soaking up autumn…

Autumn seemed to finally arrive in all its glory this past week. With overnight temps dipping into the 40’s, the mornings were sunny and distinctly crisp. The afternoons were mild and long sleeves still felt good when it barely made it above 70. A person could wear a jacket or sweater and not feel foolish by 2:00 pm…

This time of year has always been my favorite, even when I was a child. There is something about the slant of the sun, the days growing shorter and the chill in the air after sundown that fills me with energy and speaks softly to my soul…”slow down, slow down and soak this in…”

As the days and the year grow shorter, I listen to that little voice inside and linger a bit longer to gaze at the changing foliage…the fullness of the Harvest Moon…the pumpkins on porches. I long to absorb the sights, the smells and the sounds of the season as it unfolds…to take delight rather than rush through heedlessly.

My love for celebrating the seasons comes naturally as I grew up watching my mother place a jar of freshly cut roses (in the summer) and chrysanthemums (in the fall) on the table after sending me out with the scissors to snip the blooms for her. On the weekends, she would load us all in the car and have my dad drive out into the country so she could saw low-hanging branches off oak trees near the road. She arranged the limbs laden with drying leaves in a salvaged milk can and placed it on our red front porch beside the door. She used simple tapers in thrifted candlesticks and styled brass bowls of pine cones or berries. She was Martha before Martha and our small home always felt cozy and welcoming! Some of it must have rubbed off on me. When my children were growing up, I always tried to make each season, each holiday feel special. Now that they are all grown, I love watching them do the same with their own children.

My collection of Fall and Halloween decor has been lovingly curated over the years. I prefer items that have a vintage feel or keepsake quality. Many of my favorite finds have been displayed in our cottage for years now and I never grow tired of them or want to run out to pick up the latest trendy decor. The fact that I can unpack something year after year and still unwrap it with genuine anticipation and affection means it has passed the endurance test.

We have kept things pretty simple this year, focusing on the favorites and lots of real pumpkins! I was yearning for an old-fashioned and natural look, something that would take me back to those childhood memories I treasure so much!