Autumn Colors & Family...

When you live in the forest there aren't many naturally occurring Fall colors.  Mr. C and I planted these Crimson King Maple trees sixteen years ago.  They are a riot of colors and today Mr. C captured them in full splendor.  We had a little rain overnight so everything is fresh and happy.

I took time off my house chores on Saturday and drove "down the hill" to visit with my sister Marie and her daughter Meg.  My niece lives in Michigan so we don't get to see her very often.  We three ladies enjoyed a good visit while having lunch. Marie is vegetarian and Meg is vegan.  I am happy with eating just as they do so we all ordered butternut squash Panini and white chocolate chai to drink.  I did add avocado to my Panini and it was quite yummy.

It was such a nice day for a family visit.  Meg is on the train back to Michigan now.
Upon leaving the ladies I did a little shopping.  It is always wise to make the trip down the hill account for more than just one reason.  All the stores are fully into Christmas with displays and merchandise.  It is almost Halloween so I suppose Christmas is right around the corner.  Yikes!
Still preparing the homestead for listing...or not.  It seems our rural community has not recovered from the Real Estate Bubble Burst and being rural has not allowed progress.  Our beautiful home and property are in the exact price level that is dead.  We are down at least $300,000 and that was not our plan.  In our Sunset years we want to enjoy our lives and not have to stress over money.  All of this just makes Mr. C want out of California even more.  I am merely trying to remain calm. 
Autumn is turning chilly and leaves are falling fast. 
I am happy to take time each week and visit each of you. I am enjoying seeing your lovely decorating and your wonderful creative projects.  Autumn Bliss to all...

Closet Before and After...

Several months ago Mr. C told me to empty my closet because he needed to work on it and paint it fresh.  We have lived in this home for 18 years and I confess my closet was a disaster.  I did not take any before photos with clothes because it was just too embarrassing.  I admit to a slight tendancy towards "hoarder" status.  I hate to eliminate things even though I always donate to Hospice.

It took me six weeks to take everything out.  I was overwhelmed with how much I had stuffed into this space.  Oh by-the-way I was so shocked at the size of my closet when I did get it emptied that I measured the floor alone.  It is 7 feet x 13 feet and I am embarrassed because that is the size of some bedrooms I have had in my past. 

 
It is nice and bright and I do enjoy having a window.  I had to cover that window though because the wonderful sunshine would stream in and fade only the one side depending on how clothes were hung.

So where did I put all that stuff?  Well, the library across the hall.  Mr. C had the audacity one day to ask, "What is all that stuff in here now?"  That man should be silent!  I did take loads downstairs and hang them in the guest closets.  Then I was talking via telephone to our good friend, Mr. Larry, who recently moved and rebuilt closets.  Well...

Brilliant Larry suggested two ladders with poles across.  So Mr. C got to hang all of his clothes nice and neat.  He did take over the dining room.  Thank you Mr. Larry.

So for a solid week Mr. C and his super helper, John, worked in both closets and routed every edge of every shelf, straightened my sagging brackets and rods, and sanded and painted.  Two gallons of expensive Benjamin Moore paint and five hours later I could move back in.  But..."don't clutter or overload!  Remember we are listing the house and buyers need to see a spacious closet."

Now I have donated another truckload of clothes, shoes, boots and hats to Hospice.  I just hope I have clothes and shoes left for me to wear.

 Now you have seen the after photos and I admit I am so giddy with the transformation.  I love to be able to see just what I have and am able to actually wear.  Oh, you ask if I kept anything downstairs in the guests closets?  Yes, just a wee bit.  I have one garment bag in each closet with specialty pieces that aren't for everyday.  Mr. C did approve of this.

 

 

One last photo to share with you and Thank You for staying with me this long.  This is the niche just before entering my closet and I love to display special treasures of family vintage hats and "handbags".  Not all are vintage but they are lots of fun. 

This entire closet project almost killed me and I am so thankful it is now completed.  Now on to more sorting and donating and packing in my craft room downstairs. 

Our weather is just right and hopefully we might get some much needed rain this coming weekend. 

I am content and finding JOY in each and every day.  I did take a day "off" and meet my sister.  We spent some lovely hours making beaded charms.  She was learning and she did extremely well!  I was very proud of her.

Embracing Creative Bliss...

Silk Ribbon Embroidery...

Even though it is taking me a very very long time with my Crazy Quilting lessons I am not quitting.  Now I am learning Silk Ribbon Embroidery and I am so excited.  I have always wanted to be able to do this.  Here are my very first ever practice Iris flowers. 

Here are my CQ Block Iris flowers.  They are not blue but the same purple that are my practice flowers.  I am so pleased with these. 

Now I have my practice Spider Roses also known as 5-Spoke Roses.  I love the color of this variegated silk ribbon.

Here are my Roses that I stitched onto my CQ block.  I used softer peachy colors to help balance my block colors.  These Roses are super easy to create and I can imagine lots of possibilities for using these in other creative ways and places. 

I am excited to see my CQ block coming along and filling in the blank spaces.  If you click on any photo they will be larger so you can see the details even better.  Thank you Kathy Shaw for teaching me this wonderful Crazy Quilting process.
Now that October is here we have had the cold snap that truly brings out the Fall colors.  Our temperatures are much cooler and we have had to turn on the heater already.  We have had a high of 52 degrees F and a low of 33 degrees F.  I am so not ready for Winter which follows Fall.  Growing up in Southern California there really weren't "Seasons" and I never knew to miss them.  Now that we have Seasons here in Northern California I appreciate them but I certainly do not need them.  Thankfully we have had a little rain.  We also had a massive hail storm and luckily it didn't cause any damage for us. 
Thank you for visiting and always inspiring me along the way in this journey of life.  I continue to EMBRACE every day and all that it holds.  Falling into Autumn Bliss...