Autumn's Simple Pleasures

 Good Morning!

Autumn is in full swing here, and it's getting colder with each day.  It was 35 degrees when I got in my car one morning, and I've had my heater going for the last couple weeks.  Fall is all around me, inside the house, and outside.  Look at the color on these trees!

There were 7 Doves on my lawn one morning, and I love when they visit.

I've been baking a lot lately.  I made some oatmeal cookies from scratch.  They turned out really good.  I had some pecans in the cupboard, so I sprinkled some in there.

Nel went to Mia's classroom to do a "surprise secret reader."

When I gave away some things to the girls this year, I thought I could part with some of their books, but it's the one thing that I can't seem to let go.  I spent a great deal of time reading to my kids when they were little, so it's hard to say good-bye to those storybooks.  One day I will give every book to whoever wants it, but for now, they will stay with me.

I have been having pumpkin spice coffee lately.  Have you tried it yet?

My son made an English breakfast one morning,

and a kielbasa sausage stew for dinner.  I always say it's his best stew yet, and it truly is!  It was spicy, but I could handle it, and filled with lots of good veggies and sausage and tender beef.

Jess calls this fellow "ghostie."  This picture made me laugh with the ghost screen in the distance.

Some silliness at soccer.

And some silliness at home.

Yes, I've been watching Christmas movies already.  This one was a cute film.  I liked all the actors in it; it was lighthearted, and got me thinking about the Christmas season ahead.

Went into the restaurant on Saturday morning to see if they had any Mexican pastries.  They sell them on the weekends, and by the end of the weekend they are all sold out.  Mireya checked in back to see if they were ready (so strange cause I had a Mireya in my hometown also).  She told me that the owner bakes them, which I didn't know.  They just came out fresh from the oven, and there were racks and racks of warm pastries, so I brought two home with me.  They always treat me well there.

 I had a long visit with my neighbors over the weekend.  They were both outside, one taking his daily walk, and another who just lost her husband recently, and I try to check up on her when I can.  They both mentioned that it was going to be a cold winter.  I gave V. a painting of mine that I was going to give away.  It was very nice, but I don't really have too much pink in my home.  She loved it.  We had a nice visit, and we do look out for each other here in the neighborhood, and that pleases me.  I have been slowly getting ready for the winter season that will come quicker than you know.  There is a lot of preparation in the mountains when you live in an area that gets 20 degrees and lower in the winter months.

"Of all the seasons, Autumn offers the most to man and requires the least of him."

~Hal Borland

Have a lovely October week.

Dazzling Dana

 My friend, Dana's, special day is this week. 🎂

I have been friends with Dana for 50 years.  We knew each other in junior high, but became close friends in high school.  We shared all the school events, studies, football games, boy crushes, and secrets all throughout our high school years.

 

Then, when we had children, she always came to my kids' birthdays and shared their happy moments,

 along with attending other family celebrations that we had.

Her laugh is so contagious, and her smile sparkles.  Whenever she starts to laugh about one thing or another, it always gets me laughing too.

I appreciate very much that I have a friend who is Catholic.  When people have asked me about our beliefs, traditions, Sacraments, and why,? I tried to answer them the best that I could.  I never had to explain to her - she always knew "why."

She used to make Christmas cookies every year and deliver them to our house right before Christmas.  She made sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies, rice krispie treats, and more.  They were so incredibly good that they never lasted long in our big family.  They were gone within a couple days.  She used to put them on a cute plate, 🎅 wrap them in pretty cellophane, and tie an ornament on for a special touch.   I still have those ornaments.  

As we age in this life, I have come to appreciate the lovely woman she has become; a smart, caring, loving person, and a faithful friend to me all these years.

Happy Birthday to you, my beautiful friend.  This is a BIG one....enjoy! 🎂

Fall Fog

I had to go to DMV a couple weeks ago to take care of car stuff, and there is a DMV down the mountain, but also one up the mountain that is closer, so I decided to go to that one.  It was a nice chilly morning, and while driving up the highway, I saw fog in the distance surrounding the mountains ahead of me.  I thought to myself, "oh no, I hope I don't get trapped in that fog."  Sure enough, I was right in the thick of it all, and at one point, I could barely see in front of me.  Now, I've always loved foggy mornings, but driving up a twisty mountain road engulfed in it is something else.  Well, I made it to town, whispering prayers the whole way, and took care of my business at the DMV.  It took some time, as they needed not only one document, but five, but M. was so helpful, and carried me through the process.  When I got in my car, I was so relieved, so I drove over to this little coffee shop that I go to sometime and ordered a pumpkin spice latte and a bagel with cream cheese.  Then, I headed over to the lake to find peace and calm, to just sit and enjoy my coffee.

This lavender was in a store parking lot, and it was growing so wildly and pretty.

I went over to the nursery to see if there were any flowers still blooming, and they have a quaint store at the nursery that I always visit as well.  There was a couple red roses there just waiting for me.

Loved this little barn birdhouse.

The purple pansies were flawless.

I found another little coffee shop that I will visit next time.  This one is so charming with an outdoor area and picnic tables.

I wanted to visit the museum, but it wasn't open for another hour or so, and I didn't want to wait, but I did see the little schoolhouse.  This schoolhouse was originally built in 1884 in a nearby town, and it was moved to its location at the museum when it was 100 years old.  It is one of the historic exhibits there now.

Foggy days have always brought a sense of calm to me, and I feel a very strong connection with nature when fog is present, but driving up a twisty mountain highway with fog in the midst can feel mysterious and a little eerie.

Here are a few October pics this week.  There is a tree in my neighborhood that has turned color, and it almost looks like a painting, it's that pretty.  I made some pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting.  The deer have been hanging out in my yard; I am wondering if they are drawn to the orange pumpkins on my porch.  Nel made an apple pie, and oh, her apple pies always look incredible.

I have been watching Lea at Little House on the Mountain.  There is so much hype in the world today, and she slows things down a bit.  She talks about ways to make a house cozy and comfortable, homemade teas and soups, her dogs and chickens, creative decorating ideas, and so much more.  She has a calming voice, and I have enjoyed watching her autumn and winter videos.  Lovely woman.  This is a quote she shared on one of her videos that I loved.

"I believe that a Godly home is a foretaste of heaven.  Our homes, imperfect as they are, must be a haven from the chaos outside.  They should be a reflection of our eternal home, where troubled souls find peace, weary hearts find rest, hungry bodies find refreshment, lonely pilgrims find communion, and wounded spirits find compassion."

~Jani Ortlund

I got a landscaper out here to do some sprucing up before the winter months arrive.  He raked and mowed and weedeated and gathered and hauled away.  He does an excellent job every time; thank you, T.

I went to K's Boutique and looked around this weekend for some warm winter clothes.  Talked with K. for a long time, and I found a flannel in autumn colors.  Some of her things are pricey, but everything I've ever bought there has been good quality, and I still have.

We've had a few foggy days, and it rained all last week!  It always makes my heart glad when I hear the rain come down on my roof.  Have a splendid October week.