HELLO!!! Anyone There?

I hope I haven't lost all of you with my lack of posts.  I didn't mean to take such a long break, but with hurricanes, a death in the family and trying to get back to normal here it is almost a month since I blogged.

I did spend some quality time with Ashleigh and it was so good to see her. The circumstances weren't the best. Still we were able to come together as a family and share our love for an amazing woman.  

So I cancelled my trip to Calif and lost big bucks on the plane ticket (grr) but I do have a credit to use up within the year.  So I'll plan a trip in the Spring maybe?  Ashleigh is home and back to work and life is moving forward.

Hurricane Irma dropped tons of rain and wind on us here in GA.  Sara and family had a tree come down and lost power for a week.  They stayed with me for meals, baths and some nights.  It was crazy and I forgot how noisy it is with two kids, 3 adults and a crazy cat in a small 2 bedroom duplex!  The kids were out of school for 3 days and Tiger had some fun!

He played chief hurricane inspector! 

This child has such an imagination! 

During all this time I didn't touch a paint brush but the other day looking out my window I saw this tree in our yard starting to turn colors and losing it's leaves.  I painted it and really I am happy with how it turned out.

I've much to share with you. A couple of junking adventures, keepsakes from family and more watercolors.  So I hope you are still with me! I promise to post again soon!

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

Fall Fun & 900th Post!

Happy November everyone! 

I can't believe how October flew by

We had some great Fall Fun and I want to share some of it with you.

Of course we had to do some pumpkin carving

Tiger dressed up as a cowboy for his school's Fall Festival

He got to ride a pony

and play music with his Dad and the band
"Old Smokey"

He is very musical

I found this gorgeous metal leaf at a thrift shop for a quarter and added it to my Fall collection

Sara, Tiger & Blake took a trip to So Ga to visit family and share the joy of announcing that they would have another little one in April 2015

Tiger was 'The Good' last night for Halloween!
(from the movie 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly')

His Dad did a great job pulling this costume together

I love this guy so much!  He really brings such joy to my life!

I was so surprised to see that this was my 900th post!  I'm about to have my blog anniversary and so I'm going to have a give away! Check back later this week for that post! 

Don't forget to FALL Back tonight!

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

Fall In The Mountains!

I want to thank all of you for the kind comments about little Tiger breaking his arm.  He is doing great and not letting it slow him down much at all!

Last week I took a trip to the mountains to enjoy some Fall weather and pretty leaves!

We stayed in this great little motel in North Carolina!   It was nice and so reasonable!  

We had breakfast and headed out!

This was our first time driving this skyway and it was so pretty!

The Cherohala Skyway (Tennessee State Hwy. 165 and North Carolina 143) links two small towns and follows a mile (1.6-kilometer) high ridge in the Unicoi Mountains. Designated a National Scenic Byway shortly after it opened in 1996, the skyway is the costliest road in North Carolina. It took more than three decades and $100 million to build, but many say the views along the route are worth it. You can complete the drive in as little as two to three hours, but take your time. This route was built for sightseeing. The highway clings to four peaks over 5,000 feet (1,524 meters) in elevation and nine peaks above 4,000 feet (1,219 meters), offering—when the often-fickle weather permits—amazing views of mountains, foliage, and waterfalls. The Cherohala Skyway climbs high into the Smoky Mountain air, ascending from an elevation of just over 930 feet (283 meters) near Tellico Plains to 5,390 feet (1,643 meters) at the road's highest point, the Santeetlah Overlook. Nearly half of the elevation change comes in the ten-mile (16-kilometer) stretch after Tennessee–North Carolina state line.

We were past the peak of the leaves, but still lots of pretty colors to enjoy!

We took our time and stopped at many of the pull offs to take photos!

Such a gorgeous view!  My photos don't do it justice.  We took a picnic lunch and stopped and ate cold fried chicken and it was so good!

The sky was so blue!

Mr. C and I had a great time! 

We are thinking of going again in the Spring! 

I'm joining Seasonal Sunday

and 

Kathe with an E for

You're Gonna Love It

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

Simply Pumpkins!

So many of you have asked how my Mom is doing and I'm happy to say she is feeling much better then when I first got here but she is still having some breathing issues and the Dr's are working on this.

Thank you for your well wishes and prayers! 

             This is a tablescape I completed at home before flying to Texas...

 I gathered my pumpkins and set this simple table!

These place mats are the 'backside' and perfect for the colors I'm pulling together.

I used large platters with a brown band on the edge as a charger.  Green dinner plates and the pumpkin salad plates complete the stack

I combined the brown and orange napkins with a brown metal napkin ring.  The bronze handled flatware is some I use often!

A vintage green goblet from a thrift store

The centerpiece is a fall arrangement along with some candle light

These pumpkin candle holders were a recent thrift store find!

Fall leaf Salt & Pepper in a brown divided dish

A ceramic pumpkin at each place setting

adds that extra touch!

Simply Pumpkins!

I'm joining Katheen for

Let's Dish

and

Seasonal Sunday

Hugs,

Linda

Time Flies When Your Blogging!

It's true...time does fly while your blogging! 

I will take hours to photograph items, edit, compose, edit and finally publish a post!

Why???

Because I love it!  Blogging has filled a creative gap in my life.  It has encouraged me to improve my photographic skills and to look at the world in a different way.  It has allowed me to share my life and my interests in so many fun ways.  But most importantly it has led me to you!  The friends I've met blogging are the best thing to happen from my journey in blogging!

Nov 7th will be my THREE year

Blog Anniversary and I want to celebrate it with a giveaway! 

Recently a fellow blogger introduced me to a great Etsy shop Ninnas Attic.  She makes the cutest little felt 'ornies' and I could not wait to purchase some of her fall items and share them with you! 

Look at this adorable owl and the sweet felt acorns!

And of course I could not pass up these sweet cats!

Aren't they adorable!

Here's the surprise, I'm doing 3 giveaways!  Yes, 3 years blogging = 3 giveaways!

#1 A set of 3 Owls & 3 acorns

#2 A set of 3 Cats & 3 acorns

#3 One Cat & 3 acorns

How to win???

Be a follower of A La Carte

leave a comment letting me know cats or owls

That's it! 

I will choose the winners on Wed 10/24

Make sure I have a way to contact you!!

No email address and I'll have to pick someone else :(

Thank you all for your wonderful friendship and support of A La Carte!

Hugs,

Linda

Joining this party: Seasonal Sunday

Autumn Leaves

"The Autumn Leaves Drift by the window

The Autumn Leaves of Red and Gold"

This wonderful song was one of the first 

(and only) songs I learned on the piano

Lyrics by Johnny Mercer 

It remains a favorite this time of year

I found these Maple Leaf cup and saucers at the thrift shop and knew they would make a great fall tablescape

These place mats were a thrift shop find.  I used a black plate as a charger, a rust colored salad plate and topped with the cup and saucer! 
The flatware is champagne colored from World Market.

I used a black napkin with the leaf napkin ring,

Black stemmed wine glass and a small black bowl complete the place setting

I am really love the color combination

I made a centerpiece of faux fall leaves in a basket

and sprinkled leaves down the table with fall colored acorns
and pumpkins and tea lights

I added an acorn & fall leaf salt and pepper shakers

"When Autumn Leaves Start to Fall..."

I'm joining 

Let's Dish
and 
Thrifty Things Friday

Hugs,
Linda

Thrifty Fall Finds!

I found some great thrifty fall finds last time I went thrifting!  

I got two black side bowls for .20/ea, perfect for tablescaping

I found these cute ceramic tiles, one for Fall and one for Christmas 

featuring cute cats!

Catzilla!!

I love this twig basket and have already used it in my decorating.  It was $1

This fall tile was from LillianVernon and has already been added to my fall vignettes.  I could not resist these pumpkin candle holders

$1.21 for the pair!  Score!

This month you can find all kinds of reusable bags supporting Breast Cancer Awarness!

Please get one and use it to show your support!

I'm joining Diann for 

Thrifty Things Friday!

I'm in Texas visiting my Mom!  She is doing pretty well but has some health issues that we are concerned about.  I will be here the rest of the month.  I'll still be blogging!  

Hugs,

Linda