COMPANY IS COMING...

Company is coming

 and we are all awaiting 

with grand expectations.

The guest room 

has been

 pruned and prettied...

...with a wicker tray

 holding a 

pot of rose hip tea, 

favorite books 

and appropriate show tunes...

all in place 

to make welcome 

the weary traveler.

A few close friends

 have peeked in

 to pay their respects...

...the pillows

 have been plumped...

...and the 

candles lit.

A meal has been prepared, 

fit for a guest of such high esteem, 

and served among all 

the favored amenities.

...and fresh flowers abound

 in every room 

of the Cottage.

The flight was on time 

and I hear

 our guest approaching...

Allow me 

to perform 

the introductions...

To be continued...

...Judy...

A small pumpkin made out of an old sweatshirt

Fall is finally here

The happiest of Fall Days 

to everyone

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Dishing It & Digging It

FYI:  The month of October coming soon to a neighborhood near you!

 Won't you join in the festivities?

We would be so appreciative of your attendance.

There will be something for everyone and

 you will make our official guest

so happy!

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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