Hello, Lovelies....
Thinking happy thoughts of fall today as fall is most definitely in the air around here. Thinking of all the warm and cozy things that make fall feel so wonderful to me.
- Comfort foods like soups and chili, fresh baked dark chocolate brownies (from a box, no less!) and warm banana bread
- My hubs watching football and me sitting beside him reading a good book -- I'm supportive like that, you know.... :)
- Beginning to dress in layers to ward off the chill in the air
- Cozy sweaters and great boots
- A favorite pumpkin spice candle
- Our autumn blaze maple turning a fiery red color
- Pumpkin spice lattes at Starbucks
- Snuggling up in front of the fireplace to read a good book or watch a favorite old movie or a fall tv show
- The smell of our wood-burning fireplace when we step outside -- it makes the whole cul-de-sac smell wonderful!
Ahhh....fall is here for sure. And it most definitely gets a warm welcome from me.
In light of such lovely thoughts, I thought I'd share a few pictures from around here today. Of course, the first two are of our beloved "Blaze"......our new (last year) Autumn Blaze Maple. She's gorgeous and she's sure to get prettier with each passing year.
We got some new mums and asters a couple weeks back -- the 4 lavender & purple plants in pots in the photo above. However since they're perennials, we've now moved them from the pots to the flower bed you see below.
The front flower bed with it's spring and summer flowers pooping out and lots of mums bursting onto the scene. The 4 new pots of mums and asters have since been planted in the bed above, as well as tulip and hyacinth bulbs for spring.
Awhile back, I was inspired by Becky Higgins' post about her fall dining room decor since I've been longing for a collection of apothecary jars of my own for quite some time. It never occurred to me to check Hobby Lobby and Michael's for them, but thanks to Becky's post, I went on the hunt and ended up with these beauties for our dining room table. And the best part is that they were all purchased at 40-50% off with sales and coupons! Score!
I filled them with little red balls, faux apples, brown jingle bells and faux cinnamon sticks which I figured would transition nicely from fall to Christmas/winter.
And before I go, a picture of our neighbor's tree. I think I take pictures of this tree every year now because I love it so. While our "Blaze" has turned a fabulous red color, this tree is perfectly orange and I just think it couldn't be more gorgeous!
Last night, I went to watch Bartley ref a football game and it was SO much fun! It's been years since I used to go to all of his football games so I'd forgotten a bit, just how much fun the atmosphere is at a big high school game. And not only that, but I can't tell you how proud I was to watch my hottie hubs, out on the field, doing what he loves. It made me so happy.
It was cold, cold, cold, but it was also fun, fun, fun and you know what? I just might go again next weekend when he & his crew refs a playoff game! In the meantime, I took lots of pictures which I need to edit so I can share them here.
Tomorrow is Halloween but it's also Sunday, so it's off to church first thing in the morning and then I'll be counting down the hours until Bart makes a big, delicious pot of his famous chili for dinner. It's our traditional Halloween meal.....chili and usually a batch of dark chocolate brownies! (+ maybe just a little candy. *wink*) We'll watch the Amazing Race and answer the door when the trick-or-treaters start to ring our doorbell. I'm not a fan of ghosts and goblins, however I do love the opportunity to be a blessing to our neighbors by handing out candy to their little ones. And double bonus, if there's a little candy left over for us at the end of the night! Ha.
Happy cozy weekend, Dearies. What things are you loving this fall?
