The Pearl's Nest - front porch

Our front porch chalkboard is a hit! Friends and neighbors love to leave messages on it.

I mentioned earlier in the week that the mini-pearls and I worked on the front porch last Friday evening. We purchased this year's haul of pumpkins and gourds and they enjoyed arranging their purchases around the front porch and flower beds. They did a great job, but I added a few more touches of my own. This required two trips to the attic and one trip to Hobby Lobby. I think I am finally ready to await the arrival of the "great pumpkin"! I do have a few more "Halloweeny" things, but I will wait and put those out on Halloween night!

The overall view.

This arrangement is actually in the flower bed.

Notice the TCU "rock" - go Horned Frogs!

Sport Cort placed all the little pumpkins in lines all around the porch.

I edited them a little!

Another Horned Frog.

Look closely in the window...Fisherman was peeping out to see what I was doing.

I bought several yards of orange, green and black tulle, tore them in strips and tied them around twine.

This formed the "garland" that I draped under the eaves.

My urns change with the seasons, so I took out the summer flowers and put in these pumpkin topiary.

They are fake, sorry if that offends anyone. I just don't want them to rot before Thanksgiving!

One of the little side niches and a close-up of my pumpkin lanterns.

They are getting a little faded, as I have has them a while, but they are a favorite!

Above the door, is a black glitter "BOO"

This door decoration will carry through to Thanksgiving.

This is a basket that I filled with pheasant feathers, deer sheds, a bird's nest, moss and tulle.

After Halloween,I will take out the jack-o-lantern and tulle.

Hope you enjoyed our porch. We sure are! After Halloween,I will take down the tulle and jack-o-lantern items and will have a nice Autumn theme to carry me through Thanksgiving.

Happy Fall Y'all!

Krissy

This little tater...

has turned in to quite a "spud!"

Happy 7th birthday my darling, baby boy!

You bring joy, laughter, energy and love to our family.

We love you so very much and wish you the best year ever!

Mom

It's Fall Y'all

The cooler temperatures really have me in an autumn frame of mind. Summer has finally said adieu for this year. I was inspired to head to a pumpkin patch with the mini-pearls and gather our Fall 2010 collection of assorted fall decor and we worked on it Friday evening. (pictures to follow later in the week. As for a photo op at the pumpkin patch? I was informed that "we are too old for that Mom.") I'm sure most of you have already made the transition in your home decor. I just couldn't let go of the summer! I do have a collection of inspiring photos to share, so you can tuck them away for next year's inspiration or add to what you have already done. Either way, I hope you enjoy!

This is one of my favorites and has inspired my porch!

Fun Door Decor

Outdoor Decor

Happy Fall Y'all,

Krissy

Photo credits: Home Companion(Photos 1,2,5,6, 8), Country Living (Photos 7,9), Unknown (Photos 3,4)

Flashback Friday - Oktober Fest and German Dancing

Guten tag! I can't believe that it is already October. I really love October. I love that the leaves are changing color. I love being able to open the windows in the morning and enjoy the crisp air with my morning coffee. I love that football season is in full-swing and I can once again wear my cowboy boots and comfy jeans without sweating to death. I love the pumpkins on my front porch and the candy corn on the coffee table. I love October!

My love of October might also have something to do with the fact that I am part German and Germans love "Oktober". I have always been partial to this part of my heritage. In high school foreign language, instead of taking the always practical Spanish or the romantic French, I took German. I felt like such a rebel! The crowd that took German was an ultra-cool bunch that were the intellectual types - a "coffee house" kind of group before there were coffee houses. I, the bubbly, bow-headed cheerleader, was so excited to be a part of such a group. Frau Reid was our teacher and she got everyone interested in participating in the German Club and competing at German Club competitions. One of these competitions was in German dancing. Yes, you heard me, German dancing. Think the Lindler (performed in the Sound of Music ). Think guys in Leiderhosen slapping their thighs and hopping around. Think girls in dirndls (albeit homemade my some one's mother). We had a BLAST! We also performed at the State Fair. Hey - STOP laughing. It was fun! It also drew a lot of attention on my resume. You don't see "competitive German dancer" everyday!

German Club babes in our dirndls

action shot

Ok, parts of it are a little like square dancing!

So, to celebrate October, I thought I would share some of my German dance pictures and some pics from the trip that Mr. Pearl and I took to Germany in 1997. Grab a beer and some schnitzel and enjoy!

a cow walking down the main street in Garmish-Partenkirchen

Real German men, in real German Alpini hats - not German Club members

Oberammergau - a beautiful village


Cuckoo clock

Castle and Cathedral on the River Rhein

This is what happens after two or three of the beers we are drinking in the first pic!
Rothenburg



Landsburg Square - don't comment on that dress I am wearing

Our "fur children" in Alpini hats we brought home for them. The Mini-Pearls weren't even a grain of sand at this point! This is Weller and Wallace our beloved Corgis and they are no longer with us, so I couldn't resist when I came across this pic. They were so sweet!

Frohlich Wochenende!

(Happy Weekend)

Krissy