Fall Archives - Life with Dee

Too Soon…

September 22, 2014 By Deanna Piercy 6 Comments

photo by Deanna Piercy

I want to paste these first fallen leaves back on the trees

and nudge the sun a bit higher in the sky.

I haven’t had enough suppers of sweet corn on the cob,

my salty fingertips slick with butter.

I never got around to making ice cream with juicy peaches

and the homegrown tomato season is never long enough.

Soon we will wrap our necks in colorful scarves,

fading tans hidden beneath cosy sweaters.

And I will mourn the barefoot days of summer.
by Deanna Piercy

Late summer melancholy

September 3, 2014 By Deanna Piercy 8 Comments

Photo by Deanna Piercy, taken on my parents’ land

My Facebook feed is full of people all excited about fall. They are sharing pumpkin latte recipes and talking about decorating for Halloween. My Pinterest feed is rife with knitted scarves, hearty soup recipes, and crafts made with fall leaves. I went to visit my parents’ a few days ago and my mom had taken fall decorating to a level rarely seen when temperatures are still frequently in the upper 90s.

I’m happy for everyone who is so eager to embrace their favorite season. Truly, I am. And it’s not that I don’t like fall. Early autumn is quite lovely when the sun begins to lower in the sky and bathes everything in a golden glow. And I do look forward to those first few mildly cool and rainy days because there is little I like better than curling up under a quilt with a steaming cup of tea and a good book and that’s the best weather for it.

However, there’s something about that first leaf I see flutter to the ground that fills me with sorrow and even a bit of dread because of the coming winter. I do my best to talk myself out of it but the truth is I am a summer girl. I was beginning to think I was alone in this until Melanie, a Facebook friend, shared this poem:

Absolute September

by Mary Jo Salter

How hard it is to take September

straight—not as a harbinger

of something harder.

Merely like suds in the air, cool scent

scrubbed clean of meaning—or innocent

of the cold thing coldly meant.

How hard the heart tugs at the end

of summer, and longs to haul it in

when it flies out of hand

at the prompting of the first mild breeze.

It leaves us by degrees

only, but for one who sees

summer as an absolute,

Pure State of Light and Heat, the height

to which one cannot raise a doubt,

as soon as one leaf’s off the tree

no day following can fall free

of the drift of melancholy.

And that, my friends, sums it up perfectly.

Getting Cozy for Fall

October 12, 2013 By Deanna Piercy 4 Comments

My POW (Project Of the Week) was to decorate for fall. I started yesterday and pretty much finished up today. I still have some things left in my fall decorating box which I may add in the coming days and I do want to get some more pumpkins and some gourds. But for the most part it’s done. Come with me as I take you on a little tour.

First up – the coffee table:

And here’s a close-up view (yes, I need some more candles!):

I put some Autumn potpourri in the little brass container but since I’ve had it a very long time it didn’t have much scent. I sprinkled several drops of clove essential oil over it to refresh the scent. And speaking of scent, before I started working today I cut up a couple of dried up oranges, put them in a pot of water, and added cinnamon and cloves. I then let it simmer all afternoon giving the house a nice, Autumn scent. The flowers in the vase (which is actually a pretty cobalt blue which doesn’t show up in this photo) are from our yard. I also had some blooming goldenrod in there yesterday but we now know what plant David is allergic to. Oops.

I added a cream colored throw to the back of the sofa. And aren’t my giraffe pillows adorable? I am ridiculously happy with them. Oh, and I have decided what color drapes I’m going to use in this room. I got some excellent advice from a guy in a bar the other night. Ha! I’ll tell you more about that later, after I order the drapes.

The most time-consuming thing I did today was to thoroughly dust the edges of the stairs. As you can see in this next photo, I display books and my lighthouse collection on the risers. Most of the time I just take a feather duster to them but a few times a year I remove everything and dust very carefully. That’s what I did today. I then wrapped the bannister in a fall garland.

As you may notice, we never have finished the skirtboard on the staircase. This is because we haven’t been able to decide what color to paint it. I think we have a plan, though. Maybe. And that huge, blank white wall? Still thinking about that. We’ve only lived here going on 16 years. Wouldn’t want to rush things. Oh, and do you see that ship wheel in the lower left corner of the picture? We won that in an auction in New Orleans and it’s going to be mounted on the fireplace. Someday.

David bought this antique oak table in this next photo for my 16th birthday. Here it is dressed for fall. You can’t see it very well in this photo but there are three stacks of books along the edge which backs up to the sofa. These are the books I bought at the library book sale (minus the cookbooks which are in the kitchen). It may sound a little silly but whenever I bring home new books I like to keep them out for awhile rather than putting them on bookshelves. It’s my way of welcoming them into our home. Okay, that does sound a little crazy unless you also think of books as friends.

In the background of the photo you can see a glimpse of the fireplace. I forgot to take a picture specifically of it, but it’s decorated with fall foliage and a cornucopia.

This is next photo shows one of my favorite areas to decorate seasonally. I covered the buffet with an antique lace tablecloth which had belonged to my grandmother. My Harry Potter book collection is on display (almost all are First Editions), plus one of my giraffes, as well as some skulls and a little pirate chest. The steamboat which is resting across the books was given to us by Kadi, our son’s girlfriend. She found it at a yard sale. It needs some small repairs and I want to set up a special display for it – perhaps on a display shelf along with one of the pictures I have taken of the steamboat in New Orleans. Be sure to note the TWO blooms on my peace plant. I’ve never had two at the same time before.

Here is our entry table. I put a fall tablecloth on it, as well as a vase of fall flowers. I need to buy some more candy for the little pumpkin-shaped crystal candy dish and I’ll probably also do a little display of mini pumpkins and gourds.

And finally, I put some Halloween clings on the front storm door. It’s really hard to get a picture of them because of the reflection but in addition the pumpkins you can see, there is also a little banner on top which says “Happy Halloween” and a few little bats scattered about.

And of course, Shiloh photo-bombed the picture. Isn’t he cute? He needs a Halloween bandana.

POW – October 7, 2013

October 8, 2013 By Deanna Piercy Leave a Comment

Here it is 10:30 p.m. and I’m just now posting. I meant to have a picture to share but, well, it’s a long story which I may tell later.

I’m going to give that “Project Of the Week” thing another go. This week my POW is to decorate for fall/Halloween. If you don’t see pictures of my decorated house by Friday, feel free to point out that fact.

Do you decorate for fall and/or Halloween? If so, do you have your decorations up yet? If you have pictures I’d love to see them.

Chilly Saturday

October 5, 2013 By Deanna Piercy 3 Comments

We had some thunderstorms toward morning which meant that Shiloh was by my side of the bed panting from about 5:30 on. I think we need to buy him a Thunder Shirt. I took him out for a walk at a little after 7 and boy, oh boy, was it chilly! I had been too warm all night upstairs but this was ridiculous. We had planned to go to the Funky Art Fair in town but then it started raining again and the temperature dropped into the upper 40s. I am totally unprepared for such a dramatic change. Fortunately it’s supposed to be back into the 70s tomorrow and remain warm the rest of the week.

Since we had a change of plans David installed our new wood blinds in the family room. I had selected the color at Home Depot when we ordered them and I was going totally off of color memory. Apparently I am really good at that color thing because they match our wood ceiling precisely. David was duly impressed. Aren’t they nice (I adjusted that little gap toward the top after I saw the photos)?

I hung the framed New Orleans map to the left yesterday. I’m not impressed with the quality of the frame but it was cheap. I’ll look for something better. And I’m still trying to decide on curtains.

Tomorrow is World Communion Sunday and I was asked to bake one of the loaves of bread. At first I thought I’d use my sourdough starter but then I realized I should have started it yesterday. Instead, I opted for a lovely, braided challah, a special Jewish bread eaten on Sabbath and holidays.

I baked one for church and one for us. As soon as I took it out of the oven, and after taking this photo, David and I had to “test” it. Oh, my. It is absolutely delicious. Very soft and slightly sweet. I think it will be wonderful for breakfast. Yes, I did “pin” it. You can see it on my Breads and Rolls Pinterest board.

Geraniums and Pumpkins ~ On the Cusp of Change

September 23, 2013 By Deanna Piercy 3 Comments

Today is the Autumnal Equinox, the first day of Autumn, that perfect balance of light and dark. I’m truly a summer girl but Autumn certainly has its charms. Our temperatures are cooling but still nice and warm during the day. This coming week we should see highs in the 80s and lows in the 50s which is pretty darn near perfect.

Over the past couple of weeks as I’ve walked Shiloh I’ve been taking note of the changes. Some of the leaves are changing color, the Virginia Creeper has turned red, the goldenrod is in bloom and even a few leaves have fallen. The angle of light has changed and has a golden quality to it which is truly gorgeous. Of course the hours of light have lessened and that part isn’t quite so appealing to me but I’m trying to ignore that for now.

In recent years I have come to dread winter with a passion. I truly despise being cold and I dislike having to wear a lot of clothes. Or “real” shoes. However, I did some thinking about it and determined that it just isn’t a good idea to dislike approximately 1/4 of every year. Life is too short for anything less than embracing each and every day. That has really been brought home to me as we’ve attended several funerals in recent weeks, including one for an 18 year old yesterday.

Last year I did try to look on the bright side of the colder months and made myself an “Autumn Bucket List”. I didn’t complete everything on it so I’m pulling it out and giving it another try. One thing on the list was to buy a fire pit so we could enjoy the outdoors a bit longer. We finally bought one in June for David’s birthday party. It was just barely cool enough to use it for the party and we haven’t used it since. Tonight I’m hoping to talk David into building a little fire and enjoying a bit of stargazing before we go to bed. In fact, I’d like to make it a nightly ritual until it gets too cold.

Something I really do love about fall is pumpkin bread. I’ve got several cans of organic pumpkin in the pantry and I just might bake some this week. I’ve also got some sourdough starter on the counter which should be ready to start baking with in about a week. There’s nothing quite like home-baked breads and I intend to get back to baking all of ours again as the weather cools.

The other day I had to pick up something at the dollar store and happened to see a special hanger for scarves. I’ve got a pretty good sized collection and needed a better way to organize them. That’s something I hope to get around to this week. I’m also on the lookout for a couple of new ways to wear scarves. (If you have any how-to videos to recommend, please leave me a link in the comments.)

While I’m generally loathe to switch from summer to autumn decorations too soon, I did buy a couple of pumpkins for the porch and will probably pick up some mums soon. In the meantime I’m enjoying living on the cusp of seasonal change with my geraniums and pumpkins sharing space on the front porch. And that’s a bit how my life feels right now. I love where I am now but I have lots of plans for the future. I think it’s important to keep growing and changing and embracing new challenges throughout life. There are so many things I want to do and learn and experience. And I’m taking steps to make at least some of those happen. I’ve recently started taking piano lessons which I’m really excited about. I’m also taking an online philosophy course from Berkeley and looking for a good French course.

I’m embracing and celebrating change, not only in the seasons but in my life. It’s time to pull out the cozy sweaters and pretty scarves. Time to wash all the afghans and drape them over sofa backs, all softly scented and ready to warm chilled skin. Time to choose a puzzle to work on in spare moments. Time to stock up on hot chocolate and tea. Lots of tea. And it’s also time to take stock of my hopes and dreams and plans and ambitions. Some dreams will be tucked away for later like favorite summer sandals while others will be dusted off and polished up like favorite fall decorations.

Autumn is a perfect time for a change in routine. A renewed focus on what (and who!) is truly important. And a cool evening under a starry sky is the perfect setting for pondering these changes. Time to put on a hoodie, pour myself a glass of wine and do just that.

“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.”

Daisy Buchanan, The Great Gatsby

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 23 (belated)

November 25, 2012 By Deanna Piercy Leave a Comment

I got behind on my thankfulness posts so I’m going to catch up today. I took this photo on our land the other morning while walking Shiloh. We’ve had a beautiful autumn – warm days, cool nights, and some of the prettiest fall color we’ve had the past few years. I am so thankful for the beauty of the earth.

31 Days of Autumn Nesting: Day 21 – Taking a break

October 23, 2012 By Deanna Piercy 1 Comment

When I started this series I hadn’t really considered the fact that we would be leaving for New Orleans on the 25th. And then I had this notion that I could write extra posts and schedule them to post each day while I’m gone. As they say, the best laid plans of mice and men…

I’ve been cleaning house all day today and tomorrow I’ll be packing and finishing up some last minute things before our trip. I’m not going to have time to finish any more posts for my “Autumn Nesting” series before we go. I hope to pick it back up when we return but in the meantime I thought I’d share some pictures I took this afternoon as I took Shiloh on a walk. The one at the top of this post is of one of my favorite trees out here on Apple Tree Farm. A picture doesn’t do it justice, especially when taken on a cloudy day, but when the sun is shining it positively glows.

More fall foliage:

The fallen leaves are getting thick in places:

When I went outside to take Shiloh on a walk, he and Steinbeck were curled up together in one of Shiloh’s holes. I didn’t realize when I took the picture that I captured Steinbeck with his tongue out:

Steinbeck in the hole Shiloh dig for him

He followed us on our walk. Here he is lying on the gravel driveway:

I decided to give Shiloh a good brushing after his walk because I’d spent much of the day vacuuming and mopping the floors. I think I could knit another dog from the fur I brushed out:

I brushed enough hair from Shiloh to make a small dog.

I’m not sure if I’ll have time to post anything before we leave but I hope to at least post a few pictures via my iPhone while we are in New Orleans. You might also want to keep an eye on my cooking blog, Dee’s Kitchen. There’s a good chance I’ll post pictures of some of the delicious food we’ll be eating. And of course, if you follow me on Twitter, Facebook (link to my personal page to which you can subscribe to my public posts), Instagram or Flickr you’re likely to see posts or pictures of our adventures. I can hardly wait!

31 Days of Autumn Nesting: Day 12 – Priorities

October 16, 2012 By Deanna Piercy Leave a Comment

Today was another beautiful day here in Oklahoma so even though I had things that needed to be done inside, I spent some time here:

I sat on the porch drinking iced tea, reading and listening to music.

And hanging out with Dharma:

And admiring the view:

I may not have made much progress on my list of fall projects but if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my 50 years it’s proper priorities. I can clean out that closet when the weather turns cold but I can’t recapture today’s brilliant blue sky and golden leaves.

31 Days of Autumn Nesting: Day 11 – Carpe Diem

October 15, 2012 By Deanna Piercy Leave a Comment

This morning I checked the upcoming weather forecast and was delighted to see this:

It is currently 82 degrees and I just took Shiloh for a walk. I purposely took my phone so I could capture a bit of fall color.

That last one wasn’t an attempt to be artsy but a matter of accidentally snapping an extra shot. But the color was pretty so I kept it.

I told David last night to plan on me soaking up a lot of evening porch time the next several days, or as long as the nice weather holds out. I may be trying to prepare for fall but the truth is I am hanging on to the last vestiges of summer with my fingertips.