Random Fall Thoughts

The last ones! 

Surprise!  Most of the tomatoes have turned red sitting in the sunny southern window.  My dear husband says they are flavorful, too.  Oh, I didn't mention that he is the only tomato lover in the house?  Well, he is. I labor over the tomatoes as an act of love towards him, really.  Plus, I enjoy the challenge. 

The leaves have all of a sudden changed colors and just as quickly, fallen to the ground.  I am going to miss them.  I wish fall was a longer season, spring, too.  It seems like fall and spring are shorter each year.  Perhaps because I enjoy them so much.

A fall display I saw over the weekend. 

The "men" folk worked hard on the leaves last evening after dinner.  You would not know it by looking at the yard this morning after some rain and wind passed through.  But, they are almost all on the ground now.  Last year, I remember we were dealing with leaves well into November.  We finally stopped when it snowed!  This year is quite different.  Most likely due to the drought.  I read we are still 8 inches under normal for the entire year. 

The mill where our corn was ground. 

We added 5 pounds of corn meal, freshly stone ground, to our "larder" for the winter.  I look forward to baking muffins and corncakes.  I hope it lasts awhile.  I have to be careful not to bake too often, as our self control gets tested when I do bake!  And I do love to bake this time of the year. 

Must get to the children's lessons for the day.  Have a wonderful Tuesday! 
Jenn

Wordless Wednesday: Garden Still Hangs On

Credit goes to my daughter who took most of these photos for me this morning...  

This and That, Fall Edition

Quaint shops to tempt us. 

Good Day to You, Gentle Reader,

How is your fall progressing?  Twice now, we've had to cover our delicate plants.  I realize it is just putting off the inevitable, but for right now, with the bright, sunny, warm-enough days, I am attempting to prolong the growing season. 

I heart old barns. 

Just today we enjoyed a red cabbage and some cherry tomatoes in our salad.  The tomato plants are in fact, so full of green tomatoes, that I am soon planning to pick them all and attempt to ripen them in a sunny window. 

Beautiful lake we found while on a stroll. 

Fall camping is another pleasure that we are hoping to extend, although, this past weekend's trip was canceled.  We are not rugged enough to sleep in our pop up camper in temperatures in the 30's without a heater!  We have one more trip planned for my birthday in eleven days.  I am eagerly watching the low temperatures.  We can go if they stay in the 40's. 

A house that I love. 

Speaking of eleven, we purchased eleven jars of apple butter from our favorite orchard this weekend.  Their apples were destroyed by frost this past spring. Thankfully, the apples they used to make the butter were from last year's harvest.  We bought their last jars.  If I had known, I would have gone earlier.  Next year, they will have a call list, the nice lady informed us.  We'll need to get on that list! 



*Pictures are from some day trips taken this past weekend. 

Quote from John Wesley

Of late,we have had the pleasure to read a lovely little book entitled, A Heart Strangely Warmed, by Louise A. Vernon.  In this book, a young boy encounters John Wesley and is quite impressed by the man's preaching, although, it takes awhile for the boy to understand all that is meant by conversion. 

I found a quote from John Wesley in the book that I want to ponder... 

"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can." 

That about sums things up, I'd say!  

An Autumn Walk Around a Favorite Pond

I love how this pond changes with the seasons.  I love how it is only two miles from my home.  And, I love fall!!! 

Keep It Simple

Tomorrow, I host dinner for eleven of my friends, something I do just once a year for this particular group, although, one of them has me to dinner each month. I purposely stay in this group as a way to make myself more social.  Oh, I do love each and every one in this dear group, don't get me wrong, it's just that my natural bent would be to stay home, focused on my own world.  I'd be quite content, in fact!  And perhaps, I will one of these days, but right now, I am trying to stretch myself in the area of hospitality.  I've always had to make myself be social, now that I think of it! 

So, how do I keep things simple so that I do not become an anxiety ridden mess, driving my family crazy in the process?  First of all, I am keeping my menu simple. 

Chili with assorted toppings

Raw vegetable tray

Cornbread with butter and honey

Blueberry Peach Crisp with vanilla ice cream

Lemonade or decaf iced tea

Other hostesses are much more elaborate, others have had food brought in.  I finally realized that it didn't matter so much what we were eating, it was the friendly atmosphere that we all craved.  

I am also not stressing about the state of my home. Quite a few of the others in my group have large, professionally decorated homes.  My home is quite lived in as we are here learning together most every day. 

We're a diverse group.  Only one other home educates her children.  Most of the ladies work outside of the home, at least part time.  We all have our own struggles.  Yet, we all love one another and accept one another's limitations.  No one is going to care about the weeds in my flower bed along the side walk, or care that the walls of my home are still a bland white that now really need painting!  

I've been a part of this group for more than five years.  We've been through a lot together.  They are worth the effort I will make tomorrow.  And next month when I go to one of their homes, it will be all the sweeter!  

Last Weekend of Summer

Technically speaking, this coming weekend is the last weekend of summer, although, it should feel more like the first weekend of fall, if the forecast holds true.  How I have longed for cooler weather!  And now it is here!

All this cooler air makes me in the mood to bake once again, too.  I want pumpkin muffins, pie, and lattes!  I am more than ever thankful for my new oven.  I will roast a whole chicken today, something I dared not do in the summer heat wave. 

Fall temperatures also makes me want to wear my favorite sweater, and to enjoy wearing socks!  I can't wait to build a fire in the fireplace and sip decaf coffee in front of its warmth.  It should not be a long wait now! 

I love fall, if you could not tell.  It's my favorite season.  There is just so much you can do in the outdoors when the weather is more enjoyable.