First Signs of Fall in The Family Room & An Easy Natural Arrangement

I pretty much spent my weekend in decorating mode, and well, my pajamas!  I've been hanging plates (I know that must come as a real shock to you guys), creating vignettes around the house, tending to my hubby who isn't feeling well and I made up a great Mexican rice / chicken dish that I'm going to share soon because everyone here love, love, loved it, so much so that we're having it again tonight!  lol

I've been seeing Fall decor popping up all over blogland and every where else so I decided to get in on the action and pull just a few things out that I could easily get to.  

My sister, Lauri, and I are both October babies and we share a love of the entire Autumn season and all that it encompasses; from the cool, crisp sweater weather, crunchy orange, brown and golden leaves below our feet, the sweet aromas of cinnamon spiced candles wafting through the house and, yes, Halloween!  Several years ago she gave me this cute pumpkin candle holder for my birthday.  It's been out in the garage since we moved here…one of those items we packed up at the last minute with  random stuff laying around at the other house.  I remembered exactly where it was so it was the first thing I thought to get out.  It was a little dusty so I decided to give it a bath. 

 I had the pumpkin in one hand under running water and as I turned it around towards the opening, where you would place a tealight, to wipe the whole thing down, inside I saw something moving around.  I got a surprise.  Nope, it wasn't a creepy critter…this was a welcomed surprise!   I have no idea who hid this there (it may have been me) but it is MINE now!  Finders keepers, right?  Now it's laying out to dry.  If only I could find a suitcase full of this stuff!

So back to the first touches of Fall in the TV / Family room. You saw my ceramic pumpkin in the first pic of this post, so the next thing I want to show is a little arrangement I put together for my mantle.  See the tole planter in this pic below?   I have had these for at least 15 years.  Originally I made some really pretty topiaries covered in fruit and tied with tassels for these.  In this house, they are on either side of the mantle and hold seasonal arrangements.  These were so simple to put together…it literally took only a few minutes to assemble them.  I gathered some dried wheat bundles (you could use any dried or natural grass, etc) and then I placed dried pinecones around the edges.  This was super simple but I love the look.  These will work through Thanksgiving! 

The pinecones have sentimental value to me.  Last Fall, for the first time in years, we took a little, bitty trip and visited Colorado.  It was our first trip back there since we'd left and moved back to Oklahoma 7 or 8 years ago.  Kalyn, Trevor, Ashton, and Shawn and I gathered these pinecones in Colorado Springs and in Vail while on the trip.  I love decorating with natural elements, especially ones that I've gathered myself; that spark a sweet memory.

Here's a view of the fireplace mantle with both tole planters.  Our tv is there as well.  It's not my choice for a focal point over the mantle, but it beats where the cable guys originally had it set up, and if I get my way (which I usually do when it comes to decorating) it isn't going to stay here.  I'll show you all later where it was and where I hope it's going in this room.  Shawn is already complaining that the tv is too high for comfortable viewing and that he gets a neck ache from looking it at.  So, hehe, things are looking up, no pun intended.

On the opposite side of the room, as you enter through the main entryway is a narrow wall behind the French door. As soon as I saw this space, I knew I had a perfect plant stand to fill it. This stand holds one of my Aesthetic Movement pieces that I got from another transferware dealer, Aesthetic Transferware.  It is a huge pitcher with a sparrow on it and dates to about 1870-80.  In keeping with natural elements, I placed a single pinecone still attached to the branch, gathered from our Colorado trip, on the stand and a little bird next to it.  

I think it's so, so cute, but I'm a total sucker for just about any kind of bird decor or transferware!

The last thing I will show, as I feel I might be rambling on a bit much, is my coffee table.  This table is one of my favorite pieces because it has so much sentimental history for my family.  It is the first antique piece of furniture I ever bought.  I paid $125 for this at an antique store in Jenks (Jenks is a small town on the South side of Tulsa and has a wonderful Main Street of antique shops).  Originally it had tall legs and served as our breakfast table in the tiny 6' x 6' breakfast nook at the little bungalow home, our first, near Utica Square.   We had our first four kiddos in that house, all sharing one bedroom, and I was pregnant with number 5 when we moved into a larger home, what we refer to as the 71st Street house, the one that, sadly, we lost to foreclosure which I wrote about HERE. 

  When we moved into the 71st Street house neither Shawn nor I wanted to get rid of the table though our family had outgrown it as a dining table.  One night, out of absolutely nowhere,  I hear the electric saw and walk in to find that he was sawing off the legs. He said, "now we have a coffee table for the tv room", and it has pretty much played that role ever since.   The paint is original, sort of a gray-green color with lots of chips, chunks and scratches attesting to the fact that it has been totally, completely and most lovingly abused over the past 25 years by our family. One can only guess as to how many years of abuse love it endured before the Roberts' family got hold of it.  

  

I hope Autumn brings you many relaxing nights by candlelight.

Please see my last post and leave a comment for a chance at a case of Almondina cookies, plus I featured a lovely stable turned dining room renovation that is amazing!

I'll be joining several of these wonderful blogland parties:

 Create with Joy

Susan at Between Naps on The Porch
Charm of Home
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Cozy Little House
Cedar Hill Farmhouse

Homemaking Linkup at Hope In Every Season 

Table It! at Rustic & Refined

Anything Goes Party at Bacon Time with the Hungry Hypo

Fridays Unfolded at Nancherrow

One More Time Events for Share it One More Time

Thoughts from Alice for Sundays at Home

Pioneer Momma
The Journey Back
Amaze Me Monday

A Stroll Thru Life

Savvy Southern Style
Project Inspired
My 1929 Charmer-Sunday's Best
Life On Lakeshore Drive-A Bouquet of Talent
It's Overflowing-Share Your Creativity
Three Mango Seeds-It's Party Time
Imparting Grace-Grace At Home
From My Front Porch To Yours-Treasure Hunt Thursday
Ivy and Elephants-What's It Wednesday
The Style Sisters-Centerpiece Wednesday
DIY by Design-Sizzle Into Summer
House On The Way-Twirl and Take a Bow
Not Just A Housewife-September Linky Party
The Dedicated House-Make It Pretty Monday
Our Home Away From Home-Tuesdays At Our Home
Miss Mustard Seed
Cooking With Ruthie