October! Quite possibly my favorite month of the year. The weather is still very warm here, reaching well up into the 80’s on most days. Thankfully, the mornings are cooler and we finally hit the low 50’s this morning for that crisp Fall feel. Talk about energizing! My walk this morning was brisker and more than a bit invigorating.
The porch and patio have been decked out for the season, in a more understated way than in years past. Not so many pumpkins, just a pot of bright yellow mums here and there. The overall feel is simple and slow, perhaps old-fashioned.
Summer’s petunias still bloom and the lushness of the ferns as they recover from the strenuous heat contribute to the beauty and enjoyment I find on the patio. Mornings with a cup of coffee are particularly peaceful out here. I am soaking them up daily!
I have a confession to make – over time, I travelled the course of decorating to excess and doing more, more, more. Strings of orange and purple lights, inflatables, hanging witch hats and floating candles…you name it! It got to be too much! That path ran its course, leaving me tired and suffering burnout. It no longer brought me JOY, so I have let it go. I have scaled back – both inside and out. And it is actually so much more enjoyable and – dare I say it? – tasteful. (The only orange lights are a tiny string of pumpkins across the top of the corner hutch in the kitchen. And most of the Halloween stuff remained in the storage bins this year – only a handful of vintage pieces made the cut for this last couple of weeks before the 31st.)
Not surprisingly, I don’t get heart palpitations and a strong sense of dread when I think of putting everything away! I am somehow able to soak it in and appreciate it so much more.
Autumn. Slower. Simpler. Drenched with a softer glow. Isn’t that what this season is about? A time to focus on nesting, prepare for the shorter days lying ahead. Celebrate the incredible bounty and give thanks. Stop and watch in amazement as leaves let go and spiral on the breeze to the ground below. Turn the lamps on and light the candles earlier to create an inviting place to rest in these longer evenings. Snuggle under a cozy blanket and read a good book. Light a fire on the patio and sit with a warm drink and quiet conversation, to be entertained by the flames instead of the television.
Friends, make time to discover the beauty of this season! Slow down and soak it all in. Breathe deeply and be overtaken by the small moments of Joy that abound this time of year. Sit on the porch for a bit.
“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” ~Psalm 118:24
Welcome to the porch... 