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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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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Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

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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