After their bath in glycerin and water (I used a nearly 50-50 formula), the leaves are dried on paper towels. I soaked them between two pie plates that insured that they remained in the solution for several days. (You can see that photo in my last post.) Next I patted them off and let them sit there cooling their jets for a few hours.
This was the goal — a door decoration. John does not care for wreaths on the door as they are too in his face. This is my compromise. (Yes, you may have seen this idea on Pinterest.) See the lovely sheen? And they are still pliant and preserved. The little red one there was an experiment because it was already dry when I gathered it. It remains curled, but does add a bit more color. I have always followed the decorating philosophy that every item in decor requires a touch of red.
Okay, I have so much more to share...another load from the homestead in just last evening. I read my great-grandfather's journals until late. I'll save it for another day...
Leaving you with a photo taken on Wednesday evening when John, Laurel, and I found ourselves hanging around the grocery store parking lot. How amazing this autumn and this November have been so far! I can't believe this kind of color still exists in November.
~November 4!~
Thanks for the tutorial on the leaves with glycerin. I've not heard of that before and I love it! Most of the leaves around here aren't very big at all, but where there is a will, there is a way (oftentimes, anyway).
ReplyDeleteHmmm, I think I actually have a bottle of glycerin in the medicine cabinet, purchased for some preservation of something and I never got around to it. I love how glossy the leaves look and that they are still pliable. Our leaves are mostly gone, we had a big storm this morning and they were quite blown away. Still a very few hanging on, but I fear they are all but done for. I have a feeling the glycerin bath will have to wait for next year.
ReplyDeleteWe still have several trees with vibrant colors hanging in there! I just love this time of year with the sun shining through the gorgeous foliage!
ReplyDeleteVee, the leaves on your door look lovely- (by the way I love your door). My only way of saving leaves is between the pages of a book--of course they are brittle. I need to buy some glycerin.
ReplyDeleteWhat a treasure to have your great grandfather's journals! Wow!
Our trees are dropping leaves by the millions!!! We just finished getting up a half a million this morning and they are still falling. I love just about everything about gardening, but hate leaf clean-up. Enjoy your warm November! ♥
You did a nice job preserving the leaves. They look great on your pretty door. Most of our leaves are turning brown except for the later trees. We still have one in our back yard that is still mostly green. Hubby was wondering when we are going to have time for raking them up this year and I told him not to worry about it this year...just consider them fertilizer for the lawn.
ReplyDeleteAbout the posting every day, I really wish others felt the same way as you and I do. I just can't keep up with reading all those posts and I hate to miss something good. :) JMHO!
Have a nice weekend!
It looks like your glycerin worked! We are in the middle stages of color here in SC. We still have quite a bit of green. We have had a lot of rain lately so the early colored leaves have come down with the rain.
ReplyDeleteOurs was gorgeous but the remnants of Hurricane Patricia and now a serious cold front storm last night has pretty much taken most of the leaves down. Living in a forest area, our "lawn" is now all dried leaves.
ReplyDeleteI have a blogging rhythm going that works as long as I don't get sick, the two weekend posts (my head should be examined for taking on both regular Saturday and Sunday posts) and usually (but not always) the mid-week post. With book reviews thrown in as needed. After a book review respite, I kind of overdid it and have been swamped with reading and reviewing. One would think one would learn.
I love your little door decor Vee! The leaves look so pretty and polished. The foliage over here is pretty much "blown" off with the winds we had today. I agree that November has been fabulous so far. The farmer was extremely happy to finish the harvest in summer like conditions!
ReplyDeleteWe have such a pitiful amount of trees here in West Texas and not very many are the type to change colors..they generally just die and fall off, causing raking and stuffing into leaf bags and filling up the dumpsters....BAAA....HUMBUG
ReplyDeleteVee, We have been so lucky to have a beautiful fall season. I had never heard that about the leaves...what a neat thing to keep their beauty longer. Love the tree shot. I took lots of tree pictures today....just hanging on to the season. Blessings for a great weekend, xoxo,Susie
ReplyDeleteThat's neat about the glycerin. I may have to try it. Most of our leaves aren't that pretty though, especially after all our rain. They are molding. Yes I remember when you posted daily, as other bloggers did too. Seems we all are slowing down. have a good weekend and enjoy that color!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea about preserving the leaves. I'll have to try to remember that for next fall. Right now, most of our color is simply underfoot. But I love the sound of walking through leaves. Hasn't this been an amazing fall! I was out this afternoon without a jacket. Incredible, considering the date! Hope you have less snow than last year, like just enough and no more. :-)
ReplyDeleteNext year, I will have to try this method of preserving leaves. I've dipped them in melted paraffin in the past, which works fairly well, but they do eventually fade. I'm glad to read of this glycerin method from one who has actually tried it. The leaves are so pretty and I do love your door decoration.
ReplyDeleteFoliage left here in our part of NH is mostly oak leaves. Still pretty, though, when the sun hits them. I have noticed one small shrubby oak with stunning red leaves, positioned right against our stone wall where it is at its photogenic best. I've yet to get a picture, however.
Up north, last weekend, the only color left was the golden yellow of tamaracks. Still it was very stunning against all of the evergreens. There are lots and lots of tamaracks up there.
Your leaves have turned out very well and add a lovely touch of autumn to your door! xx
ReplyDeleteNow that's a clever idea. I hadn't thought about preserving the fallen leaves before. Yours turned out grand. I'll have to give it a go. Thanks for the idea and the tip.
ReplyDeleteWe're only getting little bits and pieces of Fall at the moment. It's still 80* or more but supposedly there is a cold front heading our way. Then I'm sure it will look more seasonable.
Hope your day is blessed. ~:)
Every day I sometimes manage twice a week if I'm lucky.
ReplyDeleteMerle................
I am going to try this - next year! MAYBE we will have some color then - or at least some YELLOW!! Right now we are still mostly green with some dried browns! I really enjoyed seeing YOUR fall color!!!
ReplyDeleteI've spent the last 2 days raking the majority of it and putting it in more bags than I can count. Love the color when it stays on the trees! Your leaves are lovely. A nice change from the common wreath.
ReplyDeleteGetting very thin on the trees. Glad to see your beautiful leaves treated with glycerin! Next year - if I remember!
ReplyDeleteI think the glycerine method will preserve the leaves much nicer than waxed paper ironing. There are no leaves left on the majority of our trees but my three compost bins are full of shredded ones to go on the gardens in spring.
ReplyDeleteOhh that is pretty cool, who knew? No more leaves here, friend, between the rain and wind...their all gone. Blessings
ReplyDeleteI leaves turned out well, Vee, and look so nice on your door.
ReplyDeleteYou are lucky to have colours yet, we don't have a single leave on our trees any longer.
I can only imagine how much you are loving reading your great g'father's journal.
Very pretty leaf decor! I guess you can call that a resounding success.
ReplyDeleteOur leaves have been fantastic this Autumn. I don't know when I've enjoyed them as much.
The leaf arrangement is more like a swag and I really love those. I'm going to Pin this...we still have some trees with leaves after the blustery weather we've been having, strange but true.
ReplyDeleteJane x
I was out snapping more shots yesterday and although many of the leaves are off, some that still remain are still so brilliant! It's kind of a weird fall this year....some of our giant trees still have most of their leaves and instead of turning as usual, they are drying up on the tree and turning brown...yet others are just glorious! I am going to try your glycerin trick...probably next year. I wish I would have know about it last year when I took the time to make my wreath from natural leaves. It was so pretty for several days but I brought it in the house and hung it on the wall (you may or may not remember that post) but it curled up...duh! I really like the swag you made for your door! Enjoy your weekend, Vee :)
ReplyDeleteLove your door decoration, thanks for the tips on glycerin. We have lost many of our leaves around here, lots on the ground though. You blogged every single day? Impressive!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips on using glycerin, Vee. Your door decor looks so pretty and gets its approval from John! We still have many leaves left on the trees in Texas. We don't get as dramatic effects as you, but still pretty.
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend to you and John!
The leaves look lovely on your door. : )
ReplyDeleteLeaves are all gone here off the trees except for some of the oak which don't like to let their leaves go.
I for one liked when you posted every day and miss them!!
What a special treat to be able to read your grandfathers's journals, Vee, having more than one is an extra treat! I am always encouraging Dh to continue his journals, as he is so loved by all his grandchildren! Please share your findings, I want to know if you laughed, cried, and your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteSince I have been off line, for a few days I missed your last post, so I will comment now, I found the print absolutely adorable and fitting for your home, (so warm and inviting) and what a precious idea of putting Cheryl's family photo as a reminder, to pray!And just look at those two adorable grands of yours!
The leaves look wonderful, on the door, thanks for sharing the results! I will be at the big W today and might just try this, our leaves are coming along, with the drought this summer a lot of the trees shed early, but i think the pear trees will strut their stuff in a few weeks.
As far as blogging, I dearly love to sign on and see a new post from your dear "Haven"!
Have a blessed weekend!
Much love,
Sue
Vee, the leaves came out beautifully! I like that idea on the front door. Your great-grandfather's journals would be such an interesting read! Do you think you'll copy them over and make a book from them? The leaves have pretty well dropped here. Today's wind is crazy and they are filling up the ditch again after we took 1.5 hours to clean it this morning. I guess we should have done the lawn first. Ha! Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy your late night reading.
ReplyDeleteOh thanks so much for the information. I had no idea....we didn't get much color at all this year...the summer was so dry and that continued until just recently. So many of our leaves just blew off or fell off...still green.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't mind your everyday posts...it's just so hard to do. I admire people who make that commitment. Too much for me! Cheers.
I like the simple leaves....our wreath hanger scratched all the paint off our door, so no more wreaths for us! GA has not had many reds in the fall leaf colors this year. We have had a LOT of rain! It has been many months since I've blogged, but I do have up a new post.
ReplyDeleteWishing you two a nice weekend.
Who knew one could preserve the fall leaves so beautifully? Thanks for sharing. Enjoy your extended season of colour...as we know it can't last forever!
ReplyDeleteSo pretty!! Most of our trees are bare as we have had some windy days here...the last of the leaves need to be raked off the lawn and then it is the time of year I don't like,,,,,bare trees and a duller landscape. I hope we get a nice snow cover this year :) I am not a very disciplined blogger,,, I don't know how some people do it! Enjoy the autumn colors and have a wonderful evening!!
ReplyDeleteYour leaf decor is very pretty! So easy simple! Love all the fall colors.
ReplyDeleteThis is good to know, Vee. I wish I had preserved some of the autumn leaves the year I moved, as I would have moved them with me. Sadly, that was Hurricane Sandy year so the trees were not that prolific. I have purchased some Christmas ornaments here that are made from the skeleton of Aspen leaves dipped in gold colored metal. They are very pretty and now I'm wondering why no one does the same with maple and oak leaves?
ReplyDeleteAh, yes. I remember when you posted every day and you also chided me for not posting more often! LOL... I will have to try the glycerin trick next year. The leaves are mostly gone now. Though the beech trees in the woods out back are getting a beautiful, golden shimmer. I like the idea of your door decoration. Very pretty!
ReplyDelete