Happy Fall, Y'All!

The leaves are changing and starting to fall and there's a nip in the air most evenings now on the mountain top....and I couldn't be happier!

It's finally here, it's finally Fall, Y'All!

The light is changing, have you noticed it? It's definitely time to bring in the warm and cozy accents of autumn!

The dining room tablecloth is changed regularly as we eat most meals there, but the other morning this red cloth just looked so perfect with the sun streaming in through the windows - perfect spot for a weekend breakfast. 

In the bedroom, I warm things up for fall by swapping out the yellow floral throw with this nubby grey tweed one, and a taupe fluffy throw goes on the chair in the corner. The white accent pillow gets changed to this lovely beaded pumpkin pillow. 

I got this a few years back in Home Goods, and I just adore it. The colors are always kept muted in this room to keep it tranquil, so this adds just the right touch of fall decor for my peaceful bedroom. 

I also swap out the runner on the dresser - the one with the birds and yellow accents gets put away, and this grey paisley one comes out. The addition of a couple of pumpkin candles in muted shades completes the fall decorating in the bedroom. 

The cool nights mean I can leave my windows open for a breeze but close my drapes and make my room a cozy little cave, which I missed during the summer months. 

I admit I had a rather tough time getting up the first few mornings the drapes were closed! 

In the living room, the mantel and hearth have been decorated for fall, with a leafy garland and some random pumpkins and gourds. 

A few little pumpkins placed here and there add just enough of an autumn touch to make me happy. My oil diffuser is regularly pumping out a blend of orange, clove, and fir these days. 

The pillow covers have been swapped out with my fall collection. Those pillows with the leaves and the 'D' were one of the first things I bought when I put the offer on my house....Pottery Barn clearance, with a coupon code...my favorite way to shop!  The following fall, when I was finally all settled into the house, I was so excited to bring out my fall pillows that I had collected whenever I saw a nice one pop up on clearance! They still make me smile. 

My old girl, Lily, has seen a lot of summers come and go - she's 16 now and just had a birthday. She doesn't get a lot of photo time on the blog as she's usually sleeping when the other two rascals are running around playing, but I couldn't help snap this photo the other evening - she looked so cute the way she was sitting. Poor sweet girl, she's full of lumps and bumps and aches and pains....we love her dearly and just try to make her comfortable. 

She'll be the one under my feet this evening as I am preparing a special dinner for Mom - it's always lovely to be able to make a nice meal for my Mom, and catch up on each other's lives. She doesn't like to cook, and I send her home with leftovers and meals I've frozen for her, to make things easier on her. 

Tonight we will feast on a whole roast chicken. I prepared it this morning, wrapped the pan in foil, and put it in the fridge. Tonight I just need to pop it in the oven and let it roast. 

I love when the house is cool enough to use the oven again - I really miss it in the summer months. 

This is Ina Garten's recipe, with the chicken resting on a bed of carrots, quartered onions, and fennel, and stuffed with lemon, garlic, and thyme. It's such a simple recipe but produces the most fabulously moist, flavorful chicken!  I will serve it with mashed potatoes, stuffing, and some of my pineapple chutney. 

What a perfect way to welcome in the first day of Fall!