Earlier in the week I had planned a Thanksgiving post for my blog-- to wish everyone well with the hope that this Thanksgiving holiday ( if you were celebrating it ) would bring happiness and a sense of deep connection to all those you hold dear in your lives-- and for those unable to share the holiday with loved ones, the hope that the day was spent enjoying a relaxing time & treating yourselves well. I never did get to make that post.....  Instead---this happened--a fall down the stairs and a visit to the ER on the eve of our first big Buffalo snowfall.
My special Thanksgiving thanks is that I'm grateful the outcome wasn't worse! A fracture and torn ligament leave me hobbling around on crutches and in a boot-- but I was able to enjoy our small family gathering -- and even managed to make the cranberry sauce. The other thing I'm deeply thankful for are the sweet men in my life - my husband and three sons. All of whom have the biggest hearts, gentlest souls and manage to keep me laughing through all of our ups and downs. And also-- I should mention my hub did a fantastic job cooking the Thanksgiving dinner. He's an ace in the kitchen and pulled it all off without a hitch! I'm blessed to have such a beautiful family. And I thank my lucky stars every day for them--- not just on Thanksgiving.

I'm just loving this vintage Italian tole work candelabra. I wish I had a weathered plaster wall to hang it on--but on any wall it looks lovely, and with candles lit-- very romantic-- very elegant- very anthro! It's up for grabs in 5gardenias vintage.

love this vintage tole work metal cage lamp shade. very anthro. it's just dying to make a statement in someone's lucky home....  recently listed in 5gardenias

November is already in full tilt and I've started adding some fun vintage finds for the holidays and for the winter season. I'll be adding more goodies over the next few weeks in both 5gardenias vintage shop and OhDearViolet- so stay tuned.
antique Swedish rag rug runner, antique shaker wood pantry box, vintage glass bead pick ornaments, antique embroidered tulle remnant, antique metal & glass star tree lights, antique cross stitch, antique pine cone ornaments, antique wood sock blocker, vintage folk art embroidered Russian doll pair

These are the colors that stay with me the most in autumn-- this deep velvety black -- the color of the tree trunks in the autumn rain, and the brilliant gold of the leaves as we near the end of the season- with their last beautiful burst of life. The combination always moves me-- stirs up my heart and leaves me with a sense of longing and love...  I've grown more deeply appreciative of this amazing season with each year of my life-- it brings me a sense of hope, of peace and of an acceptance of inevitable change.
I found these leaves on two separate walks -- the double leaf -- reminded me of twins joined at the hip, of two aspects of a single being. Of duality and connection, of bonding and shared experience. The other-- the ginkgo leaves, I found while out searching for my missing cat. Feeling anxious and sad I looked up and saw this magnificent tree and found it reassuring, these gentle and elegant leaves seemed to whisper that everything would be alright.
After 6 sleepless nights, a neighbor called to tell me they thought they'd found my cat in their storage room above their garage. I had made flyers and put them in every mail box in my neighborhood.  Thankfully they called. I can't tell you how relieved I was when I found that it was my sweet boy in their storage room. Scared and skinny, we brought him home. We've been celebrating with extra love and treats. I can't think of a better way to begin this month of November.
Wishing everyone a beautiful month ahead!