Red Sky At Morning

"Red sky at morning, sailors take warning."

I couldn't help thinking of this old saying when I saw the red sky this morning. I guess this means the weather is changing, a reminder that summer is coming to a close and fall is officially here.

I was up very early this morning! Which was great, because not only did I witness this magnificent sunrise, but I captured it with my camera. These photos are from my front yard looking south.

The sky looks like it's on fire! Yet there is a chill in the air; rain is on its way.

As the red faded, the sky changed to pale yellow, blue and gray. In the pale morning light, everything looked surreal.

What a beautiful morning! I took the opportunity to pause and reflect, to say goodbye to summer, and to feel grateful for another day.

Wednesday is Fall Equinox. So, Happy Fall everyone, and here's wishing you:

"A September to remember.

An October full of splendor.

A November to treasure."

~ from La Prevenchere, Brittany, France

This sunrise is so beautiful, I can't help but share it at

Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper.

Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer.

Wednesday Gratitude at Heart and Home.

Dirty Laundry

Since coming back from our long July 4th weekend, all I am doing is catching up on laundry!

So, I thought I would stage my laundry room and show what I wish it would look like all the time. No before pictures--it would frighten you!

It's a long, narrow room with a door from the hallway on one end and a door to outside on the other end.

A couple of years ago I fell in love with and bought the red LG washer and dryer, hoping it would make doing laundry a little more fun. Not so much, but they are pretty!

I hung the Pierre Deux wallpaper, and installed the red glass cabinet knobs.

For fun, I put a French linen runner across the top of the washer and dryer--a recent purchase from Tracey at French Larkspur.

Looking from the outside in. Dexter is of course always ready to have his picture taken.

The shelf on the wall is antique and is great for hanging clothes right out of the dryer on the pegs.

There is also an antique clothes line for drying lingerie, etc. For now, I hung a few vintage linen towels for staging purposes.

I have some of my vintage red tole trays on display in the room too.

There's a tiny little monster
That is seldom seen
Dwelling within
Our laundry machines

It loves to eat socks
And make undies pink
It works with mildew--
Forgotten loads stink.

-Stacy Fileccia

Uh oh, the dryer is beeping.

Time to go fold a load.

Sources:

LG Tromm Washer and Dryer

Pierre Deux wallpaper

Runner from French Larkspur

Everything else is vintage.

Speaking of French Larkspur, Tracey is celebrating her one year blogging anniversary with an incredible giveaway! Check it out here!

I'm joining my friend Heidi at Heart and Home for Wednesday Gratitude, because even though I hate doing laundry, I'm grateful to have a washer and dryer. A red washer and dryer!

I'm also linking up to Three or More Tuesdays at The Gypsy's Corner.

On Friday, I'll join Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday.

Thanks Ladies for hosting!

Vignette Design Meets Heart and Home and an Ikea Inspired Tablesape

Hey everyone, meet Heidi! She is my new BFF!

One of the biggest surprises for me about blogging has been "meeting" such wonderful people from all over the world. My Mr. A calls them my "invisible friends." Well, last week, I met Heidi from Heart and Home and she went from "invisible friend" to real live friend! How cute is she!

Heidi's blog Heart and Home is just beautiful. I have been following her for quite a while, intrigued that she lives on the redwood coast of Northern California. When we found out we lived somewhat close to each other, we started emailing back and forth. Eventually, we agreed to meet for lunch.We decided to meet at Ikea, since it was halfway between our homes. Above is Heidi taking a picture of me, taking a picture of her!

Seriously, we had such a great time. It was like I have known her for years!

We shopped Ikea and talked the entire time about blogging and how it has enriched our lives. We found that we share the same passion for interior design, gardening, family and home.We had so much in common. We even dressed alike! Same jeans, boots, tee shirts, boyfriend blazer and jewelry! Similar hair too!

For lunch, we each had a delicious Greek salad and Diet Coke at the Ikea cafeteria and continued talking even more! We wanted to come up with a plan to blog about our meeting and what we purchased at Ikea.

So, while shopping in the dish section, we decided to purchase something that would inspire each of us to create our own Ikea inspired tablescape for "Tablescape Thursday."

I found these two cotton stripe rugs for $5 each. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with them, but was thinking "table runner."

Then I found a package of four stenciled cork placemats.

I ended up layering them on the rugs which I placed across the table.

Now....what plates to use that would tie in with them both.

So in the spirit of our Ikea (bargain) tablescape challenge, I searched for very inexpensive dishes at my usual haunts. My first choice are these plates which I found at Ross. $16.99 for a 20 piece set! I like how the black toile and red rose pattern tie the Ikea placemats and rug together.

I already had the numbered napkins (Pottery Barn) and galvanized pots. I was lucky to have the fresh ivy plants after a shopping trip to the wholesale nursery for a client.

Wholesale is good! I bought this darling ivy birdcage and used it as the centerpiece.

A bird's eye view of my "Ikea Inspired Tablescape!"

Just for fun, here is my second choice. I also found these plates at Ross. Aren't those salad plates cute? Don't worry, I will use them. I'm staging a house to sell and will end up using these plates in a garden room by the pool.

Now, go over to Heidi's at Heart and Home and see her "Ikea Inspired Tablescape."

It is absolutely darling! Don't forget to leave a comment and tell her Delores sent you!

We are both linking up to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.

I'm also linking up to Heidi at Heart and Home for her weekly Wednesday Gratitude because I am very grateful to meet her and call her friend.

On Friday, I'm linking up to Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday.