Hello October

This photo just about sums up October, doesn't it? My driveway is filled with the spiky outer shells of my yearly chestnut crop, and the leaves are changing color. I love the red of the Virginia creeper that is the first vivid color to appear. So far I haven't had to turn on my heat but that time is coming soon. I love the crisp days of autumn while he leaves are still on the trees. via

Wonderful Painting: Halloween Perfection

Cat in the Moonlight, (Chat au Clair de Lune) c. 1900, Theophile-Alexandre Steinlen via

I love this painting. It's perfect for this time of year with a big yellow moon in the sky casting shadows every night. The artist had a great fascination with cats. See more of his works here and keep scrolling, the page of cats is positively endless!

S is for Selling in Summer

via

These people are all set for summer and are hopeful about selling their beautiful home. Found on the MLS. I think they have done everything right from the looks of the outside, don't you?

December

"December’s wintery breath is already clouding the pond, frosting the pane, obscuring summer’s memory." ~ John Geddes

Such a lovely quote and so true. via

Beautiful Fall Leaves

I've been picking up beautiful leaves when I walk Webster each day and pressing them. Do you think these hearts were cut by hand or with a punch? Aren't they beautiful? Have a great day and I'll see you later. xo

Beautiful Fall Weather @ My Cottage

I took this photo yesterday while I was sitting in one of the adirondack chairs in the way back. As you can see we are still having gorgeous weather. Tomorrow is supposed to be the coldest day yet and there might be rain by the end of the week. The decorative duct covers for my air conditioning don't have open/close registers behind them and all of the warm air in the rooms from my fabulous cast iron radiators gets sucked up. When I get my ceilings painted I hope to put them behind the register covers. My ceilings are plaster so it will be a messy job. In the meantime I always put freezer paper over them with double-sided tape, shiny side out. It works like a charm too and there are no more drafts. That was my project for today and it feels cozier already! Today is the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy that did so much damage around here. I don't even like to think about that ordeal. Trees were down everywhere and I had no power for 9 days. The Jersey Shore is still recovering because of water damage which I did not have, thankfully. Let's hope Halloween isn't as freaky as it was last year and the year before that with a snow storm. I want calm this year.

I have finally started watching The Paradise. I watched the 2-hour first episode yesterday and liked it very much. Thank goodness for PBS full episodes online.

Spectacular Fall: Stourhead House Wiltshire England

Stourhead landscape garden in Wiltshire. Britain is enjoying one of the best autumn displays for years, due in part to a long, dry spring and wet, cool summer. via The Guardian This photo was entitled: Gold Leaf.

Bring On The Blankets

Tabitha has discovered the wool blanket I put on my bed a few days ago and has abandoned her cat bed in the other room in favor of my bed for the winter. She is a good bed buddy because she stays in one place on her side of the bed and is as still as a mouse all night long. Today is the last warm day before a cold front sets in. So much to do and so little time. I'm busy with real estate again and have had to put my cottage on hold for a few days. Don't you love this sleeping porch?

Classy Pumpkin

I spent most of the day working inside cleaning and rearranging furniture. It always amazes me how things that were practically invisible look so fabulous when you change things around. I'll take some pictures when I finish. I love the equestrian pumpkin in the photo above. I haven't decorated for fall or Halloween outside yet. I do what I can on a daily basis and I have moved mountains in the past several weeks. photo source

The Red Leaves Have Arrived

We now have some red color in the woods here at the cottage. Hope you had a nice weekend. I certainly did. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow. Too tired to talk right now.

The Leaves Are Falling All Around

The autumn leaves are falling

Yellow, Brown and Red

They patter softly like the rain

One landed on my head.

But when the sleep of winter comes

They settle down to rest

And Mother Nature tucks them in

with snow

As she thinks best.

That was the first poem my brother had to memorize in first grade and I helped him learn it. For some reason, I've always remembered it. My mother remembered it too and we would recite it together every fall. image source

A Great Place to Sit and Enjoy Fall

I have never turned on my heat in September but I was tempted to break my rule this morning. Wouldn't this be a great place to sit and enjoy watching the fall colors come and go? via

Fall is in The Air

Fall is definitely in the air at my house. I have to give some serious thought to cutting the grass really short so the leaves can blow away in the wind. Maybe I'll do the front today after the heavy morning dew burns off. See you later. image source

Sea Foam with Starfish

Fall is in the air, but it's still summer. Enjoy it while you can. via

Summer in Scotland

High summer in the Quiraing, Isle of Skye, Scotland via

Hello Summer 2013

We are still having cool nights and I'm sitting here wearing a chamois shirt because it's 58° and feels quite chilly. Tabitha is a good gauge of the temperature because she didn't want to stay outside. She positioned herself in the front yard where she could see me and started the stare-down until I let her back in. She is curled up in her cat basket now that she has successfully spoiled my endeavor to sleep until at least 7:00 every morning. 

I took this photograph with my iPhone from my balcony one day recently after our long spell of rainy days. I added the rays by playing around with effects and I really have no idea what I did but I like it. Happy first day of summer - the longest day of the year. I'm already planning my afternoon nap but maybe my morning coffee will kick in soon and I'll feel more awake. See you later.

Fall Sampler

This just about covers the best things about fall. via Etsy