Layer Upon Layer

The other day we were kayaking in the late afternoon

 and for the first time in months, I was not stripped down to my bathing suit, but dressed in layers (I had even thrown in a sweatshirt "just in case")

and it got me thinking about how fall is all about layers.

Our days are still warm, but the night comes earlier and the evenings are cooler so both my clothing and decor get layers at this time of year.

In summer, I want uncluttered surfaces, but this time of year I frequently use a tablecloth and even my centerpieces are layered for color and texture.

In the summer, when Steve takes a nap, he uses this throw beneath him to catch errant sand,

but when fall arrives, we use it at night to keep our legs warm when we sit by the fire.

The mantel is another spot that is layered this season.

I usually keep vignettes off to the sides, but my latest design has dried branches strewn across the mantel.

Leaves, candles, books, clocks, etc. are layered to add height and interest.

My little red ladder is layered

with fall decor

as is my garden ladder.

This ladder was in the guest room, but it got booted outside when I found a shorter one and I love it in the garden because it allows for color at different heights.

 An extra quilt is added to the bed and a throw rug covers the now cold floors.

In the summer, I don't have time for crafts, but with the sun setting earlier I need something to keep my hands busy when watching movies

so my craft supplies become part of the decor.

I add layers to cozy up my house -

what's your fall decorating trick?

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Adding Fall Slowly

I'm slowly adding Fall decor - a little each day.

I stole some of the plants from the front of the house

and replaced them with little pumpkins.

My original plan was to use mostly Halloween decorations, but after Lulu ate the BOO banner, I rethought my plans.

I moved a few things around in the entry.

The only money I spent on decor was for about 2 dozen little pumpkins.

With few bookshelves in our little cottage, I do a lot of stacking books for vignettes.

I chose "Book of Days" and when I flipped it open,

I found several pages with the perfect poems for the season.

The dining room didn't get much in the way of fall decor -

the brightly colored Rudbekia plant on the table has been on the table for awhile

and will stay until the plant begs me to plant it.

I brought my scale out of the kitchen

and used a linen napkin instead of a pot for a rose bush.

I  ended up using only a few fall items to decorate

focusing instead on fall colors

flowers

and pumpkins.

Tomorrow I'll finish the living room as I continue to add fall little by little.

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Check out other fall decor at 

Ms .Toody Goo Shoes - Best of the Weekend

Permission To Simply "BE"

I am a "doer".

I constantly make lists and I'm always on the go with just 2 speeds - On & Off.

A couple of  things occurred lately that really make me question my need to always be "doing".

First, I took a felting class on Saturday and loved it,

the Scaredy Cat on the far left is the sample and the cat in the middle is mine

but my by right hand hurt like the dickens on Sunday.

I thought about all the crafts that I can't do right now, but then I asked myself, "do you really have to be making something all the time?

The second occurrence was something my daughter wrote - "I can be really hard on myself about being lazy and doing nothing on a weekend. I have a history of trying to cram a ton of activities into 2 days which usually leaves me no time for rest and relaxation".

I felt a little guilty because KC said she learned her "always on the go" lifestyle from me.

As I was taking pictures yesterday for an Instagram post, I looked out at my garden and asked myself why I rarely ever just kick back and relax on the chaise.

 The answer is that I am forever tweaking things around the house

and coming up with projects

like the new latitude/longitude sign I convinced Steve to make for the entry.

Yesterday I posted this picture of my garden on Instagram

with this comment.

So, I greeted the morning with no list, no deadlines and gave myself permission to slow down and simply BE.

We took Lulu to the park

and slowly walked along the dunes to Soter Point.

After lunch, I made peanut butter cookies and headed out to the garden to read.

I looked around the garden feeling restless although I had vowed to sit and relax, - I really am a "doer" and I needed to do something.

I grabbed my camera and started taking pictures

and then I decided to set the table for dinner -

it's still warm enough to be eating outdoors each night.

As I stood back to look at the table, I noticed that I was in the garden and I was relaxed despite the fact that I was busy.

When I began writing my post last night, I gave it the title of "Permission To Simply Be", but as my day developed, I accepted that, like Popeye, "I am what I am".

Instead, I am giving myself permission to simply be ME.