Signs of fall

Potted mums... mine are on the left, Douglas' on the right. Also note that they are dripping wet with October rain.


Apple-blackberry pie with REAL whipped cream, sprinkled with nutmeg. Luscious.


Out come my woolly yarns and halted projects are begun once again.


And of course the leaves are turning all kinds of vibrant, warm colors.


My handsome Irish husband digs out his flatcap and sweaters! I love it when he wears stuff like this. ;-)

Golden fields

Living in the countryside certainly keeps one in tune with the changing rhythms of nature. I took this photo of "our" soybean field about a week ago and already it is outdated. When the leaves turn yellow, they turn fast! Last night and today we have had high winds and any remaining dry leaves have been mostly whisked away, leaving the field a rather dreary brown... however, I imagine the view will be lovely once again when we get some snowfall.

Foggy morning

We have been having the most lovely, British weather this summer. My husband took these photos from our apartment balcony, which happily overlooks a serene soybean field, rustic farm buildings, and distant trees. It is a treat to sit out on our little "porch" in the early morning, (decaf) coffee in hand, and enjoy the perfect temperatures. In the evenings, we can watch the fireflies blinking through the dusky shadows as the sun slips past the horizon...

Covered bridge

A few weekends ago, my father-in-law and brother-in-law came out to join Douglas and I on a work-related road trip. One of our first stops was at this pretty covered bridge, dating from the late 1870s. According to one website, it was actually washed down the river about a mile during a 1913 flood, but the bridge was put on rollers and taken back to its original location, where it has stood ever since.

The morning was very tranquil and the spring greens were just lovely. I'd like to go back for a picnic sometime!

Back again

The month of January has been a busy one, including trips to Florida and Pennsylvania, as well as my costume sewing, plus the regular tasks of housework. Now my costumes are done, the travelling is over for now, and it's nice to feel like I have some more leisurely days ahead!

My husband took this photo of tulips in morning light at my grandparents' condo in Florida. Hopefully soon we will see some tulips poking out of the ground!

Frosted windowpanes

Reception

We had our reception at a family friend's Georgian-style home.


The lawn was set up with tables and chairs.


Guests were served tea,


along with sweets (strawberry macaroons, cream puffs, butterscotch scones, and cupcakes with rose petals)...


...and savories (cucumber sandwiches, chicken salad on mini-croissants, and open-faced roast beef tea sandwiches).



Douglas and I sat at a small table on the south-facing portico...


...but this didn't last long as we soon began greeting our guests, table by table.


And lest we forget the cake, here it is!


Complete with vintage cake topper from my grandmother's 1947 wedding.

Wedding travels

En route from Brother's Wedding to Cousin's Wedding we find ourselves in the hills/mountains of Tennessee -- a far cry from I-80!


A field of cosmos, and beyond, the landscape of North Carolina.

A spotless rose

I much prefer old-fashioned garden flowers over what's available through the florist, so if I had my druthers I would have a bouquet of these fragrant lovelies on my wedding day. This little blossom came from the garden of a family friend, who says if her bush is still blooming in early October, I may have whatever roses I need for my wedding! I think it's rather a long-shot, but it sure would be nice.

Wedding ring shawl

My friend Susan gave me a beautiful wedding ring shawl as an engagement/birthday gift, so called because it is fine enough to pass through a wedding ring. It is handspun and handknit with 1 ply silk and 1 ply OPTIM (had to Google that, but find it is specially treated wool). Definitely an heirloom to be passed down!

Elegy

St. Michael's Church, Bowness-on-Solway, Cumbria

"Beneath those rugged elms, that yew-tree's shade,
Where heaves the turf in many a mold'ring heap,
Each in his narrow cell forever laid,
The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep."

--Excerpt from "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" by Thomas Gray, c. 1742-1750

Haydn

Douglas is visiting and brought a small fraction of his piano library. His dry comment: "Little did Haydn know that one of his worst piano sonatas would be memorialized in such a beautiful photo."

April (snow) showers

Home is the sailor

The Dungeness River on the Olympic Peninsula, Washington.
After a sudden trip to the Northwest, I'm back at home until the next adventure beckons!

Portraits

I let a friend behind the camera, with these results:


I like the angles of the staircase and the sunlight against the gray wall in this one; what do you think?


If the smile looks a little forced, it's because it was. :)

A foggy day...

...in Gallipolis, Ohio (just across from West Virginia).


My sojourn in Ohio is nearly over -- soon I'll be back home to easier and more frequent posting (and my sewing machine!!).

Sunshine in the snow

Colored lights

I've been quite busy this week -- between my parents' back-to-back birthdays on Sunday and Monday, singing in The Messiah on Sunday, an unexpected visit from two friends on Monday and Tuesday, my Aunt Kate flying in from Washington today, finishing up my classes, and a potluck caroling party tomorrow evening... whew! I'd forgotten how busy December can be!

The ice storm

Geranium petals

Sugar maple

Another photo from last year...

Autumn is coming!

A Saturday outing

On Saturday, my friend Susan and I took off to the northern extremities of Nebraska, around the Ashfalls fossil bed area. Susan's friend Marilee lives in a small town nearby, in an old (for Nebraska!) home built in 1873. We met up with Marilee and, after eating lunch at a cute little roadside restaurant called Green Gables, made our way out to Ashfalls.

It was a lovely day to be outdoors -- not too hot, not too windy -- and Susan and I enjoyed seeing the terrain of northeastern Nebraska (hills! and trees!).




Marilee's home was a delight to the eyes (see my previous post). She is, among other things, a fiber artist, and she had several beautiful quilts that were given to her by crafty friends. She is also a collector of antiques, and I just loved all the beautiful old books, furnitures, wall art, etc. that filled her home!

My favorite touch, however, was probably the mis-matched lace curtains (Battenburg and woven lace) at the windows. She had thrown the windows open and a gentle breeze fluttered through the house, bringing fresh air and outdoor scents within. Before we headed back home, Susan and I enjoyed sampling Marilee's homemade wild rose and vanilla tea. It was a thoroughly lovely day!

Victorian house

Books and a nest:


Blue bottles:


Layers of wallpaper -- an archaeological dig!


Boy, did I have fun taking photos today! I'll share more about today's adventures at a later date...

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness...

I'm getting a little ahead of myself here as our leaves haven't started turning yet -- I took this picture last year. But I'm certainly looking forward to the beautiful flaming hues of our sugar maple tree!

September goldenrod

Peonies