Autumn In Full Swing and Winter Nipping At Our Heels

Purchased these beauties from the farmer down the road.  The big one is a howden pumpkin   and the little one is a sugar baby destined for my favorite, pumpkin pie.

I bake my pumpkin, I find it the easiest way to cook pumpkin.  Just wash pumpkin, cut in a few pieces, add a bit of water in the bottom of a pan and bake at 375 for about an hour.  After it is easy to remove the skin and mash.

I am loving my little house, the move was not without a few glitches but I feel at peace here. I am further from work but most of the extra drive is in the country so the view is amazing. All the trees dressed in their best autumn colors, and after years of dreaming of planting fall bulbs I can finally plant some! I ordered the bulbs from Veseys an east coast seed company that carries the best seeds, plants and bulbs.

I chose a collection of scented tulips for the front yard beside the driveway so that when I step out of the car I can hopefully smell them.  I also ordered a gorgeous fuschia pink tulip called Barcelona, a collection of daffodils that promises 100 days of blooms!  Oh and more tulips and dutch irises,  all in all almost 200 bulbs!

When I said winter was nipping at our heels this is what Poupoune and I saw this morning when we went to go out the back door.  

The lilac bushes are covered with snow!  The snow will not last, it should all be melted by late afternoon but it will soon be here to stay.  I have found all my winter gear but the knits need a wash to freshen them up, I will do that today.



Wishes do come true!

When I lost my house due to a bad divorce and had to move to the city to live in an apartment I had to give up my dog Rose.  For the time being she moved in with my aunt and uncle on their farm but as soon as I had my own house again Rose would come back to live with me.  My aunt and uncle took good care of Rose and loved her dearly.  I would visit Rose often and she never forgot me.  Unfortunately being able to afford a house by myself has taken me 12 years and Rose passed away 2 years ago.  I felt so very sad.  The day after I moved into my house my sister made me the most wonderful gift of her 8 year old Boston Terrier named Poupoune.  Not overly fond of the name but can't change it!  Poupoune has settled in quickly.  She suits me to a tee, she enjoys a vigorous walk but over all is not active dog.  She even seems to enjoy settling down on the couch with me and a snack while we watch Mystery on TV.

This is a view of the west side of my little cottage and my red car Poppy.  The huge maple tree has already lost all his golden leaves and I did not get a pic!

Gorgeous wine colored fall mums I picked up at the local grocery store.

This is my statue of St Francis who now sits on a real lawn instead of a tiny balcony.  Moving has been a lot of exhausting work.  I am still not all unpacked and still painting.  Hopefully the kitchen will be finished for Sunday as Poupoune and I are having guests over for Thanksgiving dinner.

Talking To Spiders

I drove up to Lilac cottage today planning to work but it is sooo hot, like 40C.  The temperature inside the house was tolerable, I opened the windows to let the air in, the house has been closed up for over a year.  I really didn't have a lot of time had to come to work early today, all week actually, blah.....  So I thought I would have a little talk with the current residents, the lovely, delicate, long legged spiders that have been squatting in Lilac Cottage.  I sternly informed them that I have bought the house and if they did not want to be squished or vacuumed up they better vamoose within the next couple of days.  I really don't want to squish them or vacuum them, maybe I'll collect them and carry them across the road and let them go in the forest.

I read in some Feng Shui book or article that one should have something like a windsock hanging in the front yard to bring good fortune to the home.  So the other day I went to the dollar store and for $1.25 I bought myself a windsock.  I hung it in the cedar tree and think it looks quite nice, hopefully the good fortune will show up soon.

Lilac Cottage

After living in a Coop for 10 years, I have finally managed to buy a house!  It's a tiny house that I have named Lilac Cottage because on both sides of the property from front to back are lilac bushes.  I take possession next Tuesday.  I just can't wait, the tulip bulbs have already been ordered for fall!  The house needs a bit of work but I'm sure with some TLC the place will be just heaven.  No more noisy upstairs neighbor making a racket at 4:30 in the morning, no more counsel meetings that drag on forever and parking for friends who stay over in the winter.