All Things Bright and Beautiful

There are so many wonderful posts on the internet today of the autumn colors. The first are from Steve Goble and then I made a small collage with them. TRUE COLORS!

I was encouraged to take a buggy ride as the temperature was up to 70°. The last time I ventured out my fingertips turned yellow with the coldness! Well I did find color. It was the same everywhere. I was warm.

As I rode the dirt roads, leaves got in my hair, my buggy floor and on the windshield. I stopped and got out with the cane and poked around, finding some exceptional ones and brought them home for a project. I just couldn't resist. Will show you at another time how I used them. The maple were the prettiest - so variegated - the oak were tough and in perfect shapes with slight hues and not all brown.

AT home I dared to hang my new stained glass piece on the porch hook just to see the bright and beautiful colors. I definitely won't leave it there through winter though!

It looks like a home across the lake is having expansion underway. They better hurry up before the snow comes!

tap on image to view larger

Family Visit

Haley and Mark arrived bearing gifts...a squashy decorated pumpkin and a hand-made hanging colorful stained glass spinner creation. They also brought me some disposable brushes for my current project.

My granddaughter and her husband came from 85+ miles away to visit. You see, they have been married 9 years and I have never met him. It was a wonderful visit with two very special people. They both work at home. They can watch fawns and other wildlife from their windows. She raises geckos and they have had many ferrets. A real nature girl she is with so many other enterprises and artistic talents. The rainbow iridescent stained glass piece is one of her latest endeavors to create items - all self taught (trial and error). The photo doesn't give it justice. I need to hang it in a different place so the sun can shine through it.

He's very savvy about many things and currently is certified to be knowledgeable about edible and poisonous mushrooms. They both are very experienced with computers.

I  can't post this without at least showing you another of her glass art items.

I hope they come again soon!

Upgrades

My new flag arrived and it is beautiful. Not inexpensive but sewn and made in America. The old one's blue had faded terribly. Thank goodness I had the strong oak pole that has been used both here and for many years at our SC place at the beach. The flag slips over a plastic tube and is attached at the top. The old one has been properly disposed of for me by a friend.

A resident at our neighbor lake recently took this autumn picture. Pretty, isn't it? 

He says,"Lake view during golden hour." 

Image by Zenon Marko

Just a small autumn display at the cabin this year. Daughter brought over the squashes and mom's ceramic pumpkin sits on top. Henry the Rooster has been stripped of his Martha Washington geranium and awaits Spring.

AND... Poppies are trying to give their last call so I can cut some seed pods and try them again next year. They are not yet dry enough. Neither are the tall pink zinnias...

BEST OF ALL. . . . . .  James 2 has a new leaf garland that my daughter found at a yard sale! Perfect! (The bees are still buzzing in and out of James 1.)

tap image to view larger

Experimenting

My daughter brought me a gallon bag of frozen blueberries!  What should I do with so many, besides baking? I mentioned the berry supply to my yard guy and he said his teen agers all make smoothies with them. Well, that planted a seed in my head. I had no idea of what a smoothie could/should contain but I thought I would try to make one this morning without researching what they are all about. (I'm behind the times, I guess.)

The blender sits on the counter and is hardly ever used. I do remember making daiquiri style and Margarita drinks in it and chopping cabbage in the past! For cabbage I had to do separate chunks in water and then strain. It was a messy task back then, but it did the job well. I found an exact picture of this vintage 70's Hamilton Beach 7 speed blender beverage mixer on the internet.

I scooped a cup of berries into my old but very functional blender, then added a cup of applesauce and a dash of water to the container and set it off! WOW! SOOOO GOOOOOD! Going to do it again in a few days, to see if my system tells me it's OK to have this once in a while.

My "Lucky" Day

This morning I baked cookies.

I am NOT superstitious, BUT...Even though it is Friday the 13th, things are going well. I have been waiting for several months for two different scrap metal people to come pick up my big dead freezer. Yesterday I saw an ad and made a call and TODAY he came and hefted that appliance into the bed of his truck all by himself while his wife watched. I could not believe my eyes! Then he moved the small chest freezer over to the empty pallet and leveled it. As they were leaving, I offered them cookies. Soon there was a knock on the door and it was him telling me that if I ever need any help or something done to give them a call. I  think they liked my cookies.

Another friend came by shortly afterwards to deliver my allergy medicine. He gets it at Sams and I reimbursed him with cash and cookies. 

A neighbor was kind enough this week to order some coffee bags for me. I had told her I was going to make cookies the next day. As she and her husband walked by with their dogs last night he wanted to know when the cookies would be ready! 

My daughter will be arriving shortly with some home-cooked foods for me. There are some cookies set aside for her. 

One more cookie left home as the mail carrier delivered a package and accepted her treat!

These are good and I  have never made them before.

My advice is to share cookies on Friday the 13th!

More Surprises

I had an unexpected visitor today. My friend, Al the potter stopped by. Now I'm set for Christmas gifts for some of my team members. I can't (won't) show you what I purchased, but be sure they are special. He is involved in various activities of the area, including one this weekend. Check out the links.

Artist Tour

The next big happening is the annual Pumpkin Tour coming up soon.

Pumpkin Trail

I am honored to know this man. He is a very special friend.

Special Delivery

NO! I  DID NOT KNOW IT WAS CREATED OR COMING!!! As I was getting ready to go to an optometrist appointment, a truck pulled up and I saw the fellow come to the door. In the back of the truck was a very large, chain saw carved statue. He asked me where he should put it and we decided that it needed to face the road and be on a kinda-sorta level area. He drove the truck to the spot for unloading and his wife was here to help. The fact is that this lady was one of my 4-H club horse leaders and I have known her for about 40 years! WOW! 

Another surprise to knock me off of my heels! The series of images below tell the story. MEET JAMES 2 — Chain saw carving to replace the original, which will be removed after the bee infestion becomes dormant. Of course I had to document his arrival even though I was shaking in my efforts to capture the difficult placing of this wonderful artwork. I am honored to know the artist and happy that James will live on.

He was still here this morning with the sun shining brightly on his face and he brings me joy and a feeling of peace.

I'm not alone. I have wonderful caring and sharing friends. What more could I ask for?

(My friend who arrived to take me to the optometrist appointment met Razor and Becky. They live close to each other and she recognized the truck!) There are "connections" that come to be just about every day if you think on it. About 60 years ago I did some oil paintings  and one is quite close in appearance to Razor. I sold it but kept a photo. Here ya go!

tap on image to view larger

Oh! My! Goodness!

James is slowly disintegrating due to over 13 years of living in the elements. Bees live in him. Birds peck him. I am facing the fact that that soon he will endure his end and I want it to be in a certain manner. I have called the fellow, "Razor" who carved him for me as "The Spiritual Guardian of Cabin Tranquillity" in April of 2010. He is carved in the image of my Great Grandfather, James Marshall Folkner, but in a whimsical manner. I have left several messages to Razor for a consultation about how to handle James's last days.

Surprise! This morning Razor showed up. Unannounced. I looked out the window and saw him stepping back quickly and then realized that he was trying to avoid being stung! After several applications of bee repellent sprayed into every hole by my yard guy, they are still there! I quickly went out and invited him in to have a talk and develop a plan. Maybe, just maybe he can save the front with James' face and I can keep it indoors. The rest would be taken away. 

Razor, as he left said he had to go to the truck for a minute and he soon came back in carrying a replica that he made. The thoughtfulness and preparation for this gift overwhelmed me. It was so unexpected. It is so beautiful!  LONG LIVE JAMES!!

(October 1, 1914 was my mother's birthday. James was her maternal grandfather.)

Oh and I finished my clothespin angel picture! Her name is Pauline.

please tap image to view larger

Autumn Color

Not leaves! Not landscape! 

I made peanut butter fudge today. Tomorrow I am thinking about making a crustless pumpkin pie. I do have that tiny Honeynut squash to cook for dinner tomorrow as well. It is patiently waiting. Seems a shame to cut it. Gotta get into the mood for the seasons I guess. I cleaned out a closet today. All of my clothes have grown and I have shrunk! Poor James won't be dressed, though. He is full of bee nests and the damage of birds and weather has me thinking about how to handle him as my guardian of the cabin. I'll think of "something." Created in 2010 is a long life for a stump even though he was treated with preservative every year but last.

I haven't had a piece yet!! 

Hope to put some candy corn in my table dish soon. I like that stuff!

(A great-granddaughter turned 7 today. Time flies!)