Let's Hear it for Tweakin'

Hey everyone!  I hope this is going to be a great week for everyone, me included!  Monday is Chemo #4 and the last in Round 1 of infusions.  In 2 weeks I start Round 2, which will be weekly for 12 weeks.  This past week has been very good, and I have felt almost normal.....whatever that is!  I even did a bit of sewing, crafting and tweaking.  Let's hear it for "tweakers" everywhere!  So anyway, I wanted to share my Fall foyer and some of those tweaks I did in the sitting-dining room.  Let's get started.

You already know how much I enjoy decorating this table in the foyer.  If you want to see what the table started out as, just go HERE.

I've been using this metal piece to display pics of our "Grands" for awhile now, but this is the first time I have hung it from this mirror in the foyer.  I also added some cute tags about being "Thankful."

I printed the photos myself, choosing sepia and printing them on white cardstock.

Family is what it's all about!

I've had the big wooden bowl for several years, and simply added a candle in a hurricane and surrounded it with faux acorns in different sizes.

This little corner etagere usually gets some seasonal lovin'.

As you can see, cotton stems continue to pop up here and there!

Now for the tweaking I was talking about......

Most of it happened in this room.

I added a milk glass cake stand under the pumpkin.....this table needed some height variation; and I swapped out my burlap runner for this drop cloth runner & tied the ends (it was a bit too long, otherwise) with big burlap bows.

In this cozy spot, I added a pumpkin pillow that I made.....got the pattern HERE.

I sewed the pillow cover, but the pumpkin is "no-sew" and applied with stitch-witchery or whatever kind of iron-on fusible web you prefer.

I decided it needed something more, so I added the blanket stitch around all the pieces......but, I did it with a permanent marker, no stitching involved!

With plaids popping up everywhere, I decided to take this piece of fabric that I had and simply hemmed all the edges.....it's not very big, more like lap-size, but I like how it looks.

This pumpkin also got a makeover from orange to pale, pale aqua.

Now this is a piece of crewel work that I did, probably forty years ago and had it stretched on a wood frame.  I was tired of it that way, so I made it into a pillow.  Even after all these years, the colors are still so vivid!

The only thing that changed in the dining room is a swap of pillows........

I made these patchwork pillow covers (there's one on the other chair, too) a couple of years ago, using fabric sample books that I had gotten for free!

We always need to end on something cute, right?  Little Miss Abby really likes it when her Momma spends so much time in the craft room......she is an excellent cubby-filler!

Well, that's a wrap for now!  I hope you enjoyed seeing some of what is going on around here and hope you will come again very soon!

I often party with these lovely bloggers:

Monday

Cindy at Dwellings--The Heart of Your Home for Amaze Me Monday

Kathryn at The Dedicated House for Make It Pretty Mondays

Tuesday

Maria Elena at Our Home Away from Home for Tuesdays at Our Home

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life  for Inspire Me Tuesday

Wednesday

Suzy at Worthing Court for The Scoop

Kathryn at The Dedicated House for Before and After Wednesday

Thursday

Richella at Imparting Grace for Grace at Home

Pamela at From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday

Friday

Kathryn at The Dedicated House for Anything Blue Friday

Dining Room Dressed for Fall

Hey everyone!  Are temps a bit lower in your neck-of-the-woods and feeling more like Fall?  If they are, could you send some over this way?  Actually our temperatures have dropped, barely below the century mark, and our crazy "Zonies" consider that a cool down!   

Before I get started with my little tour, I thought I should share a bit of a health update.  Let's just say it's a good thing I finished my Fall decorating a few weeks ago, because I would not be able to do it now.  A couple of days after Chemo #3, I had a rude awakening.......my body let me know, in no uncertain terms, that it's in a battle and I have no control over the situation.  It's the first time since all of this started that I actually realized that I am, indeed, sick.  This is difficult for me, because I don't do "sick" very well.  I do know it's normal, and I'm learning to listen more carefully to my body.  It was just a surprise after having so few side-effects from the first two infusions.  On the bright-side, I have a lot more time to visit blogs & FB now as I lounge around  napping and eating bonbons.....well, no to bonbons, those don't even sound good!  So anyway, that's my bit of a health update.

Now, how about a look-see at our "Fall Dining Room?"

I've been using this large wooden tray with Mr. Roo and the white pitchers for some time now on the white buffet, but decided to use it on the dining room table for the Fall season.

I'm so happy with how it turned out.  I bought a couple of bunches of wheat from our Sprouts Market last year and was glad to see that they survived being packed away.

I used 2 table runners from World Market that I bought last Spring, and I like that they give a more casual feel to the table.

I love decorating around this china that had belonged to my sweet MIL.....it makes me feel close to her whenever I walk past this room.

I even got my "craft-on" a few weeks back and made this leaf garland using drop cloth and burlap scrapbook paper.

Those little squirrels are really enjoying their spot with a view of everything that's going on!

Kept things very simple on top of the china cabinet.

These cone trees used to reside on top of the kitchen cabinets during the Fall season, but I'm not allowed to use the big, tall ladder any more.....that's okay, I like them better here!

I was really surprised that I had enough of the mini-pumpkins to fill the dough bowl!

And I'm not a bit sorry I painted that dough bowl....turquoise makes me happy!

I was a bit tired of seeing all of our glass and barware inside this buffet, so I found some scrapbook paper with script writing on it and covered the clear glass panels on the inside.  I'm really liking this!

Okay, one more peak because I love it so much!

Thank you so much for stopping by!  

I often party with these lovely bloggers:

Monday

Cindy at Dwellings--The Heart of Your Home for Amaze Me Monday

Kathryn at The Dedicated House for Make It Pretty Mondays

Tuesday

Maria Elena at Our Home Away from Home for Tuesdays at Our Home

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life  for Inspire Me Tuesday

Wednesday

Suzy at Worthing Court for The Scoop

Kathryn at The Dedicated House for Before and After Wednesday

Thursday

Richella at Imparting Grace for Grace at Home

Pamela at From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday

Friday

Kathryn at The Dedicated House for Anything Blue Friday

Chemo #3 Down!

Hey everyone!  I hope you are all having a great Monday and start to a wonderful new week!  Chemo Monday started quite early with labs at 7am, a meeting with my oncologist at 8am, and Chemo #3 started at 9am.  Once again, my lab numbers were all well within the normal range which keeps surprising everyone.  My doctor said she can already feel a drop in the size of the breast lump, so.....YAY!  I actually thought I could feel a difference but thought it might just be wishful hoping, so.....YAY!

Chemo went well, but long.  I had 2 nurses today, Wendi and Gulnar (I don't know what her nationality is, but she was absolutely gorgeous).  Both nurses were so kind and always asking if I needed anything.  

Some of you already know, but shortly after Chemo #2, my hair started falling out like crazy.  I truly looked like a victim of a nuclear holocaust!  So my sweet hubby took pity on me and took the rest off.  I still have my eyebrows and lashes....I guess they have more staying power than head hair.  If you are thinking that I might just be brave enough to show you my hairless crown, you would be VERY wrong!  I've seen some women at the Cancer Center who are "rockin" the bald head and look amazing.  I am not one of those!

 Chemo #3

I was really tired (I woke up at 4am this morning.....don't ask, I don't know why), so after they got the drugs flowing and gave me warm blankets, I actually fell asleep!

 It's a MIRACLE, I have hair again!

The wig is actually pretty cute, but it's still too warm here for it to be very comfy for all-day wear.

Thought you would want to see the back, too!  The color is quite close to my last salon hair color (whatever color combo formula that was....lol)!

I continue to be amazed and humbled by the outpouring of sweet comments, prayers, and even some sweet gifts from some very kind and generous women.  I'll be sharing more about that in a later post.  They know who they are and how much I adore them for their kindnesses.

I'm happy that Chemo#3 is done, and I only have 13 more to go!

Faux Falling Time

Hey everyone!  I'll be sharing another "health update" in a day or two (Chemo #3 happens tomorrow), but for now I want to share some "Faux Falling" that's been going on around our home.  A month ago, I wasn't sure I'd be up to doing anything seasonally; but I've been so blessed to feel quite good most of the time.  The Man got all of my boxes from the garage storage, but made me promise to take my time and rest when I needed it.  Well, that's exactly what I did.....it took me a good week and a half, but everything is finished!  I'm only going to share bits at a time, so the posts won't be so photo-heavy.  Let's get started, shall we?

Today, I am inviting you into our sitting area.

I haven't purchased many new items this season, but I did find some fun pillow covers at Hob Lob on sale for 50% off!  I'm being quite a bit more bold with pillow choices, and I'm kind of lovin' it!

I adore this owl pillow!

I kind of giggle every time I walk past this room.....those bright orange pillows just do that to me!

Simple, simple on the coffee table.

I love this time of day, when the late afternoon sun brings such a warm glow to this room.

I always find a way to use this cloche somewhere in my decor.

As simple as it gets.

Love adding some fun to these bookshelves.

If you think that's an embroidery hoop, you are right......stretched some burlap in the hoop and added a banner that I made last year using scrapbook paper!

The wood "Welcome" blocks are another new item from HL at 40% off!

Remember the embroidery hoop spheres I made a couple of months ago?  Well, they seemed like the perfect landing spot for these 2 very thin pumpkins!

And just because I know you all need some super-cuties to look at.........

Avery (aka: Littlest Miss), age 4, first day of Pre-K!  They are called "Ladybugs" at her school.....how cute is that!

Flynn (aka: Little Miss), age 7, first day of 2nd Grade!

Avery all ready for her very first soccer practice.....I didn't even know 4 year olds played soccer!  Would you just look at the size of those chin guards.....Power on Littlest Miss!

Thanks so much for stopping by and letting me share some "Faux Falling" and my two youngest granddaughters!  I hope you all have a wonderful week!

I often party with these lovely bloggers:

Monday

Cindy at Dwellings--The Heart of Your Home for Amaze Me Monday

Kathryn at The Dedicated House for Make It Pretty Mondays

Tuesday

Maria Elena at Our Home Away from Home for Tuesdays at Our Home

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life  for Inspire Me Tuesday

Wednesday

Suzy at Worthing Court for The Scoop

Kathryn at The Dedicated House for Before and After Wednesday

Thursday

Richella at Imparting Grace for Grace at Home

Pamela at From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday

Friday

Kathryn at The Dedicated House for Anything Blue Friday