SNAPSHOTS

AN UNPREDICTABLE MIX OF PHOTOS AND CHAT

Transitioning.

A wool blanket in August?

Hello and happy Monday! I know summer is still engulfing many of you; uncomfortably high temperatures, humidity, frayed nerves. But we can all tell by the angle of the sun and our fading landscape that fall is approaching. Labor Day week signals a transition, right? Day length shrinks and shadows lengthen. Suddenly summery decor seems out of place.

Last week I returned to Port Gamble, the little town I shared with you in my last post. If you missed it, you may want to follow the link and check it out. I have a friend who has recently moved to Anacortes from the Northeast, and it's fun to show her places she hasn't yet been. So we made a day of wandering; stopping wherever and whenever we saw something of interest.

Although I didn't buy anything in PG, she and I stopped at a few interesting stores on the way back, and I came home with a couple of treasures. I couldn't pass on this wool blanket ($4). The colors are perfect really, and despite its age, the blanket is in what I would call an ideal and gently seasoned condition; no rips or discernible holes. It has a simple classic charm.

This tray too was a must-have and tagged 50% off.

Sometimes I bring home thrifted treasures and am disappointed. I was really confident however that I could set an attractive and transitional table with the blanket and tray as the foundational elements. I washed and dried the blanket straight-away, gave the tray a thorough cleaning. I think the look I was hoping to achieve came together nicely. I hope you agree~

I think the blanket is perfect used as a table square. The blue window pane pattern against a beige ground suggest the beach in fall. The size is really rather picnic hamper appropriate and not quite large enough to wrap up in. That's why I was pretty sure it would work on our table.

My dishes are from a thrift store too. You've seen them many times in past tablescape posts. They are Spode stoneware, and I was fortunate to find 4 place settings still in the box.

I can't believe it has been two years since our trip to Ireland. I brought home these linen napkins and each time I get them out I am filled with a warming feeling of fondness for that wonderful country. 

I am so attracted to brown and white dishes, I think because of my redefined personal style, and I especially enjoy pairing blue and brown. Because Larry prefers wood furniture to painted pieces, he really likes the tray. Although I still retain full decor autonomy, I am the most happy when he feels at home in our home. 

OK, so I'm not ready for pumpkins, hay bales, corn stalks, and such. But with our cooler days and longer nights, I welcome a more muted color palette. 

The squirrels are busy burying nuts from our trees and the dried leaves are already dropping. We've had an inordinately hot, dry couple of months and will certainly welcome fall rain. The only thing I dread about autumn is raking oak leaves. I recently read that a mature tree drops 30,00 leaves each year. That's a lot of leaves! There is not a crack, crevice, nor clay pot that doesn't end up with oak leaves; not to mention the lawn and the decks. It honestly takes the entire fall and winter to collect them all because they don't drop all at once. Yes, the tree is lovely and provides dappled shade. But if I ever move again, which I probably won't, there is no way I'll even consider a property with an oak tree!

Have a blessed Labor Day weekend~

Dana

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