~ Halloween GiveAway #2

In years past, a dead car battery could send this little household into a tizzy. But today, it's all OK.

Darling Daughter took her car in for service on Saturday and used her Daddy's truck for the night. She called to tell me that she really thought the battery sounded weak. I told the Daddy, but... well you guessed it.

This morning the battery was a goner. But I remembered that our insurance policy had a little add on for just such a thing. So I'm waiting for a battery jump so I can take Sweet Hubby's little truck for some new starting power.

Don't you wish you could just go plug yourself in some days and get some new energy to run on!? At least the cooler weather does give many of us a little boost.

So all the time I have for a new post is to do a little

GiveAway.

I think this print is so cute and fun. Just celebrating a little good magic in all of us, especially if you love vintage.

POST YOUR COMMENT HERE
and I'll pick a name next TUES OCT 7th.

(I might be out of town that day, but
I'll announce the winner as soon as I return.)

See ya' soon!

~ Fall Decorating, Last Day Nie Nie Benefit Sale

Oh I love this! Funny, it's mine. I don't quite remember this arrangement. But I love that big gourd. Now where is it? This is from 2006 and the previous fall photo with the large floral (thanks for the compliments on it) is from 2005. What fun finding older photos and seeing what you did before. Last year I used more of the white pumpkins, but I haven't found all of them yet either. But now that I look at the picture, half of those small gourds were real! That does remind me of the beautiful bag of real ones I found last year. So those are gone for sure. But I hope I have a photo somewhere. I'd like to do that again.

(UPDATE on Benefit Sale: All Sold!
What big hearts people have.
Thank YOU to all who participated!)

Last day of the Nie Nie Benefit Sale on Etsy. So amazing at the kindness and generosity of everyone. 1 pm EST.

Two Beau Bunny Prints will be up for sale there today. Since I will be mailing these out, be sure to let me know if you purchase one so I can send you a little surprise. But the sweet ladies who purchased from my shop after the benefit ones sold, I sent you something, too.

See ya' soon!

~ Halloween GiveAway #1 Winner!

Congratulations to Sherry Rose Bella!
Email me your address, and Beau Bunny is on his way.

Thanks to everyone who left a note. Look for more GiveAways soon.

We are supposed to cool down a bit from this heat and I know I'll be ready to do some Halloween decorating and bake cookies! I'm still unpacking the few things I have for this time of year, and looking for a couple of things I can't find yet. That always seems to happen with the one or two little things that slip by the packing.

Thank you to everyone who went by the Nie Nie Benefit Sale. It did move fast!

See ya' soon!

~ Nie Nie Benefit Sale!! Tues - Friday, Sept 22 - 26

UPDATE: Wednesday
SEE >> Morgan's Blog for updates.
Click below.

Sale CONTINUES again TODAY, &
Thurs, Friday.. at 1 pm EST.
Morgan says she still has more fabulous things!
Click on the box/picture below for updates at Morgan's Blog.

If you missed getting a Beau Bunny Print

and would still like to purchase one
as part of the Benefit Sale,

I have donated 2 more

and they will be for sale!

The Nie Nie Benefit Sale at Etsy
starts TODAY, 1 pm EST, 10 am PST
Click on the box/picture above to go to
Morgan Moore's Blog
for details and FAQ's.


CLICK BUTTON ABOVE TO GO TO ETSY SALE.

This is a SALE, no bids. You like it, you buy it.
Quick and Easy.

See ya' tomorrow for the winner of the Beau Bunny Bandito Print.

~ Halloween GiveAway #1, & a Chance To Help the Nie Nie Recovery Fund

Life is full of blessings. Not that everything is perfect around here, nor that I've slept for the last few weeks because of too much stress and worry over trying to get over the storms, and just plain worry about this and that going on. But in the view from above the Universe, I'm sure life is easy and blessed here. I have food and roof over my head, and my little family is safe and sound. That is so much more than many can say right now, including some dear people just a few miles away, or a few states over.

Counting blessings is easy, doing more is actually just as easy.
I followed a link from dear Suzie Q's blog and then again from an article on Etsy about a darling family going through more than I could image.
This from reachelbagley's article on Etsy. "On Saturday, August 16, 2008, Stephanie Nielson was in a plane crash with her husband, Christian Nielson, and his flight instructor, Doug Kinneard, near St. Johns, Arizona. Doug Kinneard passed away soon after arriving at the Maricopa County Hospital.

Christian and Stephanie remain in critical condition at the Maricopa Burn Center. Christian has sustained burns on over 30% of his body. His wife Stephanie’s body was burned over 80%.

Since 2005, Stephanie has welcomed us into her charming abode through the NieNie Dialogues (nieniedialogues.blogspot.com)...."
Click on the link to read the whole story.

You can read updates and some absolutely beautiful writing, a Stephanie's sister's blog, C Jane.

So many people have shown an outpouring of caring. Maybe you would like to as well.

On Sept. 23 and 24th, you can go to this Etsy shop and buy lots and lots of beautiful things donated by many wonderful people. The art and goodies have been sent to Morgan and she is doing all the work from there. Your purchase money will go directly into the fund for the family. Morgan will ship the item to you. What a great chance to do something wonderful and to do something so good at the same time.

I have donated 3 of my Halloween Prints. If you have been thinking of buying one from me, you are very welcome to purchase at the Nie shop. But.... I think you deserve a little something extra. So if you do buy a print during the 2 day sale be sure and come by, post a note and tell me so I can send you out some other little gift.

OK...
Now for my 1st Halloween GiveAway for 2008.
Beau Bunny the Little Bandito is looking forward to finding another new home. This bunny has delighted people in many countries and all over the US, and he might like to come live with you! (This is not one of the prints at the benefit sale.)

Next Tuesday (Sept 23) I'll pick a name from all those who POST A NOTE HERE. You have until Tuesday morning. The winner will be announced on Wed. (Sept 24)

See Ya' Soon!

~ Fall & Halloween Decorating

***************************************************************************

Friday~ For the next few weeks, I will be having a Give-Away, one or two or three....
They will be for a Halloween Print from my shop. Stop by the shop and tell me which prints are your favorites. And I will choose the Halloween Give Aways for the ones you like best.

Have a Safe & Happy Weekend,
and Special Thoughts & Prayers for the Gulf Area.

CLICK on Box to go to Etsy.

**************************************************************************

I love Fall. Doesn't everyone?
After looking for older posts and pictures of Fall & Halloween to answer some emails, I thought it would be nice to just create a couple of new posts and put some of the pictures all together. Then you don't have to search around.

This is my metal basket that is decorated for the front door. It looks different this year, but here is last year. I'll snap a new picture and post it, too. The basket is wonderful to decorate. I have two different ones, this one above, and I black open lattice one. I just realize I might need to make another one white. :)

The mantels are one of my favorite places to decorate for the seasons. The beautiful pumpkin picture is a print that I bought at one of our great art shows here. It is not so much a challenge to decorate it each year, as it is to not buy more things and keep changing it because it is so much fun!

Usually Fall decorating starts in Sept. Not too much, but just enough to remind me of the season and the promise of the cool changes to come. Then I keep out pumpkin related things and add the Halloween goodies.

Last year Home Goods and Marshall's had such a great selection of vintage inspired Halloween decorations like the fun guys above. Aren't the cute? Each year it seems to get better. Fun, but I have trouble resisting! The day after Halloween, all of that is put away, and then I do a bit more for Fall. It gets you so in the mood to enjoy all the beauty of the Holidays ahead.

The Kitty Pumpkin was found at Marshall's 2 years ago, then I found another one last year! I think I bought it, but I won't know until I unpack the Fall boxes! Old vintage silver, newer candle holder and glass vase.

Yes, the Pumpkin head in the shoe came from Home Goods! They are my favorite stores for this reason. They have the goods!

So I shared with you some of my finds from years past. I've gotten asked about them often so I thought I'd post it here. I have sometimes found a similar item the following year. If you saw something you like, happy hunting to you!

I hope you enjoyed seeing a little bit of Fall & Halloween decorating from me. It is my favorite time of year to visit old and new friends around BlogLand to see what they are up to as well.

See ya' soon! (Blessing of the year(s)...the roof is DONE!)

~ Halloween Chandelier

A new art print in the shop for Halloween. Isn't if fun? I love mixing things which interest me the most for decorating everyday with a holiday. Chandeliers and Halloween seemed like a great combination.

I'm watching the guys putting the roof on and waiting for the landscape guy who put the French drain in to come by for $$. It's great to get these things done but not relaxing fun. Although it all needs to be done, it's always a bit of a surprise writing the checks. Deep breath in!

Watching the weather channel during hurricane season is a way of life. Even when you stop holding your breath in hopes that the next one will miss you, you still watch hoping and praying for where it is headed. What a season! Hope you are all doing OK and none of the storms have caused any real damage to any of you.

I'll be back when the dust settles a little bit. See ya' soon!