Visit your lawn and garden, local produce market, hobby store or better yet, drive out to areas of the local countryside flush with the season’s natural elements for fresh and/or faux items needed to create a foliage focal point or spot arrangement.
Still a favorite example of a simple yet elegant fall/autumn arrangement made possible by nature, a vintage waffle weave daisy pattern crock, small ears of Indian corn, branches of berries, and decor pieces most befitting theme and time of year.
There’s so much to be said for this lovely season, this fall of autumn spectacular where nature’s wonder beautifully serves as the principal decor accent and accessory.
Clear cylinder vases filled with branch bouquets in their natural state or painted in tones of gold, silver, bronze, or copper become a simple yet elegant addition to your fall decor.
Seasonal fruits, vegetables, foliage and nuts make wonderful ingredients for fall recipes, but boy, do they shine in fall arrangements and centerpieces.
Pumpkins and apples make their debut in the beginning of fall, and these seasonal decorating essentials become quite the exquisite floral accompaniment to fresh seasonal flowers and cuttings.
Blog posts, like the spaces and places in the home, benefit from seasonal updating. If you’re like me, all things fall home decor and recipes counts as a conversation worth having and a blog post worth reading.
Fall home decor and recipes suited for cozy days into evenings and scrumptious snacks and meals scripts a feels good to be home narrative.
Great serving pieces, serving trays, compotes, set of table linens, throw pillows, lamps, wall accents, rugs- it doesn’t take a complete space overhaul or remodel to introduce texture, color, or pattern of the season to your interior or exterior home decor.
Don’t forget the menu.
Talk about one of the most delicious ways to welcome fall home decor and recipes to a new season!
Let’s take a look at this season’s Gotta Have It list.
Warm colors mingled among textured accents, collected finds, and antique pieces set against the backdrop of layers of soft and comfy candlelight or a crackling fire in the fireplace invite cozy to settle in and stay awhile.
Glass Figural Pumpkin Acorn Trails – Threshold™
Bring a little pumpkin of your favorite spice and scent to your fall soiree.
4pk Glass Votive Set Vanilla Pumpkin
Getting into the fall of it all is fun, keeps things decoratively interesting, and doesn’t have to break the bank.
Late summer into early fall sunsets casts shadows full of nuance ready to shadow dance with rich colors, patterns and textures that highlight the very best of the season.
If I didn’t know better, I would think wooden dough bowls strictly exist for housing a natural bounty of fall’s most gorgeous finds.
She is of the belief it is in poor taste and the epitome of bad entertaining manners to have an empty cake stand or cake plate set out on the buffet or sideboard when having guests over.
Far be it from me to argue with that particular entertaining principle, so allow me to play the fall baking fairy furnishing y’all with my apple nut cake recipe complete with sprinkles of cinnadust.
This classic recipe is a c’est si bon fall favorite, and is cake stand or plate worthy.
Apple Nut Cake
Ingredients
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups granulated sugar
½ cup brown sugar
2 eggs
½ teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground cloves
½ teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 cup chopped pecans
½ cup applesauce
3 cups fresh apples, peeled and sliced
Icing
½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
¼ cup butter or margarine
3 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar
½ cup chopped pecans
Directions
Peel and slice apples. Add brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, ground cloves and lemon juice to apples coating well; set aside. Mix together sugar and oil. Add the eggs and beat until creamy. Add vanilla. Combine salt, baking powder, baking soda and flour together.
Introduce dry ingredients in small amounts to sugar and oil mixture. Next, add apples, applesauce and chopped pecans and mix by hand.
Bake in greased and floured Bundt pan in 350 degree oven for approximately 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
For the icing:
In a medium saucepan bring brown sugar, butter, and milk to a boil over medium heat, stirring or whisking constantly. Boil for one minute continuing to stir or whisk constantly.
Remove from heat and add vanilla. Add powdered sugar and stir or whisk until smooth and continue until it begins to thicken slightly. Immediately drizzle over cooled cake. Top with walnuts or pecans.
As a tasty bonus, I’m adding my recipe for Great Northern Bean and Chicken Soup as a culinary accompaniment to the antique white pumpkin soup tureen on my Gotta Have It list.
Great Northern Bean and Chicken Soup
Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup carrots, peeled and sliced
3 stalks celery, diced
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon minced garlic
2 cans Great Northern beans
1½ cups cooked chicken, shredded
1 32 ounce box chicken broth
1 chicken bouillon cube
2 cups water
Directions
Melt the butter in Dutch oven (or just toss the butter in with the veggies like I do). Add the sliced carrots, chopped celery and chopped onion. Sauté until onions become translucent.
Add shredded chicken, beans, bay leaf, garlic, paprika, salt and pepper. Stir to incorporate all the flavor goodness together. Add water, bouillon cube and chicken broth bringing to a boil.
Once a good bubbling boil is reached, reduce heat to low and allow soup to simmer for 45-60 minutes.
Remove the bay leaf and serve with crackers or cheesy cornbread.
Spicy sea salt and black pepper crackers add a touch of the all important c’est si bon.
While we’re on the subject of crackers, fall, cozy, snacks, and seasonal goodness, let’s pumpkin cheese ball this fall recipes thing up.
Combine cream cheese, 1¼ cups cheddar cheese, the pumpkin, butter, sage, paprika, garlic powder, and ¼ tsp. each salt and black pepper. Beat with a mixer on medium until fluffy.
Chill, covered, 4 to 24 hours.
Wrap in plastic wrap and shape into a ball. Unwrap; roll ball in remaining ¾ cup cheddar. Serve with crackers.
Serves 24.
To shape into a pumpkin:
After rolling the cheese ball in the remaining cheddar cheese, rewrap the ball in plastic wrap. Place a few rubber bands vertically around the cheese ball to form ridges. Chill 30 minutes.
Let’s talk fall decor buzz and buys for house and home.
Too early for the fall of it all?
Looking forward to the next season to come naturally sparks our interest. Seasonal decorating ideas for fall take time to cultivate and harvest.
Why put off until tomorrow what you can hunt and gather today!
Emails arriving on a daily basis showcasing fall 2023 catalogs, lookbooks, and new for fall arrivals indicates the official fall decor buzz and buys season is indeed in full swing.
From my experiences decorating both home and shop to reflect the corresponding season, balance remains the principal objective to achieve.
Going with the if it ain’t broke don’t fix it rule, this year’s fall decorating around the house look is brought to you by the need and the want to showcase decorative items germane to individuality, simplicity, effortlessness, and nature’s beauty.
Where pastel and bright colors rule the spring into summer color palette, the autumnal allure realized through the choices of darker tones and seasoned finishes resembles nature’s contribution to the rich and cozy fall color palette.
Recently, I’ve discovered a wonderful read, The New Antiquarians: At Home with Young Collectors by Michael Diaz-Griffith with photography by Brian W. Ferry.
Colors, textures, and patterns intrigue and inspire young collectors to seek and mix pieces from various periods and places in the pursuit of creating fresh curated schemes while expressing personal style.
Last year I scouted and scooped up the pheasant vase in the above image early in the fall finds buying season. Learned it’s better to buy early than cry late.
Transports thought and heart to the very best of fall; country inns and cottages furnished in traditional Colonial style, period antiques in rich deep patinas, and nooks and crannies replete with charming accents of the past.
I keep coming back to this Barrister Lane 3-Drawer Sindoori Mango Chest of Drawers for a few reasons. The under $300 price point sits well, the finish offers a rustic charm, and the overall size makes this piece a versatile choice for most spaces.
Colonial craftsmen did away with the central splat detail known to the original design. Splats and legs were altered to enforce the sturdiness and form.
Inspiration is everywhere as proven in this eye catching photo.
Accent and accessories used in expected ways and in unexpected placement have the ability to impress and add charm to the spaces and places in and around the home.
Autumn Harvest Rice hits the spot when you’ve got a craving for a delicious hearty and cozy.
In my experiences with bouquets picked out and picked up in the grocery store floral department reduced for quick sale buckets, a next level look is super easy to obtain by simply tucking in stems, cuttings, and seasonal greenery from my at home lawn and garden department (the yard/garden).
Adding to never seems to take away from the finished result.
Late fall hydrangea blooms thrive until the arrival of the first frost.
Homey for the holidays or cozy fashioned in fall, creating a cozy ambiance will tick all the boxes of seasonal decorating success while leaving warm cozy impressions.
October observations run the gamut from events to design to decor and just about everything else fallapalooza in-between.
Halloween is definitely October happening numero uno. Man, has this
31st of October event become a celebration powerhouse.
Anticipated Halloween spending according to the National Retail Federation is estimated to reach $10.6 billion in 2022, breaking last year’s record of $10.1 billion. Approximately 68% of consumers plan to participate in some sort of Halloween celebration, up from 65% last year, 58% in 2020 and 69% in 2019.
Artist Carlos Amorales exhibition at Salone del Mobile Milano,“The Accursed Hour,” is as striking as it is haunting. Copy the look by covering walls and ceilings with swarms of paper butterflies stickers found on Amazon or Etsy.
Fall fixer up time sees new wood molding atop the antique corbels on the front of the house, and a while we’re at it let’s touch up the colors paint session.
Neighbors are precious friends-friends who come to call with skill saw, molding, primer and woodworking talent to save the day.
Recipes accenting the flavors associated with homey and hearty hit the spot on chilly fall night or game day afternoon.
Crisp days are coming into view, and with that brings the retail offerings, nature’s color parade, thrills, chills, tastes and trends that round out my October observations.
Creature comforts of the season go a long way in setting a cozy scene.
Nestling in with a hot cup of cinnamon spice tea, a hint of pumpkin wood in the air, and this month’s Country Living is the best of fall.
Two darling nephews and one picturesque pumpkin patch delights little ones and this Auntie to no end.
Cooking remains my diversion of choice.
Honing in on the flavors best known to the season and putting your stamp on a recipe to make it your own is a delicious way to create a house favorite.
Apples and spices, fresh lemon and rum extract, refrigerated pie crust (easy is the name of the game) and sprinkles of sugar mix and mingle in a flavor gala befitting a recipe you’ll label a must make.
Pie crust will roll out better if allowed to be at room temperature for ten minutes. Roll pastry out onto parchment paper lined cookie sheet.
In a large bowl combine apple slices, lemon zest, lemon juice, flour, allspice, nutmeg, almond extract, granulated sugar and salt.
Lightly dust center of pie crust with flour mixed with allspice and nutmeg.
Pour filling into the center of the crust.
Gently fold the border up over the edge of the apple filling.
Pleat crust with fingers to create a border design.
Brush border with egg.
Next, sprinkle border with coarse sugar.
Bake for 25 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
Tradition beckons the baking of the first Apple Nut Cake of the season.
Trying out a new recipe or whipping up one tried and true celebrates the taste of the season and dishes cozy toasty fall happenings.
On a personal note, I would like to ask my dear readers to please be patient with me as I slow the frequency of postings at this time due to devastating health news received over the last two weeks. Prayers for comfort and strength are most appreciated.
Today makes it official, friends. I am so excited to greet the season with accents and accessories, tastes and scents that welcome fall home.
One would not know today is the first day of fall by the current weather in the Deep South.
Hot and humid with temperatures rising lands us in full-on fallsummoween.
High heat and humidity zaps the feel of fall, but apples paired with pears, cloves, and cinnamon offers the taste of fall refreshment.
Fall Fruit Facts:
Did you know there are 7500 varieties of apples grown throughout the world with 1oo varieties grown commercially here in the United States.
Cinnamon (also called quills) is the perfect spice compliment to sweet and salty drinks and dishes.
Pears are members of the rose family (no, not the Rose family of Schitt’s Creek fame). Origins of the pear date back to 1000 B.C.
Autumn Apple Pear Cinnamon Water
Ingredients
6 cups water
2 Gala apples cut into thin slices
1 Granny Smith apple cut into thin slices
1 pear (I used Bartlett) cut into thin slices
2 cinnamon sticks
3 whole cloves
Directions
Fill pitcher with water. Add apple and pear slices, cinnamon sticks and whole cloves. Give a quick stir to mix; cover and refrigerate overnight to allow flavors to blend.
Why stop there?
Crisp mornings, afternoons, and evenings go splendidly with a warm beverage or warming cocktail.
Simple syrup or spiced concentrate added to your favorite fall hot or cold beverages amplifies the spice which in turn brings out the flavors so closely associated with fall.
Vanilla Simple Syrup
Ingredients
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup water
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Directions
In a small saucepan over medium heat bring all ingredients to a soft boil; cooking until sugar dissolves making sure to stir the entire time.
Remove from heat and allow to completely cool. Transfer syrup to a heat safe jar or container and store in refrigerator.
Autumn Spiced Concentrate
Ingredients
2 cups water
3 cinnamon sticks
3 whole cloves
Directions
In a medium saucepan bring water, cinnamon sticks, and whole cloves to a to a boil. Reduce heat and allow to simmer for 5 minutes.
Your house will smell amazing during this part of the process!
Remove from heat and allow concentrate to cool before transferring to a heat safe jar or container. Store in the refrigerator.
Seasonal touches here and neutrals there decorate the dining room.
Faux stems and bushes usually don’t tickle my fall decorating fancy, but this Japanese Maple bush from JOANN is absolutely lovely.
Never underestimate the visual impact of the simple yet elegant seasonal décor accessory.
DIY wreath project success means I like the way it turned out and find it too pretty to hang on the front door just yet, so it calls the foyer welcome fall home for now.
Don’t you love when an item you’re sure will work does just that.
Our welcome fall home 2022 wishlist is almost complete.
Vintage or in the style of vintage prints never fail to catch my eye.
Tennessee has really been on my mind and heart of late.
I purchased my first Anton Pieck print from an antiques shop in East Tennessee thirteen years ago, and last week I purchased this vintage Anton Pieck 3D Paper Art print of “The Ship” to add to the collection.
Hunting dog prints hung throughout my grandparent’s house, and the vintage porcelain figurine immediately took me back so in the cart it went.
October vibes come home to a warm welcome, seasonal updates, creature comforts, and hearth and home enchantment.
Friday officially brings October to the table, a perfect time and a perfect month as can be, autumnally speaking.
Chilly sweater weather days and crisp fall evenings will eventually make it down to Louisiana.
Fleeting as it was, we did get a fall preview last week. Colors on parade outside our dining room windows grabbed my attention inspiring me to grab the camera and snap the above photo.
Two days later the color treat was completely gone.
Nature not only showed up and showed out, it showed me the importance of enjoying every facet of the season I love while it’s here.
Cozy, comfortable, cool, and crisp amplifies the fall at home quotient.
Fall autumn days into evenings mark a prime time for a bit of personal downtime spent enjoying the creature comforts of the season we wait for all year long.
If you find the time.
When time affords.
Give yourself permission to give yourself the gift of me time. Most of us realize it’s a labor of love to nurture, comfort and cozy hearth and home, family and friends.
But what about you?
What better way to recharge the battery we run down during our busy and hectic week than with a good book, a hot beverage and a few creatures of cozy comfort.
Comfort and cozy lives on through the generations.
Although the linen closet is packed with a slew of throws and blankets to choose from, invariably I go for the crocheted afghan my grandmother had made for my mother Christmas circa 1974.
It’s a familiar and familial source of comfort; a tactile touchstone accessory perfect for a fall settle in.
Remember hot spiced tea from Tang?
Talk about bringing back precious and tasty memories.
Both my maternal and paternal grandmothers mixed up gallons of this fall into winter spiced tea, serving it up on chilly afternoons to warm the bones and set the tone.
Hot Spiced Tea
Ingredients
1 1/3 cups TANG
½ cup sugar
½ cup instant tea*
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon cloves
*Or use lemon-flavored unsweetened or sugar-sweetened instant tea
Directions
Combine ingredients and store in tightly covered jar. Makes approximately 24 servings.
For 1 individual serving, place 1 teaspoon of spice tea mix in a cup, fill with boiling water and stir until dissolved.
Scents of the season floating throughout the house.
Enjoying the comfortable and warm styles of the season.
Fall is an extraordinary time of the year where we seem to embrace the places and spaces in the home a bit more than usual.
I came to realize the silver lining of time at home during the lockdown phase of virus life.
At home times seasoned, shared, and experienced in a haven of warmth and comfort, reassuring and familiar in the very best and coziest of ways, is time well spent.
October vibes come home in comfortable spaces with a fall flavored beverage of choice and a good book.
Women 55 and older can switch to a mammogram every other year, or they can choose to continue yearly mammograms. Screening should continue as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live at least 10 more years.
Early detection through a routine mammogram is one of the attributing factors in my mother’s breast cancer being caught in the early stages which contributed to her survival.
It made a believer out of me, so every October a mammogram it is.