Rhythm

The morning is damp.  A faint fog hovers over the fields and the lake.  The birds that on a warm, sunny morning would be singing loudly and flying across the yard are tucked into branches and sing no songs. It is a tranquil morning. The leaves have only begun their change. Hints of yellow and dots of orange peek out of the surrounding woods. For me, nature is triggering my nesting instincts.  It happens every fall.  If spring is a time to clean and throw open the windows, fall is the time to add some layers, to cozy up. 

 

I have rubber storage totes filled with fall decorations.  Garlands of fall leaves, floral centerpieces filled with mums and sunflowers, and numerous other objects representing the season are spread inside my house.  I like that the same colors that delight us outdoors are brought inside with these decorations.  Garlands of leaves are hung on the chandelier over the dining room table, and bouquets of leaves spill over a basket on top of the refrigerator.  In the living room the mantel now wears a cream colored vase with cream and brown sunflowers and an oversized acorn I bought from an artist friend.  A tall glass urn filled with orange and yellow potpourri sits on the coffee table next to a shallow mustard yellow pumpkin dish that will soon be filled with candy corn.  In the foyer guests are welcomed with a cornucopia full of fall flowers and green chicken wire ribbon hanging on the wall inside an otherwise empty frame.  I like dimensional objects in frames.  Something traditional displayed in an unexpected way adds to the fun. Finally, I scatter pumpkin spice candles around the house and pull out extra throw blankets for the sofa. 

  

Pulling these decorations out forces me to edit other décor out of my rooms.  Things that don’t speak to the season get put away until next year. To have the house decorated and to feel the warmth and coziness gets me in the mood to make favorite comfort foods and bake. The hot and filling dishes that aren’t appetizing during the summer become the staples: chicken dumplings, roasts, and hearty soups. Because fall is a favorite season in our home, I get great pleasure in the process and our whole family enjoys the results.

Click here for ideas decorating your home this autumn.