Tag: fall

{our home} mad for plaid

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Everybody seems to be mad for plaid this season. I am no exception. I have pulled out my vintage plaid throws, quilts, and thermos’. I also pulled out the pillow covers I ended up making in the post below from October 2012. I only held onto four of them, but I think I still have the fabric stashed somewhere…maybe I’ll make more!

One of the things I love about living in the Pacific Northwest is that fall lingers.

The first signs start to show in September…apple farms, cooler nights, shorter days

October brings changing leaves, boot and sweater weather, and pumpkin patches.

Wait…it’s not over!

The leaves still change color well into November until the rain settles in and our thoughts change to winter on their own.

Given this fact, the quilts and afghans we used for picnics and outdoor movies during the summer have found their place in our home for use everyday…and I was inspired.

Specifically by the plaids in the quilts…probably somebody’s old ripped shirt that could no longer be worn.

I thought about making some pillow covers out of thrifted plaid shirts, but wasn’t having any luck. The shirts were too expensive (i.e. one shirt could cover one 20″ x 20″ pillow, but the shirts I liked were all $13-$19).

Then I searched the internet for pillows, but just couldn’t find something I liked.

Then, I went to Target yesterday. I found two large plaid pillows and thought, “Perfect,” but they were $30 each.

So, I wandered…thinking about my options…and stumbled onto some woven throws on clearance for $8 each. I figured that even if I could only make one pillow out of each throw that I would still get each pillow for only $8, but they weren’t plaid.

I bought five of them and was on my way home when I figured I should just stop in at the fabric store and see what they might have.

Plaid flannel was on sale for 50% off!

I found five patterns I liked and bought one yard of each.

We had 10 forms to cover.

I covered them all and have lots of scrap for more projects…

Our family room is ready to keep us warm through fall and winter.

In the end, I got 10 pillows for the price I would have paid for the two I saw at Target!

I have plenty of fabric for more projects…maybe something for colton+cadence!

home is…letting fall linger.

{31 days} joy all year

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{31 days} header

~secondhand and created~

These are back at Target…

Lit Vintage Tin "Joy" Sign - Brushed Bronze

This year there is also HOPE, LOVE, a heart and a star.

Last year I bought the JOY…

When I brought it home and opened it I was in love, but I knew it could be better.

joy full 2

So, I painted it.

Then I hung it on a piece of wood that had been outside since we moved into our house almost 6 years ago. It’s nice and weathered.

I thought I would like the “JOY” to be horizontal, but the letters were taller than the board.

joy full 3

So, I went vertical.

And, I love it!

It hangs next to our fireplace year round.

joy year round

Last year I displayed it in our front entry as a Christmas vignette.

joy full 4

I also used it in our fall decor.

joy full 1

Today, I purchased LOVE and the star as they can also be  kept out year round. I hope to paint them and hang them on some more salvaged secondhand wood!

My mother-in-law arrives tomorrow night, so I am hoping that I can get some fun posts up while she is in town, and I might have some extra time for projects like this one!

{FYI…last year a lot of the stores ran out of stock on this item. Best bet is to check online and see if you can do an in-store pick up…they will hold it for you for 2 days!}

home is…{31 days} secondhand and created joy all year.

Join me while I link up with The Nester every day in October for #write31days.
Click here to find a list of all 31 posts as they are published.

{through the rearview} fall in the flat tops

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I took these photos the last time I was up in the Flat Tops of Colorado. IMG_1301 September 2005. IMG_1280 I knew it would probably be the last photos I took up there in a long time as we had just decided to make the move to Oregon.

IMG_1306I made Ryan stop on the way down the road so I could take most of these photos.

IMG_1293Lots of good memories were made up there.

IMG_1294Withe the dogs.
IMG_1303 With family. IMG_1282 With friends. IMG_1305 We camped up there a lot from 2000-2005. IMG_1296 It seems so long ago. IMG_1302 It is one of my favorite places on earth. IMG_1304 IMG_1298 home is…memories of a favorite place.

pfamily photo session with pfaus photography

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Last month Jenn from Pfaus Photography took some photos of our family out at our favorite pumpkin patch.

family photo 3

family photo 6

Aren’t my boys handsome?!

family photo 2

family photo 4

The kids got muddy, but that’s real life.

family photo 5

family photo 1

These are just a few of the images we chose…they rest will be used for Christmas cards, so you’ll just have to wait to see them.

Thanks, Jenn for another pfabulous mini session!

home is…family photos in the fall.

this space

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late fun 14

 

I’ve missed this space.

This space to write and share our adventures.

Like the one I went on with the little guy a couple of weeks ago when he had a day off from school.

We dropped baby girl off at school where he got to visit with all of his former teachers. It was just awesome to see him feel like such a big kid. He was confident, well spoken, and polite.

After that, we ventured high above the fog that was blanketing the valley down below.

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He loves to climb and hang from things. His arms are so strong.

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He also loves to observe and collect. A bobcat lives in this nature park, so we looked for her. We were talking a lot, so we never saw her, but we saw a lot of other beautiful sites, collected sticks, feathers, and leaves.

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late fun 5

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I got some awesome, dedicated one-on-one time to talk to him about what he likes, why he likes it, and what is important to him.

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That’s important to me.

late fun 2

It was good morning.

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Baby girl and I get our time together as well. She likes to go for stroller rides while I run. One of these days, I will miss pushing the double BOB.

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We also talk and stop to look at the beauty that is fall.

late fun 16

 

Ryan got to have a special date night with baby girl when he took her to the school Octoberfest for the first time. The next morning when I took her to school she said, “Mom, last night was the best night ever.”

late fun 15

Halloween happened around here, too. I made all of our costumes…animals of the Pacific Northwest. The little guy and Ryan went as wolves, baby girl was a bat, and I was an owl.

And, now, it is officially the most wonderful time of the year.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday…I love the food, the football, the family. I love slowing down to just be.

My parents will be visiting us for a week over the holiday…I can’t wait. We have much to celebrate and give thanks for.

late fun 12

late fun 1

 

Stay tuned…I plan to share more in this space.

home is…what is important.

 

 

 

a good groove

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hello monday!

i think we can get into a rythmn this week…a good groove.

last week we got derailed by colds and strep. reece and lorelai were home from school all week. by thursday we found out that reece had strep and got him onto antibiotics. seeing my kiddos sick is always hard. i feel so blessed to be able to make the decision to keep them home with me on the days they are not feeling well…so thankful for how hard ryan works so that it can be that way.

today we are back to our “normal” routine.

we walked to school as a family today…the fresh air felt so good.

it made me so happy to see reece smiling again with his friends at school.

here are a few photos from this past week…

october 1

we were able to take care of some yard clean up after some heavy rain…preparing for late fall and winter.

october 2

odyssey and i have taken a break from running the last couple of weeks…he got “fixed” so he had to take it easy for 10-14 days…we’ll get back to it this week!

october 3

when the sun shines after the rain everything glistens.

october 8

i did some crafting and minimal fall decorating while the kids were home last week.

october 6

a happy room.

october 5

the neighborhood horses eating green grass in the sun over the weekend.

october 9

pacific northwest fall color.

home is…a good groove.

happy…

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Friday.

Weekend.

November.

I’ve been trying to write this post for the last couple of days, but for one reason or another got sidetracked.

An awesome workout got in my way.

Then my computer did not want to work.

Lorelai got snuggly.

She fell asleep on the way to pick up Reece.

Errands had to be run.

Dinner had to be made.

Furniture had to be moved for carpets to get cleaned.

You know, normal stuff.

I went wine tasting with girlfriends last weekend.

The Willamette Valley was beautiful.

The wine was good.

The company was unbeatable!

I’m happy Halloween is over. I just didn’t get into it this year.

I love the pumpkin patches and fall, but Halloween just wasn’t a big deal to me this year.

However, I was thrilled that the kids decided to go with classic costumes…all their own idea!

The downpour that had been going on for two days stopped right after dinner and the skies cleared for a beautiful evening. Trick or treating was short lived as our ghost had trouble seeing and walking, but he was a trooper and decided that handing out candy (and eating candy) at home was a lot of fun, too!

 

The witch collection is put away and I will do a bit more rearranging and organizing before I get the Santa collection out.

 

I’ve started running again and it feels good.

Nothing crazy, but I am following the “Ease into 10K” app on my phone and it gives me a goal to reach for each run.

When the weather is nice I have been running outside and pushing Lorelai in the BOB. When Reece was her age I was still doing Stroller Strides 3 times a week and pushing BOTH of them! She is so happy sitting in the stroller, taking in the sights, and talking to whatever stuffed animal friend she brings along.

 

 

When I’m not wearing my running shoes I’ve got my boots on. It is definitely boot weather around here. My Frye’s and Hunter’s are my favorites. Lorelai loves the red cowboy boots I found at the Farm Chicks Show in 2011!

 

 

This is what November looks like in our backyard. It’s a little neglected, but still beautiful. My happy place.

 

 

When we are inside we are spending time learning, playing and growing.

Both kids love writing and drawing.

Our vintage books are always fun to look at and read.

I think I need to sign Reece up for more climbing classes.

Lorelai is my snuggle bug.

 

 

 

In Oregon, everybody votes by mail.

It makes it easy.

I voted.

 

 

I have added some fun vintage items to the shop.

Some of them are perfect for Thanksgiving.

Go check them out!

 

 

And, last, but not least…

 

 

I’m having fun with the vintage flash cards I have found and will be adding some flash card items to colton+cadence soon!

home is…finally getting this post done.

{our home} mad for plaid

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One of the things I love about living in the Pacific Northwest is that fall lingers.

The first signs start to show in September…apple farms, cooler nights, shorter days

October brings changing leaves, boot and sweater weather, and pumpkin patches.

Wait…it’s not over!

The leaves still change color well into November until the rain settles in and our thoughts change to winter on their own.

Given this fact, the quilts and afghans we used for picnics and outdoor movies during the summer have found their place in our home for use everyday…and I was inspired.

Specifically by the plaids in the quilts…probably somebody’s old ripped shirt that could no longer be worn.

I thought about making some pillow covers out of thrifted plaid shirts, but wasn’t having any luck. The shirts were too expensive (i.e. one shirt could cover one 20″ x 20″ pillow, but the shirts I liked were all $13-$19).

Then I searched the internet for pillows, but just couldn’t find something I liked.

Then, I went to Target yesterday. I found two large plaid pillows and thought, “Perfect,” but they were $30 each.

So, I wandered…thinking about my options…and stumbled onto some woven throws on clearance for $8 each. I figured that even if I could only make one pillow out of each throw that I would still get each pillow for only $8, but they weren’t plaid.

I bought five of them and was on my way home when I figured I should just stop in at the fabric store and see what they might have.

Plaid flannel was on sale for 50% off!

I found five patterns I liked and bought one yard of each.

We had 10 forms to cover.

I covered them all and have lots of scrap for more projects…

Our family room is ready to keep us warm through fall and winter.

In the end, I got 10 pillows for the price I would have paid for the two I saw at Target!

I have plenty of fabric for more projects…maybe something for colton+cadence!

home is…letting fall linger.

one foot in front of the other

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I was feeling a little out of sorts this morning.

I’ve been itching to start my exercise routine up once again.

I want to be able to run 4-6 miles three times a week.

My plan was to get started this week, but I was frustrated with rain (I don’t run in the rain) and sick kids (which means no gym childcare).

Then the sun came out this morning.

I hit the pavement with Lorelai and the BOB.

Fresh air.

Blue sky.

Quiet.

I needed it.

I walked for over an hour.

I took occasional photos of the beautiful fall colors.

I let my mind go blank and just focused on what was in front of me.

It’s been months since I have exercised regularly.

Oh, who am I kidding?

It’s been months since I have exercised. Period.

I’m feeling it.

In my mood.

In my body.

I’m not going to go into why I stopped, but I know I want to get started again.

It felt good to put one foot in front of the other.

I am hoping we get another dry day tomorrow so I can do it again.

It felt fabulous.

So, I’m going to have to find a way to fit it all in.

All the things that make me feel good.

Exercise.

Thrifting.

Creating.

They make me a better person.

A better wife.

A better mom.

A better friend.

A better ME.

home is…hitting the pavement.

my adventures with poultry…and other fall fun

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Fall welcomed us back to the Pacific Northwest this past weekend.

The first rain in 81 days came the morning after we got home and the weekend stayed grey and cool.

Perfect weather to head out for some fall adventures. I’ll warn you now, there are quite a few photos…all taken with my iPhone (I was tired of lugging my dslr around after Maui).

We ventured out to the Oregon Heritage Farm for the Applefest.

Applefest raises money for a local high school ski team and has gotten bigger each year we have attended.

Hayrides, pumpkins, hay mazes…

and, apple chucking!

We were leaving as the band started playing. The singer sounded just like Johnny Cash.

We got in the car to head home and decided to make another stop on the way.

Baggensto’s Farm…they grow christmas trees, pumpkins, and potatoes! If you want awesome french fries, go here!!

We came home and Ryan decided to light a fire out back…

and, I baked an apple pie.

Ryan also took most of the plants out of our front garden on Saturday, but our dahlias are still blooming.

As if those adventures weren’t enough, Reece and I went to another local pumpkin patch with his kindergarten class this morning.

Goatel 6. We’ll keep the light on for ewe. Get it?!

I want this sign for our house.

Speaking of chickens, I’ve had quite a run in with poultry the last two days.

First, this guy walked right up to my iPhone like he wanted to pose for these photos.

He must have liked the last time I took his photo.

This morning, on the field trip, we got to see the new turkeys.

I knelt down to take a photo…

and she lunged at me!

I threw my phone because her “nibble” on my finger startled me.

It was actually quite funny.

So, the rain has me wearing my Hunters. This month I am specifically wearing my pink for Breast Cancer awareness. My mom found a lump 9 years ago this month. She is a a survivor. I am so happy she is a fighter and had the resources and care to beat this disease!

home is…feeling a bit like fall.