Fall will come eventually...

So I want to be prepared.

In Texas, we're still holding on at an average of 90 degree highs.  I keep wishing the yellow and brown colors that have blanketed Texas were because has arrived... but sadly, it's just overcooked lawns, trees, and plants.  I'm sad to report there has been a confirmed fatality of a bush in our front yard.  I'll blog about the loss another day.

When you go to the major stores they have had fall supplies out since early September (as I assume most places... it's not still summer).  At first it irked me, as Christmas decor in October does, but I finally decided I would roll with it and hopefully my decor would encourage the weather to change seasons.

Our front door at night.  Note the pumpkin door mat. 

The display nook in the entry way.  I moved some candles off the mantle to help with the Halloween feel of the pumpkin.  I bought several of these pumpkins at Target.  They plug in and there is a small light bulb in the back.  Genius.  

This is the awesome shadow it makes on the opposite wall at night.

Mantle.  The pumpkins are faux and purchased at target.  The cinnamon broom makes my whole house smell like fall and I love that it resembles a witches broom.  The jack-o-lantern on the right is another plug in from Target.  

The fall season makes me want to get my bake on.  These will come in handy.  

Yet another faux pumpkin in the kitchen nook.  

The Husband and I also picked out a super cute bowl for Halloween candy and some fake spiders web to string over our front window and door.  I'm hopeful we'll get trick-or-treaters this year!  Too bad we're still kind of alone in the back of the neighborhood... so I doubt we'll get too many.  However, I will be prepared in the event of a ghost or goblin knocking at my door.  

Fires.

Texas is in an extreme drought.

As in, I can't remember the last time I saw rain.  It's been months.  Droughts bring fire.  

The fires are thankfully, for the most part under control... but there was one about 10 miles from our home.  It was close enough that we sat down at 11pm and decided was what most important and put it in a suitcase.

It's amazing, and humbling, that The Husband and I can have this beautiful home full of wonderful things - but the *real* stuff can just fit into one suitcase.  

Photos from our childhoods and wedding, IDs, Passports, External Hard Drive, my camera, a few home videos, and our insurance/closing documents.  That's all we actually need, although we're surrounded by all this stuff.  

It puts things into perspective... quickly.  

Thankfully, the fires didn't get close enough to be a major concern.  We feel very fortunate.  These photos were taken from our street.  Some, just from right outside the front door.  

This fire (below) is over 33 miles away.  The smoke was intense.  

Furniture lay-out for dummies.

We have made some (very) small steps towards a furniture decision.  

We found a couch and chair we really liked at a local store.  It was enough to get us home to tape out the possibilities in the living room.  I am very visual, and I was hoping this would help the husband pull the "trigger" on the purchase.  

large rectangle centered on the back wall = couch

small square near the kitchen = end table

angled square near the back door = chair

rectangle in front of the couch = ottoman

square perpendicular to the ottoman = chair #2

view from the kitchen:

view from the extended entry way:

view from the back door:

 So you can see the space between the furniture and tv:  

After all of that... we decided the couch wasn't for us.  Neither was the chair.  We're still on the hunt for the *perfect* couch... but I'm feeling like we're getting closer as we're getting a clearer idea each time we shop.  

We also decided that the above floor plan didn't work as well as we hoped.  Chair #2 (perpendicular from the ottoman... near the kitchen) made things feel too blocked off.  We decided that if/when we actually purchase chair #2, it will live up against the wall, right next to the tv.  This allows for conversation and creates more space near the kitchen.  Oh, and we also decided that the couch wasn't large enough for our liking.  We will end up with something a bit deeper and longer than what has been taped out on our floors.