Tuesday, August 30, 2016

AN EARLY THANKSGIVING...










It is undeniable 
that there is a feeling of fall 
in the air. 
 Mornings are much cooler, 
schools are back in session and 
light breezes 
are prompting the leaves
 to carpet the ground.






Jake and Jacenda
 are both getting ready
 to attend classes at
Santa Clara University.

 Jacenda
 will be starting her second year 
while it will be
 Jake's 
first.

On Wednesday, 
Jacenda will be leaving for Spain 
where she will be attending classes there 
for the first semester. 
 Jake is planning to meet up with her
 when his fall break takes place. 
 He has his plane ticket 
and will be staying at a hostel 
for the week 
and she is staying with 
a host family until
just before Christmas. 

 What a wonderful 
and exciting time
 for them.





We went down to 
Tami and Tim's 
this past weekend 
and had an early Thanksgiving dinner 
since the kids
 will be gone for the
 actual 
Thanksgiving holiday.







Tim
outdid himself this time.
 He loves to cook 
and does a great job of it,
 but this meal was exceptional 
and Tami 
set a gorgeous 
autumn theme tablescape.





Jake and Jacenda 
supplied the dessert, 
a beautiful and very tasty fruit tart
 from The Farm,
 a popular local restaurant. 

 It was all 
so 
very good.






As we were saying 
our goodbyes, 
Rosie sneaked 
into the car
 and...






Have a wonderful week!



...Judy...



Jacenda and friends celebrating their trip to Spain.

You Go, Girls!




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Tuesday, August 23, 2016

SHORT AND SWEET...










This week 
just seems to have flown by.

  It seems like only yesterday 
that I introduced you to 
our "Summer Place",
and now it is time 
to share another 
amazing occurrence 
in my life
 and I've got 
almost nothing!






It is still
amazingly hot here 
but,
 I'm beginning to feel 
a little fall in the air. 
 Maybe it is wishful thinking,
 but some of the leaves 
are starting to turn, 
and even though 
I intend to keep repeating 
that I will not 'wish' away time,
 I just couldn't help myself...






...when 
I saw these little green gems.

I don't think 
it looks too much like fall yet,
 not until some 
harvest colors 
are added.




This is
 as far as I will go for now, 
but I do have to tell you 
about a wonderful gift
 we received on 
Sunday.






We had gone for a ride 
and when we returned home, 
we found this beauty, 
below,
 waiting on the 
front porch.





The people
 who had owned the Cottage before us 
(they bought it from 
the Garlands, the original owners)
 had dropped off
this original drawing 
that was done in 1973 
along with an original deed 
to the property.
  
It looks pretty much 
like it does now 
except for the hedges 
that line the sidewalk.





Three main differences 
are the arch 
we added over the gate, 
the fountain 
and the screen door.



Not fall, just a good depiction of the screen door taken a couple of years ago.


This is actually 
the original frame 
that you see in the drawing 
but we added the 
gingerbread trim.








We have 
designated a place of honor 
on the parlor mantle 
and are so happy 
to have received it.





Something amazing 
did happen in our life this week,
 and it was a very 
sweet surprise, in deed.

 Our heartfelt thanks to Tom and Cathy Wasley.


...Judy...





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Tuesday, August 16, 2016

A SUMMER PLACE...











The other day, 
while taking a tour through Pinterest,
 I came across a board 
entitled Summer House. 

 It was filled 
with the most glorious sights of 
rooms 
sporting the colors of the sea 
and garden spaces 
set deep in the shade. 

 Having a "summer house" 
to go to, or to dream about,
 must be the ultimate in 
all things romantic.











We are most fortunate 
in that we have a sort of 
"Summer House", 
one that we can take with us 
whenever the whim strikes.

 We don't take it out 
as often as we should, 
but it is nice to know 
it is there when 
we want it.






This is the main reason
 we don't take the motorhome out 
as often as we should.

 The Captain and I are 
true nesters.

 We love to be home 
and putting our efforts into 
making it a better place.

 Even though it does get 
a bit tedious at times, 
it is forever
 drawing us in.






We still have 
a couple of rooms 
that are getting a make-over but 
our best, and most enjoyed 
project to date,
 is the screened porch.

 Every spare minute 
of the day and night 
is spent relaxing
 there...






...and now 
that the weather has cooled down a bit,
 we can take advantage of it, 
and dine under the stars, 
so to speak...





...and have dessert 
by candlelight.






The Secret Garden,
 with its large walnut tree overhead,
 is a haven for squirrels and birds 
this time of year, 
and Kai 
has become 
a devoted watcher of
all things squirrel.






When the Captain and I were dating, 
our song was "The Theme From A Summer Place"
 and we watched 
Troy Donahue and Sandra Dee 
live out their dreams 
many times over 
(at least I did).






Whether 
it be on a lake,
 at the beach,
 or in your own 
back yard...






...everyone 
should have a
 "Summer Place" 
in their 
life.


...Judy...






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