RW, this one's for you.

Image from Rock of Love via Design Boner.

Decorating with gourds.

To continue the fall theme, this is a topic I've gotten a little flack for at home in the last couple of weeks. Apparently, the notion of using ugly little squash-like things as a fall-themed centrepiece is not as intuitively attractive to everyone as it was to me. Aesthetic is a very personal thing but I've been glad to note in the last few days that there are others out there that support my love for the humble gourd.

Pumpkin place holder from Cottage Living:


On the coffee table, from Domino:

A fall planter box from Martha Stewart:

Gourd garland from Cottage Living:

Birdfeeders from Martha Stewart:


Party pumpkins at Sunset:


Gothic nailed pumpkins at Cottage Living:

Feeling more like napping than blogging today.

So I thought I'd post a picture of a couple of my favorite throw pillows:


They really do wonders to improve the look of that cheap Sears couch don't they?

I've always been a little slow on the uptake.

Um, ya, so this is deeply embarrassing to mention but I'm not exactly what you'd call tech-savvy.

I've not yet figured out how to figure if people link to this blog or get here through dirty Google searches for stuff like "Retro Contemporary Plush Adult Vibrating Mitt Chair" so I've only just noticed that I got the nicest birthday gift from a couple of design-blogging ladies I much admire.

It seems that back in August I was linked through Design Boner for my love of all things trailer post.

It's just kinda nice to know that someone other than my mom and my boss is reading this blog. Not that you guys aren't great: Hi, Mom! Hi, B!

Mom always said thank-you cards were classy.

On the wedding theme, I'm thinking these may be the perfect little cards to send to people who don't buy us something terribly expensive and tasteful:

Available from: PigseyArt.

Totally decor related.

The new season of House starts Tuesday September 25th at 9pm.

Please note: I will not be accepting phone calls, text messages, emails or smoke signals from 8:55 to 10:05pm that day.

Hey, the show is called "House" isn't it? What more do you people want?

Not to be taken as an indication of support for the household display of stuffed animals.

But he's pretty damned cute. However, I'm holding out for a pirate zombie.

The birthday haul.

This weekend was my birthday and as always I was totally amazed by the wonderful gifts I got:

• My brother G got me a gorgeous classy "bible" of cocktails which incorporates excellent historical notes about such bevies as the Classic Gin Martini aka the ONLY REAL martini.


• My mom got me 3 beautiful genuine glass Japanese fishing floats. I've always dreamed of finding one washed up on the beach but that's become increasingly rare as they moved to yucky plastic like everyone else. Although, a while ago I heard a rumour that they were going back to glass so maybe I'll be able to add to my new collection in the future.


• My future father-in-law got me a lovely wooden-handled cheese slicer for all that Dutch leyden cheese he got me addicted to.


• My future wifey RW got me a stunning new dog crate as the final piece in our collection. It now houses the most adorable black and white monster whippet I have ever set eyes on - my birthday gift to myself. He's the perfect complement to my decor so pictures of him gracing the couches, chairs and beds will soon follow.


• Other family and friends sent me contributions to my new composter which I set up yesterday. Is it wrong to be this excited about decomposting foodstuffs?


• My brother HF decided to torture me with an amazing gardening book "Small Garden" by John Brooks which is filled with gorgeous pictures of small garden porn and tonnes of great information and ideas. It's killing me that I have to save my pennies so that next year RW and I can start to overhaul the nasty dirt pit that is my backyard.

On that note, a few inspirational wee yard pictures.

gardensforlife.
Jane Mooney Landscaping.

Domino Magazine. Leaside Landscaping.
Better Homes and Gardens.