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There is a shift that happens in September, quiet at first, then impossible to miss. The air turns crisp, the leaves begin to turn, and the weekends settle into the easy rhythm of football season and soup for dinner. Before the month is through, the first day of fall arrives and summer is behind us for good. Take these weeks slowly, and enjoy the comfort of a season made for coming home.
1.) The View From Here
Last week we spent a morning adding fall touches to the front porch, and Millie was right there with me. She still cannot be trusted to stay put, so she was harnessed to the railing while we worked, and she was so good about it. She stretched out on her mat, kept one eye on the yard, and waited while I worked. I looked over at her more than once and felt grateful for the company.
The cadence of my mornings is shifting a little now, and I am noticing it in small ways. Our walks are longer because the heat has finally let up. I open the bedroom window and let the fresh air in while I have my coffee, and I do not feel as cooped up as I did a few weeks ago. My outlook is changing too. I find myself looking forward to a pot of soup on the stove, and I can hardly wait to pull on a sweatshirt. They are small things on their own. Added together, they make welcoming a new season quietly simple. I hope you are feeling the same.
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2.) Words Worth Sharing
“This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
3.) One Small Corner
The mantel is the one spot I have refreshed for fall so far, and it is always a bit of a challenge. We have a big black television above it, which does not leave much room to work with. Anything too fussy just competes with that dark rectangle. This year I stopped trying to balance both ends with a matching pair. Instead I set one long, narrow dough bowl in the center and filled it with faux berries and a few pomegranates.
I like it more than I thought I would. The single piece feels calm under the screen, and the deep reds are just enough to say fall without any effort. This is only a small preview, since I am sharing the whole room in a couple of weeks. For now, if you have a tricky spot of your own, one simple thing in the middle may be all it needs.
4.) Gather & Savor
Instead of sharing one or two recipes, today I’m sharing a whole collection. Pumpkin recipes you can come back to all season long. They are all waiting here for you, ready whenever you are. Breads, muffins, and desserts. If you are not quite ready to think about pumpkins yet, that is perfectly fine. The next time you are at the store, though, tuck one can of pumpkin into your cart. That way, when the urge to welcome fall finally hits, you will have what you need to bake something wonderful.
5.) THINGS WORTH MENTIONING
- What you might have missed: Last weekend brought September in gently. On Saturday my subscribers received the new September digital calendars, along with a short look back at everything I shared in August. Then on Sunday I opened the door to our front porch, refreshed and simply styled for fall.
- Coming this weekend: On Saturday I am sending my updated post on how to preserve pumpkins. It is not quite the season for them yet, but when the time comes, you will have the how-to close at hand. Then on Sunday I am sharing a brand new recipe for apple crisp, a tried and true original from Grandma Nan. She was not really my grandmother, but close enough that it hardly matters.
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Question, Is that wall clock an heirloom or can it be found on the internet, it’s gorgeous.
Hi Sharon…thank you. The clock is an heirloom. It hung in my in-laws sitting room and when they sold the house, it came home with me. We love it too.
Thank you for this sweet post. It helped me a lot this warm morning, as I have hope for a little cooler temps. I have so much to be grateful for, and you along with this post is one of them. Thank you!
Hi, Ann. I can always find classic simplicity (at its finest) within your pictures and words, and it warms my heart. I so look forward to every single post. You have a very admirable trait of being able to cause others to pause and then think. Thank you!
It warmed my heart to see Millie. I miss our dog but not sure now that we are 81 and 82 it would be a good idea to take on that responsibility. I know how much company they are.
I love your simplicity in your decor and the peace in your writing not to mention for lovely puppy! Thank you and bless you.
Your small touches are just enough to usher in fall.Living in Florida it’s hard to think ahead to the next season.Originally from up north,fall was my favorite,I do miss it very much.
Love the dough bowl on the mantle! Going to steal your idea 😊 Thank you!
I absolutely LOVE your dough bowl on the mantel! What a wonderful idea!!!!
I so wanted to see your latest video, and I waited through six (yes, I counted them) ads before lovely music started and stills of delicious food began to cycle. I saw the chicken with lemon, the cake, a vase lined with lemon slices all totalling 10 to 12 seconds, and then the ads started again. I gave up. I know ads are necessary, but it was too much. I’ve followed your blog for years and love it. Hopefully, I can find the cake recipe somewhere in your recipe link.
Hi Joan: I’m sorry for your frustration. The video player function isn’t anything I can control. The one thing I can say is that even if you had been able to view the whole video, there are no links. The videos are simply an introduction to my content. Here is the lemon cake recipe featured in the video: https://www.onsuttonplace.com/lemon-7-up-bundt-cake/ Thank you for your honesty. ~Ann
Love the look! Do you have any links to all the things you used in your arrangement?
Thank you, Ann! Have a nice week!
Thank you for the idea under the TV. I struggle with what to do with our mantle, too. I look forward to your links.