With the changing leaves, wool socks, and brisk mornings also comes school bus traffic, increased time indoors, and muddy boots. All summer I had put off laundry, paperwork, organization and hot dinners in order to accomodate busy work schedules, farming and making memories with the family.  But with the family spending more time indoors it was time for the removal of unorganized clutter and clever placement of fall decor.
My allotted budget for decor of any kind is a big goose egg, but by using a lot of natural materials found on the farm, a Graceful Finds Boo Banner  and a shameful amount of burlap and twine I was able to decorate with beautiful rustic touches without breaking the bank.

(Spruce cones collected on the farm)

(Home – grown and home-dried hydrangeas)

(Boo Banner from Graceful Finds)

Along with our family, Frank the cat has also been spending a lot of quality time indoors.  He has been sleeping with Little Miss Q at night, gently playing with her during the day, and endearing himself to the most important person in the world (Miss Q).  Thus, when I accidentally forgot to put him outside before a morning walk and came home to a pile of kitty bowel movements in my kitchen, my hatred for the precious cat was only overcome by Miss Q’s tears that I wouldn’t let him inside.  I’m not sure if Frank hates fall, didnt like my decor, was confused by having a clean house for once, or if he was mad for another feline reason, but the intentional placement of poo was unmistakable cat anger.
Though I once again wanted to banish him from our house, sweet Q’s insistence on letting the cat inside undermined my resolve. Just another day in Melville.