Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Autumn Decorating

As a rule, I am not a big fan of the color orange. You won't find it in my home any time other than Autumn. But who can resist pumpkins and the deep colors of orange, and gold, and red that fall brings? Orange finally fits right in.
 I grabbed one of the wooden boxes Earl built for the wedding and the lace covered candles still had lots of life in them. By adding some mini pumpkins and some faux and real bittersweet I have a warm and cozy centerpiece that can be used anywhere.  It's candle lighting season after all, and I am not one to waste an opportunity to light the dreary days, (it's raining today!) or dark evenings with the warm glow of candlelight.
 Yesterday was probably one of the last warm days we will have here. We took the opportunity to walk an old wooded trail that used to be a railroad bed. I have been coveting bittersweet for a few years. I have heard it's protected, and besides, I wouldn't cut anything along a public trail that is for the enjoyment of everyone.
Lucky for me, the utility company had gone through and cut the brush along the trail that was directly under the phone lines. Along with the brush was a plentiful supply of bittersweet that had been cut right along with it. I filled my arms with all I could hold and felt as happy as if I had discovered gold.  Some of it went into an interesting old jar I recently found at a church sale. I have it next to the kitchen sink. By the way, there is nothing like blogging an area to inspire a good clutter clean up. Maybe I should systematically be photographing and blogging the house?  Ha!  Maybe not.

I hate to say it but the weather is turning colder and drearier. Friday we are supposed to get something that rhymes with the word NO! which in a word describes how I feel about that particular weather event most of the time.  Time marches on, Autumn is winding down.
Are you starting to think about Christmas?

20 comments:

  1. Hi Kathy! Everything looks so pretty! I really do like your box filled with the fallness!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  2. Ohhhhh I love that centerpiece. It is so gorgeous. I was never an orange person.... but the last couple years I've really developed a love for orange. I even have quite a bit of it in my kitchen and I just adore it. I don't think Bittersweet grows here in our part of Tennessee, but I wish it did. It sure is beautiful. Maybe I need to look into planting some? Time does march on... and no, not thinking about Christmas! I'm going to New Mexico for a month to be with my folks (all of November) so when I get home I better really start thinking about Christmas! Hugs - Dori -

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  3. That box is very versatile...I can see a bit of red and green in it soon! ;-) Love your bittersweet, too!

    Yes, the temps took quite a flip today. I was so glad to get the rest of the backyard cleaned up and things stored away over the weekend. I've even started to toss pumpkins and mums that are looking a little poorly.

    Today I made your apple pie recipe and although I haven't tried it out (waiting for dessert), it looks fantastic (tasting). My usually mistake is not piling those apples up high. It just looked like so much but after I put them in the crust, I knew it would deflate, and it did. :( Well there's more time ahead to experiment. I think 12 apples minimum. The corer/peeler/slicer gadget is a Godsend and I bought a pastry blender the other day. Not sure if I like it more than the old two knives method. Is there a specific method to it?

    Thanks for popping in. Yes, that is a ginormous diamond. The kid has good taste!

    Jane xx

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  4. I have thought of Christmas and the same word that rhymes with sssss...NO comes to mind. LOL. I am just not ready yet. Not ready at all. We are expecting the same weather Friday, which is odd since tomorrow will be on the 60s.

    Love all the sweet touches of autumn you've shared. And, though I won't have it cut and waiting for me, I do have my secret spot for gathering bittersweet...perhaps tomorrow would be a good day for gathering.

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  5. or in the 60s...these typos slay me!

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  6. I feel the same about orange..I am not a Halloween person but love fall and that must include orange. I recently brought some bittersweet back from Missouri as it doesn't grow in Colorado.

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  7. I love your centerpiece! I have also been wanting some bittersweet, but whenever I see it at some country fair or shop, it's about $15 - 20.00 a bunch. Too much for me:) Lucky you to find some!

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  8. I love the way you brought autumn into your house. Our neighbor grows bittersweet on the fence between our houses. It is the bane of my existence except in the fall!

    I am starting to think of Christmas and have done a fair amount of christmas shopping but won't let myself think about it too much until nov 1st.

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  9. Your home is so cozy looking! I love all the touches of fall. I have a very hard time finding bittersweet. Everything is so pretty!

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  10. Your home looks very cozy on the rainy day! We have had some lovely weather too, but today it is suppose to rain and tomorrow the cold front comes in here as well. Not as cold as MI. though....

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  11. I just love your Fall decor. So pretty! It looks so cozy for this time of year. Take care. maria

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  12. A few branches of bittersweet would make me beyond happy. So perfect for this time of year!

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  13. Hi Kathy I'm not a fan of orange either, but I love bittersweet too. Lucky you to find some! The arrangement in the box Earl made is wonderful, the perfect setting for autumn colors. Hope you don't get snow yet!

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  14. I love your Autumn decorating. I used to do orange - back in the day, but not much until a touch here and there this time of year. Finding the bittersweet was a special treat. I don't have much Autumn decor done yet. Too much else going on but I've got 'the bug' so will try to get it done soon. Thanks for the inspiration.
    ~Adrienne~

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  15. I love bittersweet too although it doesn't grow here in our dry air. We were in Texas one October and I bought some and babied it along for quite a few years till it dwindled down to nothing! We are getting the NO warnings here too. :( Mimi

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  16. Did you get that snow, Kathy?
    I love Bittersweet too. What a sweet surprise to find it already cut.
    I am thinking of Christmas. Just little stocking stuffers, nothing big. what do you have in mind?

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  17. O, everyone has me wanting bittersweet sooo bad, I can hardly stand it. I can't remember ever seeing any around our part of the country.
    Your centerpiece looks perfect. I TRIED to add bits of orange here and there but have very little. I like the burnt oranges, the darker oranges but still have a hard time with just ORANGE.
    I am shopping for Christmas..bought all the grandgirls gifts on vacation in New Mexico...turquoise crosses..so pretty. I ordered sterling silver chains off Ebay and get this...10 18" chains, sterling silver, under FIVE DOLLARS and free shipping all the way from China. Just blew my mind.

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  18. So pretty Kathy! You're so lucky to be able to just gather some bittersweet! I love it and have always wanted to grow some - next house!

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  19. Hi Kathy,
    I love your decorations for Autumn, and I especially love the box that Earl made for your arrangement. Everything looks so gorgeous.

    Karen

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  20. Hello Cathy! It was so refreshing to fin your blog again! We started blogging about the same time and so glad to see you still here! Blogging sure has changed since we started out and I loved reading what you had to say about blogging a few posts back. Thanks for the encouragement about blogging. I will have to see who you went with printing your blog for one year. I want to do that too because I am blogging to journal and to pass on to my kids. Wonderful going through your blog, as always! Big hugs to an old blogger! Hugs, Maryjane xox

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Thank you for taking the time to say hello :)