Dahlias and Fall Decorating

 It all started with the dahlias.  We went to the flower garden after being gone for several days, and there was our flower garden in full bloom.  Suddenly, standing there with a cool breeze blowing and clouds in the sky, it finally felt like fall. 

 So I came home and opened up my cupboards and gathered together all my fall dishes. 

 This year doesn't look much different from any other in the dining room, so these pictures aren't anything exciting... I swapped out my dishes and moved just a few things around.  Still, the room feels fresh again.

 I think I've said this before, but I love that about seasonal decorating... just changing around a couple things can make everything feel clean and new again, plus it always inspires me to tackle cleaning/organizing other rooms as well.  (Which means I moved onto sorting through our girls' clothes today that they've outgrown - never a fun job!) 

 Changing around the piano top today reminded me that I've got to get some photos taken of our girls... I'd like to hang a couple prints beside the piano and hang a large photo in the living room.  That's something I've had on my list all summer... looks like they will be fall pictures now!  ;-)

 

 This plate design makes me think of the colors we hoped for when we planted flower seeds in the garden this summer for fall... reds, purples, yellows. 

 We're just beginning to see the changing colors of leaves here and the cotton fields appear as snow when I look out the windows.  I imagine I'll be off to the farmers market sometime this week for pumpkins and those fall pansies I still need to plant.  Homemade applesauce will be on the table again this week and I may even try a new pumpkin recipe.   

Thank you, beautiful dahlias, for reminding me today of all the many reasons I love this season.  

Hope you are having a happy fall!