"Every house where love abides
And friendship is a guest,
Is surely home, and home sweet home
For there the heart can rest."
~ Henry Van Dyke

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Falling into autumn.....

It is September 1st and I am totally thinking autumn! Well, I have been for a while since our weather has been fall like since the end of June more of less. Not that I mind since summer is my least favorite season due to the heat. I love the gardening part if the temperatures would simply stay on or under 20C (68F). *grins*

This weekend Jos took me to a pumpkin farm to pick out just a couple for now. I will buy more in a couple of weeks but was desperate to get a few touches of autumn around our home. This weekend, I will be searching for my box of decorations and pulling out my autumn quilts.

Click photos to enlarge...

Come visit my house...
Our driveway has a gate across the end by the house. It is not quite large enough for my car so we keep part of the gate closed and created a little sitting area there. Jos' oleander bloomed really well this year but I think the leaves look tired and it is time to refresh the soil. Note to self to do that this weekend...

Now my dahlia has pride of place. I bought these late in the season so popped them into a pot. They were marked down to 50 cents for package of bulbs. They look like fireworks, don't they? Nice that they have an autumn hue to their color.

Now walk up to my front door and ring the bell. It is chilly in Holland so I will make us a cup of hot Dutch cocoa. Would you like whipped cream on yours? No calories...I promise. *wink*

I redid my planter by the front door with one of the pumpkins I bought surrounded by heather. Heather is a must for me at the start of the season! The candle in my lantern is now orange to celebrate the coming season. I will be creating an autumn leaf arrangement in my hanging basket so have lots of fun planned for the weekend...

Today, my online book club started a new challenge. We are reading 10 books that we have on our bookshelves. Not such a challenge you say? We are now allowed to buy any new books until we finish these books though but with the chill in the air, curling up with a good book under a quilt is just the thing!

13 comments:

Mac n' Janet said...

Loved your fall pictures, I'm anxious for it to come too.
I like the idea of reading your own books, after reading Howard's End is On the Landing about an author who spent a year reading the books she already owned I gave it a try for a couple of months and really enjoyed it, promising myself that I'd "dip" back into my own books on a regular basis.

Nancy said...

First, I love that pumpkin. It is so neat. It all looks great.
Now, about the books. You just had me laughing on Skype. You just finished telling me about the challenge to buy NO books until you read ten from your shelves. Well, as we were talking, you were book shopping and there was an offer for a free book if you order now. hahaha.
NOOOOOOOO Heidi, no new books remember. I thought you were going to start crying, since you happened to be the one who started this challenge.
No, you cannot cheat.
Love you, Mom

Happy@Home said...

Your fall touches are a welcome sight on this first day of September. The hot cocoa sounds good and yes please to the no calorie whipped cream :).
Your book challenge sounds like an interesting one. I think I should try doing the same thing.

Unknown said...

I'm trying to get myself into that fall mode, but I'm just not quite there yet. My dd is. I can tell the temps are getting cooler and the days shorter, but we are still having some warm (for me) days. I'm like you 70 is too warm for me. Linda

Ginny said...

I was thinking to myself, "I bet Heidi will be decorating for autumn soon; I should get some more decorations for the season." And here you are! I love that your little touches are more for the beginning of autumn. I'm not ready for cooler weather, but it's coming. And yes, I'll take whipped cream on that hot chocolate!

DonnaTN said...

Love all your little fall touches. I am so ready for some cooler weather. It looks like you have some great book to read. Tell me how the Ladybug Farm is. That is waiting on my shelf as well!

Annemarie said...

Oooh, that stack of books looks good! BUt so do your Fall decorations. Yup, I've been in an autumny mood for weeks and weeks, and what do you know - we're heading for a schorching hot weekend. Eugh!

Anonymous said...

So many wonderful ideas. I'm anxious to get my fall decorations in place.

Jenny said...

I love all of your Fall decorations. I had to laugh to myself because I have so been in the mood to go to our pumpkin farm and pick out a pumpkin or two...grins...however they are not quite ready to sell pumpkins here yet :( Our weather is still HOT so cooler temps would be most welcome. I love your book selections...you have a few of my favorites on there....your house looks lovely...the hot chocolate sounds wonderful and I definitely need the whipped cream.

Saskia said...

If I want to join the book challenge, I have to buy 9 extra books... Because there's only one left, and I'm reading it right now!
Your right, getting in the autumn spirit. I have to dig in my fall quilts too. Just because I lost my pumpkin selling spots (I don't go to ouddorp that much) I can buy them here!

Melanie said...

I love that pumpkin by your door; I have never seen one that color! How are you doing on getting all those books read? ;-)

terricheney said...

This is just lovely...I'd have coffee there in winter sitting in the sun

Anonymous said...

Did you get the Autumn door basket done yet? I recently read the second and third Ladybug Farm books and am waiting for the first to come into the library. I enjoyed the other two.

Enjoy your beautiful Fall weather. Your Fall touches are inspiring.

Andrea in Calif