The Little Red Hen

The Blink of an Eye

I didn't realize how much I was enjoying this fall until I was looking at my photos from the month. I have over 1000 photos saved in my October 2009 file. And yes, I have deleted hundreds that weren't that good. For example, I have twenty nine photos taken at this corner across the street from P's school. All taken the morning of the Halloween party. Twenty nine, that I KEPT, from one corner, on one morning.  I am really trying to savor the season.

 

Like raising children, it's all over too fast.

 

You can't stop it from happening.

 

Time marches on.

 

You just have to try to soak it all in, and watch from all angles.

In the end it all becomes a memory.

More Fall Color

We've been out enjoying the fall colors as much as possible. They disappear so quickly!

 

Japanese Maple

Viburnum berries 

Forsythia

Red Oak 

The right light makes them even prettier.

  

This Japanese Maple stopped me in my tracks on the way to the preschool Halloween party today. It is right next to the school. Isn't it beautiful?

Fall Fluff

Taking our cue from mother nature, it is time to prepare for colder weather. I am feeling the urge to get out the wool and start knitting mittens, hats, scarves, and more socks.

Goldenrod

 

 

Indian grass

 

Little blue stem

 

 

Milkweed

 

Switch grass

Enjoying Fall - or How I Spent My Time at the Cross Country Meet

Be warned that this post contains several thrills.

The weather on Saturday was predicted to be cold and cloudy. I was pleased to see the sun and clear skies on our way to the cross country meet. I dressed for the cold because it was in the 30s! I stopped in town to take a picture of this tree that catches my eye every time I drive by. 

 

There were lots of pretty trees and leaves at the park where the meet was held.

 

This yellow tree was right next to the finish line.

 

 

Even the ground was beautiful.

 

Oh, and did I mention I was there for a meet?

A Brighter Day

 

Today was a brighter day. The sun came out and P and I rushed out for a walk around the fields. That was just what we needed. We came in refreshed and started in on our projects.  She is still working on coloring and cut outs.

I, however, started something new.

I am using every last bit of that animal print, some scraps, and some non scrap (gasp) fabrics. It feels good to have the scrap bin under control so that I feel like I can use larger pieces of fabric. The whole little quilt is planned around the animal print. I  measured the fabric (1/2 yard) and then figured that I could cut 3 six inch strips. I cut the strips into squares getting 18 squares and three left over bits. I cut one of the left over bits in half and sewed the halves to the other two left over bits. Now I have 20 six inch squares and no leftover animal fabric. The quilt will now have twenty blocks with animal print centers.

I bet you are on the edge of your seat waiting to see how it will look! I know I am.

Out of Focus

Some days this is how I feel in the fall - blurry and out of focus - only able to concentrate on one small thing at a time.

I have a lot of things I want to do and projects to work on. But when the darker days of fall arrive it is hard to keep the momentum.  I move slower. When the cloudy overcast days start to pile up I just want to snuggle under a quilt on the couch and read a book while sipping cocoa or tea. 

I keep plugging along at a slower pace. One stitch at a time, making progress while I adjust to the shorter days. 

Thoughtful Sunday

"The fact that she had a nut for a head did make new ideas difficult for her mind to grasp."

Miss Hickory, Carolyn Sherwin Bailey, 1946.

Happy Bench Monday

We are enjoying a beautiful "summer is almost over" day!  Happy Bench Monday!

Bench Monday Flickr Pool

My New Toy

Some of you may have noticed that I have been having fun with my new toy. I purchased a fancy pants big girl camera just before leaving for the gulf coast!

I took tons of photos on our trip and am still learning about the camera and lens settings. I got some fantastic indoor photographs of family members while on vacation. I had not been able to do that with my old point and shoot. 

These two pictures are of the same flower from the same camera location but using different camera settings to change the depth of field.

D read the entire manual while in the car and is my "go to" man when I have a technical question. Teenagers are great for that. I read the manual but I can't remember much of it!

Mini Vacation

The weather was just wonderful today! Sunny, not too hot, and the wind seems to have blown the mosquitoes away!  It was a great day for a mini vacation - in the back yard!

Of course, Miss Petunia came prepared with all the essentials for a fun time under the plum tree.

I brought a book to read too!

Take out dinner, books, markers, paper, crayons, a magic wand, and a pink umbrella - just in case - THIS is summer relaxation!

What have you done for a mini vacation this summer?