What I Wore Apple Picking

 I was so happy with the outfit I wore apple picking!

I restyled 

a ball gown  into a long jumper

by adding a denim shirt underneath

for a matriarch rancher vibe that I was going for with my look.

I paired the maxi dress with my favorite western hat 

I got in Austin, Texas at the iconic

 Allen Boots

the hat is by

Resistol

I also did one of my

 favorite accessory hacks

and 

used my western belt buckle as a brooch!

I did this by simply glueing on a pin finding on the back of the buckle.

I pulled out my turquoise rings and bracelets to finish the western flourish.

Another 

styling tip 

I have for

wearing ball skirts

I always add another 'bridal' skirt underneath for added volume on the bottom.

I made sure to bring one of my 

backpacks apple picking

so I could could have free hands to

hold the hands of my sweet grands!

Certainly one of the highlights of apple picking!

Thank you so much for stopping by! 

Any styling tips you'd like to share in the comments?

You know I'm always excited to hear1

As always my friends

I wish you love and joy

as you style your life

Apple Picking ... A Family Tradition

We went 

apple picking 

for the first time as

 grandparents.

We started apple picking one of the first years we began homeschooling.

We found

 Oak Glen 

originally on one of the 

Community Home Education Program

field trips to 

Riley's Farm

which has Revolutionary War history and re-enactments.

We continued the tradition well into high school and college years

as our children began to find

the loves of their lives.

Those were 

years of transition for all of us.

As our children 

found their way in the world

and 

I learned to let go and hold on.

I wrote about the years of transitions many times here on my blog

over the last 13 years.

The following are some of my favorites.

Here - a college drop off

Here - a walk

Here - transitioning

Here - apple picking with their loves

Here - a view from an empty nest

Going apple picking with them all

was a beautiful way to spend family time 

with their true loves.

Who by the way are married and have been part of the family for years now.

I have always loved photography since high school

when I was on Yearbook.

The ability to capture moments in time

that can live on

providing a window back in life.

Our youngest Hunter and his wife Megan

met in the summer before eighth grade.

These two sweet kids ...

Now have two kids of their own.

It was such a joy to be back in the same orchard

as grandparents.

The joy I feel watching these two with theirs

fills my heart.

Life has so many twists and turns.

Some things don't turn out like you hoped

and 

then others

like having these two grandchildren

far surpass any expectations.

They are both pure magic to me.

I think being a grandparent itself

is a magical experience.

This sweet girl wanted to make sure her momma had flowers

for the picture 

so she took some from her own bouquet.

I am beyond grateful every day

my grandchildren have such loving parents.

I'm sharing a few more captures of our beautiful trip

Apple (and now flower) Picking.

Thank you  ever so much for stopping by here

for a visit!

As always my friends

I wish you love and joy 

as you style your life

Fall Decor With A Sprinkling of Halloween

I love 

seasonal decorating

 especially in the 

fall

when it feels like

 simple changes and additions 

can have such big impact in

welcoming the season.

Instead of redoing my entire flower beds each season

I try to keep things neutral

and

then add in my 

seasonal color

with luxurious

 fully planted color bowls.

This beauty is on my front terrace

which is a perfect place for morning coffee or a sunset cocktail.

For our raised planter in the center of our front yard

I added a dramatic row of fall color.

I like to have our Halloween decor to work into our landscape

so a couple of huge inhabited spider webs work perfectly.

We are also using ghost lights at night.

I am waiting for my final addition

a ghost to arrive this afternoon.

In the courtyard I added a couple of shrunken heads to the exterior window vignette.

Here is the first of many Halloween blackbirds I used.

One of my favorite things I love about our house

is the inside out views.

In my designs I always embrace this and want visual continuity throughout

the rooms inside to out.

Here you can see just how well the exterior vignette 

plays inside as well!

Inside fall pillows and woven textiles have once again emerged.

With the changing morning light

morning candles with coffee have made their return.

As have

 pumpkins filling my mantel urns

I just love how sculptural they look!

Another bonus to decorating with fall pumpkins

not storing required after the season.

Little hand carved woodland animals have a new home.

Above the mantel 

a furry spider 

has taken up residence.

Inside and out

I primarily used black characters to sprinkle in  for my Halloween decor.

I was going with a nod to the holiday

while keeping my interior still

beautiful and calm.

I am very happy with my dining centerpiece this fall!

It came about in a somewhat organic way

as so many of my favorites do!

I started once again with my favorite piece of drift wood atop my fall woven textile.

I pulled out my terracotta vessels

and

 added a beautiful branch to the largest.

As I started adding in some Halloween

my flock of black birds

 were the perfect holiday addition!

I have some

 larger black birds

 sprinkled throughout the living room.

Dropped pillows and fur throws into the media room

as well a 

a sweet boo sign.

The backyard also got dressed in beautiful fall nods.

A fall tablecloth, floral arrangements and lanterns adorn the outdoor living room table.

I added in a few pots of a fall color to out outside farmer's table.

All the outside seating has accent pillows and blankets

just waiting for a chill in the air.

i made a wee bit of a pumpkin patch

for a focal point in the fence line planters.

Well my friends that concludes my fall decor for this year.

I hope I was able to offer some 

Fall Decor Inspiration!

If you'd like to share some of your own

Fall Decor tips in the comments

I'd love to hear!

As always my friends

I wish you love and joy

as you style your life