Hello and goodbye to October...

I took this photo at the end of September, when I finally had to admit summer was essentially over in the Deep South.  We have had a warm fall, but it was time to take up that summer rug and say goodbye to summer on the porch.

 The condo trees are finally getting some color.  I love the dappled sunlight in the late afternoon.

The last time I posted, I was heading to my favorite hideaway in the Nantahala Forest.  This breathtaking scene made me stop in my tracks one morning.  It's where I can relax and just breathe.

This was supposed to be my October post.  Yesterday, as I was writing October 31 for the hundredth time that day, I realized that October just ripped by.  My favorite Anne of Green Gables quote: “I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”  Me, too.

Good Things Happened: along the way

New favorite quote: "Anyone who thinks fallen leaves are dead has never watched them dancing on a windy day." - Shira Tamir

 This very large leaf danced its way into my front door, so I let it stay.

This display at the first holiday open house I have attended this year made me want to buy a birdhouse and I already have one that my feathered visitors shun, for some reason.  I always love coming to the shop inside this old building, with its brick walls.  One more reason to love fall.

I hope you have a lovely weekend, my friends!

Signs of fall, out front beauty, the first time and encore

The trees in the background at the condos attest to signs of fall, which was surely expected, but a delight nonetheless.  My car is always photo bombing my pictures.  :)  

The plants out front are gamely hanging in there.  The air has turned crisp in the early morning, here in the Atlanta area, but everyone here on the porch wants to keep blooming it seems.  I don't have the heart to get rid of them yet.  The dragon wing begonia, on the plant stand, had gotten very tall and leggy, so I cut it way back about a month and a half ago.  It came right back and started sprouting out blooms.  

This is a hosta that I bought from a plant sale about 10 years ago, I think.  It probably belongs in the ground, but I've kept it in a pot.  This year, I moved it from the back porch to the front, and it loves it there.  It grew very lush this year.  And surprise - it is blooming for the very first time!  In October, of all times.  The hostas, in the ground, at the mountain house are blooming in July.  Go figure.

And much to my amazement, the rhododendron bush in front of neighbor Mike's window downstairs is blooming, too.  They usually bloom in mid-Spring.  Neighbor Rhonda speculates that it is what she calls an "Encore" bloom.  I'm just delighted to see them both.

Steam engine, snoozing and they're on a roll

More good things from Christmas Day in northern Florida...

 - My sister and I were traveling from one farm to another on a Christmas Day visit, when we passed this steam engine displayed in Madison, Florida.  I love to read historical markers, so we pulled over.  It was used for cotton and peanut processing until 1919.  Cotton and peanuts are still the major crops in that area.

 - Hank, watching over my sister and brother-in-law's house in Monticello, Florida.  He loves to visit the grandparents here, so he can roam freely or just sleep on the porch. 

- When I asked niece Abby what I could get great nephew Monroe for Christmas, she said he loves PAW Patrol.  They are cartoon characters from a show of the same name on Nick, Jr. network, who go on high stakes rescue missions and solve problems through teamwork.  I like that, so I got Monroe the action figure set for a gift.  Chase, Skye, Marshall and Zuma are represented here - Rubble and Rocky were around somewhere, probably solving problems.  We all smiled when Monroe opened his present and shouted out the PAW Patrol slogan:  "No job too big, no pup is too small!!!" 

Books in the window, harvest home and come into my parlor

- Books residing peacefully in the window of a favorite shop.

- The welcoming food and drink table at a friend's home for book club.

- And not that this is a good thing, just kind of funny.  This spider has the most perseverance I've ever seen.  This was the second web in two days that it built on the pergola outside my front door.  I photographed it on Sunday morning before knocking it down again.  And there was one more across the front door yesterday morning - I think it likes me.

Pumpkin view, wandering no more and fall weather

- The weather in the metropolitan Atlanta area is still warmish.  I'm still clinging to my open toed slide on sandals.  But this scene in front of my favorite antiques shop just says fall to me, even with the remnants of July 4th in view. 

- Loved this sign on the door.  I asked about the wandering shop kitty Mr. Whiskers, who has been moved to the residence upstairs.  She says he is loving the recently built upstairs porch and was basking in the sun there on this morning.

- October is usually my favorite month, but I'm still waiting for some crisp weather.  It's raining here this morning and I'm mindful of the bad weather in other parts of the country yesterday and today, so no complaints here!

Vintage bouquet, overlooking and warming up a little

- This bouquet was called a "vintage" bouquet - not sure why.  I love purple and blue together, so I was hooked.

- Beautiful fall color on these trees overlooking the empty parking lot of my church.  I was there for a quick meeting with just one other person, and while I waited, had this beauty to keep me company.

- Temperatures in the 40s this morning and not 20s and 30s.  :)

It's been a long week, but it's FRIDAY!!!!  Could I be more excited?  I don't think so.  :)  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and that good things happen to you.

Festively adorned, the falling leaves and simple good fun

- Someone put a replica of The Bird Girl in the park in which I walk in most weekend mornings.  There was a festival there this past weekend, so she was given some flowers and a blue painted pumpkin to adorn her for the festivities.  The original bird girl sculpture achieved notoriety from the book cover of "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" by John Berendt.

- The park is beautiful with the season change.  And the walk was lovely in the crisp October morning air.  Someone nearby even had a wood fire burning.  We walked first and then strolled through the festival booths.  Here was my favorite:

- The winners of the pumpkin carving contest.  :)  Intricate job there on the left and it won first prize.  It was nice to shut the troubles of the world out for a while and enjoy simple good fun such as this.

Slow cooker lasagna, signs of fall and dancing

- This is slow cooker lasagna, after being cooked for four hours in the slow cooker and then a final six minutes under the broiler to give it that golden look.  I found the recipe on the Williams-Sonoma website - you can find it here.  It makes A LOT - so my freezer is full of portions for future lunches and such.  This was a practice run for making it for guests.  It's very good, but a little salty tasting to me, probably because of the Italian sausage.  I might do half as much sausage next time or even leave it out and go vegetarian.

- Leaves crunching underfoot and the need to throw a wrap on when I leave on these brisk mornings here in the South.

- Watching the delightfully silly Dancing with the Stars.  I loved that guy's "Bollywood" style dance.  I am a passable dancer, and that rarely comes up anymore - usually just at wedding receptions - so I admire great dancing skills.  :)

Mystery dot, coffee all around and quiet weekend

- The driveway into my condos Saturday morning around 9:30am.  I have no idea where that blue dot came from, but I love this scene for the sunlight dappled street and signs that the trees are turning color.

- Discovering all the different coffee that can be had from take out places since my home coffee maker died. Another is on the way from the bank points catalog, but until it arrives, my favorite is Starbucks (albeit a bit pricey.)

- Finally catching up on recorded shows via my DVR - a quiet weekend, and very restful.

Unleaving, roses and a wee tree

 - The leaves have mostly fallen by now, but I'm seeing these beautiful red maple leaves around. 

 - Neighbor Marion's Knock Out roses are still cheerfully blooming in spite of a couple of hard frosts. 

- And I finally decorated inside for Christmas.  This wee tree is just the ticket for a single lady.  The Santa on the left belonged to my Great Aunt Grace and the Santa candy dish makes just the holding spot for my charging cellphone.  :)

Sparkling in the morning light, treat and yum

- Reading on the back porch on Saturday morning. A web spun by a missing spider sparkles in the morning light.

- Having a cream cheese filled pumpkin muffin to go with my latte. A delicious fall treat.

- While friends have a deep theological discussion, I try some of Alice's chocolate fondue, dipping squares of pound cake, strawberries and pretzels in the creamy dark chocolate. An involuntary moan escapes me, they look up, smile and decide to have some, too.

Free spirits, Tater Pie and glimpses

- This silver maple tree at my church that stands alone in its leaf change glory. The trees around it have either have been mostly in a hurry to shed their leaves or are obstinately refusing to change at all.

- A beloved uncle has passed away and he put in his advance funeral directive that we sing his favorite song. A crazy little song* that he taught all the children and we always sang it at Thanksgiving with him. This time a group of adults stand around his grave site and sing it. The part that made me smile - just before walking up to the grave site as a group, there is a whispered flurry of making sure we have the words right.

- Later, after lunch, his granddaughter tells me that she is now teaching an 11th grade English class in the same classroom she learned English in as an 11th grader. And she took it over from a retiring teacher who taught it to her. His wee three-year-old great granddaughter demonstrates her ballet moves for me and is the most proud of her bow. A really low one in which her fingertips touch the floor. She comes up smiling.

*Knowing someone would ask, I put the title in my title above. The song that comes up on an internet search has the same title, but completely different words.

Seasons, divine cuisine and college radio

- Sweeping all the fallen maple leaves off my back porch makes me recognize it really is no longer summer. So the blue and white striped throw rug is rolled up and stored away until it is warm again.

- Meeting friend Elizabeth for dinner at L'Thai. The owner proudly telling us that the restaurant has been designated "THAI SELECT" - Awarded by the Ministry Of Commerce Royal Thai Government for one of the World's BEST Thai Restaurants.

- Listening to old friend Album 88 on the commute to work and loving the laid back music. A welcome break from the political talk on other stations.

Change of seasons, art stroll and looking forward

- A flock of geese forming a V and flying south. The 3-4 geese in the front jockey for position before they situate themselves.

- Discovering a part of Atlanta that I have never been to. The Castleberry Hill ArtStroll features multiple art galleries and it was fun wandering in and out of them and later sitting at a sidewalk cafe watching the world go by.

- Already looking forward to the Christmas holidays by calendaring the Decatur Candlelight Tour of Homes with friend Barb.

Frolicking weather, fun place to work and creative concern

- The weather suddenly switching from Summer to Fall making me want to walk outdoors.

- Looking around the Hill Street Warehouse & Gardening Center while waiting for my client to approve her proof. They are going to close the doors Friday evening, drink wine and stamp and address the "annual sale" postcards we are printing for them. They were amused at my excitement that the candles will be on sale, too.

- Walking into Brenda's office and laughing out loud - someone has placed peanut M&Ms in the shape of a smiley face on her blotter. Next to it is a sticky note reading, "Are you OK? Check Yes or No" There were boxes for checking.