Last night, the temperatures dropped – it may have been the coldest night in the last few months. Leaves are scattered around the property. Autumn is definitely on its way…but no, it is not here yet. I have no desire to rush headlong into a new season before it actually starts. Yesterday was quite warm during the daylight hours. When Autumn officially arrives in a week or so, I will greet it with a smile. But not until then.
I am not a seasonal decorator. I’m not counting Christmas, of course, but even then, my decorations have been winnowed down in the last few years to a group of very special items that we love. Let’s face it: there is a lot to look at in my cottage. China and pottery is everywhere, favorite prints and paintings are on the walls, there’s always lots of color, books are everywhere. I’ve written about this before in a post called Confession: I Don’t Decorate for the Seasons. And it still holds true.
Why? Well, it could be because we live in a part of the country that has four distinct seasons, each of them glorious. I can look out my window or sit on my porch and see nature’s seasonal decorations. And who could ever top that?
But even when I lived in San Diego, vastly different than the Northeast, I didn’t decorate for the seasons. I might have used some indian corn at some point during my eight years there and we carved a pumpkin or two around Halloween. Those were the days when we had trick or treaters, so we did it for them.
This cottage seems to adapt to the seasons quite well on its own. In the spring and summer, our many windows provide lots of light and give us peeks at trees and flowers and butterflies and birds. In the fall, the light changes and the cottage seems cozier, though I haven’t done anything specific to honor the seasonal change. Lamps are turned on a bit earlier. The throws that are always (in any season) in a basket in the den are used more frequently. But I don’t decorate with them. I see the glorious colors of the changing leaves right outside my windows. In the winter, as the light changes yet again and is reflected off the snow, the cottage becomes even cozier- a haven from winter’s cold and falling snow.
But I don’t do any of that. The cottage itself morphs and adapts and nature’s splendors are right outside our doors – always on view.
I also must confess that I have an aversion to tchotchkes scattered around the house with the words Autumn or Fall or Spring! or whatever on them. Likewise ‘Snow!’ I avoid the seasonal displays and decorations at stores like Michael’s like the plague. Definitely not my thing. I’ve never been able to figure out why I need some words or decorations to tell me what season it is.
Oh, I know. I’m most likely the odd one out here. I understand. I know I often march to a different drummer.
Ah…. see? Mother Nature designed this zinnia and its autumnal colors are perfect for this time of year. I take no credit. I’ll soon be seeing these colors in the leaves as they turn. I’d rather look at this ‘decoration’ than anything I could display in my house.
(By the way, Don, this is for you. More zinnia pictures are coming your way.)
Also, the thought of having to seasonally decorate my home makes me want to take a nap. I’m betting, however, that a lot of you love to do just that. And more power to you!
Just don’t stop by expecting to see gourds and pumpkins and indian corn and the word, ‘Autumn,’ everywhere.
You’ll be disappointed.
(New post on Just Let Me Finish This Page: “On Not Wanting a Book to End.” Please stop by.
Happy Monday.
I used to do major decorating for Christmas, and used to do a fair amount for fall – but I’ve cut back considerably on both. The thought of dragging everything out, then packing away what I already have out to make room for the seasonal decor, exhausts me! Yes, that’s what I said, just THINKING ABOUT IT exhausts me :) And then it all has to be done again in reverse. I definitely still put out fall and Christmas decor … but each year it’s less and less. My priorities for that sort of thing have shifted as I’ve gotten older. I’d much rather use that time (that it takes to decorate) to bake a loaf of pumpkin bread and deliver it to a neighbor!
Me too. I’d rather bake a pumpkin pie or have soup cooking on the stove!
I have yet to get out the few fall decorations I kept when I purged and donated lots of them last year. I usually have them out by now but we have so much going on. My aunt (the one we help care for) had a seizure last Monday while we were getting her up and we had to call an ambulance. Yesterday they did a test on her using dye that may cause damaged to her donated kidney after the family had warned them. Trivial things will have to wait for now. Your flower pics always cheer me up.
I so hope your aunt is doing better, Janie. I know how worrisome this must be for you.
I know what you mean about Hartford…but there are a few things about the city that I like which may or may not be of interest to you or may or may not be achievable given your time and transportation issues. Elizabeth Park not too far from downtown was one of the first established public rose gardens and even when the roses are cut back, the pergolas and frames make for some interesting photo experiences. Also the paths are even and kept clean and may be a good place for your girl to wander around a bit or at least get some good sniffing in. It’s pretty peaceful, there’s a duck pond and a nice lawn area.
I’m sure you’ve been to Bushnell Park which is also pretty where the memorial arch is and a pretty funky old fountain on the other side of the road with the arch and an old carousel which is probably closed for the season now, but if not is quite pretty. Also a good place for Scout as the property is pretty even and good for sniffing.
If you haven’t been inside the old G. Fox building, it’s worth a stroll on the main floor to see the remnants of some rather wonderful art deco designs.
Blue Back Square is a lovely modernized shopping area. In addition to a big Barnes and Noble there is a small tea room tucked away just down the street and a funky cheap jewelry place across the street. It’s good for walking and window shopping and has a few trendy restaurants where a coffee or sandwich might be fun.
I think you know of the Mark Twain house which is lovely and worth a tour if you’re in the mood and it’s right next door to Harriet Beecher Stowe’s home. The neighborhood around there isn’t the best, but the property is nice.
Of course there’s the Atheneum, a very nice art museum and free on Thursdays, I think.
If you’ve been to Hartford six times, you’ve been more times than I have and I live less than 30 minutes away! But just in case…I know you’ll be busy and probably won’t have a car and taking Scout on the bus is out of the question, but perhaps some of these ideas will be fruitful.
Have a safe, successful, and happy time.
Bushnell Park is right across the street from where I will eventually be staying and I’ve spent a lot of time there. And it’s where I walk Scout. Discovered the G. Fox building last time I was there. Gorgeous. I’ve been to the Atheneum – I get in free with my ID. And I’ll probably go there again. The one place I haven’t been yet is the Mark Twain House. I’ll be sure to do that this time.
Just the thought of another ‘seasonal decor’ crawl through the attic gives me a headache – well actually a leg ache as I think I have sciatica and am in pain big time ( doc visit Wed.). Like you Claudia, leaving much of the autumn decorating to mother Nature this year – but will pull out my gourds from the potting shed as I can reach them, and will look for a few real pumpkins on a trip to the farm soon. Did pick up two lovely pots of mums last week – they are on the front steps for a little needed color.
Love your raindrops on morning glory stems pics!
Hugs to you and Ms. Scout.
Mary –
And it will all look beautiful, I’m sure – you have such wonderful style, Mary.
I was tempted by a pot of mums the other day….but I’m leaving town this week, so I decided not to get them. Sigh.
Forgot to add, feel better, my friend. I’m sorry you are suffering right now.
I like the idea of decorating for fall or the other seasons. I just don’t want to. I do decorate for Christmas…it is a season all of it’s own.
But, as with all thing even that decorating has become smaller in size. No longer do I do the entire house. Now I do tree, and a few treasured snowmen. I have a 25 piece village that I made, but this year it might stay in the boxes.
I am with you on signs for the seasons! I can look outside and know which season it is.
I find I’m leaving more and more Christmas decorations in the storage boxes, Trudy. Just a few things, now – and the tree, of course.
I just had to laugh when you were talking about “words” in decorating…that is one decorating style that I find so bizarre! As far as decorating for the holidays and seasons….I used to do quite a bit, when my kids were little. Now…not so much. I guess I just don’t see the need to do a lot of work. I usually, just put my seashells away…add a couple more candles…put a few mums on my front porch….and call it done! Enjoy your day! ;)
I never had kids, so I’m sure that influences how I decorate, Donnamae. I wish I could buy some mums….unfortunately, I’m heading out in a few days!
Since I taught kindergarten, I had decorations for every holiday including Groundhog’s day. When my children were little, it was fun to go all-out with the decorations for Valentine’s Day, St Patrick’s Day, etc. . .
But the last few years, I’ve cut way back, and I’ve noticed others have too. I think the recession has had something to do with people thinking, “Do I really need that three foot tall goose wearing a witches costume?”
I look at some of the photos of decorations on the internet, and I just think, “Why?” So, I use less and less of what I have in the storage boxes, and sell and donate a few more things every year. I’m learning that simplicity is relaxing.
It is indeed, Leslie Anne. I just may donate some more of my Christmas decorations this year. I did that last year and it felt awfully good!
I have always done a little seasonal decor but since blogging got into it in a big way…too big. Now i’m downsizing and simplifying and so much happier. Instead of all my cubbies being decorated for a season or holiday I have just one little one and a shelf (maybe). Enjoying my collections being displayed instead of in boxes….I mean why have them if I don’t enjoy them?? I know what you mean about the outside decorating seasonally for you. When I lived in New England it was like that for me. Now here in the South I need a little ‘help’. I am working on only having things that I LOVE in my home!
hugs,
Linda
That’s a great way to decorate, Linda! With the things you absolutely love.
Since I love to garden, and grow giant sun flowers and pumpkins, I enjoy decorating with those things. Also, living in southern Ca. there is very little indication fall is here. So, with the temperature at 100 plus today, I do have pumpkins at our front gate leading a path to our door. We are on acreage so it looks appropriate. Even if I lived on a small lot I would probably do the same. Not a lot of decorating…….just plain and simple vegetables of the season. Oh, I also have a sign I painted that says Autumn Blessings hanging from a bird house.
Your yard is so beautiful, and, with the early frost you get, the veggies would be ruined. I’m sure if I lived in that area my pumpkins and sun flowers would be all over the inside of my house. Hope Scout is doing much better. Patty Mc
I well remember living in Southern California. We would look out our front window at our neighbor’s deciduous trees to see a faint hint of fall.
Here’e hoping that the frost isn’t too early. I’ll be away part of the fall, so there won’t be anything I can do about it if it happens.
I’m not jumping into fall either. Still savoring every last bit of the garden. I do happen to like some of the decorated letters spelling out fall or autumn (to each their own) I’m finding that I’m decorating less and less for the each season. I might put a couple things out on my mantle and a wreath on the front door. I’m quite satisfied with the way my home has evolved and I’m leaning towards more vintage and antique items for my home. I’m quite bored with the explosion of seasonal decorating on all the blogs and don’t miss blogging one bit! I’m retired now from my full time job and loving it.
So great to hear from you Sandy. I hope you’re feeling well? Congratulations on your retirement!
I feel like some other ladies here..when my son was little I went all out..now..not so much..Mother Nature is much better at decorating then I am..but also..you ladies that do like to decorate..I love seeing what you do..I do like buying a couple of mums just because they are so pretty..I still do and always will have a tree a Christmas time..Love the dewdrops on the vines Claudia!
I don’t know if I can get away with it, but when I eventually move to the apartment (in 2 weeks) maybe I can have a pot of mums there.
I have always felt about the “words” used for seasonal decorating the same as I do about people who have ~ in extremely large letters ~ the make of the car they are driving plastered on the window. Do they need it on the window so they remember they are in a FORD or CHEVY? Same w/ the seasonal words. And, most especially, I won’t have anything with that four-letter “S” word in my home during winter. :-) I do have pumpkins set out in the house, and have to say I do love looking at them. But I, too, have cut back in so much seasonal decorating throughout the year. Just too exhausting. Putting it out is sort of fun…. it is the putting away that gets me, and I swear it will be the last time… until I think “well, just a few things will be fun!”
I understand!
I look around here and realize that I just don’t have much surface space for seasonal decorations. If I put them out, I would have to move other things and where would I put them? No attic. No basement.
Maybe that’s a good thing!
I like to decorate for the seasons, but I don’t do as much as I used to. Scaling down on tchotckes as I’m getting older and too much of a pain in the butt to dig it all out then put it all away again. Basements are both a blessing and a curse.
Yes, I know they are. I grew up with one. But I’d still like to have one! And not one that you have to enter from outside and is only good for housing the oil burner and the hot water heater and the oil tank.
I love fall. It’s my favorite season. I retired from teaching, and I promised not to ever put another halloween decoration up and to stay away from all those fake leaf wreaths. My natural wreath is up with feathers and pods. I do have a pumpkin on the porch and an orange pillow on the bench. I’m with you, I’ve read enough flash cards in my day, absolutely no signs! The colors are what I love, all the rich browns, greens, rust and yellow. I just use those colors in my home in my decor, and I’m always decorated for fall. My roses are still blooming, with crepe myrtles and the bald cypress trees will turn rust soon. Let nature show it’s colors. No signs and fake things for me. Just beautiful leaves. Love your blog and your cute cottage. Your collections are true eye candy.
Oh, thank you, Martha. I love the colors of fall, too. I have some roses blooming at the moment, too. Such a nice surprise. There’s a frost warning tonight – but for the higher elevations (not us). Still, it’s shocking! TOO SOON!
When I was (much) younger, I had the brilliant idea to write a coffee-table book about decorating for the seasons and holidays. I made it to Valentine’s Day, when I set my romantic tablescape on fire. Needless to say, I shelved that book idea .
Oh, that’s very funny, Jeri! At least you gave it a good try!
I see seasonal decor all over the Interweb and (briefly) feel that I’m missing something. But a glass pumpkin filled with candy corn suffices for fall, which doesn’t happen in Arizona till Halloween anyway. I’ll put a few things out for Christmas, but that’s about it.
Claudia, you are so lucky to have four distinct seasons to enjoy.
Where I live, we only have two seasons – construction and winter. Last week we had our first major snowfall and then the Weather Network said that we had the dubious honour of being the coldest spot on the planet last year.
Thank goodness for books, PBS and miniatures! I discovered your blog some time ago while looking for ideas to refurbish my dollhouse and I think it’s terrific. (I think your dollhouse is pretty terrific too.)
Warm regards from the cold north,
Barbara
p.s. – I watched ‘The Poisoner’s Handbook’ with PBS online this summer. Please tell Don that I thought he and the program were excellent. You must be very proud!
We’re in the same band, Claudia!
jane-in-tx