Happy (Snowy) Halloween!

The snow is on the pumpkin here in Maine...just in time for Halloween! The surprise October Nor'easter knocked out our internet service so I have missed being able to visit my favorite blogs this weekend and hope to catch up with all of you during the week.

The fall leaves were still on the trees when the storm hit...knocking most of what was left to the ground in huge gusts of wind.

It's quiet now though and the sun began to return this afternoon...when my sister, Joanne, created this in her backyard just before today's Patriot's game. I just hope she got her power back in time to watch it!

The candy is bought, the pumpkin on the porch is lit...

And I'm definitely NOT dreaming of a White Halloween!

The forecast for Halloween Day is sunny and warmer so we're still looking forward to the annual visits for "Trick or Treat"...although Cinderella may have to trade in her glass slippers for LL Bean boots this year.

Happy Halloween to all!

Old Doors

What a beautiful week it has been in New England...the foliage is almost at peak and the temperatures have been in the high 70's to low 80's. We were lucky to be able to enjoy a few of these Indian summer days camping in nearby New Hampshire.  As we drove through the countryside, I loved seeing the old homes decorated for fall. The doors, so simple yet welcoming, really seemed to catch my eye on this trip.

I liked the colorful simplicity of this door...

And the welcoming garland of cornstalks and gourds on this one.

This must be the original "door to nowhere"...it is stately and elegant, but opens onto...a roof.

Below it is a little shop surrounded by the textures and colors of the season.

We enjoyed our visit with the owner of this country store in Nottingham, NH...he shared much of its history with us while we were there. The original door is still in use and continues to function as the community bulletin board.

The old green door still holds its original mail slot...worn and rusty from years of use.

The Grange hall used to be the center of social life in many small New England towns. Most, like this one, are deserted now. I wonder how many town meetings this door opened onto over the years?

The curtains were still hanging in one window of this deserted house and the dooryard was overgrown...but its timelessness spoke to me somehow.

And, finally, tired and dirty after our last camping trip of the season, it was time to head home...

Where we were happy to see our own front door waiting to welcome us back.

Happy Trails,

This post is linked to:

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer

Confessions of a Copycat: 4 Blog-Inspired Fall Projects

It's our turn to host our "Gourmet Group" tonight and I've been busy getting our home ready this week. The goal is to "Wow Them"...which  is quite a challenge after 30 years of  monthly dinners at each other's houses (could we possibly be that old?). Since my DH is the chef, I concentrate on the cleaning decorating and the table.  But after hosting the same "gourmands" almost 100 times over these many years, coming up with fresh ideas is more and more of challenge each time.

So where do I go for inspiration?  I visit other blogs, of course! And my blog friends always come through...in fact, you're all so talented and creative that, this time, decorating for the big event has been a joy. Here are a few of the projects you've inspired...

1. Pottery Barn Inspired Dough Bowl from Debbie at Confessions of a Plate Addict.

This is the gorgeous centerpiece that Debbie showed how to make on her blog here...

And the humble version I put together last night...

I think it will look beautiful when I light the candles for dinner tonight. And without Debbie's tutorial, I never would have thought to hide pinto beans under those acorns to hold the candles straight.

Thanks, Debbie!

2. Fall Subway Art Printable from Kristin at A Simply Klassic Home.

I loved this fall printable which I found while blog-hopping last night...maybe it's the "pumpkin spice latte" part that subliminally caught my attention!

 And here's how I used it in my dining room hutch...

Thank you so much, Kristin, for the printable...and the inspiration.

3.  Spiders in my stockings.

This idea came from Shirley at  Sweet Romantic Notions. Thanks to her comment on my Halloween stocking post, I really do have spiders in my stockings now (guess it's a step up from ants in my pants!).

Shirley wrote, "These stockings are so wild..I love them..and I would fill them with all sorts of Halloween things from spiders to candy corn!"  Well, Shirley, you were right...that big old spider I picked up at the dollar store after reading your comment is just the finishing touch this project needed.

4. Orange watering can from Debra at Common Ground.

Here's Debra's version...my inspiration photo...I just love the unexpected pop of orange amongst all the white on her porch...

And mine. As you can see, it is a work in progress...

And finally, just to let you know that there really is a 30-year-old  "Gourmet Group"...here we are in 1982. I'm in the green sweater and my sister, Nancy, is in the lavender jacket. Sadly, we've lost two members of our group, but we haven't lost the tradition of monthly dinners together. Good friends...getting together through life's ups and downs for 30 years...what could be better than that? (Maybe I'll take some photos tonight and you'll see that we haven't aged  a bit in 29 years!)

So this is a big thank you to all of you for continually inspiring me with your amazing ideas...you ladies ROCK!  Now I'd better get down to the kitchen and see how dinner's coming along...

This post is happily linked to:

Saturday Night Special at Funky Junk Interiors

Show & tell Saturdays at Be Different, Act Normal

Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground

Farmhouse Friday at Laurie Anna's Vintage Home

Sister Sunday Link Party at Sisters of the Wild West

Potpourri Party at 2805

Blog Comments...How Important Are They To You?

Do you ever wonder why some blog posts get 40 or 50 comments and others get 4 or 5? Do you care? Or do you just blog for the sheer enjoyment of meeting new people and exploring your own creativity?

I've been inspired by the refreshing honesty of some of the recent  posts Brenda has been writing at one of my favorite blogs, Cozy Little House. Inspired enough to risk a bit of soul-baring myself. So, I'll admit it...

I feel terrible when I work hard on a post and look down a day later to see that dreaded phrase "0 Comments". Does that sound stupid to you? Or (keepin' it real now), do you do the same thing...sneak to the computer, scroll down, and wait with trepidation for the comments to come rolling straggling in?

I started my little blog as a way of remembering the fun I had with my sister, Nancy. When I blog I almost feel as if I am sharing my experiences with her...as I used to do over her kitchen table most afternoons. I never gave much thought to my "audience" and told myself that it really didn't matter if anyone read my posts..."I'm doing this for me", I told myself.

But I realized this weekend, when no comments came in on my last post, that...hard as it is to admit...it does matter. I do care. I want to know that others are reading my blog. And when I do get lots of comments, I find myself going into my Sally Field-at-the-Oscars mode..."They like me, they really like me". Silly, huh?

I guess, as a teacher, I know intellectually that positive reinforcement works with kids...it's hard to admit that it works for me too. When a post gets lots of comments, my head fills with ideas and I can't wait to start working on the next one. When a post gets few comments (or none?), I'm like a little kid thinking, "Ouch...I never want to do that again".

So, what do you think? Do you care how many people comment on your blog? Do you find that some types of posts get more comments than others? Is it an art or a science, this blogging thing we do?

I haven't exactly been moping around while pondering these "heavy" questions about blogging. Over the weekend, I've been busy decorating for fall and preparing for a dinner party we are hosting next weekend.

I found these free printable fall place cards to download and thought I would share them with you. You can download and print them (I used heavy oak tag) from the HGTV site here.

Although they are tagged "Thanksgiving Place Cards", three of the four on each sheet are simple fall motifs. I used bent paperclips to stick them into little apple baskets that I found for $1.00 each...each place card will do double-duty as a favor for guests to take home.

I'd love to hear how you feel about your blog comments...

Meanwhile, I'm off to work on a menu to go with those place cards...see where my priorities lie?

Yup, craft now...cook later!

I'm linking this post up to:

at Sisters of the Wild West

at Under the Table and Dreaming

at House In the Roses

Matamorphosis Monday

at Between Naps On the Porch

Keeping It Simple

Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays

at Coastal Charm

Tuesday's Treasures