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Monday, September 2, 2013

Autumn 2013 Home Tour, Part II

by Heather

Welcome back to my early autumn decorating for 2013. If you didn't catch Part I of the Autumn Home Tour and you really want to see more (you're nuts like me) swing back to Friday, August 30, when you're done looking at this one.

We're starting in the family room today...
A Pottery Barn wreath gets hung over a black and gold mirror I found at the Cave Creek Town Dump (a local shop that has a very strange assortment of goods) which is set against the beveled mirror above the fireplace mantel. The candle sconces on either side of the fireplace get Pottery Barn candles and a potpourri mix of dried oranges, nuts, and berries. 
A couple of lanterns, lighted vine pumpkins, and vases filled with leaves and lighted twigs are placed on top of the entertainment center in the family room. Natural gourds round out the fall decor along with a Pottery Barn leaf garland.
A Pottery Barn mercury glass vase houses a battery-operated candle and is flanked by silver antler candlesticks from Z Gallerie. More lighted vine pumpkins help illuminate the vignette on the glass-topped table.
The leather ottoman gets its fall look with a mercury glass candlestick, pumpkin, and bowl contained in a zebra and black wooden tray from Stein Mart. Another Pottery Barn fall candle adds to the ambiance. 
The small round table next to the sofa has a simple vignette of fall items.
The dining room table has two lanterns from Home Goods, a couple of vine pumpkins, and my favorite, a piece of driftwood from the Mogollon Rim. Hubby drilled holes for the votives and I wound a glass-beaded vine around it. Three shed antlers complete the tablescape centerpiece. If you look closely, you can just pick out the orange and cream chevron pattern runner from Home Goods.
This pewter and glass two-tiered shelf from my favorite local shop, On the Veranda, comes out for fall and is outfitted with pewter goblets, jugs, and small ceramic gourds.
Technically, this isn't fall decorating since the female bust on a bedside table in the master bedroom has been wearing the orange necklace and fedora for most of the summer  but orange is my favorite autumn color so I couldn't resist including it.
This small picture is very special to me -- it was painted by a friend of my grandfather's in 1918 when they were both serving in the British navy.

On another note:

Have you heard that Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones are "taking a break"? It sounds as if it's kind of like a separation but not yet a divorce. I guess it allows the couple to re-think why they fell in love and where their relationship is heading. Well, along that same thought process, I'm going to take a break from blogging. I need to re-discover the passion that I had for blogging when Ann, Sheila, and I first started this adventure.

The best part of blogging for me has been getting to know fellow bloggers and readers from all parts of the world.  I can't thank you enough for sharing yourselves with me through your comments. Your words have brought smiles (and sometimes outright laughter) and have made the world seem a whole lot smaller and a whole lot kinder. I've enjoyed being a part of the blogger community and will continue to follow your posts and be inspired by your thoughts and actions.

Ann and Sheila will be sharing their thoughts on Wednesday and Friday so please make sure to stop by and read what their decisions will be.

Love and good-bye for now,
Heather

43 comments:

  1. I think blog-breaks are very healthy, Heather. I do hope you will return at some point and won't feel the need to "divorce" blogland! I adore your Fall decor and think you may be just a tad-bit more crazy than me. I've just started today to post my Fallish-ness around here and feel almost giddy. Gotta crank that air down some more to survive these last weeks of AZ heat!

    Hope you have a wonderful rest of your weekend!
    Carol

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    1. Thank you, Carol. Have you ever taken a blog-break? I've enjoyed getting to know you and will continue to read your posts :)
      Heather

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  2. Your home is beautiful with all your fall decor. You've inspired me to pull out what I have. In the Midwest we get a nice fall (usually) before winter arrives. I will certainly miss your posts (love all your outfits!). Enjoy your break and if you chose to return to posting, I'll be here, waiting!

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    1. Thank you, Donna. One of the things I miss most about living in Minnesota is the change of seasons. Fall was always my favorite. It's harder to achieve that same autumn feeling in AZ but decor does help :)
      Heather

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  3. I don't comment often, but enjoy your posts very much! I am sure you will enjoy your blogging break. I think blogging should never be a should, and if a little voice has suggested you reassess your intentions, then it's time to step back and relax. Having said that, I do hope to see you back!

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    1. Thank you, Sue. It's nice to have reassurance that I'm doing the right thing by taking a break. I enjoy reading your blog and will continue to do so :)
      Heather

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  4. I have enjoyed reading your posts and wish you well during your break from blogging. I hope that you will consider coming back, after you recharge your creative batteries. Take care~

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    1. Thank you, Susan. I'm hoping that at some point I'll want to resume blogging.
      Heather

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  5. Thanks for the many glimpses into your life, Heather. It's been a special gift to me, as a long-time friend who hasn't kept in touch as much as I would have liked. The years and distance haven't dimmed your sense of style nor your generous enthusiasm for sharing. May you keep it going whether blogging or not - you're an inspiration!
    Connie

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    1. Hi Connie, I'm so glad you've been following the blog. We definitely need to get together more often. We've known each other since junior high and it's been such a special friendship -- one that's continued over the years even when we haven't been able to see each other. Let's make a point of getting together this year, okay?
      Heather

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  6. Heather everything looks lovely.

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  7. So pretty! I'm hosting a candle giveaway that you should enter! http://homecomingmn.blogspot.com/2013/09/fremont-candles-givewaway-20-for.html

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    1. Thank you, Kayla. I love candles so I'll check in to your blog to see about entering.
      Heather

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  8. Oh man.. this is making me crave fall even more!! I love all your décor! I'm most definitely ready for pumpkin weather! :)
    xoxo,
    Nikki at www.bedazzlesafterdark.com

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    1. Thank you, Nikki. Now if only the weather would cooperate. It's 110 degrees in Phoenix today :(

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  9. I love following your fashion and home decorating on this blog. I only blogged once this whole summer as my routine was severely hampered with my work situation and instead of one full time job - I then had 2 part time ones with some long days in there. I had no energy to bake/cook, decorate or craft which is what my blog is about. I am attending a blogging conference in a week so I'm hoping that will motivate me to get back. My main reason for doing a blog was to make me more accountable to get things accomplished and I feel that it really helped me with that. This is my favorite time of year (now until New Year's) so I am confident that will get me moving!! I really hope that your break isn't that long because I will really miss your posts!!

    Janet

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  10. Thank you, Janet, for taking the time to leave such an inspired comment. I hope that I'm like you in that a short break will re-energize me. I have so much more time now that I'm retired but I feel as if I get less done -- how weird is that? What blogging conference are you going to? Maybe that's what I need?? The fall/winter season is my favorite, too, so perhaps I'll be wanting to share what I'm up to once again.
    Heather

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    1. I live in northern Ohio, along Lake Erie, and the conference happens to be at Cedar Point (the amusement park) which is only a half hour from me. I thought that I would never have a conference so close to me - it's the Bloggy Moms Conference. I'm sure the majority will be young moms - I'm a grandmother - but they said you don't have to even be a mom to attend. I will just be doing the workshops, etc that are geared to me. I think that you all don't have to be so structured and do a blog on certain days because that is hampering your lifestyle. Just post when each of you have something that you want to share and if you have 4 in one week then great -- and if you have nothing some weeks then that is fine, too. Do what is in line with all of you.

      Janet
      www.graycardigan.blogspot.com

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    2. That's good advice, Janet, about just posting when we have something to share. Maybe that's what we'll end up doing :) Thanks for letting me know about this conference. It's a little too far for me to attend but maybe we'll find something closer to AZ.
      Heather

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  11. Aw, we will miss you but I TOTALLY understand. I have thought about taking a blogging break too, but now with Fall and the holidays coming I am reinspired. Enjoy your break, hope you come back.

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    1. Thanks, Pinky. You're right that this is probably the wrong time to stop blogging with fall and the holidays coming up. Maybe when the weather is not so hot here in AZ we'll get re-energized.
      Heather

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    2. Lovely decorations! Orange are one of my favorite colours!Thanks for sharing!
      Have a fabulous weekend!
      Hugs from Portugal,

      Ana Love Craft
      www.lovecraft2012.blogspot.com

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    3. Thank you, Ana. Orange is my favorite color so I'm glad you enjoy it, too. Have a wonderful weekend in Portugal!
      Heather

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  12. I was just thinking about all the blogs I use to read ,fabulous post from gals who had 1000's of followers and no comment from them they just quit blogging
    I often-ed wonder why ? were they bored ,done it all as far as blogging went ?
    I think taking a break is good your under no pressure to think up a post

    enjoy the rest of your life

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    1. Mmmm, just wrote a big reply to your comments and it disappeared. Oh well. maybe it's a sign :)
      Anyway, i've wondered like you have about the bloggers who just "go away" and worry a little bit and hope that all is right in their world. We didn't want to worry anybody unduly about our "stop out" so thought it was only polite to explain what we are up to.
      You have a delightful blog (or multiple blogs -- saw another one about buttons and one about Pyrex) and love the necklace you're featuring today. You are so creative!
      Heather

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  13. I have really enjoyed your posts on fashion and home decor! You really inspire me, but totally understand about taking a blogging break! If you decide to come back, I will be here, waiting! Take care and enjoy the season! Ana

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    1. Ana, you are such a delightful person. Would love to meet you someday. Thanks for enjoying our posts and keeping in touch with us!
      Heather

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  14. Thanks so much ladies, great ideas. I never decorate for the fall. Great Job!

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    1. Thank you, Sistergirl. It takes some time to decorate for each season but I really enjoy doing it and it certainly helps make it seem more like autumn here in the desert.
      Heather

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  15. Blog breaks are super healthy! I just took one went on vacation to Hawaii and didn't give my blog - one thought!

    Love your fall decorations .. so pretty and festive.

    Monica, www.pear-shaped-gal.com

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    1. Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment, Monica. Did you love vacationing in Hawaii? I went to Maui a few years ago and really liked it.
      Heather

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  16. Hi Heather, I love your fall décor! Everything looks so warm and welcoming. I have to tell you that I visited the town dump in Cave Creek a couple years ago. Oh my gosh, what a peculiar place. Do they still have the stuffed carnival bear? It was missing it's hands or some weird thing. lol! It has been such a pleasure to get to know you and I have loved having you share with SYC. Enjoy your break and hopefully you will return!
    hugs,
    Jann

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    1. Hi Jann, I don't remember if the bear is still there -- will have to take a look next time I'm at the Town Dump and I'll let you know. It is such a funny place, isn't it? It's been really nice getting to know you and link with your party. Thank you!
      Heather

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  17. Your fall decor is so fun and festive - love the antler candlesticks! I do appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

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    1. Thank you, Kathy. Always a pleasure to link with your Home and Garden Thursday.
      Heather

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  18. Wondered where you went, Heather! Enjoy whatever your decision brings you, and please remember to stop by and see me! I've missed your face lately, but am happy that you're embracing change and running with it!
    Hope to see you online again soon. Until then ...

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  19. Hey there Heather...just wanted to say I have missed seeing your pretty face out there,! I am headed over to Last Chance on Friday to try and score some footwear deals if you want to catch up and chat!!

    Xo,
    Alyssa

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    1. Hi Alyssa,
      Sure sorry I missed my chance to meet up with you. Haven't checked this site until today, right after I saw your most recent post. I may just have to drive up to your store in Anthem (right?) or you might be able to catch me at my new part-time job (just starting this week) at the Chico's store at Kierland (how dangerous is this going to be??!!). Would love to meet you in person :)

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  20. Heather, I will miss your comments so very much. Your wonderful sense of style has inspired me in more ways than you can imagine, and for that I am ever grateful. I hope that you will enjoy your time off and that you will seriously consider coming back to the web site even if only a few days a week or month. You will be deeply missed. Thak you again for everything.

    Jackie O.

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