SUMMER STILL...

Summer is definitely still here 

but, at times,

 there is a feeling of fall

 in the air.

 Leaves are steadily covering

 the floor of 

the Secret Garden...

...and the zinnia blooms 

are showing signs of slowing down, 

along with the old-school phlox

 going to seed...

...and one last picking,

 among the store bought blooms,

 keep us satisfied until

 next summer.

I really don't approve 

of shutting one season down

 before it is time. 

 But, 

some coming attractions 

just can't wait 

so I have taken the liberty of

 bringing a little bit of fall

 to the Cottage.

 These little owls 

were a purchase from Antique Farmhouse. 

 I just couldn't

 resist their cuteness.

The Chinese Lanterns

 are now a mass of brightness 

peeking through a jumble of 

greenery, phlox and spirea in the garden.

  A sure sign

 that fall is almost here and 

they make a very autumnal statement

 in the scheme of things.

I "borrowed" the lamp

 from the Captain's library. 

 I like the feel of it

 for fall

 along with the wreath 

I made a few years ago 

out of coffee filters.

 This is the Limelight hydrangea bush 

when we first planted it two years ago. 

 It had a few blooms

 which I picked and dried...

...here are those

 same blooms

 today.

Last year 

it didn't grow much bigger and 

there were only a few blooms and 

they dried like this.

All summer long, 

sitting on the front porch,

 we kept smelling this 

soft, wonderful scent and 

didn't know where it was coming from. 

 One of the Limelights stem 

was bent so when I picked it,

 I found out what that scent was. 

This is the third year 

the bush has been in place and

 I never noticed it smelled so beautifully.

  I think there will be 

another bumper crop of dried Limelights

 again this year.

Did you notice 

the reflection of one of the paintings 

I attempted last week? 

 Well, I tried another similar one and 

it did not turn out well. 

 I also tried another, 

with different subjects and 

it was no good either. 

 I have decided 

that painting Santa's

 is my niche 

as I did this one and

 am pretty pleased, again,

 of how it 

turned out.

 

 

 

 

He is a little different in style. 

 A round, quirky little fella 

who seems to take his job 

of carrying Old Glory 

quite seriously.

 
 
 

I want to thank you all 

for your kind compliments. 

 They mean a lot to me and 

I am now on the lookout 

for more Santas.

 

 Be prepared 

to be 

overwhelmed!

 

...Judy..

 

 

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