My Fall {Christmas} Tree

I've always wanted a Christmas tree in my kitchen.

I've had trees in pretty much every other room in the house.
Several years ago at our last house, I had a tree in the living room,
family room, & every single bedroom {4}.
That was when my kiddos were just lil' guys.
I'd sure like to know where all that energy came from!
These days, I do good to get up my 1 tree & the decor on the lower level.
Poor upstairs just has to do without.

But, back to the tree in the kitchen, I've just always wanted one in there ...
decorated with gingerbread & small kitchen utensils.
And I have the perfect spot for it ... I just never got around to buying the tree.

Last year on black Friday, I found the perfect tree & a sweet deal ...
& the tree came home with me.
It was the perfect addition to my kitchen.

When the Christmas season ended, I decided that instead of cramming
the '1 piece' tree back into the box, I'd leave it out year-round.
I have several artificial trees & plants throughout the house anyway ...
what's one more, right?
It sat in the corner of our living room, completely unnoticed ... until I moved it back
into its spot in the kitchen in September.
Yes, September.
I decided that I was going to have a 'fall' tree!
This is my 1st time to decorate a tree for anything other than Christmas ...
& I totally love how it turned out!

The decorations are minimal, just a few sunflowers that I picked up for 50%
at Hobby Lobby.
I removed the stems, hot glued 2 leaves to the back of the sunflower, added
a twine loop for hanging them on the tree ... and viola, sunflower 'ornaments'!
I stuck in a few fall leaves, raffia, ribbon & a scarescrow on the top to finish it off.

I had a couple yards of some fall-colored thick cloth that I placed around the base
& I added a small bale of straw {Hobby Lobby} with another scarecrow sitting on top.
James' granny gave us an interesting-looking gourd that was the perfect addition,
along with a basket to hold Cooper's accessories { his collars & a cloth that we use to clean off his paws after he comes inside}.

Here's the view from the top of the steps.
{Overlook the crock-pot, pitcher of tea sitting on the stove, the dishes in the sink,
& the crooked towel hanging on the stove.}

Now, in just a few short weeks, it'll be time to replace these fall decorations with
Christmas ones.
The fall season seems to go by quicker than any of the others.
I'm ganna enjoy it every last minute that it's here.

A Fall Song

by Ellen Robena Field

Golden and red trees
Nod to the soft breeze,
As it whispers, "Winter is near;"
And the brown nuts fall
At the wind's loud call,
For this is the Fall of the year.

Good-by, sweet flowers!
Through bright Summer hours
You have filled our hearts with cheer
We shall miss you so,
And yet you must go,
For this is the Fall of the year.

Now the days grow cold,
As the year grows old,
And the meadows are brown and sere;
Brave robin redbreast
Has gone from his nest,
For this is the Fall of the year.

I do softly pray
At the close of day,
That the little children, so dear,
May as purely grow
As the fleecy snow
That follows the Fall of the year.