sky tricks

The Gardener and I decided to spend Saturday looking for color. The leaves

here have barely started to change so we headed for the mountains. It was cool and blustery 

with a variety of "color" depending on the kind of trees and the elevation.

(We do wish we had more maples here for their bright red hues.)

We never tire of seeing the gracefully winding roads

and the layers of the mountain range, always blue,

and always smokey––thus the names Blue Ridge and Smokey Mountains.

The sky played games the whole time.

From bright blue and sunny to dark and menacing blended with odd sunlight.

No rain, but dropping temperatures and lots of wind.

 When we got to 6000 feet, we were in the clouds and the trees

had shed their leaves and there was no view at all.

But it didn't take long to get down to sunshine and color again.

What a great day!

Joining with Judith's Monday Mosaics.

a tweak here and there

My sister and I have an "unwritten rule" when we visit each other's house. It's the "change around" rule--or better said, "invitation." An invite to move things around (probably not the furniture, that might require permission and help.) But anything else we see in each other's house that we think may need a little tweaking, we have permission to do just that.

The game is if it is noticed. (And it always is, we're such women of detail.) Sometimes there's a discussion, but often things are just left changed. This time she brought out a wedding gift vase which had probably always been in storage as it doesn't really fit with her decor.

But the color! So I found a spot for it. It's a smidge too tall for under the painting, but, I do love it's pop of color.

A little work on the book case, turning our grandmother's old novels on an angle and moving some photos, adding the fat green bird up top.

Now here's the deal: Now that I'm gone, are things now moved back to where they were?

I probably will never know, for next time I visit most likely I will have forgotten all about it!

This sweet dollie never got moved until I needed the chair

 (our grandfather's) for a few minutes. She kindly switched to the bed.

And this gorgeous big doll is always sitting here when 

we visit this favorite antique shop. 

She does change her outfit, but it's usually pink.

One last thing about my creative sister's house.

I've always been fascinated by her laminated (clear packing tape)

reminder signs that she keeps handy in a kitchen drawer.

She has embellished them with some of her stamps

and they truly are lovely to see sitting on the counter.

collage of color

Last week on our trip further south we saw a lot of color. 

Not fall color, but rather color of the tropics.

I am amazed at the gray that came out in the first set.

Oh how I love color.

Joining Judith's Mosaics on Monday.

stillness

 Donna speaks of telling stories with our still life photos.

All these "stills" were taken with my point and shoot during a recent visit to my sister's house.

I love this one because of the peek at the highchair in the corner.

Now quiet, but patiently waiting to be used by her grandchildren on their visits.

 I love that she keeps the vintage wallpaper up in the guest room. A shelf there is filled with

interesting old things, including this elegant little purse sitting so quietly now.

It begs questions from us that will never be answered, but we can guess.

The weddings, balls, banquets it may have been to . . . 

The corner cupboard filled with favorite things and family heirlooms.

Always a pleasure to view.

Joining Donna's Photo Challenge today, for the still life challenge.

weather change

Last night a breeze came up.

And today we woke to cool, clear, dry air.

 A change in the weather. Smiles abound.

Windows open,we hear the clink of dishes 

and chatter of voices from neighbor houses.

And before we know it, "color" will arrive.

"Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn." 

Elizabeth Lawrence

Joining Judith's Monday Mosaics.

Detoured

I love a quote from In His Everlasting Arms by Gail MacDonald: "Someone wisely said that a contented person is one who enjoys the scenery along the detour." Well said and certainly the life attitude I desire to live. I remember a busy time in my life when such detours would stress me. Delays I think of include long gas lines, traffic jams, an unending wait at the doctor's or anything else that does not fit into my scheme of how things should be. I remind myself to look at those delays as a gift of time. I try to have a small book along to read (which could be on my phone) or I spend the time working on my calendar, or thinking, or people watching, or praying.... And when I stop stressing about it, the wait transforms into an unexpected blessing.  I can even feel a little disappointment when the wait is over.

remembering September

I've enjoyed Cheryl's Gathering the Moments over this past year. 

As time passes so quickly it has caused me to look

back, reflect, and be thankful for God's gifts.

Otherwise I tend to fly on to the "next thing."

September included much time away from home. 

When visiting with old friends we did a lot of walking, and

enjoyed lunch on the river. Home to put out some

fall decor, enjoy a new tea shop "just around the corner," 

dinner with friends, spending time with the grandees,

a morning of photo taking, and a big church picnic.

The month ended on the road again. 

Looking forward to October and planting my feet firmly at home.

Joining Judith's Mosaic Monday and Cheryl's Gathering the Moments.

one thousand smiles

Yes, one thousand smiles for 1000 photos. I could hardly imagine it. 

But there we were on a beautiful fall morning, all our family gathered together.

A young friend gave to me, a grandma, the gift of a photo shoot.

For me to share with my daughter in law. 

How thoughtful is that, to gift her gift and skill to me?

I was intrigued when she wanted to go to the kids' rooms and 

photograph them jumping on their beds or playing with their legos. 

Totally fun stuff. 

She even brought along her eight-year-old son/assistant to make the kids laugh.

Most of the time. 

Acorns dropping from her head helped too. 

A gift I will treasure forever, but

not as much as her friendship!

on 2 corners

Along the Blue Ridge Parkway there is a town called Little Switzerland. 

It's not much but two corners, but the views are worth a visit.

And so is a cozy lunch spot  . . . and the 30,000 books housed in a "little" ...

 … bookshop on the two corners, called "Books and Beans."
We always stop there for a browse. There's no online selling.
No, you need to come and have a look through three stories of books . . .
and smell the coffee, which is a new addition since the last time we were 

there. And the way time flies, that could be a few years ago.

I thought I'd stop in the restroom before we left,

. . . and I'm so glad I did. I thought this window alone

would fit well joining Judith's Mosaic Monday, and that's

just what we're doing.

Bread Day

A day with Little Brother seemed a good
time to try a new bread recipe. He wanted
to help, and helped a lot, sticking with it
through each stage.

Maybe he'll be the family bread
maker some day!

Kneading this heavy, healthy bread was a bit hard but he did his best. 

It was even hard for grandma.

It may be the first time I really just went with a made up recipe. I had the basics down but I 

wanted to try to make this very healthy. So the ingredients, in no special order were: Coconut 

oil, black molasses, yeast started in water with a pinch of sugar, whole wheat flour, white flour, 

water, pinch of salt, Chia seeds, flax seeds, and oats. I have to say it was delicious.

Someone ate three pieces! Fresh from the oven, 

it didn't even need butter,

though one of us enjoyed using some. :-)

thru a lace lightly

Two windows from our time in Germany, both lined with lace.

This lace is in a tiny window not 18 inches wide.

You might guess which room of the house it was found in!

Our hotel room was at the back of the building and 

I loved seeing the beautiful lace in this window against the green of the grass.

Joining Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday.

Motion

I didn't have a clue what to do for a motion image but then

remembered that we had seen motion in water

this past weekend in MN.

 So here we are, three images of movement, one showing the power of water;

the other two more gentle. The latter two were taken with my iPhone.

Joining in Donna's Photo Challenge today, 

where the challenge is "Motion." 

five days

 Five days away, up near the top of our country. 

Cooler temperatures. Different terrain. Delightful outings.

Best of all, time with old friends. We take up where we left off

as the years between fade quickly and we're back lining our

babies up for photos, going on picnics, working on a project together, 

all while learning how to be parents.

 As we remember, we gazed at the beauty 

of summer gardens at Como Park Conservatory.

Fading they were, in preparation for fall, while

the scent of "old fashioned" roses fills the air.

We walked, sat and talked, and walked some more.

misc.

Last summer in Germany my camera was drawn to one window after another.

This is maybe my most favorite of them all. I love the shade of green on the tattered shutters, 

the deep pink flowers interlaced with white stretching up to meet lace at the windows. 

Reflected you can see the tower on the rather humble church across the road. 

It would be lovely to be standing or sitting inside this window, looking out on a busy street. 

I think it would be a good place to have a cup of tea.

And this just arrived today, hot off the press. A friend

pre-ordered it for my birthday and I think we

will be reading it for our book club. It's a thick

book and looks good. I love the title.

It will be good to be back in Mitford.