Sunflower Happiness Cont'd!

On Friday I did a post about Summer's Sunshine- Sunflowers as seen "here"

 I think sunflowers are the perfect transition from summer to fall.  I'm not ready to let go of summer just yet so I'm transitioning my look with sunflowers.  I had a variety of artificial sunflowers in my stock pile and I even had some white ones too!  I know the real ones are best but they don't last very long and it would be expensive to keep fresh ones around for the next month or so!

I felt that the white would help keep it summery so I made sure I added enough pops of it.

I swapped out the blue vase for the white milk cow topped bottle.

 I carefully split up my lavender into these three tin containers.  Pier 1 sells this as a utensil holder but I saw it differently!  

There are hand painted sunflower stemware wine glasses here too but they're hard to see. 

The white ruffle edge bowl was from Hobby Lobby.  I've been looking for one but they were always too expensive.  This one was very reasonable especially at 50% off and a nice size for our petite table.   

Looking back from my kitchen sink...I like it!

 Now I have to re-do the front door basket!

Metamorphosis Monday

Inspire Me Tuesday 

Share Your Style #27

Summer's Sunshine- Sunflowers!

Well it's late in the summer season and Sunflowers are in bloom!

I think they offer a ray of sunshine for any day- even a gloomy one!

I rummaged through my stock of artificial flowers and ended up with this... These were about 24" stems but I chopped away at them to work for these jars.

I was going to put these jars on the plate rack but they were too tall so I finallly decided I wanted a new cheerful design on the windowsill at my kitchen sink.

 I've been growing a collection of green glass bottles.  This one has a cow on it although I just couldn't seem to capture it well.  The little jar has pieces of the lavender that have fallen from my small bouquet of lavender I got at the lavender farm.

Makes me happy!!

Bon Weekend everyone!

Joining
Tuesdays at our Home

Artistic Gate at the Old Family Farm

I'm joining the Run A Round Ranch Report once again 

for her party "Good Fences"

I want to thank everyone who visited my first post last week- I was overwhelmed with the kindness and great response!

My husband grew up in this tiny little farmhouse in the southeastern part of Michigan.  It was a working dairy farm but these days it's quiet and the earth rests around it.

 I took these pictures in Nov. 2013 and I first posted about this "here"

 Just to the west side of the house is an old fence and neat gate my husband's sister put together.  I walked along and hoisted bails of hay onto a cart a few times in this field!

I used my cell phone for the pictures so they're not the best quality.  I enhanced the photo so you could see the detail on the gate a bit better.  

 The artistry is by the same sister Clara that created the gate.

 This depicts the field just beyond the barn on the east side...

 This is the old milk house area...when I first started coming around in '73 it was very active.  The big dairy truck would arrive and run a big hose in through this door to the milk tank several times a week.  By 1985 the cows were sold off and the farm only produced corn and hay for several years to sell for added income.

The old stanchions only serve as reflections of this once active barn these days...

This feels like a fence doesn't it?

She's a tired barn but still standing her own ground.  Her roof is straight and that's very important!  I'd love to give it a new silver toned painted roof and a coat of red on the barn!  I love red barns! 

 Joining

"Good Fences"

Seashells, Stripes and Sailboats

Imagine yourself living by the seashore and enjoying an early evening of dining with friends out on your patio overlooking a sandy beach on the ocean.

Squint your eyes and pretend along with me!

 Seashells outline the chargers and stripes add to the nautical feel....

 Sailboats lined up along the border of this tea towel made by Mierco

 The cobalt blue stemware came from Pier 1 a while back- clearance section

  The lantern was also from Pier 1.  We'll pretend the seashells have been collected along the beach and stuffed in the lantern.

The men's shirt striped tablecloth is by Ralph Lauren- found at Home Goods.  I've been looking for a way to use it!

 Life preserver napkin rings from Sur La Table.  The striped napkins are from Pottery Barn- last year.

These dishes are called "By The Sea" by David Carter Brown for Sakura

 I've always loved lighthouses and I found these on Ebay

I used the light aqua plates again because I like the color they bring out for these ocean, beach or nautical tablescapes. 

The striped plates came from One King's Lane but don't have a maker's name on them.  The chargers are from a small store's clearance section.  I liked how each seashell was tied on and the interesting woven design they have.

Time to Dine!

Ok you can un-squint your eyes now!

Joining:
Between Naps on the Porch
for
Tablescape Thursday

Foodie Friday and Everything Else

My Heart Lives Here