The Most “Wonderfall”  Time of the Year……

     Fall, to me, is the most wonderful time of the year, even edging out Christmas.  You see, I absolutely love to decorate for the fall season.  Years ago, it was difficult to purchase autumnal type décor, finding mostly Halloween type decorations with ghosts, spider webs, candy corn, or plastic pumpkins.  Today craft and decorating shops are filled with dinnerware, wreaths and garlands with twinkling lights on timers, pumpkins with toile exterior designs, even ornaments for a holiday tree.  And that’s where my passion for fall really begins…..

     When the calendar reflects the end of August, my “fall tree” resurrects and takes its place in the foyer of our home.  About 3 ½ feet in height, it sits on an antique Singer sewing machine commanding a regal view of the foyer, great room (living room), dining room, bar and entrance to the kitchen area.  The tree (another blog to follow soon) remains during the entire fall season with beautiful tiny amber lights that shower the rooms with that autumn glow in the evening long after the other lights have been turned off.  Wreaths are another decorating item that I enjoy using inside as their twinkling lights continue blinking, spreading that warm fall glow.

        I don’t feel guilty about enjoying other hobbies during the shorter days of fall because that means longer nights to get comfortable in my favorite chair, read my favorite novel while covered in a cozy fleece throw or quilt.  Long summer days made me feel as if I should be doing something productive, like a house project or running errands.  Not fall – I can enjoy, and relax!

    Growing up on the East Coast, specifically Pennsylvania, I recall the crisp mornings walking to school which was a few blocks away and kicking the colorful leaves, sniffing their pungent odor.  Later, someone in the neighborhood would burn them in their yard incinerators.  As a member of the high school marching band, we would march for several hours after school, and I would always have a crisp apple stuffed in my jacket to enjoy on breaks.  Any apple that was crunchy was perfect!

    Since moving to Texas, I’ve noticed that folks don’t decorate for fall very much.   Our nine months of warmer weather tends to negatively influence the “fall time”!  When I visit PA which I try to do each fall, my younger sister and I take a day and visit the many roadside farmer’s stands or Amish greenhouses where they sell not only beautiful plants but baked goods.  I’m in Heaven!  I so miss having such places to visit here.  The plums and dark sages of the chrysanthemums that fill the huge baskets; the glorious reds and oranges that outshine any strawberry or orange you can imagine.  Ah, what good memories! 

    And then there are the fall smells – cinnamon, maple syrup, apple pie, pumpkin pie, and chocolate chip cookies! 

    So I try to emulate my fall memories in my Texas home by decorating as much as possible with ceramic  and real pumpkins, gourds, pictures with fall sentiments, candles with fall scents, twinkling garlands on the mantel and wreaths on the French doors.  Outside the front door are more welcoming items.

     Fall is the longest decorating season for me since it includes both Halloween and Thanksgiving.  I try to make fall last as long as possible.  If I could, I’d leave my fall decorations up all year!

    Time and time again as the harvest moon lights up the autumn sky, and an owl hoots in the yard, I reflect on all the falls that are gone and wait with anticipation for the falls that are yet to come.