Colorful Mums - Fall Gardening

 

 

 

The weather is going to take a turn for the worse this weekend and the leaves are starting to briskly fall from the trees in my backyard, next to the woods. That means it is time for a fall garden cleanup and the addition of color by adding seasonal mums. It is a balancing act to wait as long as possible and buy as good of quality as possible, with more buds than flowers, so they will still be blooming into November.

 

 

This group of smaller mum plants I placed in my fire pit turned planter will bloom for a long time, since the buds outnumber the flowers and also, the cooler weather coming, will help them flourish.

 

 

A perfect and brightly colored red maple leaf fell so perfectly and landed on this pretty orange, gold mum. We will be dealing with the over abundance of falling leaves from now to Thanksgiving, but I can still appreciate the beauty of that single perfect leaf.

 

 

My front porch display also got a pretty mum placed in a green bushel basket. The orange and gold tones give a nice pop of color to the display and contrast beautifully with the chevron patterned burlap ribbon, I casually tied on the big grapevine wreath propped in the back.

Happy fall gardening and have a wonderful fall weekend!

 

{Linking with these friends}

Between Naps on the Porch

Savvy Southern Style

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Crockpot Sweet Spiced Apple Butter

 

 

 

You know fall is in full swing in Michigan when you go to the grocery store and see full displays of apples freshly picked from your local apple orchard - right in the produce section. Since my days of going to the apple orchard, riding the hay wagon and picking apples with my daughters are long past, I love that they are available so readily.

I have been craving old fashioned, chunky apple butter for my morning toast and this simple crock pot version is a great recipe. I can't describe how wonderful the fall scents in my kitchen were yesterday, when this was cooking all day long in the crockpot. It came together thick, sweet and delicious - I could have eaten it with a spoon it was so good :-)

So this morning, I'll be enjoying all the flavors of fall - apples; in this sweet and spicy apple butter, spread on multi grain bakery bread and by its side, my favorite pumpkin spice coffee. Welcome October.

Happy Thursday!

 

Crockpot Sweet Spiced Apple Butter

4 cups peeled and chopped, granny smith apples

3/4 cup brown sugar ( I used Splenda brown sugar to make this suger free)

2 T balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, divided

1 T cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp ground cloves

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Place apples, brown sugar, vinegar, cinnamon, salt, cloves and 2 T butter in crock pot. Stir together. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours. Stir from time to time. Stir in remaining 2 T butter and vanilla. Cool and place in mason jar. Makes 1 jar apple butter. Enjoy!

 

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Stonegable

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Dining Room Update - Fall Reveal

 

 

 

My dining room update is now finished and over the weekend I was able to add a few fall touches to the decor. My goal was to make this room warmer and more cohesive and I did that with a few details, fabric and wood tones throughout. This update cost very little money and I am pleased with the result. It is close to where I started when I wrote my inspiration post, but like all projects took a few turns here and there due to availability of certain fabrics and other items. After the holidays, I will make some changes in the seasonal decor both on the shelves and on the walls.

 

The chairs were recovered with a pretty, neutral fabric updating them from their tone on tone stripe. They are cleaner, brighter and by doing it myself the only cost was a few yards of fabric. The small gallery wall got new French inspired prints in square, dark woods frames and for the fall season, I added a cheerful metal sunflower.

 

The centerpiece of the main wall is this oversized clock. I had many choices, but am glad I chose this old world design. The warm tones achieve the look I had hoped and its size makes a statement in itself.

 

Fall details in warm tones of green, muted orange and gold add to the cohesiveness of the decor. The Pottery Barn shelf is rustic and adds an unexpected touch to the more formal pieces in the room.

Updating this room was a project I very much enjoyed and will enjoy the neutral tones that I easily work with to change both fabric (tabletop and pillows) and decor as the seasons or my mood changes.

Happy Wednesday!

 

{Linking with these friends}

A Stroll Thru Life

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Stonegable

Thrifty Decor Chick

 

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