Autumn

Day Sixteen - Thirty Days of Thanksgiving

On the drive to church today I saw some gorgeous Burning Bush shrubs (Euonymus alatus) still glowing red, while most trees are now bare of leave. The vibrant red looks so pretty in the now barren landscape. I love the colors of Autumn, burgundy, red, orange, gold, yellow. I'm grateful to live where there are four distinct seasons, each with their own delights. 

(I wish I could share photos, but my laptop is so old I can't update the operating system and I'm not able to post photos anymore.)   

Autumn Colors

Day Two - Thirty Days of Thanksgiving

My inadequate cameras can't capture the beauty of the colors of autumn, so I capture them in my mind and hold on to the precious memories. Yellow, gold, orange, red, burgundy against a bright blue sky, or sometimes lit by the setting sun against a dark gray cloud. Bright green is still visible in some trees, and the fir, pine and spruce are dark blue green. The weeds are yellow and brown, the grass a faded green. 

I love colors! I'm so grateful for this beautiful world of God's creation and for my eyes to see it.

We Survived the Plague and I Read A Lot

TopDad came home from a weekend working on the house we still own in Iowa and gave me a little kiss. I said, "Don't kiss me like we're married, kiss me like we're lovers!" So he did. And the next day he began having symptoms of Covid. And four days later so did I. (He was "vaccinated" last Spring so that they could go back to in person school. I did not get any shots.)

I went to the hospital first because I couldn't stop vomiting and had severe abdominal pain. I was dehydrated and spent three days and two nights in the hospital. I came home on a Thursday, and TopDad went to the hospital on Friday. He was there a bit longer because he got pneumonia. 

We are recovering, but this is a totally perverse disease and we keep having little flare ups that knock us back. 

I've been reading lots of books as that's about all I have strength for. So here's the list for September:

1. The Kalahari Typing school for Men by Alexander McCall Smith; continuing the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency

2. The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict; story of Hedy Lamar*

3. Anna's Crossing by Suzanne Woods Fisher; a fictional account of early Amish immigrants*

4. Little Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

5. Pianos and Flowers by Alexander McCall Smith; a delightful collection of short stories inspired by antique photos.*

6. These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder

7. The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder

8. Love's Faithful Promise by Susan Anne Mason* (I can't even remember what this was about.)

9. Toxic Charity by Robert D. Lupton; a look at why most of our giving does more harm than good.

10. Love Your Life by Sophie Kinsella

11. The Full Cupboard of Life by Alexander McCall Smith; next in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series.

12. These High Green Hills by Jan Karon

13. I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella

14. In the Company of Cheerful Ladies by Alexander McCall Smith; No. 1 Ladies etc.

15. Blue Shoes and Happiness by Alexander McCall Smith; No. 1 Ladies etc.

So many of the books I read were old friends from the past. I just needed uplifting, encouraging, non-challenging reads while sick and recovering. *Only four out of the fifteen were books I'd not read before.

We've had gorgeous Autumn weather, warmer than usual, which is okay by me. The colors have been lovely too. I make an effort to enjoy each day and soak up as much sunshine as I can knowing it won't last forever. Last year on this date we had our first snowfall. I hope we don't get any snow until late November.

My pretty Oak tree.

Design Differences

Last fall I took a quilt making class with several other women. I had purchased a quilt kit but when I arrived at the class I saw another student's color choices and I immediately wanted them for mine. The shop owner was gracious and let me exchange my kit for the new colors.

We got to the point of assembling our quilts and I didn't like the way it went together according to the pattern so I played around with mine a bit and came up with what I think is a better layout.

Here are the two quilts side by side. Mine is on the right. What do you think?

Both quilt tops are pretty; the photo doesn't do the colors justice at all--they are the colors of sunset and just gorgeous. I just think mine, on the right, is more harmonious and balanced.

Tuesday's Treasures & Wednesday's Wisdom

I combined all my errands and shopping yesterday and came home too tired to photograph and post my treasures, so here they are on Wednesday.

I've been attempting to fill my home with flowers. The long, dark winter was difficult to bear and Spring hasn't come soon enough so I'm buying flowers and brightening up my rooms. I wanted a blue arrangement for my soon to be blue and white dining room. I found this pretty vase at a new to me thrift store for $2.00. When I got to the check out counter the woman said "That'll be a dollar." Turns out it was half-price Tuesday! Score!!

My skill at flower arranging needs educating, but I did the best I could. It sure brightens up the room.

This Pfaltzgraff platter was another score at $4.50. I love the pale blue.

And this half-pint Mason jar was just $.50

Salt and pepper shakers in blue and white for $1 each.

Four pale blue with colorful flowers cocktail napkins, $.50 each, and a gold linen dish towel for $.25.

Royal blue travel toiletry bag from Lands' End for $1.00.

What's the wisdom in all this? Patience and perseverance are keys to finding thrift store treasures. Know what you want and don't settle. Do without and make do until you find the perfect thing.

Ta Da!! The (almost) Complete Living Room

My living room is (almost) completely redecorated. All that remains is hanging a few things on the walls, and bringing over from the other house four bookcases and the books. I am so happy with the colors, the remade drapes, the matching lamps, the clean floor! I am of the "Use what you have" school of Interior Decorating so I reused almost everything and retrieved from storage other things. I was blessed to find some really good deals for the new (to us) pieces.

This is the corner where the color changes. Note the new recliner for TopDad, purchased at a yard sale for $50. Also a new lamp, one of a pair purchased through Craig's list for $25 for both.

Before

After

Before

I took the existing drapes, unpicked all the pleats and reused them with rings (clips) for a more casual, cottage look. The ceramic piece on the table was made by Dandylion in his art class. Don't the matching lamps look great!! Our three adult children are on top of the piano awaiting a portrait of Mr. Movie.

After

Before

I am so pleased with the way it all turned out. I love color, none of that neutral stuff for me. This room glows with glorious light.

After

The entry way, waiting for installation of the new steel door, and new light switches and cover plate. Just a few little details. 

Entry way