Nothing to Fear

Today I read this entry on a blog by Michael Umphrey related to gardening. As I wrap up another year of gardening, pleased with the work accomplished but ever aware of all the other things I wished I had been able to do, his words struck home with me:

"It’s sad not to live in a garden, even a garden as unfinished and in need of care as mine. Having a garden is, to me, mostly a way of paying attention to the grace that dazzles and reassures, a way of aligning one’s small efforts with something so vast and good that we slowly learn we really do have nothing to fear."

Imagine My Surprise

Last week we were unpacking some things that had been in storage when I came across this little doll ornament of sorts that I made when I was about 10 (btw - that was a few decades ago). I had made numbers of them for friends and family, turning them into key chain baubles, and other decorations to use or display in various ways.

I picked up and held this colorful and humble little guy, took a few pictures and set him aside, thinking it would be fun to make more, adult versions, with nicer beads and such for the holidays. Imagine my surprise when I looked at my new Anthropologie catalog the other day, and then again today when I glanced through the new December 07 Martha Stewart Living magazine and saw my imagined, dressed up versions before my very eyes! I felt like I had experienced a premonition or maybe it was deja vu.






Well, they may have beat me to market, but I think will get out the wire and beads and make some up anyway. Meanwhile, I have hung my decades old, brightly colored little beaded guy up in my study, right above my desk. I think he needs a name.....

Thanksgiving Day

It was cold and foggy here but we were warm inside with oodles of food, family and the warmth of the fireplace. Early in the AM Baird drove to the Berkshires and picked up my mom so she could be with us and stay overnight too. My 18 month old grand-nephew paid his first visit to our home and was quite taken with our cats, dog and the turtles. As you can see here, Surely (my Maine Coon cat) was quite taken with him as well. Imagine, a person...who is more her own size! She would sneak right up to him and sniff his hair or ear. And, oh, how I wish I had a video of him when he saw the turtles for the first time! He was so excited.



I had just a little bit of time to do some decorating, making votive candle place markers, decorating my chandelier with vines and birds and arranging flowers for the table. Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

End of the Gardening Season

In between everything else in life these days, I've been putting the garden to bed for the winter.

The last of the spicy scented yellow/orange roses found it's way into the house, right next to the water color Jess painted for me, oh, maybe 10 years ago. To me it looks as if she painted the image directly from this rose. I wish I still owned the vase in the painting. It would have been even more perfect, but displayed outside once, the wind blew it over once and left it in pieces.







Meanwhile, I've been enjoying watching the maple tree right outside our living room bay window turn form green to yellow and now to more of an orange. This is one of the three windows that look right out into the branches of the tree. The shiny eyes belong to Sealia, one of our 4 cats. The all find it a great thrill to watch the squirrels chase each other through the tree.

J & B House Update

Cold weather is here...and J & B's dormer windows are in! It is going to be beautiful second floor space with great views.