Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Fall in my "neck of the woods"

I have been discontent, but I couldn't put my finger on the problem.


Last night while looking at all the fall decor on blogs, it hit me -I don't like the fall display on my porch.


The reason is that fall on our part of the coast is not like the fall I am seeing on blogs.


This is fall at the end of my street - not an orange or red leaf to be seen.


You can tell it is fall because the beach is empty.


I realized that I was trying to decorate like everyone else, but this morning the yellow bench was stripped bare.


The buoys always hang on the house, but I gathered wooden balls and shells to represent a coastal fall.


Some weights and shells were added to the bench and I stole buckets from the guest room.



This photo I saw on Coastal Nest this morning led to the final addition to the bench.


I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Greek Blue and Emperor's Silk on some white scrap fabric to create a banner for the bench.


I have nothing against fall, in fact I loved every single gorgeous day in September, October and now November.


But, fall for me is the Dutch door standing wide open


beachy items on the porch and


a variety of blues as far as the eye can see.


I am now content with a porch which reflects our lifestyle and our "neck of the woods"

 . . . . . . . .

I am joining these fun parties

No Minimalist Here -  Open House Party

From My Front Porch To Yours - Treasure Hunt Thursday

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson - Share Your Cup

A Delightsome Life - Home and Garden Thursday

Rose Chintz Cottage - Home

Ivy and Elephants - What's It Wednesday

48 comments:

  1. I think your new fall porch represents your style and region much better than the before porch. Red, blue and yellow suit your house!

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  2. It looks cute! Love that flag banner! I think you have to do what makes you feel good regardless of what everyone else is doing.

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  3. I think you have represented your fall beautifully in your vignette! The wooden balls give an earthy feel which to me says fall. How creative of you! And how right you were with going with what fall is on the coast...that is what makes your blog and home special! It isn't like anyone else's and I just love that!

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  4. There's nothing happier than being yourself! Glad you found your joy in your beach decor on the porch, it looks really great. BTW I found a wire basket today at World Market, it's smallish but has chicken wire and I think I'm going to really love it ... if I can figure out what to put in it. I'm thinking fabric because that's what I love. Anyway, they do have wire baskets at this time (and boatloads of other great stuff :)

    Mary

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  5. That looks great. It is just like if you live in the middle of a field in the Midwest Coastal decorating just seems out of place. I do think we have to tie our decorating into our surroundings on some level-otherwise it is jarring to our senses...if that makes sense- xo Diana

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  6. Now you are cookin!!!! This is what I would picture when it is fall in California on the coast line. Looks great.
    Kris

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  7. I used shells in my fall decorating this year; and sure did when we lived on the coast. I also used lots of driftwood; the silvery grey/brown is perfect!

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  8. PERFECT!! You could PAINT a Pumpkin next year in a coastal color!! Blessings~~~Roxie

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  9. absolutely! I would trade pumpkins for sea shells anytime...

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  10. Carol,
    I love it! Your fall porch is perfect for the beach.

    Does your fall beachy banner spell anything in flag code? Wouldn't that be a fun banner...to spell FALL in flag code.

    Judith

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  11. I didn't really understand what a real season was until we moved away from the Central Coast eleven years ago. I must say I love the changing seasons and the various activities that go with each one. Your porch looks much more realistic (and pretty) now. Mimi

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  12. That looks so great! I really love your beachy fall porch, Carol! ...what a cute flag banner.

    Thanks for stopping by and sharing that LYFT-thing... great idea!!!

    Have a nice day
    Jutta

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  13. Looks great, just wright for where you live.

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  14. Wonderful! I just love the cheery colors I see in your home! You must wake up happy!

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  15. Carol, I like the beach decor much better as it goes with your surroundings. You have such a beautiful cottage with wonderful colors - that alone would make me do a happy dance everyday and to smell the ocean - wow.
    Have a super weekend. How does KC like her job? Isn't it great to have her close by - wish I was living closer to my son.
    Mary

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  16. And this is the way it should be. We can't like everyone else, and blogging has reminded me of that. To celebrate who we are, where we are and what WE have is what makes diversity a gift. I WOULD LOVE to live on the ocean as you do....hang the fall trees if I could see my beloved blue every day. ENJOY IT ALL, CAROL! Anita

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  17. Hi Carol, Thank you for your charming post and for sharing your feelings about Fall decorating. I like your beach style better as it suits you and your family so well - after all - how many bloggers live just steps from the beach like you do! !! You are so creative and I love - love your style and your home and garden and visiting you every week. Enjoy your beach style and ocean and the heck with the season! ""Have fun walking on the beach with LuLu. Erin

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  18. I really love it. Your personality really does shine through and it's gorgeous!

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  19. I love that you are doing Autumn your way! Traditional Autumn decor doesn't work for me either so I put my cottage spin on it. Love to see people expressing who they are!

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  20. Well done and well said! I prefer your new look to the bench! And your little banner is so clever. On my bucket list is to live with a Dutch door on my house. Why is it called that? I can visualize a Dutch painting with a woman hanging out such a door …. but I never wondered about it before.

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  21. You know the rest of us would love to have the dutch door standing wide open, right? Actually a dutch door would work for us here in Texas right now..all except for the bugs. :) Your porch is wonderful!

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  22. I have always wanted a dutch door with the top open. Fall is gorgeous in your neck of the woods. Always love peeking into your colorful home. Off to do a bit more snooping around.

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  23. Who needs fallen leaves with a view as beautiful as yours? Love the vignette you've created on your welcoming front porch.

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  24. You are right - the traditional autumn decor just does not fit in with the sunny, beautiful beach and your colorful house! So much better how you've redone your porch area. The sun is finally shining here today but it's only 35 degrees this morning. :-(

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  25. Looks more like you and Steve. Darling painted flags. I want to steal your dutch door when you are not looking.

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  26. I love your Fall porch! Your changes are fabulous! I know what you mean about decorating for Fall in a coastal environment! Your weights, flags, baskets and pails are just perfect and say Fall at the beach to me! Great job!

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  27. Your porch display is perfect because it reflects who you are and no one else!!! xo Jen

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  28. I really appreciated this post. It reminds me to stay true to my surroundings, my home and my style. I like what you did to your porch. It's pretty, cheerful and inviting. All the things a porch should be. And I'd love to have that red dutch door. Simply stunning. Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving such a nice comment.

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  29. What a lovely post. Fall looks different in different parts of the world. Best to embrace the reality of where one's at. Your beachy fall decor is beautifully done.
    Thanks for visiting my blog (via Podso). I'm off to explore more of yours.

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  30. Oooh, I'll trade you your view! I miss the beach these days. Hubby and I live for it in the summertime but here on the east coast it's just not very pleasant out there this time of year. Your beach vignette is perfect! Love the red, white, and blue. And I adore your red door! Thank you for sharing at my HOME and enjoy the weekend.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  31. I much prefer your " beach fall" it goes much better with your beautiful sea scenery, Those empty beaches look lovely too.
    Sarah x

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  32. Good Morning Carol,
    Your porch looks amazing. I love the buoys and I like that you kept the apple bucket. Oh, and your dutch door, how perfect is that?
    It must be wonderful having the beach all to yourself, I can imagine long quiet walks with the dog. A wonderful time to reflect, relax, unwind and daydream.
    Have a great day . . . your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  33. I like your new porch decor very much. It didn't feel like fall in Brittany until late October and I postponed my fall decoration until the air became crisp and humid the way it does in Brittany for fall. The sea was grey today, sure sign of November. You're lucky to still have blue skies and blue sea!

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  34. Your new fall décor definitely seems to reflect the beautiful surroundings you live in, and I love your cute little banner.

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  35. I have to be honest - I love the new one much better - fits much better.

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  36. You've put together an amazing porch! The weights, the banner, the basket...all perfection!! :)
    Susan

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  37. When given lemons, make lemonade. Not that that view of yours isn't supremely fantastic. I'd trade that view at the end of your street ANY day with my view.
    Brenda

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  38. Perfect....as always! And I have to say, that is much more you! The other display was pretty but this one is much more your style...:) I hope your daughter is setling in nicely...:) Have a beautiful Friday my friend.....Vicky
    Life On Willie Mae Lane

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  39. I always love a beach theme! I'm impressed with that empty beach too. Love your nautical flagsHappy Fall! :o)

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  40. Carol, this is much more you! The chalky flags hanging so sweetly on the bench are charmingly picturesque! I love your definition of coastal California in the fall; and your illustrations to these words are perfect!

    Poppy

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  41. Here on the 'other' coast I often feel the same way. Fall to me is a long walk on a nearly empty beach. Orange is a ribbon of Monarchs migrating along the shoreline. Topsiders mixed into the flip flops piled by the backdoor. A bulky sweater with shorts for coffee at the beach. I am living more north and farther inland now so I find more 'Traditional Fall' creeping in - but boy oh boy does your decorating look good to me.

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  42. I love your Fall porch and how it reflects your home and where you live! I would trade my golds and oranges for your gorgeous beach any day of the week!

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  43. This post reminds me of the adage "Bloom where you are planted". I love the different seasons in the area we live and decorate accordingly. To look out every day and see the ocean and the sand would be so welcoming and so you should reflect 'your fall' in your decorating. That is what is appealing to all bloggers,,,to be able to share our 'moments' with others who live in a different area.

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  44. Oh yes Carol, that is definitely more you. It's fits your sweet beach cottage so much more! Love the weights and the little banner is the perfect addition to the bench! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  45. I know exactly what you mean about Fall! I live in Florida and the temps are still in the high eighties and there is not a orange leaf in sight. I love your porch and the coastal décor. Thanks so much for linking to the Open House party!
    Hugs,
    Sherry

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  46. Looks very different - I know this can be challenging, but you pulled it off beautifully! I do appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

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  47. Great post and like the new porch look. Love the look of your fall. You can always go visit the fall colors of other places. Houston doesn't really have fall. There are some trees that show fall colors but not many and not like the east coast.

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