Rain!

We got some rain on Friday!  Just a small amount of rain in the morning hours, but it felt so good to see the water come down after all this time.  I hope it helped with the fires.

I've been cooking healthy meals lately.  It always seems more comforting to cook in the Fall.

Francesca helped Jess decorate for Fall this year.

Mia and Nel made an Autumn spice cake to nibble on while they set things up.  Mia is painting herself in flour.

My son went to a little cafe last week, and he said they had the best coffee there.  It's rated in the top 2% of coffees in the world.  He brought a bag home for me, and it was really good - had a smooth taste.

While driving to the creek, in the middle of nowhere, I saw this.

I thought this was a lovely Autumn scene in my rear view mirror.

I want to get a pumpkin for my front porch.  They are selling them already at the grocery store.  They are the big orange ones that make me smile.

Have a pleasant week.

~Sheri

Heating And Cooling Unit

I got a new heating and cooling unit for the house a couple weeks ago.  Many of the neighbors in the mountains don't have air conditioning because the Summers are usually mild and only get a couple weeks of warm weather, but this one was unusually hot, in the 100's.  So, I was so thankful to get a cooling unit in my house.  I heard we are supposed to get a lot of snow this Winter, so I will be toasty warm with the heater too.  My brother had it installed, and I appreciate it very much.  I had to be gone all day while it was being worked on, so I spent most of the time downtown.  I went to my church and had a nice chat with the Priest.  He gave me Communion, and that was so special and filled me with peace.  I had some fried chicken for lunch, and went over to Rite Aid to get a pistachio ice cream cone.  I had an hour left, so I went to the grocery store and then back home.  It was hot that day so was relieved to have cool air in my house.  Here are a few pictures I took around town while waiting for the workers to finish.

I have decorated for Fall already.  And it was fun this year cause I got to put everything in a new place here in the mountains.  Since the kitchen window is one of my favorite spots in the house, I put the glass pumpkin that my sister-in-law gave me on the window sill, and it was so pretty when the sun was shining through.

I love blues around Fall too.

I've had this collection for many years, and gave all of them away, but two.  I kept this one because I guess I liked the orange pumpkin.  ; )

Always put this book out cause it makes me smile.

My glittery pumpkin looks like it has wings sitting on the bird table.

Even my garden rose looks like Fall.

And one through the window.

     Washed all my Fall cups and they're ready for coffee.

Nel and Jess like to decorate for Fall too, and I'll show you some pictures next week.  My mom had a molcajete in her kitchen when I was growing up.  Jess wanted one also, so a few years ago I found one and bought it for her.  Isn't this a cute idea that she put the pumpkins in the molcajete?

Every Fall I put this picture out because we are all together at our favorite place in northern California, Apple Hill.  This was also taken in Autumn.

Fall is coming early here in the mountains, and the days are getting cooler.  I'm ready for soups and hot drinks, how 'bout you?

Wishing you sweet September days.

~Sheri

Leaves of Change

It's been a while since I've posted. All I can say is that I've barely been keeping afloat over the past year and a half. So much has changed. I'm trying to embrace it all as just part of life.

Fall is upon us. For me, that's always meant the start of a new school year. I took Mia to my old college campus today.

My mom sent her a birthday card in the mail with a little gift, and we used it for an early morning trip to our favorite bakery. 

We ate our croissants with our cups of coffee and milk. I told her about all the books I read while I was studying to become a professor.

I remember how nervous I felt the first time I stepped onto a college campus. I hope that she'll always feel at home. I also hope that she'll feel the same excitement of a new beginning that I still feel at the start of every fall. 

Thank you, Gammy, for your special birthday gift. We had a lovely day.

~Nel

Strange Days

Update on the fires.....there are several fires still burning in northern California.  One is about half hour from me.  Some have been contained, and some are still wildly burning.  I continue to pray.  And I thank all of those who prayed along with me.  So many strange things happening in the world right now.  And people seem to be acting strange as well.  Whenever it's starting to get to me, I have a chat with the girls and feel better.  And seeing the little ones makes it even better.

I made some cornbread, and it turned out good.  I haven't had it in such a long time.  I had it with a generous amount of butter.  ; )

Our precious Mia turned three.  Nel didn't have a big celebration for her, but she had some family over to sing and have cake.  She spent the day at the happiest place on earth, the Magic Kingdom.  It wasn't crowded, and she didn't have to wait more than 5 minutes for each ride.

My neighbor's roses are planted at the wrong house.  ; )

I bought my first Fall cup the other day, couldn't resist.

I found my Milagro (which means Miracle) - I thought it was lost when I moved, but it was in the back of my car hidden.  It's tarnished, and doesn't look the same, but is still pretty.   When I bought it, the lady told me that the Milagro was a blessed gift of the heart and that you can put notes or prayers inside.

Do these feel like strange days to you too?

~Sheri