ODE TO FALL....and Autumn adornments~

"DELICIOUS AUTUMN"

My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns
(George Eliot)

Come, autumn, come. Bring leaves of crimson on golden bough; misty morns and amber dusk; a harvest of plenty, and pumpkins on the vine. And so the gathering season begins, swathed in exquisite abundance and earthen beauty.

~Enjoying the autumn leaves...til the cows come home~

" Come, ye thankful people come; Raise the song of harvest home.

All is safely gathered in ere the winter storms begin.

~Counting our many blessings...naming them one by one...seeing what God has done~

~The chickens are gathering in a little earlier every night~

The end of our mantle...it's half of a juniper tree, I love natural things in my home.

Pumpkins abound not only at farm stands and farmers markets, but in the fields and gardens...and in my home. I have always loved them~ I used to read a story to my kids about a little mouse that made a house inside of an old thrown out pumpkin. He would gather all the soft things he could find..like milk weed fluff, and put it inside the pumpkin. When winter hit, and the pumpkins eyes and mouth would slowly close, he was safe and warm inside for the winter.

~It's looking very Fall-ish in the house too~

The gathering place for our family seems to always be around the fireplace and TV..or the dinning room table...or the pool table...as long as we are together, it's where ever we are gathered together that matters.

"Through orange-leaves shining spheres of gold,

Where crook-necks are coiling and yellow fruit shines,

And the sun of September melts down on his vines.

(John Greenleaf Whittier)

The cool air is as sharp as glass, and the blazing fall colors awaken long-forgotten memories of playing "no bears are out tonight" outside and looking back at the house with the warm glow of the lights on inside...big pots of soup and homemade bread Mom would make...warm baths before bed and stories read to me by Dad.

~These mountains behind our home are so entertaining during any kind of a storm~

Even my little Praline is looking for a cuddly-warm place...besides my lap..She can't sit on my lap 24-7 you know!

~Fall...those crisp night when you just want to cuddle up by the fire~

Fall is such a gift as we head toward winter, offering us a soft passage into the colder, darker months ahead...I hope I can be one who scatters kindness to all I come in contact with, for I know it will come back to gently light on my shoulder as the leaves that fall from the trees in Fall.
...what a wonderful circle it is~

"Cold days and a good book go hand-in-hand"

I love Fall so very much, it truly is my favorite season. Here in this beautiful place, it seems to last so long and is so mild and peaceful. It turns out that, at this time of year, oranges-reds-yellows are my favorite colors. I can hardly wait to get up into the mountains to gather a big arm-full of leaves for my home.

I love the chill in the weather and the warmth of the sun all mixed together...sending me off to bake...homemade bread, chocolate chip/pumpkin cookies, carrot cake, soups of all kinds, Halloween treats for the grand kids. I love too, to curl up with a good book, I just bought "The Undaunted"..can't wait to get into it... to get my jeans and boots out again, and sweaters...I've had enough of flip-flops and painted toe nails. I love living where the season's change..the renewal of it all suits me just fine.

I love long horse rides on my horse this time of year too, it's not too hot, so that we have to go out early to beat the heat. We can head out at any time of the day...I love riding up in the mountains among the colored leaves ...running into deer drinking at the stream, breathing in the crisp fall air..nothing like it!

Next post will be the BEST chili and homemade bread recipe's ever...stay tuned :D