NEW BEGINNINGS...

The beginning of autumn

 is just around the corner.

 A new beginning 

when the crops are coming into maturity

 and the tones of nature 

take on the vibrant hues of Fall.

  The nights are turning colder

 and the days, although still warm, 

have a mellowness about them 

that has us wishing 

it was like this 

all year long.

The crepe myrtle as it was at the end of summer last year

Leaves have been lightly falling 

but soon the countryside will be awash 

with the soft carpet of bright colors 

and the skies will be

 all the bluer 

in contrast to the 

empty branches.

More time 

will be spent indoors now

 as the evenings get shorter...

...and pots of

 heavenly stews and soups 

will fill the air with

 the last aromas of

 the Farmer's Market...

...an old pitcher,

 bearing the signs of the harvest,

 will hold some late 

summer offerings...

...and all creatures, 

animal and human alike,

 will be scurrying to get settled 

before the cold winter winds 

start to blow.

New beginnings are happening for 

Jake and Jacenda.

  

Jake is almost through 

with his probationary period at Kaiser 

and when that is over

 he will be working from 

home three days a week 

and traveling the other two days.

  Jacenda has a bit more schooling 

and is doing volunteer work, 

getting closer to her

 nursing degree.

They just moved into 

their first home together 

and we went down to help.  

I took a picture of the boys 

taking the camper shell off of Tim's truck 

and then...

I totally forgot

 to take any more pictures!

 Their place is so nice.  

It only has had one other tenant 

since it was built

 and looks brand new.  

It is a small, one bedroom 

but just the right size for the two of them. 

 The next time we go down, 

I will take photos to share.

Here is some late summer sunshine 

coming through the windows, 

bringing with it new beginnings 

for one of the most beautiful times 

of the year.

 We look forward to 

those moments.

...Judy...

The last rose of summer

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A BIT MORE SUNFLOWER SUMMER...

As you may have noticed, 

this garland with all the dried pieces,

 was displayed 

on the dining room table last week (here).

  What I didn't know at the time

 was that the kids were coming up 

for the Labor Day weekend, 

so I had to remove it 

to set the table for dinner.

 Our table came out of 

an old miner's boardinghouse

 and was made specifically 

for that setting. 

 It is long and narrow and,

 though a large decoration 

down the middle is attractive,

 with the addition of china and food,

 it is not very practical...

...so I just picked it up 

and simply draped it 

over the parlor mantle 

with the thought of just 

getting it out of the way 

and as so often happens, 

this turned out to be 

the perfect spot for it.

With the addition of 

a few old, tarnished brass candlesticks, 

the sunflowers are continuing 

to shine 

throughout the Cottage.

The entry is dressed up 

with a few pieces 

that have come out of the

backs of the cupboards.

  A pitcher, a wreath, 

and some dried grasses,

 all adorned 

with a sprinkling of

 sunflowers.

Here is a repeat performance,

 brought back by popular demand,

 by the sunflowers, of course! 

 The kitchen table, 

as it was, last year.  

The addition of blue and white 

makes the 

gold of the sunflowers 

stand out.

Speaking of blue,

remember the Captain's

 morning glory 

we planted at 

the beginning of summer?...

...this is how much 

it has grown.

  It has done well...

...and adds a bit of color 

(although the sun is very bright today

 and tends to wash it out) 

to the waning summer 

front garden, 

with nary a sunflower in sight!

...Judy...

At this time 

I would like to acknowledge 

the men and women who lost their lives

 on September 11, 2001.

It doesn't seem possible 

that seventeen years have passed.

Blessings to those 

who are doing their jobs 

to keep us safe

 and hope

 that it never happens again.

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SUNFLOWER SUMMER...

All that glitters

 is not always gold,

 but as long as the sun is shining,

 we hold a special place 

in our hearts 

for the summertime

 that is here and now 

and for the memories 

that we will cherish 

long after it is gone.

 As we continue on with 

the Sunflower Summer,

 a few that have graced

 the vases of Gold Country Cottage,

 now lay on the kitchen sill (above),

 waiting to dry, 

to be added into 

a wreath or a garland 

that will continue on 

and add cheer

 to a wall or a door 

of the Cottage.

On the kitchen table, Goatzie

 is pulling a bounty of sunflowers 

that will also be a part of

 the fall and harvest crafting

 that will be taking place 

along with the 

goldenrod drying 

in the spongeware pitcher.

Another flower 

that will join the sunflowers

 will be the hydrangeas.

  They dry easily 

and add just 

the right color and texture 

of another kind.

Down the center

 of the dining room table,

 lays the garland mentioned above.

  As the sunflowers dry,

 they and other bits of dried material

 will be added, 

making it a centerpiece 

of the autumn experience 

at the Cottage.

As the garland lays on the table, 

the bits and pieces of summer

 are placed just so

 to form an autumn image. 

 When the eye is satisfied 

with the results,

 a bit of hot glue will be used 

to add them permanently in place

 where they can shine....

...and just like sunflowers 

standing tall beside a garden gate, 

they will conform to the season 

and continue shining 

until the harvest is in

 and the sun sets.

...Judy...

I hope everyone enjoyed 

a fun filled Labor Day weekend.

 Tim, Tami and Rosie 

came up and 

while Rosie and Kai sat on the couch,

 ignoring each other,

 Tim set the old folks up with

 WiFi and Netflix.

 What would we do without them. 

They continually watch over us and,

 slowly but surely,

 are bringing us into this century.

 We are so appreciative.

 Thank you, Tim and Tami,

 for all you do for us.

 As per your instructions,

 we are planning out the days

 and getting up off the couch 

almost

 every two hours.

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HOW SUMMER EVOLVES...

Some of us wake up happy 

and some of us wake up in the doldrums. 

 Some can shake it off 

and some have to let the world know 

just how bad they feel. 

 Few of us

 have to make it a headline, however,

 but then some of us

 are more sensitive 

than others!

A little smile 

to start your morning off right.

 While having coffee 

and reading the morning paper,

 I noticed that Kai 

had fallen asleep on one of the pages. 

 It was too good 

 a photo-op 

to pass up.

I shared this shelf last week

 but have since added 

two little white vases 

I picked up at a thrift store.

  They remind me of some 

of the cute touches that Joanna Gaines

 shows in her collection, 

but for the great price

 of $1 each.

Here is my breakdown

 of the changing seasons

 and how they evolve around here.

Each season can usually be seen 

through the eyes of the sofa.

Summer decorating 

starts right around Memorial Day 

and follows into July 4th...

...then in almost August

 the summer turns into

 beach weather...

...at the end of 

August and throughout September, 

at the very beginning 

when it starts feeling

 like fall to me,

 before the pumpkins 

and the sheaves of wheat 

or the witches and goblins,

---- 

Come the

 sunflowers.

A large pot of faux 

just adds

 another spot of sunshine 

and picks up the colors 

from the little pillow 

across the way.

This is the "cheap" pillow

 that started it all.  

You are my Sunshine,

 a description that fits 

so many wonderful facets 

of my life...

...and here is another 

of the "2 for 1" pillows 

that are turning (no pun intended) out to be 

so handy for me 

when wanting needing 

to use so many pillows.

This sweet little guy

 is not one of the "cheap" ones.

  It comes from Pier One

 but I did get it on sale. 

 It works nicely with

 the blue side chairs

 and is a little spot of fanciness

 added to the scene.

I guess 

there is ALWAYS room

 for one more!

The Sun is Shining

Oh, Happy Days

Look what my sweet Captain 

just brought for me -

 just because!

More summer sunflower days to come.

...Judy...

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