Last Year's Halloween Decor

Thanksgiving is next week here in Canada, and we won't decorate for Halloween until after that, but I decided to share last year's simple decor for an everything Halloween link up party.





A few pots of mums, a straw bale with pumpkins, and a Halloween quilt I made a few years ago decorated our little porch for Halloween last year.




Another quilt I made using fun Halloween prints was folded in half and used as a table topper for the candy table in our entry. We get over 200 kids so that is just a small sampling of the treats.





This is the simple vignette I put together last year for the hall entry cabinet.





Check out the titles of these two black books used for props- Grave Secret and Ghost at Work! Perfect for Halloween and free in a box of books I was given.





A close-up of pumpkins, a little jack-o'lantern carved on a school trip, Hallowe'en themed tea light holders, a strand of Jack-o-lantern lights and a simple painted 'pumpkins' sign. This year I will be adding some Halloween plates and the Halloween banners I recently sewed.


We don't go all out for Halloween at our house, but I do like some fun decorations and decor for us and little trick or treaters to enjoy. I'm linking up to everything HALLOWEEN at midwestern {sewing} girl. I hope to see you there!





I'm also linking to Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

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Last Year's Halloween Decor

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Adding Curb Appeal ~Phase 1

It is time to update our home's curb appeal! Curb appeal plays a large role in determining a property's value and it is the first thing visitors notice.


Our home is modest for our neighbourhood, but it is a big investment for us. Some ongoing maintenance and curb appeal projects have been planned to keep our home looking fresh. Our plans include small changes, larger projects, general maintenance and long term projects. Some are easy fix projects with supplies already on hand and more muscle than cash needed. Others are longer term because of the cost involved. 


After work yesterday I managed to get a few items on my list checked off. I decided to remove the low growing pine bush. I felt it was getting too big for the area and the inner part of the bush had some dead needles. Man, were the roots thick! I cut a new garden edge, weeded and added mulch. And yes, I am a lot little sore today. I don't know how people keep up with huge gardens. I also trimmed the euonymus bush at the driveway edge of the garden. It is very healthy but was getting a bit too big for the space.


We also bought a pair of solar lanterns to add much needed safety lighting and ambience to the walkway at night. I chose Westinghouse Solar 12X High-Output LED Flair Lights from Canadian Tire and love how they look.  I may pick up another pair and put one in the garden (power of three's) and one at the back gate.


And now, the changes I made yesterday (both the tree and weigela are finished blooming this week):


Autumn Joy Sedum and a small Weigela bush.


Newly trimmed variegated euonymus bush.


I'm getting impatient for the walkway to match our patio. I know it will have the most impact but it won't be happening for awhile. I think the next step will be to get rid of the pesky weeds in the paver cracks. And painting the house numbers black or finding new ones. I might try the zinc pots in the backyard in the front:



I would love to hear what you think?


OUR PROJECT LIST FOR INCREASED CURB APPEAL

Paint:
repaint porch railing and post
touch up paint on front door
touch up paint on overhead garage door

Accessories:
updated plant pots, black urns?
new door mat
refresh or buy new house numbers

Landscaping:
remove pine bush
trim euonymus bush
weed garden beds
mulch front garden bed
add new spike to support and straighten tree
overseed lawn
fertilize lawn

Windows/Doors
re-caulk all windows
add new weatherstripping to front door
new front door lock set-last year
new exterior lights-last year
new man door on garage
new lockset for man door to match front door hardware
new overhead garage door-next year

Front walkway/steps
buy solar walk lights
mulch front garden bed
add new walkway and steps to match back patio -fall or next year
move beach stones to backyard


Fence:

new gate hardware

It would be easy to hire someone to do all this, but that just isn't in our budget. So we will work on this a bit at a time. Do you think the garden needs more plantings?

I'm joining SNS at Funky Junk Interiors.

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Adding Curb Appeal ~Phase 1

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Outdoor Sprucing

We are beginning some outdoor sprucing here but I sure wish the weather would cooperate.



So far spring has been really cool and raining for over a week. Not a lot has been done outside yet but I did sew some new outdoor pillows for the front porch to add to the ones I made for the backyard patio last year.




I'm keeping the Muskoka chairs and hope to add some other seating soon. I spray primed and spray painted the windsor chairs (in the photo below) last year, but the sun back here was too harsh and they began peeling. I need to find weather tolerant chairs for the farmhouse table.



We are really enjoying the new Unilock patio we added in late summer 2009.



I'm glad that my hydrangeas survived the winter and a chocolate Lab puppy, and are starting to show signs of looking like this in a month or so.



I can hardly wait for fresh cuttings and annuals.




Sitting around the firepit and making s'mores is a favourite family activity and this little firepit will get a coat of fire safe paint if it ever stops raining. We are also spending a fair bit of time patching 'dog pee' spots in the grass.



Lots still to do, but this upcoming weekend is our long Victoria Day Weekend, also know as May 2-4 weekend. That means garden centres will be in full swing and if the rain quits we may actually get a bit of planting done.  Here's hoping!

I'm joining the HOME MAY'D Spring/Summer Link Party ~Outdoor Ideas party today at Centsational Girl.





I'm also linking to Feathered Nest Friday's at French Country Cottage.

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Outdoor Sprucing

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Pillows for the Porch

Sometimes pretty fabric can brighten up the dullest of days.



It is raining, pouring, and foggy here in southern Ontario. Looks like it won't let up for a few days at least. Since we won't be getting any yard work done, and I'm not up to doing too much yet, I thought I would add a bit of colour to our porch by spending half an hour at the sewing machine and stitching two new envelope back pillow slips for the porch chairs.



I picked up a yard of this fabric for about $4 last summer in the mix intended for the backyard pillows. I re-used last years pillow inserts as they give just enough back support without taking up too much seat space. No beautiful annuals or accessories yet, as it is still too early here, but I am looking forward to fussing with our outdoor areas as the weather warms up.



Not the $60-160 price tag like in the lastest issue of Country Living, but at just under $2 each, I'll keep them! What are you up to this weekend?

 I'm linking up to the parties at:



Jami's Freckled Laundry, Donna's Funky Junk SNS, and Courtney's  French Country Cottage.

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Pillows for the Porch

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Front Porch ~ A Canadiana Christmas Stop Four

Welcome to our home in southern Ontario, Canada! Our small covered front porch introduces our Canadiana Christmas theme to our visitors.
I decided I wanted some vintage wooden skis that I can use on our front porch and later move to our 'cabin' basement guest suite, and found these at a local recycling store for $10 for the pair. I was so excited to use them that I didn't even wipe the dust off them!

I was inspired by some photos from Pottery Barn. PB carries found vintage skis for $299. Although the PB version appear to be older, I think ours are still pretty cool. I especially like that they have a wood finish and have the metal boot clips.

Image: Pottery Barn

I also really like that the skis I found are Canadian made and have the tiny maple leaf on the tips. Locals might recognize the Superior Ski and Sault Ste. Marie names on them (one of the Great Lakes and a northern Ontario town.) I used some burlap garland and more of the buffalo check ribbon used in our living room. The little lantern is battery operated and the sherpa lined blanket will keep someone warm while visiting on the porch.

The planters on either side of our front door are filled with fresh greenery, red twigs and berries. I love the smell!

A rustic snowman and woodland Santa hang on the wall.

For the door I used a simple pine wreath with pinecones and a muslin bow.(Sorry for the lopsided bow in the other photos!)

Thanks for stopping by! If you haven't already seen Stops One to Three of our Canadiana Christmas home tour, you can check out my previous posts. Have a great weekend!


I'm linking up to the party at Funky Junk Interiors.

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Front Porch ~ A Canadiana Christmas Stop Four

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Happy Halloween~I Found the Perfect Halloween Prop Books

Happy Halloween! We did some quick Halloween decorating today. I found some cool black books with the perfect Halloween titles to use as props-Grave Secrets and Ghost at Work.



Pumpkins, tea lights and jack-o'-lantern lights, and one of my Halloween quilts add some Halloween fun to the front porch.



We've been pretty busy with school and the new puppy, so we only did some simple Halloween decor this year.





The straw bale will be used to keep Callie the bunny warm this winter. I painted the little 'pumpkins' sign. J carved his own little pie pumpkin but the boys didn't want to carve their large pumpkins this year.





We are having snow flurries today and it is freezing quite cold so we will be handing candy and chips out from the front entry. Last year was so warm that all the neighbours gave candy out from the porches and driveways.





I made this second little Halloween quilt and use it as a tablecloth for one of the candy tables. We get close to 200 (not a typo) kids so the rest of the candy goes on a different table.





 Wishing you a safe and fun Halloween.

 

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Happy Halloween~I Found the Perfect Halloween Prop Books

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