Forget spring, I'm starting some serious fall cleaning.

With September first safely behind us, I've decided to look forward. I'm on a fresh kick to clean, organize and set the stage for winterizing my scary old farmhouse.

After dusting and vacuuming the entire downstairs, I moved on to phase one of my winterizing project by putting a large area rug in the living room. This will, hopefully, not only add a needed layer of texture for aesthetics, but also add a layer of warmth when the temperatures dip, come winter.

The dogs already like sprawling out on the soft rug--the first of what I hope will be many more. My goal is to have a rug in each room before November. Hardwood floors are beautiful, but cold.

My next phase will have wait until October, but in the meantime, I'll be painting all the walls in the fresh new paint I started in the dining room. It's a light gray/white that will both brighten the walls and add a new vibrancy to the old farmhouse.

Once I'm done painting, I'll be swapping my bedroom for the existing downstairs guest room/office. The space is more conveniently located (both rooms are on the main floor) away from the traffic areas of the house. This will, hopefully, give us more privacy when the house is full of family at the holidays. And the layout will also make the guest room/office a more comfortable space.

I can't wait to set all my plans in motion. I mean, anything to keep me too busy to clean the front porch or the laundry room, right?

Until the next time...I'll be vacuuming!