In the Mood........

for autumn!  After a lovely morning at the flea market yesterday I am officially ready for a change of seasons.  Look what I found!

My newest love.......a vintage cast iron bank.  I believe Fall is the most nostalgic season with family holidays on the way, wood smoke in the air and brilliantly colored leaves against the sky and lying on the ground.  I will certainly set aside an afternoon to re-read To Kill A Mockingbird.  Enjoy your week!

September Morning

I was tempted to go with Neil Diamond's September Morn but I have NEVER liked that song.  Sweet Caroline on the other hand, now that's a winner!

Welcome Fall 2010 (I'm completely ignoring the fact that it's going to be 93 degrees today).  This tablescape has me breakfasting in New Orleans.  Perhaps at Cafe Du Monde sans the pigeons, but chicory coffee and beignets are definitely in order!

The dish pattern is Enchanted Garden by Johnson Brothers.  Napkins, plates (not stamped) and glasses are a mixture of my Grandmother's and Mom's things.  Please join Susan at BNOTP  for more visual delights!

One last shot of the flowers in the white pumpkin.............

Bon Appetit! 

Postcard 3

Fall is sneaking into The Ranch............

A preview of coming attractions...........(I just love it when Grace Kelly says that in Rear Window)!

Field Trip

Today I had the pleasure of traipsing around the grounds of one of my favorite places - Carnton Plantation in Franklin, TN.  It was used as a hospital after the Battle of Franklin in the Civil War.

If you would like to know the story of this house, go here.  For me, my favorite memory is from 1987.  We had lived in Tennessee for about 6 months and I was captivated with all of the historic architecture at my fingertips!  I pulled right up to Carnton, no visitor's center or gift shop back then, and I was met by a local, elderly woman wearing a house coat and slippers.  She was born and raised in  Franklin and knew all the folklore,"history" and ghost stories about the house.  It was the best tour I've ever had at Carnton. Perhaps not historically accurate but user friendly as I could walk about the house as I pleased.  I had my own private tour and loved soaking up the rustic ambiance of the then neglected place.  It's very text bookish now.  I miss the lady in the house coat!

An Audun Autumn Scape

This is Villeroy and Boch's Audun Chasse.  These plates were acquired quite cheaply through Amazon!  The "silver" ware and glasses are from Homegoods and I found the knives at the Flea Market.  Can anyone tell me the maker and /or pattern name?  Napkins were made from left over material I saved after I recovered a chair 100 years ago.  May I just say that although the roses look pink in these photos, they were actually an interesting shade of purple I like to call orchid but you may prefer lavender.

I've never been a big purple/orchid person but something has apparently come over me of late.   I just bought an orchid and black chemise - VERY Lilly Munster!

I'm linking up with Miss Susan at BNOTP for tablescape Thursday.  Enjoy!

Another Post Card

A few blogs I follow are a'buzz with Mad Men Love.  This show is fantastic and in honor of last week's episode (my favorite, hands down), here is a shot of my beautiful niece and myself as we eagerly awaited this season's premiere............

Of course I was JOAN!
p.s. Can you see my shoes?  I used to go into my Mom's closet and play in these back in the year 1966.  They are STILL my favorite pair of shoes!

September Tablescape

I'm a HUGE fan of autumn but this year, despite the intense heat and humidity, I'm a little hesitant for summer to end. Of course in the Nashville area, it really doesn't end until mid-October so I'm "good" for a while.  The point of all this musing.....to give a preface to a tablescape I like to call -"Do Go Gently into a Good Fall."  (my apologies to Dylan Thomas)

That's it.  Nothing fancy, I just love the combination of greens and browns.  A simple setting for a simple time of year.  For more tablescaping madness, join Susan at Between Naps on the Porch!

Warning: You will be seeing a lot of candles at The Ranch this Fall/Winter to calm the pyromaniac in me.  The landlord agreed to have the chimney swept and the results, unless he forks out some big bucks to restore this 40 year old, neglected chimney/fire box, we are considered quite a fire hazard!  Dangit!  For me, fires in the fireplace are a big part of celebrating the chilly seasons!   However, candlelight can be very kind to 48 year old women. There's always a bright side!