Autumn Bliss

As I was visiting about blogland I chanced upon this lovely blog and was inspired to create my own list of 20 things I love about autumn...
1. lazy, languid mornings
2. crystal blue skies
3. fresh, crisp air
4. childhood memories of family picnics on the parkway


5. warm, vibrant colors and textures


6. Reading favorite books curled up in cosy wingbacks, bundled up in fleecy throws sipping Earl Grey
7. Crackling fires and hot mulled cider
8. Long Sunday drives into the mountains



9. Honey and I curled up on the sofa watching a chic flick sharing bowls of buttery popcorn
10. Picking out the perfect pumpkin for that perfect pie!


11. Early evenings and late mornings... wonderful now that Im retired
12. Time for routine events to start up once more, like choir.... symphony concerts.....
13. Again,,, the colors



14. A change in mood, and music, and spirit.... as things just naturally become more pensive and introspective... which feeds the melancholy side of my temperament
15. Baked apples stuffed with brown sugar/cranberries
16. Spending some time browsing old magazines planning holiday festivities

17. Pulling out the sweaters and the jackets... I love fall clothing best
18. Late afternoon light how it bathes areas in it blazing fire yet the shadows in other areas gather in close


19. Dreary, cold rainy days... I love them!


20. No more grass to cut, hence, more time with my sweetie!!
Aw,,, shucks,, I forgot about the leaves!

Autumn Moods

The autumn rains usher in the seasonal temperature decline and the prospect of ever increasing color outside... a welcome relief for the dry, crispy browns of late summer. Yet inside the tones on these rainy days offer varying degrees of autumnal energy... I offered the health tip this week in our Body Builders class and my research demonstrated that autumn is time of grieving..... I suppose as the year begins its downward decline toward winter's dormacy, as living things go into deep repose... so as I walk around my home I feel this same sense of grief in the light from room to room.

Almost like a still-life, this vignette by the stairs lies in the deep shadows of the retreating sun, offering up its melancholy cry which pierces my soul...yet soothes my fevered spirit that has long, last come to this place of seasonal rest and introspection. My autumn health research offered a few ideas to feed into this "autumnal grieving process" :

• to listen to old music and reconnect with those days of yore
• spend some time enjoying old photo albums, or organize those old photos,,, particularly label the people for posterity
• go and visit a person you havent seen in some time and reconnect over a cup of tea

Absolutely, dont linger in the past or dwell on things that you wish had been different, but definitely, develop a plan to improve things in your life now... to make it happier for others..... and along the way your life will be blessed...

and if the dark days of autumn really begin to get to you,,, then turn on some light for goodness sakes!

This Old Tree

Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky,We fell them down and turn them into paper,That we may record our emptiness.~Kahlil Gibran

What a melancholy sentiment this,

I scarce can take it in-

to fell a thing of such beauty

for such a task seems amiss.

This tree stands by the bedroom-

Its shade it always shares,

But, oh, it offers so much more than that...

on windy nights when the air is brisk and the

moon is low in the sky

the branches of this lonely tree whispers

its song of life to us ....its lullaby!

I love this old tree!

Wow, These look Good Enough to Eat!

This is definitely a keeper and may be Lynn's birthday dessert!!
Brownie Bits

WOW!!!!!!Makes about 9 dozen

Vegetable-oil cooking spray
6 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
2 3/4 cups sugar
3 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
Pinch of salt
2 cups orange nonpareils
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat the bottom of a 9-inch square baking pan or dish with cooking spray. Line bottom with parchment paper, and set aside.
Melt chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth.
Put 2 cups sugar and eggs in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium-low speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add chocolate mixture. Beat on low speed until combined. Beat in vanilla, then flour and salt.
Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake until a cake tester inserted into center comes out mostly clean, 30 to 35 minutes (do not over-bake). Let cool in pan on a wire rack until cool enough to unmold, 20 to 25 minutes. Turn out onto a sheet of parchment paper, inverting the pan so brownies cool top side down. Peel off parchment paper; let cool completely.
Heat 3/4 cup water and remaining 3/4 cup sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Set aside.
Trim off hard edges of brownie square. Scoop out 1 tablespoon brownie, and roll into a ball with your hands, pushing crunchy surface pieces into center. Transfer to a clean work surface. Repeat to make more brownie bits. Generously brush brownie bits with sugar syrup. Roll in nonpareils to coat well. Brownie bits can be made up to 3 days ahead and refrigerated, tightly covered.

Martha Stewart Cookie of the Day

Day 24<DailyCookie@e.marthastewart.com>

Tis the season for pumpkins and the delectable pumpkin pie! My new banner was actually the pumpkin patch Amanda went to over the weekend and she shared the photos with me from her facebook! I just got back from Jamison's farm and orchard.
I could have spent a fortune in there today. They have such wonderful fruits, veggies, and assorted goodies!

I bought Lynn one of his early birthday presents. His own jar of fresh apple butter! I also bought one of their dried soup mixes, cheddar, potato with bacon! Yum! I started to get a bag of chopped black walnuts- about $5.25 for a cup of nuts. They make me think of the fabulous apple cake my grandma used to make! Alas, no one can make it quite like she could!!!
Pumpkin Pie


INGREDIENTS
1 (9 inch) unbaked deep dish pie crust
3/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 eggs
1 (15 ounce) can LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated Milk

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 425 F.
Combine sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves in small bowl. Beat eggs lightly in large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually stir in evaporated milk. Pour into pie shell.
Bake for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350 F.; bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. Serve immediately or refrigerate.

Rejuvenation and Renewal

It is such a huge blessing to me to finally witness this transformation to our environs. During the summer we suffered such devastating drought and death of ground cover, tress and planting I blogged repeatedly about our decimated lawn and landscape. Now with the respite and cooling rains, and our endeavors to replant and replenish things are looking up, Greening Up!! You will notice our new maples and my favorite, my gorgeous hawthorn planted right outside my studio window! Lynn spread new grass seed this week, so look out for next year! My heart is singing!

Thanks to my sweet friend, Martha, from A Day in the Life, for inspiring me to attempt a slideshow. Enjoy her beautiful autumn show today! It is awesome!

As shasta daisies give over to haws

And geraniums to pyracanthas,

the last of summer glories begin to fade

and the promise of autumn's jeweltones

begin to dominate the landscape!

Whether here in rural Virginia or in Scotland fair

Autumn's allure sings to the heart!

Tablescape for 65

I am so blessed to have had my parents for these 58 years and they are celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary this week! I am extremely thankful that they are doing so well. This morning dad drove them to church for their weekly Bible study class- they deeply feel that their ministry in life is to encourage others to come to class by their presence there each week. They wish to be ambassadors for Christ. Praise the Lord! This morning I was inspired by my reading in daybooks to be a little creative so I have been planning my tablescape for their anniversary dinner. Of course, I want to use the beautiful placemats Amanda gave me for Christmas last year. I'm not exactly sure about these napkins, but they do accent the centerpiece, although I do plan to have roses for the table on the real day. So we'll have to see. I so enjoyed Heidi's tablescapes last month. So many folks joined in to share their fallscapes, but I just didnt have anything going on. There were some gorgeous ideas demonstrated there.

Last Hurrah of Summer in October

My shasta daisies finally decided to bloom on this glorious autumn day, a last vistage of the lazy days of summer- trying to hang on for all they're worth. It is supposed to be in the low forties tonight!

Autumn Craft Idea

Now this is really cute. I love this craft idea using autumn leaves! This was today's craft idea from Martha Stewart seen here!

20 Little Things To Treasure in Autumn

Melissa, of The Inspired Room has challenged us to create this wonderful listing of how autumn tantalizes our senses in authentic ways. I love the way melissa says it, "Autumn gives us every opportunity to live an authentic life. Yet how easy it is to miss the little things in the pursuit of a “perfect” life! An authentic life is made up of recognizing beautiful moments in an imperfect world. We must discipline ourselves to linger even for a moment on those things so they will become emblazoned in our memory like a snapshot in a tattered scrapbook. "
"Everyone is invited to take part in this, anywhere in the world!
So, take a few moments to dream up your cozy Fall inspiration. Then make your list of 20 Little Things to share with in the 20 Little Things to Treasure in Autumn post Mr. Linky or at the Blissfully Domestic forum post here.
1. The azure blue of an autumn sky

2. The hint of woodsmoke in the crispy air
3. The farewell song of the cicada
4. The morning chill that begs me to break out my jacket
5. Sleepy mornings as the predawn sun is slow to crest the horizon
6. Candlelit windows and tablescapes

7. Russets, golds, and browns gradually taking hold of the landscape
8. Early evenings and longer nights to spend around a cosy setting
9. Mountain rides reveling in the the Creator's artistry
10. Traipsing through crunchy leaves
11. Savory, spicy aromas wafting from the kitchen
12. Pumpkin pies with whipped cream on top
13. Hot mulled cider with cinnamon in large mugs

14. Memories of family picnics at Peaks of Otter
15. Hayrides, campfires, and roasting marshmallows

16. Hiking and 'stepping stones' up the Maury River on lazy Sunday afternoons

17. Caramel apples and popcorn balls
18. Corduroy, flannel, cable knit, and Lindsay tartan

19. Turning off the ac, opening up the windows, and airing out the house
20. Snuggling under downy covers

I changed My Header Today

I dont know it you are aware that you can take pictures using the webcam on my sidebar. I love to check in there to see what's up at my favorite Scottish icon, Eilean Donan. I love to capture twilight on the castle which is the photo I just took today. The previous shot was taken earlier in the day during very foggy conditions.
I also love to capture stormy conditions which are usual occurences. You can turn the camera to take other shots of the nearby village and another favorite shot toward the mountains of the Isle of Skye!