my shop, Shabby Cottage, and Sunday's are reserved for fun and relaxation with my husband.

Our Sunday's start out the same every week and I would not have it any other way.  We sleep in a little bit, then after doing our animal chores we head to the Shepherdstown Farmers Market. we love this particular market for its intimacy,  because it is only about 4 miles from home, and because we like to support local small businesses.    Shepherdstown is the oldest town in West Virginia, and is filled with charming old buildings and packed with an eclectic mix of restaurants , shops, and home to Shepherd University, so it's a cozy place to spend a Sunday morning.

Strolling along the narrow side street where the market is held is a great place to meet new friends, socialize your dog, and hear some great acoustic music, for free!  We all have to eat, and we all have to buy food, and the experience of the farmers market is surely more enjoyable than going to the grocery store.   In this intimate setting full of beautiful magazine worthy fruits and veggies, dogs and children, I feel happy.

The peaches won't be there this week, but there should be a great selection of onions, potatoes, lettuces and tomatoes to feast on. Apples have been added to the selection, so I see some apple pies in my future! As I write this, it is Saturday, which means I'm in the shop,  but we won't be going to market tomorrow due to my husbands work schedule.  This weekend marks the 15th anniversary of the day that changed the world and my husband along with many other first responders will be working to maintain our safety.  Since this is something we do together it feels weird to go without him, so I will stay home and start my fall decorating instead. I guess this means I am breaking the route in. Until next week, farmers...

The Circle Of Life

On July 27th, we welcomed this little bundle of joy in to our family almost 5 months to the day that my mom, his great grandmother passed unexpectedly.  One of the things I am so grateful for was that my mother was able to see my daughter finally get pregnant after years of trying, and was able to share in her excitement.  I will always be thankful that I got to see her smile when she was told of the impending arrival of her third great grand child.

 Jackson Ryan Simpson came in to the world 5 weeks early and sick with infection, bu much like his great grandmother,  he is a fighter. As much as he fought to get out, my mother fought just as hard to stay here.   My daughters pregnancy was not an easy one and we were anticipating possible complications, so when he arrived early and spent the first 18 days of his life in the NICU we were not surprised.  From the day she announced she was pregnant we all were on pins and needles, first getting through the first trimester, relaxing a bit in the second, then on high alert in the third.

My mother  an was ambitious , hardworking, family oriented women, who lived her life to the fullest.  She grew up in poverty, and decided as a young woman that she would never live as she put it "hand to mouth" like she grew up. She put herself through college and grad school, and went on to have two wonderful careers in her 82 years. She loved her family fiercely, and although we did not always see eye to eye, she was always there for me, right or wrong.

In February I was in the hospital with my mom watching her die, helping her pass by playing her favorite music, talking to her, and holding her hand.  Deciding to take someone off life support is a difficult decision to make, but in the end as hard as it is, we are honoring our loved ones wishes by doing so, although that does not make it any easier.  That week in February was awful. We went from having her here to having to plan a funeral. When she passed away I was heartbroken because she was the glue that held our family together. She was the one who had always planned the family get togethers. She was the one who answered the phone when I would call home. She was the one who kept me abreast of what extended family members were up to. I experienced an overwhelming feeling of loss and void in my life.

The early morning of July 27th, the void that I felt  was filled by a beautiful new baby who stole my heart. When I look at Jax's little hands I wonder what those hands will do in life.  They will be in dirt, up his nose, wiping away tears, holding his own children some day, and hopefully his grand children and beyond.  I look at those tiny soft feet and I wonder when they will first hit the floor, where the will walk in life, and how big the will grow.  Right now they are soft and small, one day they will be cracked, dry, and well worn.  I look at Jax, and I see how whole life before him.  I know that someday he will come to me and tell me he is expecting a baby, and the circle will continue to grow.

This year will always be, in my eyes, one of the most emotional ones I have had so far. With the bitter came the sweet. We said good bye to our matriarch, and welcomed a new baby.  They call my generation "The Sandwich Generation" for good reason.


Cheers,
Joanne