October Kitchen Window

My kitchen window for October is all about the wonderful works of Kimberly from The Red Cupboard Post. The beautiful colors Kimberly hand dyed for this hooked mat are hard to capture in a photo, but they are magnificent in person.

Also in my window are two of Kimberly's punch needle works...patterns by Lori Brechlin from Notforgotten Farm. Again, the colors are so autumnal and rich. 

I did not want to break up the grouping, and could think of no better place for this gathering than my window. My window...above my sink where I spend so much time each day. 

My very favorite pumpkin is there as well. Annie made this ceramic fellow when she was in school and he is one of my most precious possessions. 

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Our Annie is a spider fanatic...not the real kind, the funky, decorative ones that show up this time of year in all sorts of forms. Because she gets such a kick out of them, I picked up a set of spider lights this past weekend.

They are a fun addition to our October window...especially at night.

YIKES!

Armed with stickers of her favorite creepy crawlers, Annie decorates every surface that will support them.

...the sink faucet

...on the microwave

...on the stove...they're everywhere.

Hope you are all enjoying this wonderful time of year! Watch out for spiders!

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

Again...

A few months ago, I decided I did not want my mantle anymore. My sweet husband took it down, and we moved a blanket chest from another room into it's place. He wanted to put it out for the trash...he had made it for me in the first place and said it had served it's purpose. 

I decided we should hold on to it for awhile. Over the last few weeks, I started missing my mantle. I missed my candles lit in the evening as the days began to shorten. I started to think about putting out my fall goodies and missed it even more.

Back came the mantle with a whole new look...a lovely historical color. My sweet husband put it  back for me. Back in the very same place where he had filled the holes and painted over the wall. 

He is so patient.

Once again my hooking chair is back in it's cozy spot.

I stacked my painted trunks in front for a bit of a change. I haven't decided what to do with the interior blank space. It was black before with an inner brown liner. I might just leave it as is.

I like the darker look of the trunks filling the space. The two in the middle are grain painted and are from Maine. The bottom trunk is painted red and the top one has a decorative design which has become alligatored over time. The outer background on my blog is a closeup of this trunk.

They provide excellent storage for all sorts of things...think sewing supplies.

Annie is especially happy to see the "angels" back. That is what she calls the keyhole spatulas that hang across the mantle. 

Hope life is treating you all well. Thank you for the lovely comments many of you left on my last post. It's always nice to hear from you.

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

Bits of Wool...Blobs of Paint

It's that time of year again. I delivered my "hand-dids" to my friend up in Dade City this past Saturday for her Fall Open House coming up this weekend. 

This scary guy is made out of an old oil can and a wonderful early orangey quilt...Annie thinks he's "hideous"...and scary. I told her that was the point!

I am not an artist...but I painted a couple of birds on old ledger paper. The frames are always the most fun for me. I love painting up folky frames. It will be interesting to see if these sell. We'll see.

I love working with wool, and finding subjects to interpret in wool applique is my latest obsession. This little turkey went to my friend's shop. The fellow in my header is from an early fraktur. You might remember my wonderful watercolor of this same fellow painted by Lori Brechlin. I came across the original antique fraktur on Pinterest and thought I might try stitching him up in wool. I'm still working on him...liking him so far. Mine was inspired by both the original antique and Lori's wonderful painting.

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Remember in the 90's when everyone wore white Keds and white socks? They were so comfy and went with everything. I remember my mother-in-law and I buying the leather ones together. 

I was thinking about looking for a pair of tennis shoes and was poking around in Target and look what I found...sixteen $'s!!!

I love them! A flowered pair for Mom...

and a polka dot pair for my Annie! Love them! Now, where are my white socks?

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Its raining here. It's been poring all summer! That's o.k.. At least it's not a hurricane!

Pumpkins and bittersweet are popping up all over blogland. Don't you love it?

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

September Kitchen Window

September...such a much anticipated month!

I've come to realize that when you have been sharing your monthly kitchen window for more than a couple of years, novelty is at risk. I can only change it up so much. 

This month my window is seeing spots. Spots on the valance...spots on the redware.

Spots that are the fragile bursts of color from last years bittersweet.

Spots on the bushes in this sweet house I stitched years ago. So many years ago I can't remember the pattern or company...so sorry.

I do love spots!

There are even a few spots on the pears!

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This is what the arm of my chaise lounge looks like these days.

Bits of wool and thread are becoming all sorts of things Halloween and Thanksgiving.  I'll be back with some pics later.

Enjoy September!

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

Summer's End

Wow! I feel as if I have been on a roller coaster since May. It is always a busy time for us...between May and July we had four trips with the Board of Governors. I'm not complaining...just playing catch-up with life.

I wanted to share with you a few pics from our travels. One of our stays was at The Biltmore in Coral Gables...basically, it's a suburb of Miami. Coral Gables is home to the University of Miami and it is beautiful! Lots of "old" Florida homes with red tiled roofs and jacarandas blooming in the yard. 

Our favorite sight at the Biltmore...the two large bird cages in the lobby. 

They are inhabited by many finches. The bright colors of these birds, and their antics at feeding time are well worth watching. Annie and I watched them for a long while one afternoon.

Sleeping Beauty

Annie, with a couple of guy pals. The young fellow on her right is her cousin. He is a member of the Young Lawyers Board. He was elected last year and it's been fun getting to see him at a few meetings. The two boards have one combined meeting once a year. The fellow on her left is the next President of the Florida Bar, Bill Schifino....a Tampa attorney...yeah! Can you tell Annie enjoys seeing all her pals?

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The next week, we were in Palm Beach at The Breakers. This is my favorite hotel in south Florida. It's where Mr. MW and I went on our honeymoon thirty three years ago. Of course, it has been redone several times since then. We love the old world elegance of the place...but the informal family tone makes it fun...not stuffy. 

I thought you might like to see our color-coordinated digs. Don't mind the mess. Our rooms look lived in in short order. 

The sitting area above matches the...

sleeping area..that matches...

...the room service table...that matches...

...the box of chocolates they put on your pillow as part of the nightly turn down service. Love it! Everything has an ocean theme...and the same colors! 

Like I said, it's my favorite! 

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Thanks for all the kind comments left on my last post. It was good medicine! 

As I have mentioned in a past post, I have been struggling with some auto-immune issues. I have researched and read everything I can get my hands on about these debilitating maladies that seem to come in multiples. Once you get one...it snowballs and before long you have many. 

My big wake up came with my "frozen shoulder". Researching causes and cures, I realized I had to make changes. Stress has a major impact...as does diet and lifestyle. 

I am now gluten free...no bread, pasta, pizza...anything with wheat. I am caffeine free...though once in a while I will have a little green tea. I was sugar free for a few months and then slipped. I'm working on it, but it's the hardest for me. I eat a little chocolate here and there. My husband is plant based diet all the way, and I was never a meat eater, but I do eat fish and shellfish, and a bit of chicken. I try to walk thirty minutes everyday. I drink chicken bone broth in the morning rather than tea or coffee...an acquired taste to be sure, but now I love it! I know it sounds crazy, but I feel so much better than I did this time last year. My frozen shoulder is almost totally gone, with most of my range of motion back to normal. But, mainly, I can function again. I have more energy. I can get off the couch!

Auto immune disease starts with your "gut". A leaky gut allows food particles to move into places in your body where it is perceived as a foreign substance and your body attacks it as such. This sets off a whole series of mishaps that present as auto immune disease...adrenal fatigue, Sjorgen's disease, arthritis, thyroid malfunction...check, had them all. All sorts of bad things happen when your gut is unhealthy. Heal your gut, and a lot of problems resolve themselves. 

I know...you think I'm crazy. But...my husband and I are of the school that believes...food is medicine. Eat right and it can help...eat wrong and it can hurt.

So...that's what I have been up to this summer. It feels good to have my shoulder (almost) pain free...to have some energy back...to be able take care of my home and family again.

Have a great weekend...and thanks so much for all your lovely comments...they really do make a difference!

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

August Kitchen Window

My August kitchen window is in it's natural state...it's catch all mode. In other words, I didn't do a thing to it. I just put things I like in this window as the days pass. Rather than "stage" this is how our window looks this month.

I recently found this quote (I was told it is from a country song, don't know who wrote it or sang it) and since it is the very essence of what we think about our little home, it's perfect for the window. It's been hanging there for weeks and I still enjoy reading it.

Dried roses from my anniversary flowers...thirty three years on August 8th. They were too pretty to toss.

Fruits of the season...complete with leaves...a hint of autumn.

Wise words with which to begin any day!

Peering out the window, if you look closely, you can see my hooking chair (sorely vacant as of late) but gone is the white mantle. I needed a change. I am, however, missing it. Perhaps it will pop up elsewhere. 

 I've been staying very busy. Annie turned twenty nine on August 9th. The fun lasts all week. We've taken four trips this summer...all with the Board of Governors. Back and forth to south Florida all four times. I've been sewing for the holidays...for my friend's shop. Trapped in a car crossing Alligator Alley I can get some sewing done. 

I had seriously considered not blogging anymore. I took a hiatus...didn't read or comment much...and finally decided I'd miss you all too much.  

It is as hot as Hades here. Only mad dogs and my husband the runner go out in the Florida sun in August...and apparently...our Mr. Cardinal and a beautiful finch???  Guess they thought a day at the pool was in order.

Hope summer is treating you well!

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

July Kitchen Window

This July, my kitchen window is simply honoring the flag of our country. The red...white...and blue...the American flag. 

The continental soldiers, a wonderful print from the talented Susan Daul, once again march in time to the fife and drum. You'll find them here every year...always a part of our July window.

Early stoneware...a few flickering candles...and the flag...celebrating July in my kitchen window.

This sweet pillow was stitched by Wendy of Pineberry Lane. 

This little gathering is on our counter...dressed for the 4th. It seems our whole kitchen has gotten into the spirit! 

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Last week we were in Boca Raton for the Annual Florida Bar Meeting (convention).  As usual, Annie was in her glory...seeing lots of her friends. 

This photo was snapped right after the new president was sworn in. On Annie's right, Florida Bar  President Ray Abadin, giving her a smooch. On her far left, Immediate Past President Greg Coleman...and on her immediate left...the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court...Justice Jorge Labarga. 

Annie loves being part of the festivities! She has lots of fans that come looking for her when the word gets out she's in the room. Her dad's time as a governor on the board has been such a wonderful learning experience for her...and for those she meets, as well. It makes her father and I so proud to see how she has blossomed over the last eleven years, and to see the many lives she has touched. This group is truly a family to us.

Have a safe and happy Independence Day!

Enjoy the day,

Robyn