It's Finally Here!

It's here! Autumn is finally here! My favorite time of the year and 

all the world seems bathed in a soft gold light...

Each leaf on every tree seems to explode with color...

The mornings are now "put on a sweater" chilly and are often bathed in mist... 

I love the colors of each Fall treat...like Indian Corn!

Or delicious Autumn apples!

The pop of an orange pumpkin...

...or the glow of a sunflower.

Sunsets seem just a little more beautiful...

And what's better than jumping into a pile of freshly raked, oh so crunchy Fall leaves!

Venture down any country road and you will find farm fields filled

with warm, rich shades of gold & brown...

...orange & yellow...

...and red.

Uh huh...the world just seems more beautiful in the Autumn and I am

so excited to greet this magical season once again.

Each leaf...

Each pumpkin and gourd...

Each ear of corn...

There are so many wonderful things to cherish in the Fall. Among

my most favorite are these...

                           

Quiet evenings by the fire playing games

Soft, warm flannel sheets on the bed

 

The glow of flickering candles

Fall festivals

The scents of cinnamon, oranges & cloves simmering on the stove

Pumpkins, gourds and Indian corn

Hot bowls of hearty soups and stews

Cozy robes and slippers at the end of the day

A hot apple fresh from the the oven

Chili and corn bread or warm polenta cakes

The wind rustling through the leaves

Caramel apples

Hot apple cider...

These are just a few of the things I love about Fall.

What are some of YOUR Autumn joys?

With love always...

Tiny Pumpkins...

...now that I have the tune, "Tiny Bubbles" playing in your head for the rest of the day, let me introduce you to my daughter's newest creation! What makes a better fairy house than a tiny pumpkin? Grace and I have planned to make a small village of pumpkin houses for our porch later this month. She could not wait to try so, while I was at a church board meeting Tuesday evening, she acted on her ideas. With some sticks and her carving kit (ever so safe tools of course) she is happily helping to boost the stagnant fairy housing market. I am not sure what this little orange beauty will go for. Maybe Janet or Cassie can give us some realty assistance.

We are getting it ready for Open House Sunday...here is the ad:

This cottage has ample storage for all those bits and bobs of ribbon and twine that no fairy can do without.

The kitchen is outfitted with the latest in Fairy thimble technology. Warm natural light trickles in through

the two sweet windows, windows just waiting for that perfect scrap of lace. And per the "HGTV For Fairies" wisdom, each room has been properly de-personalized and painted with a lovely neutral shade of pumpkin. This gourd is in turn key condition! Just bring your pixie dust & acorns and move right in!

Pumpkins? We've Got Pumpkins!

Aren't these ideas fun?

From Country Living:

Spell out your greeting in mini pumpkins gathered at a prominent--and stationary--location. First, pencil letters on hollowed pumpkins (carve out the opening from the bottom). Then, using a drill with a 1/2" bit, bore holes to form each letter. Here, strings of Christmas-tree lights, gathered in small bunches, illuminate each pumpkin (unscrew bulbs where the string descends to the next row). FAUX PUMPKINS called Funkins, made from polyurethane foam, can be carved just like real pumpkins. Bonus: They are already hollow and lightweight, too, making them ideal for projects such as a jack-o'-lantern chandelier. LEAVES AND GOURDS, such as these pear branches, bittersweet berries, squash, and bottle gourds, with their shapely silhouettes, make for eerie effects. BRING COLLECTIONS of vintage plates, platters, and mugs in seasonal hues outside. Here, a bottle caddy (turned candle holder on the chair), cake stand, and painted table and chairs are used to lend visual richness to the setting. ILLUMINATE the scene with candlelight from lanterns, votives, and jack-o'-lanterns (light them safely with battery-operated Christmas lights, electric candles, or flashlights). From Better Homes and Gardens: Pumpkins make great luminaries to light up a walk, driveway, porch, or stairway. Just be safe, and allow enough room for traffic flow. Use LED candles or strings of lights. Include gourds, squash, and uncut pumpkins to complete the Halloween look. You'll be able to use these through the fall season. Bring out your inner artist, and freehand a design. Simple shapes work best: flowers, leaves, or random–size holes created with an electric drill. If you need help, let the men involved know they can use power tools. You'll be done in no time. But if you want to create detailed, unique designs on your pumpkins, it's easier than you think. Templates are redily available or you can create a design template yourself. Carving kits are available everywhere from dollar stores to high-end kitchen shops, but you really don't need one. Assemble your own with basic kitchen tools such as a sharp knife; a smaller paring knife; and wide, sturdy spoons to clean out the seeds and stringy pulp. A small handsaw is also helpful. From Martha Stewart Living: Use a pumpkin incense burner to suggest the cozy scent of pie just out of the oven. Cut off the pumpkin's top and scrape out the innards; carve round vents with an apple corer. Rub cinnamon or pumpkin-pie spices onto the lid, or push cloves into it. With a lighted tealight candle inside, the pumpkin will give off a lovely fragrance for about six hours.

All Variety Of Pumpkins...

So there was this large scale to weigh pumpkins...and you just know I could not resist taking this photo now could you? Uh huh, she is our "Pumpkin".