Fall is in the air.......

Fall is definitely in the air and you can see it all around.  When I look out my front windows, I see color appearing in my big maple tree.  Gratefully, it's raining here this morning (remainder of the hurricane) and it makes it smell like fall.  Slowly, the grass is turning green again and the garden is perking up.

I've been working hard to get everything together for Leola's fall open house and I think I'm getting there.  Judy, Linda and I took off this week to find our bittersweet and other dried things to decorate the store.  We have a good friend who lives on Stockton Lake and has lots of land so we headed that direction.  We loaded in his truck and drove out through the pastures.  It just does so much for my soul to get out into the country once in awhile.  It was a warm but beautiful day and no problems with bugs or poison ivy.

There's nothing like seeing those first orange berries out in the woods.  Unfortunately, most of the bittersweet that grows along the roads has been killed by road crews spraying to make their jobs easier.  Have you noticed how many dead trees there are on our country roads.  They, too, have been sprayed.

The back of Judy's pickup was piled full of this glorious vine.

Jim wanted to show us this old deserted house.  What a wonderful photo opportunity.  I'd love to make a wonderful Christmas wreath and go back in December for more pictures.  Can't you just see it with a wreath on the door?

We risked the rickety steps and broken floor boards and went inside.  There were the most amazing muddobbers nests.  This one looked like a bat.

This picture is our dear friend, Jim.  He's one of the few who has chosen exactly the life he wants to live.  It's great to be around someone who's so content with his life.  Love that......it seems so rare.

Stay happy, Mr. Stockton!

Well, better get busy again.  Lots to do.  Have a great weekend.

Sure signs of Fall......

Today is the first day of fall & it certainly feels like it here. We've had lots of rain and it's been extremely humid. The mosquitoes are loving it and beginning to look a little like birds and my laundry wouldn't completely dry on the line. The trees are starting to turn and the garden has pretty much had it. The only thing still looking good is the sweet annie that needs to be cut. I love to take it to Leola's because it makes the store smell so good.

Would you believe that I actually have bittersweet growing in my back yard! I've been cutting it and using it on wreaths & taking it to the shop.
This is a table setting in my space at Leola's. This basket actually has a little metal tag on the side that tells the basket company where it was made in Iowa. This candlestick is something new I found that runs on a battery. It has the greatest flickering light. I left one on in Phoebe's room this weekend for a night light & she loved it. You don't have to worry about blowing your candle out.

Another sign of fall -- a deserted birdhouse. Sad!!!

I love the purple hyacinth bean vine and this is what you get in the fall. Big ole purple beans! I always cut & dry them for next year. My uncle gave me my original vine and he had saved the beans every year of his adult life and the tradition continues.

While the weather is so nice, I intend to get some pieces ready for the shop. Can't believe we're already planning our holiday open house -- yikes!!!!