holiday home tour

The afternoon began pleasantly

and ended in rain..

Many of the historic, restored houses

retained their period's charm...

Those features were of great delight to me.

Unfortunately, I didn't take many photos.

The William Woodlands Park Holiday Home Tour is a tradition of our household.

thrifty decorating 4 the 4th

Above - a thrift store find.  Small commemorative glass tray.

Below - a wooden folk art heart.

I really thought I was more careful to write down where I stored our 4th of July 

decorations when I put them away last year.  But I seem to have forgotten WHERE I wrote it down..

 So this will have to suffice--what you see is what you get!

The t-shirt I'm wearing today was purchased last year (or the year before)

after the 4th.  $1, if I remember correctly.

(I've tucked a few blue stripes into my jean skirt, so they're not so visible;
and a bit of the glitter has washed away from the stars, etc.
but you get the gist of it....)

I decided I could tuck this flag (thrift store or garage sale purchase)

into the wreath made of old bed springs.

These hang on free shutters found curbside.

Happy Fourth of July to you!

It couldn't get much thriftier here.

Getting creative with what's on hand.

<~candles, mantel, plaids~>

Inspired by an enjoyable Holiday House Walk yesterday,

this morning I lit a few of the red candles I'd grouped on a silver tray.

 Later in the day, I gathered some red and white items

 and arranged them on our mantel.

 I decided to place the small, white ceramic tree I made either last year

 or the year before that inside one of many creches I have.

 

Three plaid tins add a little more color and fill in the empty spaces...

All I need is a plaid lamp shade.....hmmmmmm.  

Maybe a wide ribbon tied around it?
Speaking of plaid...I'll be wearing this to a Christmas luncheon today.

I found the cummerbund at a thrift store recently (I always check out the belts).
I think it makes a festive statement with this jacket
with its OWN plaid binding.

outfit for second sunday of advent

 

I worked my wardrobe staples to come up 

with something festive.

Gold belt, herringbone short-sleeved jacket

worn over a green, floral tee...

accented with a Christmas tree pin

from my collection.

We enjoyed a weekend excursion to nearby small town Roanoke.  Browsing the shops

kindled my imagination for decorating our own porch for the season.  Isn't this one inspiring?

I'll see what I can come up with by "shopping our attic"!

i wonder as i wander....

I wonder why I do this???

I have countless versions of this little tree.

Still, when face-to-face with one at a thrift store,

I can't resist bringing it home.

Yes.  I did it AGAIN last Wednesday

on our wandering way to Thanksgiving gatherings in Illinois.

 I'm very indecisive about our Christmas decorations this year.
So far, it's looking green and white.
I wonder how it will all end?
(I'm not one of those who has the whole picture in mind
before starting.)

 

It's also time to begin wearing  Christmas tree pins from my jewelry collection...

this one, on a white cardigan sweater today.