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

A Favorite Thing at Mom's House #3

This week's Favorite Thing is very special

My Dad, who passed away 7 years ago was a Iowa farm boy who always loved the outdoors, gardening and hummingbirds!  They just fascinated him!  We always had feeders around and Dad would spend hours just watching them.  This is the last good photo I took of him before he got so ill and then passed away!

My Mom keeps this on the mantel in her home!

We had given Dad a potting bench for his birthday and he loved it.

Many years ago my Mom made something very special for her husband

In 1990, long before my Dad became ill,

this appliqued quilted wall hanging was a gift to him

I think it is so well done and it was a favorite thing of my Dad's.  It was in his nursing home room until the end.  Now it lives once again with Mom.

I also love hummingbirds and think of my Dad when I see one!  So today, this is one of my favorite things at my Mom's house! 

Joining

A Favorite Thing

&

Sunny Simple Sunday

Hugs, 

Linda

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

A Little Bit of Halloween!

I'm afraid my Halloween decorations are going to have a vacation this year.  

While I'm in Texas I will miss bringing out all my fun stuff!  

So I thought I'd look back at some decorations from years past!

This vignette was fun and featured one of my favorite Halloween decorations

Hildie the Witch

I found her in a cute shop many years ago while visiting family in Iowa!

The cubbies were all decked out for Halloween 

Witches & Ghosts!

more fun items...

I'll miss them this year!

Still it's fun to look back!

I'm joining 

Tweak It Tuesday

and

You're Gonna Love It

Hugs,

Linda

A Favorite Thing At Mom's House #2

I love sharing A Favorite Thing!

It really lets me focus in on something that is special and important to me! 

While I'm here, I am sharing things that are special to me 

that belong to my Mom & Dad

Today's Favorite Thing

Is this framed cross stitch piece

Why is this so special?

Because I made this back in the 70's for my parents

I didn't date it or put my initials on it and I wish I had but I didn't think of it

This was one of my first attempts at cross stitch

It took many hours while taking care of babies and a home but I kept at it!

It is special to me and it has hung in my parents home since I made it

with so much love

One of these days it will come back to me

 but maybe it will go live with one of my girls!

Time will tell

Visit Claudia and see what others are sharing at

A Favorite Thing!

Hugs,

Linda