Welcome Fall with Neutrals and Yellows

 

Happy Tuesday, My Lovelies!  Did you have a nice Labor Day yesterday?  I hope you had a nice time grilling out with your family.  And if you didn't grill, I hope you had a lovely day and ate something delicious!

Today I'm joining fourteen other stylists as we share our Welcome Fall Tablescapes!

Sweet Rita from the Panoply blog hosts our blog hop parties.

Thank-you, Rita, for your hard work in hosting.  You're the best!

I wanted to use these fairly new napkins on my table.  The neutral seersucker ones were purchased from Anthropologie, and the bright yellow check napkins are from Farmhouse Pottery.

When I was looking around for table linens and tableware for this tablescape, I decided to go with mostly neutrals and yellow.  I think these colors are reminiscent of autumn, especially the browns.

The yellow cabbage rose tablecloth is the most summery thing on the table.  But this table is definitely a transition from summer to fall.  The checked table runner with the bright yellow stitching complements it.

The little salt and pepper shaker set is definitely a nod to autumn.  I like how it matches the table runner.

I chose chrysanthemums and sunflowers for the centerpiece.  Sunflowers are so plentiful this time of the year, and I love the colors of the mums.

For the past couple of falls I've taken out this espresso set.  The colors remind me of fall.

I also like how the cups and saucers look with our Longaberber stoneware.

I love the bright sunflower napkin rings.  Yellows and golds are lovely colors for fall!

Resources

Tablecloth:  Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic

Table runner:  Terrain

Seersucker napkins and salt and pepper set:  Anthropologie

Check napkins:  Farmhouse Pottery

Napkin rings:  Pier 1

Plates, bowls, mugs, and tea light holders:  Longaberger stoneware

Cutlery pouches: Smith's Variety

Green cut glass tumblers:  Green Row

Coffee press and espresso set:  Target

Vase:  MacKenzie-Childs

Flowers:  The Fresh Market and The Piggly Wiggly

Below are the links for the party.  Thrifting Wonderland is next if you're linking in order.

Panoply - Shuffling Seasons with an Early Fall Tablescape

Home is Where the Boat Is - Woodland Friends and Harvest Plaid

Everyday Living - The Colorful Bliss of Autumn

Hyacinths for the Soul - On the Cusp of Autumn

Celebrating Everyday Life - Welcome Fall with a Cozy & Elegant Tablescape

My Thrift Store Addiction - Curated Charm Autumn Breakfast Table

The Bookish Dilettante - Welcome Fall with Neutral and Yellow

Thrifting Wonderland - Thrifting for a Welcome Fall Tablescape

The Cat's Whiskerz - Hydrangeas, Sunflowers, and Pumpkins for a Fall Tablescape

Red Cottage Chronicles - A Cozy Autumn Dinner

Dinner at Eight - Leaves of Green - and Gold, Crimson, Rust and Bronze

Life and Linda - An Enchanted Fall Faerie Tablescape

Me and My Captain - Another Fall...Another Turned Page...in New Mexico

Corner of Plaid and Paisley - A Little Taste of Fall Tablescape

Mantel and Table - An Intimate Al Fresco Tablescape: Cozy & Beautiful Fall Dining

I love the color of these light yellow sunflowers from Mississippi.

I just wanted to share them with y'all!

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

Welcome Fall with Neutrals and Yellows

Tuesday, September 2, 2025

Halloween Tablescape Hop: Haunted Forest

 

Happy Halloween, My Lovelies!  The spookiest time of the year is right around the corner, and we're celebrating it today with a Halloween Tablescape Blog Hop hosted by My Friend Rita from the Panoply Blog.  If you're hopping in order, you just left Sweet Jenna's blog, The Painted Apron.  Thanks for visiting my little corner of the Interwebs!  

Thank-you, Rita, for hosting these blog hop parties.  They are always so much fun!

You've been cordially invited to step back in time and have tea in Madame Mathilde's Victorian home, specifically in her Room of Curiosities.  The Victorians loved collecting curious things from nature and their travels, and they often dedicated entire rooms to these pursuits.  Madame Mathilde collects many specimens from nature (she adores mushrooms and moths), and she also dabbles in the occult like many of her fellow Victorians.

This evening, Madame Mathilde is excited to show you a few of her most recent finds over tea and macarons.  It's time to step inside her room of curiosities.

What type of tea would you like?  Are you requiring a Love Potion or a Witch's Brew?

Do you take cream and/or sugar in your tea?

You're offered four different types of macarons:  Coffee, Earl Gray, Vanilla, or Caramel.

As your enjoying your tea, Mathilde begins to show you a few of her latest acquisitions.

The florals in the Room of Curiosities are interesting.  The magical white blossoms seem to attract rare butterflies, and the gray roses are ghostly and mysterious.

Madame Mathilde found the witch's banner and broom on a recent sojourn to Scandinavia.

She also has a few specimens from nature displayed in test tubes.

Clockwise from upper left:

Madame Mathilde has displayed several curiosities under glass cloches, from mushrooms to these Pearls of Wisdom and Kindness Dust she found in a dusty corner of The Cotswolds.

More flora specimens in a bowl

Ghostly books containing tales of wonder

A close-up of kindness dust and a miniature scene with swans

As dusk turns to evening, Madame Mathilde lights candles, and one of her cloche's contains real fairy lights.  What looked enchanting in the daylight looks downright haunting at night.

As Madame Mathilde shows you the last of her curiosities, you notice your movements have become languid.  It's definitely the bewitching hour, and you need to make your leave cordially and quickly!

I hope you escaped enjoyed your visit with Madame Mathilde!  During the summer, I was thinking about what I might want to do for this hop because we really don't have a lot of Halloween things.  One day I was in Michael's crafts buying a few art supplies when I noticed they had both a dark academia and light academia collection entitled "Haunted Forest."  I was smitten with the light academia version!  Most of the things on the table are from the collection, and I also love the Victorian/haunted mansion vibes and the butterflies, moths, spiders, and other natural elements.  

Resources:

I'll list the things from Michael's first:  Round metal cutwork trays; witch's broom; test tube display; teapot; teacups; green mushrooms under cloche display;  pink mushroom stand under large cloche;  butterfly specimens; pink organdy ribbon; large white floral sprays with butterflies and clear bubbles; vellum to turn books into "ghosties"

Plate containing floral specimens and white candlestick:  MacKenzie-Childs

Salt and pepper set:  Anthropologie

Terra cotta apricot rose candle:  Shoppe, Birmingham

Votives:  Leaf 'n Petal, Birmingham

Art pieces under cloche:  White Flowers, Birmingham

Pink table runner:  Sur La Table

White table runner:  Shabby Chic

Plates and serving platter:  Venetian lace by Rosanna 

White velvet pumpkin:  Hot Skwash 

All crystal (vase, sugar bowl, and creamer), milk glass covered candy dish (from Patti) and napkins:  vintage

Please be sure to visit the other stylists' posts!  Me and My Captain is next!

Panoply - Ghouls Just Wanna Have Fun!

Home is Where the Boat Is - Pink, Eek and Ghostly Sweets

Hyacinths for the Soul - Tartan Spice is Very Nice!

Everyday Living - A Grand Halloween at Wood's Edge

Pandora's Box - A Halloween Alfresco Dinner

My Thrift Store Addiction - BOO-tiful Brunch Buffet

The Cat's Whiskerz - Butterflies and Skellies for a Halloween Tablescape

Karins Kottage - Spooky and Stylish: My Outdoor Halloween Tablescape

Thrifting Wonderland - Jellicle Cats Tablescape

Corner of Plaid and Paisley - Happy Haunting

Life and Linda - Tea With Miss Pumpkinhead

The Painted Apron - A Frightful Night

The Bookish Dilettante - Halloween Tablescape Hop: The Haunted Forest *You're here!

Me and My Captain - What do Motorhomes, Autumn, and Pumpkins Have in Common

Dinner at Eight - A Shadow on the Floor - The Raven

Celebrating Everyday Life - Easy and Elegant Ideas for a Spooky-Pretty Halloween Celebration

Red Cottage Chronicles - Shadows of the Sky Halloween Tablescape

Happy Halloween!

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

Halloween Tablescape Hop: Haunted Forest

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

September Wrap-Up and a Comforting Recipe

 

Happy October, My Lovelies!  Today I'll be sharing with you my September wrap-up, a lovely recipe, and what I'm working on this month.

September was a busy month for us.  We finished our basement media room, and I love the color I painted it:  It's called "yellow frost."  

I will post more photos of this project later this month.

I also had my port taken out on September 17th, and I can't tell you how happy this makes me.  Although I dreaded the surgery, it's nice not to have that constant reminder of chemo in my body.  We also received our last CSA subscription box the same day, so I have been busy cooking and putting-up vegetables.

I made refrigerator pickles for the first time last month.  You can try it yourself by using THIS RECIPE.

I finished my first painting since treatment in September, a painting for our library.  It feels so good to be moving paint around a canvas again, but I still want to draw a little, too.  

Because I've set some personal goals for autumn, I'm trying very hard NOT to stream or scroll as much.  I want to keep up with the news, but it's hard to find a good source these days.  I've finally found a wonderful service called The Pour Over.  They strictly give the facts about top news stories without the spin.  They also give Christian perspectives for their stories that I find brilliant as well as comforting.  Please click on the graphic below for more information.

This year I decorated more than I ever have for Halloween.  I'm not really a Halloween lover, but I was inspired by Michael's of all places.  They featured a pretty line this year called "Haunted Forest," and it really spoke to me.  I'm planning on taking all the Halloween and fall decor down on November 1st and decorating for Christmas immediately after.  We have two quick trips planned for November, and I'm looking forward to enjoying Christmas decor earlier this year.

I put out all our pumpkins and pumpkin paintings. 

I've been learning new skills with floral arranging both at home and at church.  Below are some of the prettiest autumn roses I've ever seen.  Called "High Magic," they truly are magical for the season.

The red edges of these stunning roses were emphasized once the roses opened more.

Finally, we've been visiting our local farmers' market on Saturday morning.  One of my favorite vendors is a micro bakery, and we've been pleased with all the bread we've purchased from them.

This piece of art is actually pumpkin bread.

Our last CSA box featured Hakurei turnips.  Stonehollow Farmstead's CSA blog recommended a delicious soup recipe, and I made it.  The fam loved it so much, I've made it twice more!  I want to share it with you because it's a super-easy, comforting soup perfect for fall and winter.  Plus it has the added benefit of microgreens that gives it a unique flavor and nutritional boost.

Carrot, Hakurei Turnip, and Ginger Bisque

The most difficult part of this recipe is chopping the carrots and turnips.

Ingredients

3 C Carrots, peeled and diced

2 C Hakurei Turnips, Peeled and Diced

⅛ to ¼ Cup Fresh Ginger, Peeled and Diced 

Carton of Chicken Stock

1 C Heavy Cream 

Microgreens

Black Pepper

Procedure

Combine your diced carrots, turnips, ginger and stock in you large soup pot/pan.  Add enough stock to completely cover the vegetables, but don't add too much because you want the soup to be thick.

Cook on medium/medium high heat for 15 to 20 minutes until vegetables are tender and can be easily pierced with a fork.

Turn off the heat and carefully transfer your vegetable/stock mixture to your blender (you can use a ladle to do this or gently pour everything in).

If desired, pour a cup of heavy cream on top of everything once it’s in the blender.

Use the blender to puree the mixture, and pour everything back in your pan.

Turn the heat on medium if needed to reheat the soup slightly.

To serve, drizzle the top with heavy cream, sprinkle with black pepper and add microgreens if desired.

Leftovers store great in the refrigerator and can easily be reheated.

This recipe is from Taproot Farm.  Here is the link to the recipe.  

COOK'S NOTES:

Although we like ginger, we thought it overpowered this recipe.  The second time I made it I left it completely out, and everyone liked it better.  I would suggest a smaller amount of ginger (one eighth of a cup) if you like it.

Instead of using a blender, I used an immersion blender and blended the soup directly in the pot.  

Truly the black pepper and microgreens make this recipe even better.  I prefer rainbow microgreens, but you can use whatever you want.

Instead of drizzling with cream, we drizzled a little bit of olive oil on the soup.

This recipe is a hit!  It's a quick, comforting meal for the season.

You can add a crusty French batard to really make this meal special.

What I'm Working On In October

This month I'm participating in a fun book challenge on Instagram.  If you have an account, please follow me and I'll follow you back!

I turned some of my favorite Halloween-themed books into ghosties by using vellum.

I will share my September Reading Wrap-up soon, and I'm also working on a Halloween Tablescape Blog Hop that will be live on October 10th.

For the rest of the year and 2025 I'm making a goal to read more classics and books about art.  

Finally, I'd like to invite you to join us in our Advent Study.  Over at our Prayer Warrior Blog, we are pretending to be the Hallmark Channel, and we're starting our Christmas celebration early, like in next week early!  We will be reading Sarah Young's Jesus Listens for Advent & Christmas.  You have a week to pick up a copy and join us.  We would love to have you!

Thank you for reading my blog!  

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

September Wrap-Up and a Comforting Recipe

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Third August Craft for Early Fall

 

Happy Saturday, My Lovelies!  I hope you're enjoying your long weekend so far, and maybe watching a little college football.  Today I'm sharing with you the third August craft for early fall.

In case you missed them, I shared a cloche craft HERE and a vintage bottle craft HERE.

Today's craft was inspired by a banner I saw on Country Living Magazine's website:

Here are the supplies I used:

I found the leaves in the party aisle at the Hallmark Store.  I purchased two fall ribbon bundles from Michael's.  I also decided to use fall craft paper for the lettering rather than cutting out the letters on the leaves.  The paper is from Daphne's Diary.

Instructions:

Hang your ribbon on four hooks or pegs.  I hung mine on the pegs on my floral work table.  You could use cup hooks if you have them on a dresser, or you could use Command Hooks anywhere.

Spell out the letters on your leaves:  I chose a font I liked and copied the letters on my craft paper.  Then, I cut them out and glued them onto the leaves.  If you don't like your handwriting, you could use a stencil or even purchase large sticker letters and use them.

Pin your leaves onto a ribbon or two using the little clothespins.  You can find them at most crafts stores.  Yay!  So easy.

I added a few of our glass pumpkins and acorns that are the same colors as the ribbons.

What do you think?  Which one of my crafts do you like best?  Will you try any of them?

Please come back tomorrow for our September 1, 2024 edition of the Tales of the Traveling Tote.

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

Third August Craft for Early Fall

Saturday, August 31, 2024