WOW, It's October!

Happy first day of October!  I have a love-hate feeling for October.  It's definitely the signal for a cool-down here in the desert, but that does not mean "put on the sweaters & pretty scarves" just yet.  It is still in the 90's, but cooling down at night and cool enough to have windows and doors open in the early morning hours.  October is kind of the "get on your mark, get set, GO" for the race to the end of the year....wish it would not speed by quite so fast, don't you?  What I'm really trying to do this year, is slow down, stay out of that race, and savor every single day.  I do have all of my decorating finished and love walking through our home filled with all the rich colors of Fall.  Today I'd like to share some pics of our kitchen and family room.  I'll try not to be too chatty, but grab a beverage & snack just incase!

I adore the scene on the little plate from HobLob several years ago.  Almost makes me want to become a farmer...HA! HA!

Flowers from Trader Joe's.

Mums from Sprouts...it's so beautiful!  See the wood slice that the mum is sitting on?  The Man cut several of those for me from a piece of mesquite.  I'll share more about that in another post, but I've decided just about anything looks good sitting on a wood slice!

I wanted some fun new napkin rings, so I made them....empty tp roll, yarn, & some small pumpkins from a few years back that I had already painted!

Got these cute towels from HomeGoods a couple of years ago.

My pompom wreath is back for about the 3rd year in a row!

I don't change things on top of the cabinets anymore, but I haven't grown tired of the things I chose to fill the spaces.  I love how those upper lights create interesting shadows.

Awww....the rich colors of Fall!

This is my current coffee station, but it will be getting a bit bigger with a larger tray to accommodate more cool weather beverages....teas & cocoas!

On a whim I decided to combine this leafy-berry swag with these adorable balsa wood leaves

that are lighted.

It is so cute at night when only the kitchen task lights are on.

This always makes me smile.

Now, let's go into the family room.

This is how I had decorated the mantel the first time.  I liked it, but it started feeling 

too messy.

Then I decided to remove the lighted wreath, and I like it so much better now.

This was the combination of 3 very worn and tattered leaf swags that I cut and blended together.

I also cut some leaf shapes out of cardstock and book pages and then painted them with chalk paint.

I simply hot-glued them into the swag to make it much thicker.

I also added some of those painted leaves to the wreath that has now moved to a new

spot above the tv.

I took a bunch of odds and ends of berries, leaves, & small pumpkins and filled this lantern.  To make it more fun, I added in some tiny orange lights.

Well, I'm about to send you on your way, but not before thanking you so much for visiting.  I

cannot wait for your next visit!

I hope October is super-special for you, and I hope you get to slow down a bit 

and savor all those special moments and the everyday moments as well.

Hugs,

Carol

I'm hope to be joining these lovely ladies this week:

Kristi at Making it in the Mountains for The Creative Gallery

Cindy at Dwellings--The Heart of Your Home for Amaze Me Monday

Maria Elena at Our Home Away from Home for Tuesdays at Our Home

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life  for Inspire Me Tuesday

Suzy at Worthing Court for The Scoop

Carol at The Red Painted Cottage for Share Your Style Party

Richella at Imparting Grace for Grace at Home