October is Here - More Fall Decorating

Hello, Dear Friends, I hope that you are 

well and finding a few mellow moments 

to contemplate this beautiful month of October. 

My woodland cottage seems to settle into

its wild surroundings at this time of year,
providing us sanctuary as we await the long winter.

The sun sits lower in the sky, sending down shafts of diffused, 

golden light over all earthly things. 

I wish I could capture that divine, ethereal autumnal glow

and wrap it around me forever, but time 

moves ever onward and these glorious,
sylvan days are far too fleeting.

Nature is in all her glory, but all I can do is try

in some small way to bring a little of that beauty inside. 

I am spending more time indoors, as it takes 

much longer each morning for the sun to warm

the earth, while that mischievous fellow, Jack Frost, 

has been lurking nearby. 

Our passive solar home captures just enough
warmth during the day to keep us from using the woodstove
just yet, but I have been using the electric heat
to take off the chill at night.

I've been gathering little things that remind
me of that beautiful, autumn countryside
 glowing all around me.

Burnished brass, feathers, berries, dried flowers......

This vase is a favorite thrifty find.
I love its soft reflection, delicate shape
 and etched, botanical design.

I love brass candlesticks, too.
This one was a flea-market find.
I was with my daughter and
she said, 'You're going to paint it, I hope!'

Everyone has their own idea of beauty :)
And different color schemes.
Golden tones seem to look best with the
natural wood interior of my living room.

The 'flying ducks' on the beam were cast
by my dear Father as a young man.

He was a tool and die maker all of his life.

This basket on top of my pine cupboard was my Mom's.
She loved this basket,
as it reminded her of the beautiful hand-made baskets
of New England where she was born and lived
most of her life.

I've filled it with bittersweet.

Bittersweet is one of my favorite words.

 Bitter and sweet make the lovely elixir
 of life when blended together.

xoxo

 I sewed this pillow on my settee from a framed
vintage needlework I found at a local antique shop.
I found two - the other is on my daybed in the kitchen,
which you can see in my previous post.

Is there anything more beautiful and resilient than an autumn rose?

We are taking down the umbrellas and canopy
on the deck this weekend.

I will miss their protective shelter, but
fall breezes, here in the foothills,
have been known to carry these things away.......

It's time to clean out the bookcase for browsing
during the long nights ahead.

Books of poetry, art, and classic literature
will replace summer offerings of
gardening, wildflower field guides,
and beachy novels.

Bright flannels stand by for wearing outside.

Boots, walking sticks and umbrellas stand by, too.

It's hunting season once again
and we live in the forest.....
we must dress brightly.

The weaving I made years ago,
and the painted metal coat rack that my dear Father
made for us one Christmas, symbolize
our life here on the edge - in between
the village and the wilderness. .....

Gloves in the basket are for firewood gathering.

Ramblin' Man will fill the wood-box this weekend.

A small owl has taken up residence
on my gathering basket handle.

Isn't he cute? His feathers are faux fur.
I just found this practical basket, too.
The walking stick it is attached to has
a sharp end to drive into the soil
so it will stand on its own :)

The beautiful crochet was a gift from my Sis-in-law.
My autumn fairy resides in a woodland style frame.

I keep the candy dish full of chocolate kisses
and peanut butter cups.

Well, I try to keep it full, anyway!
Here you can see the details of the vintage crochet.

My 1920's English buffet.
 I keep my bar-ware inside.
It's easy to set up when I am entertaining.

This hand-blown vase was given to me
by a dear old friend years ago.
It's a little strange, but I love the dark tint.

The view out the window under
the branches of the old lilac tree.

I sit right here most evenings.
Ramblin' Man likes to stretch out on the larger sofa
or set up his lap-top on the table in front of it.

I painted and decoupaged the tray on my tufted console
which holds toys for the grand-babies :)

I used autumn motifs from paper napkins on the tray.

One of my favorite magazines.
'The Cottage Journal.'

My view from the love-seat.
The cupboard holds the television and stereo.

I can see it from the kitchen and love to watch
my favorite shows while I cook.

This is where I blog, on the vintage treadle sewing machine
that doubles as a desk and sofa table behind my love-seat.

I usually have dogs sprawled out around me, too.
Every time I get up, I trip over one or both.

Or the 'bones' they leave behind when they run off
through the pet-door to bark at some imagined noise.

Today I have the ceiling fan going above me in a whir.

Behind me closets hide storage
and the hot water tank.

The large clay urn was a gift from
my family one birthday, from Pier 1 Imports.
The printer's tray is vintage.
The floor is scattered with berries and seed-heads
that I dropped everywhere while decorating :)

A sweet sampler with the initials bpc and the date 1987.
It's beautifully framed behind glass.

A modern rendition of a classic.

I thought the colors were lovely for fall.

The shadows are getting long, Dear Friends,
and I must start dinner as the day winds down......

As I say goodbye to another day,
I wish you all a lovely October.

And pray for peace, hope and healing 

for our troubled world. 

xoxo


Today I am linking with:
Cooking and Crafting with J&J

Won't you join the fun?

xoxo

I am terribly behind on all my visiting,
but will catch up with all of you this week.
Thank you for your dear visits, my friends.

xoxo