It's Been A While!

I love autumn. The colors of autumn just make me smile, inside and out. The dark orange shades, deep reds with hints of green and a background of deep umber and caramel... ahh, they just make me want to curl up with a cup of hot chocolate! And the tastes of autumn are a special treat! I love all things pumpkin. A new favorite this year is pumpkin coffee cake. I may post about it the next time I make it. Another fall favorite is Harvest Cheesecake Bars. Yummy cheesecake with a cinnamony strudel on top! yum. My kids love it when pumpkin bread is baking in the oven.  Actually, they prefer mini muffins so they can just pop them in their mouth! Another autumn love is all textures that come with the season.  And, of course, that leads to clothing... who doesn't love a good sweater!

This year has been a rough year for me physically.  I may go into that later, but it was just killing me to think I wouldn't get to decorate for fall.  So, I had Ryan bring down all of my totes for autumn decorating... I only have 7!  But I decided to keep it simple this year and not do much.  It is my favorite season and I can get carried away.  When Rachel saw what was done, she said, "I thought you were gonna keep it simple?" ~giggle~ silly girl.... I did!

The top of my dining room hutch was inspired from something I pinned on Pinterest. I already had most pieces. I got the mirror at a yard sale and had to make the banner.  The little pumpkins are just cheap plastic ones I bought and then painted.  If it had been another year I may have spent more time on them and the banner, but I got the look I was going for. 

 

Being thankful for all of our blessings isn't something we want to focus on just once a year.  I want my whole life to be on of thankfulness to God... you see, I have MUCH to be thankful for!

 

 







This is another Pin inspired arrangement.  I did have to buy the pine cones from WM and they are a nice cinnamon scent. Cinnamon really isn't my favorite, but these were subtle enough for me to enjoy.

The pumpkin was also purchased, of course... It was supposed to have the word 'autumn' on it in cardboard letters and three little burlap rosettes, but that didn't happen. Maybe next year!

Again, if it had been a different year these may have been a tad better, but I do like them.  There are 2 monograms because my daughter, her husband and sweet little girl live with us and we couldn't leave them out!!

I thought I had posted last year's fall decorating and I do like last year's fireplace mantle arrangement better, but heaven forbid I do anything the same! The lantern was from a post someone knocked off on the job and so Larry kept it in case the owner wanted it instead of getting a new one.  I was telling Ryan about what I had in mind for that spot and he mention that latern out in the trash! So we pulled it out and there it sits!

Hmmm... for some reason I didn't arrange these very well... we are back in the dining room.  This is the table centerpiece.  I bought the teired stand from a party one time and it is one of my favorite things to use for any season.

 

This goose is another favorite. Don't know why, just is.

 

 

My friend, Shelly, is an interior decorator and she had posted a picture of  teired bowls with pumpkins in it and I remembered I had this one. Hmmm, maybe I owe her dinner or something for the decorating idea!

Last week I walked out of our room and was just awe struck. The house was clean.... believe me that is enough to be amazed.... but all the oranges and autumny goodness was just glowing.  If I knew how to edit properly I could make them stand out. That is something that has already made it to my 2013 Goal List... learn how to take better pictues and edit properly! Thinking I will need a new camera for that!

 

This is looking the other direction.  My other friend, Joanna, loves to paint so I am thinking I need to let her have fun in my dining room! Hey, what are friends for, anyway!

 

 

This is the Superman that lugged all the totes out of the attic!  On Wednesday night they could dress up for youth service as long as it wasn't gorey, scary or evil. Look at those dimples... he's my baby.

One of the desserts for Sunday dinner was Snickerdoodle cupcakes.  They are soo good! I am not for sure where I got the recipe for them, but I first made Snickerdoodle cake last fall. It is now a fall must-have!

Well, I hope to be more consistent with my blogging.  It is easier than it was a year ago.  I do love Pinterest and we do try new recipes almost weekly.  And of course there are all of my Pins that need to be done just for creativity's sake! As well, as all the family fun we enjoy...

Till next time, I will leave with this thought:

Gratitude makes sense of our past,

brings peace for today,

and creates a vision for tomorrow.

~ Melody Beattie