"Harvestizing" my house for twelve dollars.

 I love making up new words like "harvestizing."  I wound my arms around Adrain's neck, smiled sweetly up into his eyes, (all the while batting my mascara-coated eyelashes like crazy) and asked, "Sweetie... would you mind if I used the checkbook today, for pumpkins, and gourds, and harvesty things?"  He gave me the look... (which means, "I'm not buying this wheedling for one second, little miss.") and then proceeded cautiously.  (And I quote.) "Okay... just don't go crazy." 

 Translation, provided to you, by nearly fifteen years of marriage:  "Spend under twenty dollars, get closer to ten if you can, and please break branches off the trees for free.  Oh, and don't get yourself, or the kids arrested."

  Yes.  Well.  Mission accomplished, thankyouverymuch. This black rooster normally sits beside the console table, but I decided he was kind of harvesty, and moved him on top of it.  The glass dome was actually a birthday present from my parents... from Pottery Barn!!  (Me, squealing with delight!)  I painted an old round cutting board with white paint, and it is the perfect base for the glass dome.

 Because I'm an "asker," I was able to snag these darling burlap coffee bags for fifty cents!  (I placed a tall mason jar with water into each burlap coffee bag, and stood some broken tree branches in them.)  I asked my  Russian produce man, at our local outdoor market, about these burlap coffee bags, which were displaying nuts. (And no, I did not bat any eyelashes, so don't ask.)  He doesn't really smile... he just sort of looks.  "Uh. I give you two for dollar... yes?"  Me, "Yes, please!"  And my point is this-  (I always have one, never doubt that.) It never hurts to ask.  After my big score, I drove around town making my hoodlums keep an eye out for low hanging branches on "public property."  (Which honestly, gets a little shady when you're in the downtown district and you know you're technically on city property.... my answer- taxes.)  I would park, run quickly with the motor running, and snap off a twig or two.  Then we'd squeal our tires as we roared away.  

   Gosh.  This is living... 

 My Russian produce guy also hooked me up with gourds, sugar pie pumpkins, and Indian corn. 

 Oh.  And pecans.  I wanted something brown for my hurricane vase.  (Please note, the glass on my coffee table is now cracked and awaiting repair.  I felt like you needed to know that.  Besides, I have a plan!)

 I'm sure I'll hear, "Just don't go crazy."  Yeah.  I'll get right on that.

 I love all the colors.  And weird textures.  Gourds are really weird. 

 Which is probably why I love them. 

All this, and I get to turn over a twelve dollar receipt to my man.  I'm so proud. 

I wound a few grapevine twigs (from an old wreath) around a candle holder, and stuck leaves into it.  Easy and freeeee!! Excitement flows through my veins...

Happy Harvesting.