Labor Day Brings Seasonal Inspiration In and Out of the Home

By Laura Makabresku via Dust Jacket Attic

I know that Labor Day does not officially equate to the beginning of fall, but, in my mind, Labor Day really does herald the start of the new season.  After 3 months of stifling hot temperatures (the bank sign read 102 degrees today) and almost no rain (Isaac was nice to us though), I can’t wait for those crisp mornings, snuggled up in my overly loved sweaters, sipping hot tea on the porch surrounded by a canopy of orange and red leaves.

Labor Day means back to school, means no more wearing white (really? Do we still abide by this “rule?”), and it hopefully means cooler temperatures.  I know some of you might want to hang on to those last lazy days of summer, but I am desperate for fall to arrive.  More than any other season, fall signals in me a time to start anew.  My excitement for the new season has rejuvenated my drive to complete projects around the house and yard.

First up, I’m feeling super inspired to try this fall pumpkin topiary.  When I look at the current state of my lawn/garden, I feel like a complete and total failure.  I definitely have a black thumb.  But this pumpkin topiary looks relatively black thumb friendly! Nothing needs to be watered, nothing needs to be weeded, and I have two urns on either side of my front porch that are just begging to be decorated. (They did have flowers in them, but they all died and subsequently got ripped out by yours truly.  Sigh.)  This is the perfect project to help me let go of summer regrets and cultivate my inner landscape architect.

For fall, I’m all about classic and easy. I love, love, love the simplicity of this row of pumpkins across the mantle.  There’s no way to go wrong with this organically beautiful look.  I love the mismatched shapes, yet the orange color holds them all together – and what a way to bring out the blaze of an autumn fire. My fingers are seriously crossed for cool nights!

Fall also means a return to delicious comfort foods and some of my favorite flavors.  I am a sucker for butternut squash – as my former college roommates will attest.  This recipe for squash, sage, and ricotta cannelloni will most certainly be made in my kitchen in the coming months.  Click on the picture to link to the recipe if you’d like to try it out in your kitchen, too.

Nothing screams fall more than warm apple pie. Baking pies is one of my favorite things to do and this one definitely looks like a show stopper and the perfect baking challenge.  I’m not sure if there is very much apple picking to be done around Kansas City, which is one tradition that I will miss honoring this year.  But as long as I can make an apple pie, all will be well with the world.  Okay, that was a bit dramatic, but you get my drift.  (Again, click on the picture for the recipe.)

What are you excited to do this fall?  Or, are you mad at me for ushering away the last days of summer too quickly?