Trendy Red and White?

It seems that every single magazine

that I've looked at in the past month

had Christmas displays of red and white only.

I like the look but find it impossible to

stick with a limited color scheme.

So I dug through my ornaments and sorted out

all the mostly red and /or white ones.

and came up with just enough

for the small tree we put up this year.

Then I discovered these oh so trendy, new, red and white gingham, stuffed stars and hearts with white embroidered snowflakes . I'm so glad there were a few empty spots that needed filled! 

Of course you all know

so head on over to Sue's

for a  very merry Rednesday!

Friends

 “Life is partly what we make it,

and partly what it is made by the friends we choose.”

Tennessee Williams

 

Please take a few moments to visit

Sue at It's a Very Cherry World

and see what she and the rest of our

red loving friends are sharing today.

I'm sure they'll add a bit of joy to your life.

They sure make me happy!

Alexandra Stoddard, A Wonderful Read

I just love this fall button Sue made for Rednesday, it has such beautiful colors in it. Please visit her at It's a Very Cherry World to see what everyone is sharing today!

Hmm...I wonder, is it coincidence that most of my favorite design books have red covers? Or is it just that great minds think alike?

I recently found the Alexandra Stoddard book at an antiques and collectibles mall. Barb, at Bella Vista, had recommended her to me at a time when I was feeling particularly overwhelmed with my house. This is not a design book full of photographs, although there are lovely illustrations. This book is meant to read and read I have.

Stoddard wrote that our homes are , "...an attitude and a mind-set you can create and live in and love everyday."

She says that houses become homes when they "envelop our personality".

"Whatever is right and good about our lives, whatever is authentic and beautiful, will be reflected in the atmosphere as well as in the details that mirror our souls in meaningful, tangible, physical ways."

Wow! Do you think bout reflecting your soul when you're hustling through the store or fighting off a crowd of like-minded bargain shoppers at a yard sale? Me either! Frankly, I've done enough compulsive shopping, thrifty and otherwise, that I could probably reflect several souls without spending another penny. Instead I'm taking stock of what we have, what we love, and how we want to really live in this home.

Part of that assessment for me is time management. Blogging became an addiction and I was spending so much time at it that I lost track of why I started doing it. I've seen that a few bloggers have signed off permanently, feeling that blogging has become a drain on them for one reason or another. Others simply take a break and return when "real life" allows.. some don't return for months, if at all. Blogging does take a lot of time and that has been the subject of many, many posts lately.

I would say that blogging should be another reflection of your soul and as such it changes with the daily challenges we face. There are no rules. Don't feel that you must post often or on any schedule. Don't feel that you have to trade comment for comment. Post when your soul stirs you, be it serious or lighthearted. Visit when you have time, comment if you have something to say, and just hang out without commenting if you feel like it. Enjoy the experience as you would enjoy a chance meeting with a friend. Let it brighten your day, not weigh you down. Let it be part of all that is " authentic and beautiful" inside you.

Hugs

Dawn

Red Signs of Fall

Yay! It's Rednesday!

If you love a pop of red as much as I do please visit Sue

and check out the list of other Rednesday participants!

When the red barn flag goes up...

the pomegranates start turning red...

and some are even splitting open...

you know fall is close.

It's almost time to put away the pool toys

and start getting cozy for family movie night!

Good thing I finally learned how to open these things

without ruining the return envelope

Do you have family movie night or game night?

We have several game nights each week and movie night a few times a month.

The kids love it!

Rednesday ~ Dawn's New Helper

Hi, I'm Sarah. I'm Dawn's new helper.
I used to live with Ana in A Petite Cottage.

It was fun helping in her Etsy shop

but now I'm Dawn's Rednesday assistant!

(Dawn just discovered Jenny Matlock's Alphabet Thursday Rainbow Summer School so she's linking up there today too. You'll find the Rednesday link to It's a Very Cherry World at the end of this post.Obviously, Dawn is still struggling with her organzational skills!)

It's a lovely day to take photos outside.

Dawn bought this gold rimmed cherry plate

at the Sacramento Antique Faire

the same day she got the pretty red

tablecloths from last week's Redndesday.

She also got this fruit bowl there too!
Notice the gold rim again.
She still likes gold and brass.
She's so old fashioned that way.
Ugh, this thing is getting heavy!



Uh, a little help here?
Dawn, don't walk away!
Was it something I said?
OK, you're not old fashioned,
just a little ...
traditional.

Whew! That's better. Now before you run back to Sue's It's a Very Cherry World to check out the other Rednedsay posts.I'm just going to kick back here for a while and enjoy the shade.

This assistant stuff is hard work!
I should have negotiated for a benefits package!
But don't tell Dawn I said that!

Third Time Posting is the Charm ~ Rednesday!

Today I'm linking up with Sue at It's a Very Cherry World for another round of REDnesday. Please stop by to visit our wonderful hostess and check out the other links too!

I promised you a look at some of the things I found as Second Sunday this Month. I went hoping to find some red and white linens and it turned out to be my lucky day!

Yes, I was a happy camper at the end of the day! I've got more things to share, and some updates and some awards to pass on but I'm burning the candle at both ends these days and having a hard time getting to the computer. I hope you're all having a fun summer!

Hugs,

Dawn

Rednesday and Thrifty Thursday ~ Fruit Stands

Wednesday is REDnesday at Sue's ~ It's a Very Cherry World. Don't forget to visit Sue and see many more fabulous reds! And don't forget Thursday is Thrifty Thursday with Leigh at Tales from Bloggeritaville. You won't want to miss all the Thrifty finds and crafts!

I picked up this little fruit stand/candle holder at good will for a couple of dollars. It fit the theme and colors of our kitchen perfectly. I know a lot of people don't like theme decorating but I love it. There are so many styles that I like, it's hard to choose one for the whole house. Instead, each room has a different flavor, with similar color schemes. One of my favorite memories is traveling up and down Highway 99 through California's Central Valley. I've always lived in towns off 99 so when we visited family it meant a trip down the long stretch of road surrounded by farmland and little towns. I always loved reading the fruit stand signs as they marked our progress. They often were spread out, one word at a time for miles before you reached the little stands.

Cherries

Ahead

3

miles

2

miles

1 more

mile

You

are

here!

We never stopped though.

Tourist traps, you know! We'd blow by at 50 maybe 55 mph and the signs would start all over again, assuring us the next farm had

FRESH FRUIT.

A few days after finding the fruit stand

I found this little guy for $1 at Strawberry Saturday.

He's not much from the front...

Actually, I guess his backside is his front...

And what a cute little vintage backside it is!

I think he's a Jack looking for his Jill, although his little pail could be for fruit.

So if you spot a one sided Jill during your thrifty travels down the highways and byways, past the fruit stands, I know someone one who'd love to be reunited with her, at a thrifty price of course!

Rednesday ~ From the Heart of a Friend

I promised you all some prettier reds this week. No junk cars like last week (and yes, it's still there). Please pop over to Sue's It's a Very Cherry World to see some more pretty reds!

Nothing makes my heart beat faster than

thick red fringe and embossed velvet.

Unless it's this floral and fruit cottage print.

That also happens to be on my valances and is the

basis for the color scheme in most of my home.

But I don't think that's why Mona gave me the pillow

when we met at her home earlier this month.

My reaction to it was from the gut.

I snatched it off her couch, hugged it to my chest

and spun around declaring my love for it!

I think she gave it to me because I was drooling on it.

I was embarrassed by my obvious coveting of it.

I protested and said she didn't have to.

Being the sweetheart she is, she insisted I take it.

That's what friends do, overlook our foolishness and reward our exuberance with gifts from the heart. It is an absolutely wonderful fit here and has saved my formerly uncomfortable brown rocker from being posted for sale on Craig's List!

Thank you Mona, I will always cherish it! And I promise not to drool on your stuff next time.

Reaching Way Down Into the Rednesday Bag!

Go ahead and laugh but it's the best I could do this week. I've so wanted to get back to participating in Rednesday with Sue and It's a Very Cherry World but just haven't had anything new to share.

So when my neighbor parked this on our side of the street I had to get some photos. The sign says make an offer! You can see some of our old chicken coops in the back. Hey, we're just outside the city limits, we can be as country as we like!

My neighbor told me it's a kit car called an Invader, but I forgot the year already, something in the 60's. It's made with VW parts. He bought a VW Bug for parts to get it running but he quickly got the bug running so well he deiced to keep it and get rid of this.

Looks like it could go fast, if it had an engine! Okay, I won't keep you any longer. And don't feel you need to comment, LOL! Okay, if you want to humor me say, "Nice red car!" or something like that! I really just wanted to say "Hello" to all my Rednesday friends. It's been a long time and I miss you all! I hope to have some PURDY red stuff to share next week!

Rednesday ~ Trend Setting

I'm finally getting to link up to Rednesday again. Woo Hoo! Please visit Sue when you're done here to see what everyone else has shared. Her place is always so Cherry... and cheery too!

The Clutter Cat is on patrol, gently reminding everyone that this spot has been reclaimed as usable space. When I clear out enough room in the office this set up will be moved in there. You want to see the office? Too bad, I have a little pride left. I'll share it when it's been reclaimed too!

So this is the corner I shared last week. Much better don't you think. Karen, from Some Days are Diamonds gave me great ideas on getting office paper work organized. Yes, that is a dish drainer holding my files. The beauty is the files stand up, stay separated, and can easily be read and accessed. Plus the limited slots make you simplify your filing and keeps it manageable. If it's not easy, I probably won't get it done! I wanted to give you a link to Karen's cute set up but I couldn't find the right post and she's off to an artists' retreat so I'll ask her when she gets back. Oh, and if you look real hard you'll spot some red in this corner!

I couldn't resist this last photo I found while cleaning. What a trend setter! I know you all love red polka dots! This is me in about 1st or 2nd grade. I'm pretty sure mom made the dress but I'll have to ask her. I still have to wrestle those cowlicks into place every morning. By afternoon they're back. If only feathered bangs would come back in style, I'd be rockin' them!

Happy Rednesday!

Dawn

Rednesday ~1950's Pepsi Collectibles

I was wandering around the house , trying to come up with something for a Rednesday post when it struck me, right about 6: 00! I only look at it, like 20 or 30 times a day, I don't know why it hadn't dawned on me before...

Hubby's 1950's Pepsi clock. It's been hanging there forever, well, almost 60 years anyway. I've wanted to move it to another room but it's out of the question according to Hubby. It lights up and has served as a night light for as long as he can remember. Our dinning room is literally the center of our home and opens to 3 rooms plus the hall so this clock does provide a nice soft light for anyone looking for a midnight snack.

Hubby's grandfather, Hobo, owned a bar and we have a lot of the advertising items that were given to him. We even have a photo of him with the Budweiser Clydesdales in the 50's. I'll have to share it soon. The thermometer below also came from the bar. I shared it in a Wordless Wednesday post when I first started blogging. It only got 5 or so comments so I'm guessing not many of you saw it!

It was around 100 that day. Those days will be upon us again all to soon I'm afraid. At least I know we can always cool off with a nice cold Pepsi.

Please go by and visit Sue at It's a Very Cherry World. She always has cool vintage things to share and on Rednesday, you guessed it, they're red!