I love living in a place where we can enjoy all four seasons. So fun to watch the daffodils and tulips bloom in the spring, to watch the gardens grow in the summer, and to experience the gorgeous frosty mornings in the winter. But as the summer comes to an end, I am always anxious for fall weather. The cool crisp mornings, the leaves changing colors -and just the beautiful warm fall colors in general, and the cooking that includes pumpkins, apples, soups and breads.

It is also fun to add touches of fall throughout the house. Gather up pumpkins, bittersweet, garlands of fall leaves and candles, along with special treasures or gifts to create a cozy atmosphere. This basket, that I got at Lilly Anna’s for my daughter’s wedding reception, is one of my favorite baskets – I love the color and the memories that come with it.

The scent of fall candles is the air is so comforting, but the instant atmosphere created by a remote helps set the mood too. Flameless remote candles become a bit more realistic each year.

One year my daughters and I had a pumpkin making day. We went to the shop and cut out wooden squares and painted and antiqued them. Love family time!

The warmth of the wood in cutting boards makes a nice background for your fall decorations. The little pumpkin truck is a cookie jar – just ready to be filled with fall goodies.

My husband bought this antique dough bowl for me in Rocheport and it is fun to fill with seasonal decorations. Aren’t the little pumpkin lights cute?

Treasures from the past gathered together for fall.

The kitchen always seems to be the gathering place and the room I am in the most. These are a few of my favorite things. Fall colors, blue and white dishes from a trip to Tallahassee, Mud Pie dishes from a friend and a new addition to the fall décor this year is the copper bowls that my sister-in-law gave me. They add so much warmth – and a bit of shine to the shelves. The wooden cutting boards are stored in an old sewing machine drawer.

I found the little copper-colored baskets at Orscheln’s, one of my husband’s favorite stores. It reminds him of the store his dad and granddad had at Allendale.

Flowers are still blooming and the grass is still green, but soon mums will replace the summer flowers.

Rarely do you see an artichoke in fall decorations, but I love the way the pop of purple and lime colors contrasts with the yellows and oranges.

Another fun little cookie jar! I found this in a little shop in Arkansas last year. We used to gather bittersweet by our farm, but the artificial bittersweet actually look prettier and don’ make a mess.

HAPPY FALL!!! Enjoy making your home all cozy for the new season!

When our kids were little, many of my friends were making beautiful scrapbooks for their children. They created works of art for each of their children with wonderful colors, frames, tags, buttons and bows. I admired their talents, but I knew I would never get around to doing that…especially for four children.

So I came up with an easy way to collect their special papers, artwork, class announcements, awards, newspaper articles, etc. I used 3-ring binders and then used clear sheet protectors to slide the memorabilia into. It made it easy to add pages to or rearrange pages.

Starting with Preschool, I starting saving their projects. What is cuter than preschool projects? I did notice that it was the biggest binder for John! We had a drawer we always put all the school papers in once we had looked at them. Then about once a month, or so, I would go through them and decide which ones to keep. I also included doctor checkup sheets, special cards from grandparents, and newspaper articles about family members.

Certificates, diplomas and special awards that they received for each stage are in the binders.

I love looking through these! John was in an ad for his Dad’s dental office, shortly after he opened his office in Cameron. There are so many things that we could forget about if we don’t have a somethings saved to document it.

I liked to include examples of the homework that they did at each stage for each class, but the creative stories are the ones I enjoy the most.

It is interesting to look through the binders, as I do I can almost see John growing up and can watch the progress made at each grade.

Special projects, classes, extracurricular activities and summer activities are also good to include.

I saved all their athletic letters and special recognitions. Certificates from other activities are also in their binders.

Newspaper articles are always fun to look at. Fortunately when our kids were growing up school events were often featured in the local paper.

Another way to capture memories that is so easy! Buy a 3-ring binder and some clear protective sheet covers. Then just start saving special papers, photos, certificates, etc. Easy!

As you may have guessed, my children have more “treasures” than they ever knew! But it does a momma’s heart good to sit down and look through these books of memories. So many good times! Enjoy!

I have recently made a few rag quilts and love creating and sewing them for those special little people in my life. There are so many tutorials and tips on Pinterest for the beginner. So fun to make and always look cozy. Here are a few of my completed projects.