The Leaves are falling!

We have had a very lovely fall week here in Oregon, but we have also had a lot of wind. It's been a warm wind and I have to say, I like it. I would miss the wind if I moved from Troutdale! Sadly, the trees are almost bare now.

It's been a busy week with labs, blood tests a and another doctor appointment this afternoon. I hope she can adjust the BP meds again and I have several other things to discuss with her. The presidential election was also a BIG thing this week. This threw me off with my attempt to get back to blogging. I am learning to just take things as they come and do what I can, when I can. Not an easy task for me. So, I decided just to post a few photos around my house of things that I really like before November and fall are gone. Maybe next week, I will be able to return to my weekly posts with more of a plan...maybe not, who knows!

I like scarecrows and I leave this little quilt up for the entire fall season. I didn't make it but have always liked it.

This little guy is one of my favorites and I have had him for a long time.

Of course, I adore my Thanksgiving teapots and china. I have added to my collection for many years and love my turkey plates. I mix and match a lot of different Johnson Brothers patterns.

I have had the pumpkin teapot when I had my store...Holiday Card Shoppe. I think this set of turkey salt and peppers came from that time period.

The vintage salt and pepper set mix well with this look.

I have always loved this little pumpkin pitcher...I actually have another smaller one, just the same. I'm not sure what they were originally intended to be used.

I found the small teapot for my collection last spring. It's just a cute little one cup size pot. I've had my turkey pie bird for many years. He's always happy to join the fun in fall.

I also love vintage postcards and place cards. Maybe I can share that collection in the future.

Well, just a little tour of a few of my treasures.

I want to thank all of those who stopped by during Stephanie's exchange reveal. What fun to visit new blogs and meet new people. Thank you also to all who have kept me in their prayers along my medical journey. Thanks for your patience as I try to get back to blogging and visiting your blogs!

Have a good weekend and remember all of those who have served our country. 

Welcome November

A quick hello, Happy Monday and Hello November on this dark morning. I am waiting for my coffee before I jump into a very busy day and a hectic week. I do love the month of November! It is always the calm before the storm for me. December is so full of birthday and Christmas events and activities.
I love the muted colors of November and am excited to decorate today with all my turkeys.
Have a great week.

A November Sunday

How I love November! I cherish this month and I am always a bit sad when it slips away. I like the slower pace, the short days, the woodstove burning, thinking over gift giving and even time to work on some handmade gifts. This autumn month suits me.

Today is Sunday and the perfect for thinking and praying for my two grandchildren. We had a busy and fun week with the snow and ice and time with the little ones. I am so thankful that I have been blessed with grandchildren. I just didn't think we would be grandparents.

I wanted to share a few pictures from the busy and fun filled week with Otto and Ava.

Otto and Grandpa getting all bundled up for a ride in the stroller. They both wanted some fresh air.

Ava and Otto at the pancake house. Ava is so good with her brother. It makes me happy that they look like brother and sister even with different mommies.

Ava and I spent the afternoon and part of the evening yesterday playing with our American Girl dolls.
That's my Rebecca in the background. The dolls live in my Tea Room, in fact, they may be taking over the room!

This is Ava's doll Saige. Miss Ava is wishing for Samantha this Christmas. The doll is coming out of retirement.

Do you like November? 

November Snow on Tea Time Thursday #52!

Tea Time Thursday....in the snow???? In November???? In Oregon???? Unthinkable yet oh so pretty and a treat really. I know some of you must be laughing, but we don't get much snow here in Troutdale, so it is a novelty for this month. My charity quilting was cancelled and Jimmy didn't have to babysit Otto, as Angie works for the Centennial School District and the schools were closed. A bonus day for Jimmy and Linda! The reason school is cancelled here is that when we get ice, it's really dangerous with all the hills in this town. We did have ice before the snow and we may have more later in the afternoon.

I snapped this photo a few hours ago and it's been snowing ever since. The temperature dropped and the freezing rain became snow. It may shift back later. I put on a big pot of homemade soup and the woodstove is humming. It's a good thing that Jimmy got our snow tires on last Monday.

I wanted to share my fall card and tea exchange that I joined in. I belong to the very fun ATAA group, which stands for Afternoon Tea Across America. I have been a member for almost a year now. LaDonna does just a fantastic job as moderator and organizes these card exchanges. I LOVE going to the mailbox and finding treasures for days. We send along tea and some little tuck ins. It is amazing how creative these ladies are with little goodies. I can't bear to part with my cards, so as I have shared before, I like to keep them in albums. I just like to look at them sometimes.

These were the cards I chose for the autumn exchange this time. I love to find artists on Etsy or Ebay. It is nice to support small business whenever I can. I put my tea and a goodie inside the little treat sacks that I also found on Etsy.

Thank you to all the ladies that participated in the exchange again. Our Christmas group is so large that we will only be sending cards...38 people signed up! How fun is that?

The other nice thing about these exchanges is all the different teas you get to try. I think it's time for a cuppa as I watch the snow fall, just a bit longer. 

Last Day of November!

Up early this morning to start decorating the house for Christmas. Here it is the very last day of November! I wanted to post some pictures of our very fun Thanksgiving before I say good bye to this month. For the last few years, we have been going to a wonderful buffet at Salty's on the Columbia River. Now before you turn up your nose, this restaurant puts on a fabulous dinner! Everything is wonderful...oysters on the half shell, crab, shrimp,steelhead, traditional turkey fixings, salads, pastas, prime rib...just to name a few goodies. Then there's never ending Mimosas and the dessert bar. All with a gorgeous view of the Columbia River. Don't you love the turkey place card holders that Ava made for us? I'm saving mine!

The day was just beautiful! Here is some of the gang, waiting for the Wirth family to arrive. We invited LaVonne's kids Juliana and Johnathan who live here now, from Montana. We like to call them our kids, on loan. Kelsie, our other daughter joined the fun too. It's nice to invite those who don't have family or a place to go for dinner! Cute bunch of kids plus the "elder" Jim! Funny new name from Chris.

Our Montana kids (on loan)  Juliana and Johnathan. Aren't they the cutest couple? They just make me laugh.

Kelsie and Gina have been friends forever! We like to call Kelsie our other daughter...always a pleasure Miss Kelsie.

Oh, our Miss Ava is growing up! I love this picture. Notice her earrings...a gift from last Easter. She is such a cutie pie.

Two handsome dudes! Otto got passed around a lot and he loved it. Notice his little pants and socks are off. It did get a bit hot in the restaurant.

Auntie Gina and Otto...looks like he's a lady's man. He just snuggled right in with her!

Jimmy and his SIL Eric. Note the bunny ears on top of Jimmy's head. Yes, we were all having a good time!

Looking good for new parents! Angie and Chris, so cute.

Grandma Linda finally got a turn to have the baby. He is always moving and always adorable. He's such a good baby. Love ya lots my Otto!

Jimmy with his other SIL. Chris is serious about cracking that crab. One of Chris' favorite phrases is
"whatever" and can't you just see he's thinking that as he's eating that crab? Let him eat Jimmy.

Look at Otto's face! He got to sample a bit of food and that boy likes to eat! His mommy was such a picky eater. I don't think she's going to have any problem with him.

Well, we all had a fun time together. Otto crashed as we were about to leave. I think we all felt this way.

It was such a great afternoon together. Just wanted to post some pix for my blog so I can remember the day and be reminded about being thankful for these blessings of friends and family. I hope you all had a grand time too.

On to Christmas now...I'll be decorating our little home the next few days. 

Chilly Morning and Tea Time Thursday #28

Happy Tea Time Thursday on this chilly November morning! We had a couple hard freezes this week, which reminds me that fall is leaving us and winter will soon arrive. You know how I love fall and I really am sad to see it go. It is my most favorite time of the year. The woodstove is going most of the time now and I love the warmth of a wood fire.

This wooden item is called a dough bowl and it was used to make bread. I have always wanted one and Jim found it at a wonderful Estate sale filled with primitive goodies. It is quite large and looks like a baby bed! I wish I had a large harvest table, but I don't have room for that in my little home. Anyway, this is the little quilt I was working on. I wanted something to line the bowl with and give it a harvest look. Then I filled it with ornamental gourds and corn and a pumpkin...tucked in some leaves too. I like it.

Very homey and it was a fun project. I always seem to add more fall quilting goodies each year.

So for Tea Time Thursday, I am featuring a couple of my fall teapots. I have had this pumpkin teapot for years. I got it when I had my shoppe when it was hard to find fall items. I still remember the showroom where I ordered it in Seattle.

I have a lot of the blue Calico dishes and was thrilled when I found this brown Calico teapot at a thrift store about 5 years ago. I just got the little blown glass dishes you can see, also thrifting.

Jimmy and I are back into our tea time afternoon breaks around 3-4 PM. It's been nice to take a break together and enjoy a good cup of tea again. A nice habit! These are two we have been enjoying. I do like loose tea better, but these are good for tea bags.

I need to get ready for bible study. I took some pictures last week when we were working on our charity quilts. We sew the second Thursday of each month. They tie their quilts and they are just scrappy quilts. Nancy and I are trying to move them into something a bit different, but as you can see, these are older ladies and they are pretty set in their ways, but they are all so very sweet! They don't even know how to use a rotary cutter!

This is Nancy, my good friend who has started our quilting group that meets once a month. She is an excellent quilter and is helping me on my journey. She is so funny. She is learning to long arm and is really doing a great job. A fun retirement business for her.

Busy bees for sure! I just love these little ladies. So loving and so sincere.