THE AUTUMN COTTAGE...

 

"Autumn mornings

Sunshine and crisp air,

Birds and calmness,

Year's end and

Day's beginnings."

Terri Guillemets

Tomorrow is the actual start of fall.  

Throughout the next few weeks, 

I would like to invite you all to visualize

 a grand tour through the Cottage, decked out in full autumn dress. 

 Starting with the entry and moving into the parlor, 

we will try to show you how 

we plan to enjoy the season 

and hope you feel welcomed.

Autumn:  

All of the warmth without the heat, 

and it has never been more 

happily anticipated than this year.

While it is well known that 

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, 

in my opinion,

 Autumn is the most beautiful.  

The colors, the scents, the all around feelings 

after a long hot summer 

are what elevates autumn

 on the seasonal ladder.

2020 was a very hard year,

 that was what we all heard and knew. 

 We couldn't help but have hope 

that the following year would be better. 

 As it turns out though, 

2021 is becoming worse 

and for me

 it is as if there will be no end in sight

 unless drastic measures are taken.  

I have come to the conclusion

 that I could spend 

a good part of a very long time 

confined to my sweet Cottage... 

...and I say this,

 not as a complaint, but as a fact.

 I am very fortunate to have 

a home that I love 

and, like squirrels foraging for the winter, 

I am digging in to find that space 

of contentment, comfort and warmth 

that will sustain me 

for as long as is needed.

In the entry 

autumn colors come front and center. 

 A faux garland of leaves twines around the mirror, 

while a branch of the real thing takes center stage on the Eastlake dresser.  

I found this branch

 growing in the front garden 

almost totally hidden by the camellia bush. 

 Maybe that little squirrel you saw earlier

 planted the tiny acorn

 that he was carrying.  

Sometime in the years to come, 

I would not be surprised to see

 the Cottage situated in the midst of 

giant oaks or walnut trees! 

Also included in the vignette, 

wooden apples made
 by my mom many years ago, 
 a pear which I fashioned out of a lightbulb, 
 an old pumpkin
 that has seen many seasons 
with the glued parts to prove it,  

 and a lacy edged plate, 

painted with seasonal fruit, 

that belonged to my grandmother.

Many years ago, 

while vacationing here in the Gold Country, 
with no thoughts 

that we would someday live here,
 we bought this pretty lamp 

in an antique shop in the little town of

 Rough and Ready.  
We had a modern house at home
 that we were trying to bring 

a bit of Victorian style to. 

 This lamp was on display there 

for quite some time 
but when we eventually did move and found our real Victorian Cottage, 
it was shoved into the back of a cupboard because the color wasn't just right. 
 Today, I have brought it back to its roots 
and it becomes a 

very pretty piece of fall decor. 
 At this time of year

 the color is the best thing about it 
and how it lends to the overall feel 

of what Autumn really is.

The parlor mantel still holds 

the set of books 

whose color and texture feel just right 

for this time of year. 

 Along beside the books,

 I have added some shine and glamour

 in the form of two glass pumpkins

 and a large shiny vase

 filled with the colors 

of the season.

"Autumn dresses up in gold,

The richest season of the soul."

Angie Weiland-Crosby

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An update on Kai:

Kai started out on an insulin dose of 2

 and after two weeks time

 he is still off but vet says

 he is doing really well. 

She upped his dosage to 3

 and will check him again

 in another two weeks. 

I can tell he is feeling much better.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hope you enjoyed the start of 

the Autumn Cottage 

and that you are enjoying 

beautiful fall weather 

wherever you are.

 May you be tucked in comfortably 

and feel in awe of the season.

Have a wonderful week.

...Judy...

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