Friday, September 2, 2016

Hello September!




I read today that September first is the  meteorological beginning of Autumn.  I've always thought Autumn began September 21 or there about.  I understand it's the difference between meteorological Autumn and astrological Autumn.  Well I'd like to go with astrological Autumn and not jump in too early.




Some cool evenings we go down to the river to enjoy a sandwich or cheese and crackers and enjoy the beautiful river.

Summer will still be with us for a while.  Even with a storm the other evening, the temperature  has dropped.  Hooray!  I need to get busy and decide how to decorate for the season.  I store a lot of my fall items in a large closet in our basement.  It will be fun to get it all out and see what I want to use this year.  Every year I try to refresh some of the old pieces and decide what needs to be tossed.




As I was writing this post, I asked Grayden what photo should I put here.  He said "You can go downstairs and take a photo of the closet you store the Autumn things in."  Instead I'll show you this hibiscus we recently transplanted.  Crazy man thinks I'm going to show you that closet!


  

The local stores are full of tempting goodies for fall.  When I start to change our seasonal decor, I try to update a few things.  Shopping in our home is always the preferred way to go for me.  Updating a wreath or adding a few natural pieces will take our decor all the way through Thanksgiving. 

Orange is a color that I don't use in my home very much.  In our Florida room I can use a little, but the rest of our home is decorated in reds.  Orange and red doesn't appeal to my sensibilities.  Of course rich browns and gold do blend well with our red.  

It's nice to bring out the Friendly Village dishes this time of year.  Our everyday Bennington Pottery Blue Agate takes a rest in the server.  

I need to decide what centerpiece to go with on the dining table.  The dough bowl full of naturals looks nice and a candle adds a nice touch.  A colorful tablecloth to compliment Friendly Village should be easy to find in the linen closet.  I'm obsessed with table cloths.  Are you familiar with the April Cornell table linens?  I love them!

It's exciting to think about a favorite season of mine.  I'm so glad I live where the seasons change.  Just like changing furniture in a room can lift my spirits, so can the change of seasons.

After looking at a few of our Autumn things,  I discovered the wreath I had bought in Colonial Williamsburg in February of this year.  It was on sale.  I try to buy things I love out of season so I can get a good price.




Do you wait to decorate for Fall or do you decorate in early September?



 Try to remember the kind of September
When life was slow and oh so mellow
Try to remember the kind of September
When grass was green and grain was yellow
Try to remember the kind of September
When you were a young and a callow fellow
Try to remember and if you remember
Then follow
Follow
Lyrics- Tom Jones





34 comments:

  1. I'm happy to go with August as the start of Autumn because the first two letters are the same! Seriously, though, until a couple years ago I had never heard of the meteorological starts to the seasons.
    I have feelings that I associate with Autumn, like that certain smell to the air, or the changing light in the mornings, that rustling of leaves as they start to turn ~~~ and I've noticed these feelings seem to start much earlier than they used to. This year, the first whispers came in late July. Our Autumn seems to finish earlier too, by the end of October the Winter is almost upon us with the start of ferocious and relentless gales.
    oooops, I've rattled on now, but before I go, I have to say I find Grayden's dry sense of humour delightful, and I'd love to see that photo too!
    ~~~Deb {for whom Autumn cannot begin early enough}

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    1. Believe me, Deb, that closet is not worthy of being on display.
      Today is the first day we have had come close to feeling like Autumn. The windows are open for the first time in months. It feels so good!! Autumn has always been my favorite and I do believe this year that's true more than ever! xoxo ♥

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  2. I wait until the Equinox to change my decor but this year we're having friends visit on the 20th who have never visited us in this house the 35 years we've lived here, so I'm trying to decide whether I want them to see my house in it's Autumn color or Summer color. It will depend on the weather I suspect. If it's cool that weekend before I may just go ahead and dress the house for Autumn.

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    1. Even though we are having cooler temperatures now, I must remind myself that the heat and humidity will return. I think that's why I wait until Autumn is truly here. Have a nice weekend, Cathy. ♥

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  3. I'd like to see the closet! Ha! My header shows all the autumn decorating I plan to do until Thanksgiving. Course, I'll need to do a little outside. I am not quite ready to let summer go either. The river with the train trestle looks like a nifty spot for a picnic.

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    1. Vee, as much as I think of you, I don't think you'll be seeing the closet. It's not exactly one that is full of neatly organized shelves, etc.
      The river was like glass the day I took the photo of the train trestle. Have a good weekend. ♥

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  4. What is it with all of us that we want to peer into one another's closets? On second thought, if you showed me your closet, then I might have to show you mine. No, some things are better left unseen. :)

    I love, love autumn and I am ready to decorate! I haven't started yet, but I'll probably ease into it this week. I bought a mum this evening...an impulse buy! I declare it called my name as I was heading into the grocery store. :)

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    1. Cheryl, I really do try to keep it real here, but really not that real!
      There are beautiful mums everywhere now. They let us know that Autumn is near. I hope you will be sharing your special Autumn touches.
      I hope the storm is kind to your area. Have a safe weekend. ♥

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  5. Love that picture of the train on the bridge. That would be an enjoyable spot to relax. What a great wreath you found (jealous that you can get to Williamsburg easily!). I've never heard of the meteorological start to fall. The wind was blowing through the woods yesterday and you could hear a particular sound from the leaves that I associate with fall. It's like a more crisp sound that occurs when the back of the leaf is blown by the wind. I think I'll start with some autumnal touches the week before the astrological autumn. We've been cooling down in the evenings and it feels good although we are supposed to head back up towards 90 in a few days which is a surprise for us! The mums are appearing at all the stores now but I have't purchased any. Some of my annuals are starting to look overgrown and tired. It's that in between time of the seasons.

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    1. Liz, we are so lucky that we can get to the mountains, the ocean and yes, Williamsburg with just a short drive. The leaves are getting that crunchy sound preparing for the Autumn ahead. Our weather is so much cooler, but we are expecting by next Friday to be back in the upper 90's as well. I'm so thankful for this cool weekend, but there are storms to our east and I hope our shores don't take too much of a beating. Have a nice weekend. ♥

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  6. You know, I bet there's a blogger or two that hauls 3/4 of their stuff out of a closet, organizes the 1/4 that's left perfectly and beautifully, then takes a picture of THAT.

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  7. Tom Jones...haven't heard that name for decades! Like you, Martha Ellen, I enjoy shopping at home which is how I've primped Poppet, my 1965 Scotty camper. It's coolish here...46 this morning...and sun is beginning to burn off the heavy fog. Your train photo is fabulous! Reminds me of the trestle in Scotland; where Harry Potter was filmed.

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    1. Sandra, your camper is adorable and I'm sure you are enjoying your time when you can get away in Poppet. Your morning temps are much lower than ours, but we still are enjoying the coolness that fills the air. Have a nice weekend, Sandra. ♥

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  8. Your wreath is delightful. I'm sure it was fun to discover it. I tend to forget things when I put them away. I have already done my fall decorating, probably because things were a mess with the kitchen being painted so I just cleaned it all up and changed things a bit. Seems a little early, but at least it's done and a big minimally this year. I'm glad your weather is changing and a bit cooler. Ours is for the weekend but then the 90s will be back. Still there's a feel in the air that says fall is on the way! Enjoy this weekend!

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    1. Dotsie, after your painting was done was a perfect time to put up Autumn touches. Unfortunately our temps will rise again at the end of the week, but we've had a preview of the wonderful weather to come. Have a great day. ♥

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  9. Until reading your article, I never even heard of meteorological and astrological autumn. I will have to do a bit of research to learn more.

    As you already know, I decorate for fall the first part of September. Yes, that is rushing the season a bit, but since it is my favorite season, I'm always ready for its arrival.

    Having lived for so long in Florida---where there are virtually no seasons except summer---I am loving living in a place where I can experience all 4 seasons. I will admit that winter and summer are not my favorites. I prefer the more moderate temps of spring and fall. Not too hot, not too cold.

    Your photos are really beautiful. I especially love the photo of the apples and the train traveling atop the bridge. I want to travel on a train about as much as I want to breathe...a result of watching so many 30's and 40's movies.

    Blessings,
    Patti

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    1. I had always known Autumn to come on the Fall Equinox as well, Patti. Reading more and more about our weather recently this term popped up. Autumn is a like a tall drink of water after a hot summer. I can't imagine living where the seasons are the same. It would mess with my rhythm of life.
      Wouldn't it be nice to ride on the Orient Express train of long ago? Our daughter recently took the train across the country and said it was quite an experience.
      Enjoy your weekend. ♥

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  10. What a gorgeous photo of the train crossing over the river! It's really lovely that you make time to picnic along the river, Martha Ellen! ♥ Isn't the cooler weather wonderful? It has felt like northern Wisconsin here the past few mornings. Hot summer weather returns early next week, so we are soaking up as much cool air as we can over this holiday weekend!

    Although we are still decked in red, white, and blue, after Labor Day our Autumn colors will slowly emerge inside. I'm excited for the arrival of the new season! I'm so grateful to live in a place with four, distinct, beautiful seasons. I have always loved the new beginnings that each season brings! Happy weekend, Martha Ellen! ♡Dawn@Petals.Paper.SimpleThymes

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    1. Thank you, Dawn. The weather is so nice. It really does feel like Autumn is in the air. September can tease us into thinking it is here and then that warmer weather returns as it will for us as well. Grayden and I have been taking advantage of the cooler temps by working on edging the mulch beds. By this time of year grass begins to creep into them.
      It's fun to slowly bring Autumn into our homes as we prepare for a more cozy time of year. Enjoy your weekend, dear one. ♥

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  11. Martha Ellen, that Fall wreath is gorgeous with the golds and reds and a touch of pine cones. I love to decorate for Fall too. How funny that your husband said to take a picture of the Autumn closet. You are going to have fun going through things, and I'm like you in changing things around and tossing items I don't use any more.

    The river is so pretty. What a peaceful place to spend time and have a picnic. That's a great picture of the bridge. I just love that apple picture too. Apples just say "Autumn" to me and I bought some at the store the other day.

    Happy September, Martha Ellen. What a wonderful post this is.

    ~Sheri

    p.s. to answer your question, Yes, I have decorated for Fall already. I start early September. :)

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    1. Hi Sheri, I hope you will share your Autumn touches. It really feels like Autumn now as our temperatures have dropped, but will increase during next week. Thank you so much for your sweet comments. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. ♥

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  12. I like Graydens idea of showing your closet, Ah, c'mon! I decorate in October and don't really do much. Each year, I attempt to make a pumpkin and gourd pyramid in the yard, but it's success depends greatly on my crop. This years pyramid may be lacking in size, as in tiny.
    I always decorate my mantles in oak leaves, acorn and fall foliage. A wreath on the door and pumpkins going up the porch steps is standard here. If I am lucky, my rust colored mums will bloom again, but they aren't looking too good.

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    1. Jeri, your natural decorating style sounds lovely. I do tend to go for the naturals as well. My mums did not come back, so there are no mums here unless I'm tempted to buy some.
      Jeri, believe me you aren't missing a thing about that closet! ♥

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  13. I love that basket of apples. Today is cool with low humidity and I can't help but yearn for autumn...sorry all you Summer people!

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    1. Apples surely speak to the wonderful season ahead, Susan. These are Pink Ladies and they are delicious. Enjoy the coolness while we have it. ♥

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  14. A lovely choice of photo's here and then the verse you've used to complete your post is perfect!

    I love the Autumn (Fall) and the colours on the trees with the leaves crinkling as you walk ... we're not quite there but it will not be long!

    Good wishes for the new week ahead

    All the best Jan

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    1. We have a ways too go before all the delicious colors of Fall visit us as well, Jan. Thank you for your sweet comments. Have a lovely week ahead. ♥

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  15. Lovely! What a beautiful spot on the river that is! I cannot wait to decorate for the fall season. We have had the most beautiful weather since September rolled in! This is the most beautiful time of year...let's celebrate it Martha Ellen!

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    1. Thank you, Betsy. Autumn is longingly awaited this year. I'm so glad you are experiencing cooler temperatures! It feels so good to have the windows open and hear the birds singing. September in VA can be a teaser, but fall is knocking on the door. ♥

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  16. Love your wreath! I put up my autumn wreath on my door on September 1st. We've had some cool days on and off, and it put me in the mood for fall. It is my favorite season, but it passes quickly here

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    1. Thank you, Pat. I can imagine your Autumn is a quick one. Enjoy every moment of our favorite season. ♥

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  17. That wreath is pretty ♥ I haven't yet decorated for fall ♥

    summerdaisycottage.blogspot.com



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