Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

October Gave a Party, Indeed

My sister Andrea had a great picture on her blog post today.  October Gave A Party was the title of her blog post.  It's the first line in a poem by George Cooper called "October's Party".  It's October people!  How the heck did that happen, I ask you?  Sheesh.  The picture in Andrea's post is of our dad's backyard in Palo Alto, California.  Palo Alto is not a place associated with brilliant fall color, but in my dad's backyard, this is what happens in October.  Our mother had the foresight to plant beautiful Japanese maples who do the fall color thing every year without fail.  This is another of her plantings, probably my most favorite tree ever.  A waterfall Japanese maple at the entrance to my dad's home.

Fall teee

So, this is what I did to celebrate October:

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A new centerpiece for the kitchen table.

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A new mantel display in the TV room.

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New Welcome Baskets on the front doors.

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New front entry display.

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Fresh coffee table display. Sophie approves.

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New table centerpiece.  Those pears are actually candles!   I may donate this one to my Dad's house for Thanksgiving, but will enjoy it in the meantime.

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New bookcase arrangement.

By the way, did I ever tell you that I had twins, born nine years apart?  Well, I did.  There they are, in the picture.  Sara and Ahren, loves of my life.

Happy October everyone!

 
 


 

44 responses to “October Gave a Party, Indeed”

  1. Your decorations are lovely and that tree is beautiful. I’m fortunate to live in New England, so fall is a spectacular time of year here. I also read your entry about finishing projects. I make a ton of ornaments as gifts each year. I pick one pattern and list out all the steps to make it, then I figure out how many I need to complete and how long I have. I then divide the steps over the time frame and go to work. I usually don’t have much to do in a day, so as long as I don’t get behind, I’m good (I do plug in “catch-up” days…just in case life gets in the way). I make about 75 ornaments plus a lot of other handmade gifts and try to have everything done by Thanksgiving, which is my wrapping weekend – that way I get to enjoy Christmas and not be mental! I’ve started doing this with quilt projects as I’ve started clearing up UFOs.

  2. Your decorations are lovely and that tree is beautiful. I’m fortunate to live in New England, so fall is a spectacular time of year here. I also read your entry about finishing projects. I make a ton of ornaments as gifts each year. I pick one pattern and list out all the steps to make it, then I figure out how many I need to complete and how long I have. I then divide the steps over the time frame and go to work. I usually don’t have much to do in a day, so as long as I don’t get behind, I’m good (I do plug in “catch-up” days…just in case life gets in the way). I make about 75 ornaments plus a lot of other handmade gifts and try to have everything done by Thanksgiving, which is my wrapping weekend – that way I get to enjoy Christmas and not be mental! I’ve started doing this with quilt projects as I’ve started clearing up UFOs.

  5. Gosh, I love all the fall colors and sure miss them now that we’re in Florida. Fall was always my favorite season. Luckily, I was able to enjoy them while looking at the beautiful pictures on your blog. Thanks for sharing. :o)

  6. Gosh, I love all the fall colors and sure miss them now that we’re in Florida. Fall was always my favorite season. Luckily, I was able to enjoy them while looking at the beautiful pictures on your blog. Thanks for sharing. :o)

  7. Fall is my favorite time of year. I moved to Texas three years ago and I must say that Fall is what I miss the most about living in New England. I have had the chance to go back the last two years for a week in early October but this year the trip had to be made too early to get teh full impact of the foliage. Enjoy the season!!

  8. Fall is my favorite time of year. I moved to Texas three years ago and I must say that Fall is what I miss the most about living in New England. I have had the chance to go back the last two years for a week in early October but this year the trip had to be made too early to get teh full impact of the foliage. Enjoy the season!!

  11. You Mom was a smart lady with terrific foresight. Your mother reminds me of something I read years ago, a gardener wrote that planting a tree is an act of generosity because the person who planted it is doing something for other people. No matter how long they live, the tree will almost certainly outlive them, so they share its beauty with the future.
    As for the lovely “fall” in your home, I have just one thing to say… somebody went to Pottery Barn. 🙂
    It’s a very dangerous place to be in the Fall. Between furniture and baskets, I didn’t have enough left over for any pretty decorations. Can I borrow yours in a couple of months? We might have Fall by then.

  12. You Mom was a smart lady with terrific foresight. Your mother reminds me of something I read years ago, a gardener wrote that planting a tree is an act of generosity because the person who planted it is doing something for other people. No matter how long they live, the tree will almost certainly outlive them, so they share its beauty with the future.
    As for the lovely “fall” in your home, I have just one thing to say… somebody went to Pottery Barn. 🙂
    It’s a very dangerous place to be in the Fall. Between furniture and baskets, I didn’t have enough left over for any pretty decorations. Can I borrow yours in a couple of months? We might have Fall by then.

  13. Beautiful pictures, I think autumn is my favorite season, although it’s taking a bit longer to get here in Southern California. Happy October to you too!

  14. Beautiful pictures, I think autumn is my favorite season, although it’s taking a bit longer to get here in Southern California. Happy October to you too!

  17. I lvoe your decorations. Autumn is my favorite time of year, the leaves here seem to have false started on changing colour. We had some go in early September but then nothing, and there is still mostly green outside my window. I can’t wait for the colours,they always cheer me up.

  18. I lvoe your decorations. Autumn is my favorite time of year, the leaves here seem to have false started on changing colour. We had some go in early September but then nothing, and there is still mostly green outside my window. I can’t wait for the colours,they always cheer me up.

  19. Happy October to you, too, Nicole. Isn’t it great to have two great kids? You have Sara and Ahren, I have Dory and Aaron. Wonderful!

  20. Happy October to you, too, Nicole. Isn’t it great to have two great kids? You have Sara and Ahren, I have Dory and Aaron. Wonderful!

  27. Your fall decorations are beautiful! I love fall and all the colors.
    The maple tree is gorgeous. I have a friend who wants to plant a Japanese maple in memory of our daughter, Amber who passed away in July. I think they are magnificent trees.

  28. Your fall decorations are beautiful! I love fall and all the colors.
    The maple tree is gorgeous. I have a friend who wants to plant a Japanese maple in memory of our daughter, Amber who passed away in July. I think they are magnificent trees.

  29. Gosh your kids do look like twins! I love, love your dad’s maple tree…smart woman, your mother. There’s a turkey in the Pottery Barn catalog that I really want. Have you seen it? Nancy in WI

  30. Gosh your kids do look like twins! I love, love your dad’s maple tree…smart woman, your mother. There’s a turkey in the Pottery Barn catalog that I really want. Have you seen it? Nancy in WI

  35. That Japanese maple is incredible! I love how you have decorated for this season; I’m afraid nothing happens decorationwise in our house until Christmas. Maybe it’s time to get some fall stuff too; it surly looks great…

  36. That Japanese maple is incredible! I love how you have decorated for this season; I’m afraid nothing happens decorationwise in our house until Christmas. Maybe it’s time to get some fall stuff too; it surly looks great…

  37. Love your decorations! And that Japanese Maple! Wow! Fall is such a beautiful time of year isn’t it? Glad Sophie approves….

  38. Love your decorations! And that Japanese Maple! Wow! Fall is such a beautiful time of year isn’t it? Glad Sophie approves….

  39. Your home looks so warm and cozy with all your Autumn touches. You have inspired me to spruce it up around here! Fall is my favorite time for nesting, quilting, cooking (and eating!) The picture of the tree is lovely. I’d love to make a quilt out of all of those colors! We have a small Japanese Maple in our backyard and it’s a joy to watch it through the seasons. There is something so strong yet so gentle about them.

  40. Your home looks so warm and cozy with all your Autumn touches. You have inspired me to spruce it up around here! Fall is my favorite time for nesting, quilting, cooking (and eating!) The picture of the tree is lovely. I’d love to make a quilt out of all of those colors! We have a small Japanese Maple in our backyard and it’s a joy to watch it through the seasons. There is something so strong yet so gentle about them.