A Visit from the American Goldfinch

One of the things I am thankful for today is that the American Goldfinches are still visiting my feeders. They are one of the first birds that I started feeding years ago.

They are here year round in Kentucky so I have them at the feeders through all the seasons. During the winter the males lose most of their  brilliant yellow color and the coloring becomes more of a dullish gray.  

Here's a collage I made back in June, you can really see the difference in the male color during the summer months. 

Thanks for stopping in for a visit from the American Goldfinch - Judy.


Linking to:

Thankful Thursday @ It's a Small Town Life

Friday Photo Journal

Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer

Wild Bird Wednesday @ Paying Ready Attention Gallery

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Nature Notes @ Rambling Woods

Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life 

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A Cup of Mrs. Olson

Thankful Thursday @ It's a Small Town Life

Friday Photo Journal

Sweet Inspiration Link Party @ The Boondocks Blog on Fridays 

Christmas in JoAnn's Living Room

My friend JoAnn has her living room decked for Christmas and has been kind enough to let me share it with you. 

Her theme for this room is cardinals. You will see them on the mantel, in the tree, and on the couches. 

Her flocked tree features Cardinal ornaments and red ornaments with white lights. 

Her mantel has cardinals resting on  silver candleholders, pine cones, berries, red ribbon plus cardinal ornaments hanging from the mantel. 

I'm sure you have noticed that JoAnn has such an eye for design and details. 

She was an art teacher for years before she retired. So she knows color and just how to use it. 

Her sofa pillows go perfect with her cardinal theme.

Thanks JoAnn for sharing your living room with us.

Joining these fabulous parties:

Met Monday @ BNOTP

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings
Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday
The Scoop @ Stone Gable Blog
The Scoop @ Confessions of a Plate Addict
The Scoop @ Worthington Court
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style on Tuesday evening
Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A cup of Mrs. Olson on Wednesday evening
Share Your Style Link Party @21 Rosemary Lane on Wednesday evening
Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life on Wednesday evening
Grace at Home @ The Charm of Home
Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch
Foodie Friday & Everything Else @ Rattlebridge Farm on Thursday
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage
Sundays at Home @ My Soulful Home on Saturday
Table It Link Party @ Life and Linda
Inspiration Monday @ Our Southern Home
Dishing It and Digging It @ Rustic & Refined on Sundays

At the Feeders and in the Trees - Week 21

I've had a nice mix of feeder birds visiting this week: the Carolina Wren, American Goldfinch, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Cardinal, Carolina Chickadee, Chipping Sparrow, and the Tufted Titmouse. 

I'm always thankful for the many birds that visit my yard and feeders and that I am able to provide food for them. Hope you enjoyed my collage of visitors for Week 21 of At the Feeders and in the Trees - Judy.

Linking to these parties:

Saturday's Critters @ Viewing Nature with Eileen on Saturday

Camera Critters on Saturday

I'd Rather Be Birdin' on Saturday at noon

Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer

Wild Bird Wednesday @ Paying Ready Attention Gallery

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Nature Notes @ Rambling Woods

Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life 

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A Cup of Mrs. Olson

Thankful Thursday @ It's a Small Town Life

Friday Photo Journal

Sweet Inspiration Link Party @ The Boondocks Blog on Fridays 

Thanksgiving in Blues and Grays

The big Thursday is just about a week away.  For today, I have set a table in light blues and grays giving the traditional oranges and browns a little rest. It never hurts to try something new! 

I do love to decorate with pastel colors in my house, so why not set a Thanksgiving table featuring these light colors. 

I bet you saw these plates at Pier 1 earlier in the season. I bought six then tried to buy a few more a little later but they were sold out. Glad I jumped on buying them as soon as I saw them. Love the blueish gray pumpkin on the plate design. 

For the table centerpiece, dried limelight hydrangeas and little limelights from my  gardens were used. 

I simply cut the blooms in late September; placed them in a vase with just a little water. I try not to touch them since I'm sure they might crumble.

Flatware for the table is Laurie Gates - Sizzle in Oyster Gray. 

The stemware is Fostoria Heritage which belonged to my Mom.

You might be wondering about my mini pumpkins. I grew two plants of them in my tiny vegetable garden. Some of the pumpkins were white and some had orange and white stripes. A little gray paint was added to the striped ones just to go with this blue and gray tablescape. 

The leaves were cut using a Tim Holtz die and my Sizzix Die Cutting Machine. 

If you are waiting a table that is casual and not too formal, this look might be just for you. It could be used for a Thanksgiving breakfast or Thanksgiving evening and a formal table for the main meal. The choice is yours.

The placemats and napkins are also Pier 1.

Thanks for stopping by for my Thanksgiving in Blues and Grays - Judy.

Linking to these great parties:

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A Cup of Mrs. Olson on Wed. evenings 
Share Your Style Link Party @ 21 Rosemary Lane on Wed. evenings

Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life on Wednesday evening

Thankful Thursday @ It's a Small Town Life
Foodie Friday & Everything Else @ Rattlebridge Farm on Thursday

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch on Thursday morning

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage on Thursday morning

Table It Link Party @ Life and Linda

Inspiration Monday @ Our Southern Home 

Dishing It and Digging It @ Rustic & Refined on Sundays

Met Monday @ BNOP
Celebrate Your Story @ Celebrate and Decorate
The Scoop @ Stone Gable Blog

Dining With Pumpkins and Antlers

What a change a few days can make! The temperatures in our area are cooler and so much more enjoyable.  Setting a table that features pumpkins and antlers is a delight on days like this. 

The antlers used in the centerpiece are from deering hunting trips of my husbands. He is starting to prepare for the upcoming deer season the third week of November and again the first weekend in December. Deer camp is a big thing around here. 

Leaves are falling daily now. It's always fun to walk in the leaves and kick them around. Memories from my childhood seem to flood in. 

I'm always thankful for fall to arrive. 

I added architectural elements on both sides of the china cabinet. A little white chalk paint was added then they were hung by my husband. 

Warm fall colors used on the table and seen outdoors gives a good feeling.

The architectural elements are lightweight so we didn't worry about hitting a stud while hanging them. 

The pumpkin salad plates from Pier 1 were just too good to pass up. Who could resist their color and design.

The orange pumpkin shaped plates are Pottery Barn from a few years ago. 

Thanks for stopping by and I appreciate your comments - Judy.

Linking to these great parties:

Met Monday @ BNOP
Celebrate Your Story @ Celebrate and Decorate
The Scoop @ Stone Gable Blog

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A Cup of Mrs. Olson on Wed. evenings 
Share Your Style Link Party @ 21 Rosemary Lane on Wed. evenings

Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life on Wednesday evening

Thankful Thursday @ It's a Small Town Life
Foodie Friday & Everything Else @ Rattlebridge Farm on Thursday

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch on Thursday morning

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage on Thursday morning

Table It Link Party @ Life and Linda

Inspiration Monday @ Our Southern Home 

Dishing It and Digging It @ Rustic & Refined on Sundays