Monday, September 19, 2011

Change of the Seasons


Living in New England makes for quick changes in the seasons, often before you are ready to let them go. It doesn't seem that long ago that spring had sprung after the snowiest winter I could remember!  I was so happy to see the forsythia blooming and the trees budding up~and with that came summer even faster.  This year I had lots of garden plans that involved climbing roses and building garden structures for my new roses to climb upon.  The plans are still in the works, the climbing rose has been planted, and it is going to need a support structure soon.  Before I was ready, Labor Day came, and with it the cooler weather and soon the tree leaves will turn~
Fall is upon us in New England, one of the prettiest times of the year.  This was taken last year as we zoomed down my sister's street on hub's motorcyle~a pastime he loves and that I reluctantly share.  I loved the color of the leaves in this picture, and when they litter the street it is kind of magical. When you think of fall, don't you think of New England?  We get a lot of "leaf peepers" this time of year who love seeing the changes.
This very chubby girl is me carrying my halloween pumpkin for trick or treating~my grandmother made this blue wool sweater with the white furry angora trim and the little bunny eared hat for me. Fall is the time for back to school and back to our nests and getting them all cozied up and ready for the long indoor spurt ahead. As reluctant as I am to give up on summer, there is something satisfying about the things Fall offers. Cooking apple pies, fires in the fireplace, kids on a schedule, and decorating our home for the new season.
I always start with the mantle~and this year I ordered some handmade pumpkins from a fellow blogger, Donna~ who writes A Life Reclaimed as well as sells things like these pumpkins in her online Etsy shop.  I am not an orange person! So when I saw these cream and brown pumpkins with the perfect green for leaves, I had to get them.
A tole tray I was able to get on eBay in a wonderful green color is my centerpiece~and lots of bits and pieces are stuffed in for falls abundance.
A couple of florentine trays and some leaf garland and ribbon are added to fill out the mantle. Have you tried the automatic pillar candles? Every night at dusk, they turn on automatically for 5 hours~ the room looks so cozy!  I found a four pack last year at Costco, and I love them!
This is a shot of one going at dusk as I was decorating the mantle...it looks just like real candlelight.
The other new fall thing is the old needlepoint stool I found at Brimfield.  It is just darling and rustic all at the same time.
As I said earlier, I don't like to do orange, so this mix of brown with my favorite minty greens and pinks with just a hint of orange in the binding gives it the fall colors that mix well with my living room colors.
I don't overdecorate my house during the fall season, but I do like some touches here and there.
Sending a typical early fall picture your way from New England~roses still blooming in our new cooler weather with mums on most everyone's front porch.




30 comments:

  1. Hi Amy,
    Yes, I always think of New England when the weather starts turning and the leaves are falling. Here on the coast we do not see this much. Makes me long to be back in the mountains of WV.
    I love your post, it evokes so many wonderful memories. You were the cutest little baby girl and still are!

    hugs
    Sissie

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  2. Amy, the mantel looks great and love that stool. Ah, how cute you were in your bunny costume.

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  3. I, like you, prefer more neutral shades to decorate with for Fall. I will use the more vibrant colors outside though. I also don't do very much inside. I'm not one for too much clutter I guess. I haven't broken out the Fall decor yet, because I'm still waiting for the right temperatures outside. That usually happens in October. I look to the trees, and when they start turning, then I start decorating. Ha! Otherwise it just feels out of place to me. Your mantel looks great! I also really like your new needlepoint stool. I have one similar to it. I love stools! You're lucky to live in New England where the Fall color is SO amazing! I hope you'll post pics for all of us down south to enjoy.

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  4. That picture of you in your bunny outfit made me smile. Love your fall mantel decorations, and that vintage needlepoint stool.

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  5. Your mantle is beautiful. I have a couple of the battery candles, but mine don't turn on automatically! Here in South Texas, fall is slow to arrive. It is 95 degrees as I type this at 5 p.m.! The photo of you is adorable!
    Blessings,
    Lorilee

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  6. We currently live in Phoenix, AZ where there are no seasons and no color. We moved here from PA, and I always miss PA this time of year. Our highs are still around 100, and I could use a cool off. Please enjoy it for me!!! :)

    sarah

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  7. Hi Amy...

    My friend, you really DO HAVE one of the prettiest fireplaces and mantel's that I've ever seen! Everytime I come to your place, I just oooh and aaah over it! Of course, I loved the carved piece that you have added above the mantel...it's FABULOUS!

    Your autumn mantel is just perfect! I love your new burlap pumpkins...adorable and sooo beautiful! I love the colors that you have introduced into your autumn mantel decor...the "softer" shades of autumn, as I like to say! Thank you so much for sharing your gorgeous autumn home with us...it was truly a treat!

    Warmest autumn wishes,
    Chari @Happy To Design

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  8. Hi Amy, that little needlepoint stool was a real find! It suits your livingroom perfectly! I've always thought that turqouise and brown with a hint of orange were gorgeous together. Beautiful mantle. I'd love to come up and "peep" some fall. It's on my Bucket List!
    xoxo, Debra

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  9. What an adorable baby you were:) Love you Fall decorations too. And that needlepoint stool from Brimfield is just great. Yes, Fall is beginning to pop its head here too in CT. Always a beautiful time of the year:)
    ~Debra xxx
    Capers of the vintage vixens

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  10. Amy I can almost feel that cool fall evening breeze blowing now, you set such a pretty scene! You were so cute, don't worry I have a simliar picture with me stuffed and I do mean it literally into a Santa suit, gives me lots of laughs when I see it.....love the way your home is all prepped for fall, and that needlepoint stool is wonderful.

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  11. Beautiful mantle and love that tray and stool!

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  12. Beautiful post, Amy!! You have described the perfect New England autumn and your home is dressed up for it! I am loving your mantel, especially the burlap pumpkins and the tole tray...very nice!! And you look like a little doll all dressed up for Halloween!!

    XO,
    Jane

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  13. Love your mantle Amy and I am so glad you like your pumpkins!
    This is my favorite time of the year...we too get a lot of Fall color here and each morning the yard is sprinkled with a few more leaves.
    Soon we won't be able to see the grass!
    Thanks for the shout out...your a sweetie!

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  14. Amy I really love those home made pumpkins. I am going with lighter colors for autumn decor as well!

    Xoxo

    Karena
    Art by Karena

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  15. Awwwwww, you got some of those adorable pumpkins from Donna, i've been lusting after them too...
    I didn't know you could get candles like that that would automatically turn on... that's really nice, you don't even have to think about it! I really like the leaves too the way they curl around on the mantel.. like they just fell there...

    Cindy

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  16. You were so adorable Amy! Yout mantle is amazing and I love your tray!!!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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  17. Your mantle is wonderful..and I love that tray. You did a nice job changing it up for the Fall season. How sweet is that little coat and bunny-eared hat that your Gramma made for you? Don't you wish you still had it to display? Nice job- xo Diana

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  18. What an adorable little girl you were!!

    I love that Italian Flortine tray ...it's pink!!! I love it!!
    Your mantle looks beautiful!

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  19. Good evening Amy.. your mantel looks lovely and the toile tray is perfect..what a find! My Sweetie has a bike as well and I like you don't accompany him very often. lol He purchased it three years ago when he was entering Manopause and really doesn't ride much at all. I love visiting your place as I am filled with great ideas when I leave.. take care!

    Wanda

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  20. Your mantel looks beautiful. Just the right touch of fall. Those burlap pumpkins are so neat. Really a new look.
    My colors don't do well with the oranges of fall either, so I opt for small touches as well.
    I love New England in the fall. In fact I will be in New England next month. The White Mountains are one of my favorite destinations. You people know who to do fall perfectly.
    Have a great week. Ginger

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  22. I am having a lot of trouble typing just now. I meant to type "You people know how to do fall perfectly" and typed it incorrectly a second time. Maybe third time's a charm.

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  23. Great mantel-scape...love the use of all the muted colors

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  24. So pretty Amy! Love how you kept the feminine touch with your fall decor. And oh, those beautiful little chubby cheeks! I bet you got pinched a lot.

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  25. What I would give to say the seasons come before I am ready! I live in Texas...a place I dearly love, but there's rarely a summer goes by that everyone is not begging for the fall. But usually summer just turns to winter. This year, where I live, we've had over 100 days with 100+ temps. Most days were 110. We are in our worst drought in history. Last week we had 4 days in a row with rain and the way we all acted, you'd have thought it was heaven! Now it's a bit cooler and the signs of fall are here...but I guarantee that sweater weather won't be here til late October or November. Sigh.... :) I enjoy your blog...

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  26. SO many great things...where do I start? I love all those Brimfield treats-I want to hear more about that experience. Those pumpkins are the just the cutest and I love that everyone has mums by their doors...oh to be home.
    xo
    Caroline

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  27. Your mantel is perfect! I have mantel envy! We have a giant black box over ours *sadface* I will enjoy looking at yours instead! The footstool is a fantastic find, and it ties everything together nicely. Great job, Amy!

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  28. Your Fall mantle is really pretty! Like you I don't like a lot of orangey colors in my house...they just clash too much with my color scheme. I love what you did though. I almost bought a tole tray very close to that color a year ago. Could kick myself now! Doing my Fall decorating today!~Hugs, Patti

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