Sunday, September 26, 2010

Season of the witch. . .

I am linking to Cielo's "Show off your Cottage Monday" with this post. Check out her beautiful blog and other links at The House in the Roses.








It just happened overnight... Hot/hot/hot/cool/crisp.... colorful leaves kissing the tops of tall trees in town.... And here and there in my wingspan, little vignettes of witchery and autumn... My wreath and garland are new, a creation of Valerie Par Hill... and the glittery witch's garland is from Randolph Mercantile, along with the dancing witch and the Boo! My friend gave me the dancing witch, and the owner of Randolph handed me the Boo! and told me it had my name on it! haha.. How wonderful?!

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Amish Autumn...

If I may be indulged another trip through Amish country, I'll show you the final stages of what looks to have been a lovely summer... Mom and I have a favorite route through Amish country from her favorite Crossroads Restaurant. When we come out after our Saturday lunch, I can turn left and come down the four-lane, which I often do.... or I can ask her softly, "Wanna drive through the Amish?"
She never turns me down. It is, no doubt, her favorite... very favorite way home. So although today began in brilliant sunshine, it was quickly gathering into a cloudy day (my particular favorite sky for photos)... We turned right.Wouldn't you love to have a log cabin built by the Amish? I can imagine how sturdy.
The Amish gardens today were rampant with zinnia, marigold, and huge spider plants.... Coxcomb and cornshocks... It was a riot, but I never shoot from very close, relying only on editing later to crop and draw them closer... As always, it was work day for the Amish...


Sideshows of yellow daisies took our gaze, and they seemed to be waving a happy goodbye to a summer well-spent.
We made it home before the rains, and I decided to finish the Autumn touches around the house... and maybe nap.... ???? What can I say? I am a fairy simple country girl who loves scraped paint, roadside pumpkins, hayfields.... and glittery magic summer/autumnal moons....

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Happy Autumn!

She has arrived.... with warmth and sunshine and tonight a hint of a navy blue sky... Storms predicted and then a cool snap.... My pumpkins line the walk outside my door----------- two oranges and a ghostly white.... My spirit welcomes my favorite season, and I am breathing in her anticipated colors already...

Tomorrow is Friday, the soothing promised land of the soul for teachers during a full moon... What a pull! Don't tell me it doesn't matter.... I have tended the flock too long to ignore the fact that the full moon brings out the wolf in their souls... and English is the LAST thing on their minds... Aooooooooooooo!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Honoring one of ours. . .


With a sad heart, I mention one of our former students, Navy SEAL Adam Smith, who was killed in Afghanistan yesterday. Our town is so very small, so fiercely close-knit, --- the news hits almost everyone in a personal, visceral way. Not only did I have the opportunity to teach Adam a few short years ago, I was also privileged to teach his mother and father during the very early years at my school.

Adam loved the military and was serving his third, I believe, tour of duty in an area of critical concern. His helicopter went down Monday, killing all nine young soldiers on board. Life is so very fragile, so extremely precious, so distinctly our own--- yet not ours to grasp. Thank you for praying for Adam's mother, one of my dear friends and former students. She is no doubt living her worst nightmare this week as she flies to meet her son and bring him home.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Ready for the Weather...






As many of you recall, we had a mini-tornado here this summer.... It huffed and it puffed, and it blew fifteen trees down... and much of our roofs from the house and barn. We opted for a metal roof as replacement, and we are pleased with the finished product, newly installed two weeks ago!

Very low maintenance, no uprooted shingles, and quick installation. They didn't have to remove the old roof. I love the cottagey look to it, and we chose a beautiful evergreen color to blend in with the dear trees we have left!

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Thinkin' about Fall



Here are the pumpkins I promised from my favorite store, Randolph Mercantile. We were able to attend the open house last week, and the weather was beautiful. My only purchase, the brown cord lights for my country tree, haven't made their way to the branches yet. The Queen of Seasons calls, and I am its slave....

This morning dawned with a bang. Lightning and thunder played across the house and disrupted all thoughts of sleep. Our electricity went off at 7 a.m. and didn't return until after noon. We made the executive call to do Chinese takeout from Macon's China Garden, my absolute favorite Chinese restaurant. It was delicious!The kids came over for Chinese and Spinner, and my son helped me get some totes of Autumn out.... I am in the mood to decorate all night, but I think that will pass with a Tylenol. haha... I found a shot of my cat Sally in my Facebook albums tonight... I really miss that little girl. The kids talk about her a lot to make me feel a part of her life. She is still the ultimate diva of the house!

Have a great last week of summer, you Summer Sun Worshippers...

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Perfect Misty Mornings...

What is your take on mornings?????????????????
You might be a "morning person." I don't really know if I qualify, but I am pretty enamored with the morning drive to school. Even though I would steal from my sweet grandmother for another half hour before my get-up time at 5:50, I still finally wake up and head out with a little glimmer of anticipation... I love the morning drive.
God has usually outdone Himself with his majestic paints in the heavens... Clouds, a wedge of birds shooting across the sky.... little bits of sun....
My heart begins to sing with anticipation of another day, a gift, another chance to experience joy... (p.s. my camera cord arrived today!)-------

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Things that make me smile. . .


Do you have silly things in your community that make you smile? Here in front of our Cattle and Horse Livestock, Exotic Animal, etc. Auction House.... we have a big bear. It is at the bottom of a huge hill, and it is difficult for me to get my Taurus to slow down right there so I can get a picture... Almost every time we go by on an early Saturday morning jaunt, I ask my mom (rather facetiously, of course) if she'll get out and go stand under that bear with her walker... The thought makes us both laugh. It kind of ticks her off but I laugh so much that she usually laughs finally, too... Can't you just picture it? I have a couple of other places that make me smile, and if I EVER get that one cent camera cord..... you got it! Have a fun week. My kids are upside down this week.... What is up with the matrix?????

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Words to Live By


Learning to live in the present moment is part of the path of joy.
Sarah Ban Breathnach

Linking with Notes from a Cottage Industry

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Girlfriend Day...

Today was one of those perfect Indian Summer days.... The sun glowed warm, but the breeze was crisp, and a couple of my gal pals and I hit the road for Fall Festivals... We had a great little quiche for lunch, a bite of salad, and shared a fudgey oatmeal cookie.... Then the beautiful fall decor in the stores captured our hearts.

I bought some brown cord lights and a garland, and a little silhouette of a witch doin' a fancy dance with her cats...

I will do a photo after my camera cord arrives from Amazon. I finally decided to give up and buy one. It cost me a whole 1 cent!!! Plus 2.98 postage... Soon you will see some new photos again... The other cord must be hiding, and I know it won't show up until I buy a new one! haha.. Hugs to all...

Friday, September 10, 2010

Happy Birthday....



It is amazing to parent an adult. I have done a great deal in my lifetime that brought its rewards, its challenges, and its delights. But nothing compares to parenting. The rewards are unlimited, and they curl around my heart with such tenacious bonds of fierce loyalty and love I sometimes think I'll choke and sputter and do something wild and willy nilly to prove my adoration for that child. The delights equal the rewards as a quick glance my way rewards me for a long-ago lesson. My son is helping raise a seven year old. He is trying so hard to become that instant daddy he saw in my father, to nurture, to love, and to be a good step parent. I can only imagine dropping into the "RACE" with a child of seven. What a lucky little boy to have three "parent" people to love him... But I admire the delights I see every time they are here..

And then the challenges.... I am learning to be a watcher, a listener, and a shutter-upper.... Although it is never a challenge to love unconditionally and uncontrollably, it is a temptation to butt in, to try to be a fix-it fox, and to offer gems of wisdom when unasked... That is new territory for me, and it hasn't been the general rule in our family for that older generation to stop being the rulers of the roost...

All this being said, I have been absent a while, but I have been reading blogs and dreaming of an autumn decor, working hard at school, snapping photos, and hunting my camera cord!!!!

Happy Birthday, sweet son of mine... We didn't have any Batmans or GI Joes this year... but I love you just as much... I have always said that every year is my favorite year to be a Mom... If I had my way, I would have 29 sons from every age of one to 29..... Luckily mine is just special enough to encourage and light up my life all by himself....

Sunday, September 5, 2010


"The breezes taste
Of apple peel.
The air is full
Of smells to feel-
Ripe fruit, old footballs,
Burning brush,
New books, erasers,
Chalk, and such.
The bee, his hive,
Well-honeyed hum,
And Mother cuts
Chrysanthemums.
Like plates washed clean
With suds, the days
Are polished with
A morning haze.
"
- John Updike, September


Linking with Notes from a Cottage Industry Quotes to Live By

Saturday, September 4, 2010

I'm back... Did ya even miss me?

We are all so ready for our long weekend. I have been a lot preoccupied this week. The smiling face above belongs to one of my former students, Blake. He was in a severe car accident on Sunday morning last week, and he is currently in a coma. His car was hit by a semi as he came out of work at a nursing home. This kid is a jewel (as they are all). He was the one who called me a few nights ago when the moon was full at three a.m. saying he knew I couldn't possibly be in bed. I was outside taking a picture of the moon, which didn't turn out. He is a fighter, and the trauma doctors are hopeful he will come out of the coma and be able to have therapy and be himself, but it may take weeks. Please send him your good wishes and prayers.