FLAVORS OF FALL

When October rolls around...
Fall is officially here.

Juicy crisp apples start appearing
at road side stands and
Farmers Markets.

Scents of cinnamon and cider are in the air
everywhere.

Your mouth waters for that
first slice of pumpkin pie.

Oh, and the hardy soups that
warm the soul.

But my absolute favorite
is a dreamy slice of my sister's
carrot cake!

Happy Fall!

IT'S ALIVE...IT'S ALIVE!!!

Yes, he's real!

My sister and I just returned from
a wonderful, relaxing week in
Hilton Head SC.
The condo we stayed in came with a bonus...
two free bikes.

The grounds on the
Shipyard Plantation was rich in
biking trails.
I hadn't been on a bike in over twenty years
but thought it was time
to get reacquainted.

I rode every day and it was marvelous!
I never knew who or what I'd run into.

I literally ran into a tree one day...
how embarrassing!

We stayed at the Coral Reef which was located
on the Shipyard Plantation.
The Plantation is home to several resorts
and they boast of three golf courses.
Sue and I don't golf, but we enjoyed
all the green.

Friday afternoon on my ride
I stopped by this lake hoping to
capture a few pictures of the
abundant water fowl.

This bad boy is who I ran into.
At first sight, I said to myself "he's not real".

When he started moving
so did I!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIM!

Today would have been Jim Henson's
Seventy Fifth Birthday!
Happy Birthday Jim,
what a legacy you have left behind.

Sesame Street

The Muppet Show

Muppet Babies

Fraggle Rock

Labyrinth

Three movies

and my favorite
Yoda
who's your?

Happy Birthday
we will always remember you.

SEPTEMBER BLOOMS

We bought our Fall Mums last week
and got them in the ground.
When I planted them the blooms were
barely peeking out...
this week full force.

We prefer the sunny yellow ones,
they seem to go better with our decor
and are a bit hardier.

Here is one I put in the ground last year.
It's coming along nicely.

Purple Asters are out and about,

as are the yellow ones.
Both were planted as seeds a couple of years ago.

The guy at the local nursery said to dead head and
fertilize your Knockout Roses now and
they will bloom until
November.

I still have Lantana and my Monkey Grass is blooming.

Next door at my neighbors,
Hydrangea is still showing off.

Lastly, my Hardy Begonia is
pretty in pink.

Happy Gardening.

I will be linking with
Fishtail Cottage's
Cottage Flora Thursday
and
Flaunt Your Flowers!
Fertilizer Friday!

LEIGH ANNE & HER MAN

One of my good buddies and co-worker,
Leigh Anne
is marring her sweetheart,
Jess
next month.

The gang from work are all meeting at
Olive Garden tonight
for a little shower.

I purchased the couple some towels
they picked out at
BED BATH & BEYOND
but wanted to give Leigh Anne
a little something that
was more personal.

When I saw the colors of the towels,
my mind started working.
We had just received that
iconic blue catalogue
from Tiffany's.

I picked up a small bag of diamond rings,
went home and got to work.

Origami birds to the rescue!
Tore out some pages and started folding.

I love the little ring as the anchor.

I loved it so much...I made more.

I hope to sell them at our upcoming
Holiday Fiber Art Show.

Congratulations
Leigh Anne
and
Jess

Linking with Kim at
Southern Savvy Style
Wow Us Wednesday

FALL FIXINGS

When you can start to feel the coolness
in the air I always like to change things up
a bit. It is amazing what a few small
changes can do for a room.
I've replaced my white spread
with my darker
floral one...

...then got the bright idea to use
some of the burlap I have for a new
dust ruffle.
I didn't bother doing any sewing, just tucked
it in. I figured for the amount of time it will be up
this will work well enough.

Just added a small pot of yellow mums
for a touch of color.

Finally I wanted to replace a picture I had hanging
next to my desk area.
I've been creating some memory boards/inspiration boards
to sell at our Holiday Show & Sale.
I decided to snag one for myself.

I covered a wooden frame with cream canvas
and wrapped different types of twine
around it.

It looks great on the wall
and is neutral enough to change
with the seasons.

CASTER BEAN PLANT

My window boxes are soaking up all the much
needed rain...yes Tropical Storm Lee
has reached East Tennessee.

Looking out my window, this small spider catches my eye,
he brings to mind that old song, The Isty Bitsy Spider.
He's holding on for dear life.

I wanted to share with you one of my favorite plants
in my garden...the Caster Bean Plant.

I've gotten a small plant from a fellow gardener the past few years.
They tell me I'm not supposed to have it in my garden here
in Tennessee. The Caster Bean Plant is poisonous
and can be used to make Ricin.
I'm a rebel,
if I got rid of everything that is considered
poisonous I wouldn't have much of a garden.

I did a little research and there is not much chance it will
do any harm...and it does make a statement.

Happy Gardening

Linking with Fishtail Cottage's
Flora Thursday