unpack-it jacket

Someone is exactly halfway to their next birthday!

I made the usual:  half of Desserts For Two's chocolate chip cookie recipe pressed into (half) a pie pan.  I accidentally dumped a bunch of pie beads down the sink drain during the clean-up process and Todd had to take our garbage disposal apart to retrieve them...not exactly a "half birthday" activity but all in a day's work around here!

He also rebuilt part of our front porch!  

It's been great weather for working outside.  Blue skies every day.

Warm days, cold nights, and leaves are changing!

Although we're both in knee braces right now, we're still hiking.  It's too pretty to stay home!

Just in time for cooler weather, I unpacked this 1960s jacket that I bought years ago.  I love the color and the double-button fit at the neck.  It doesn't look like it's ever been worn...a major score!  The sleeves are a little bit short but it doesn't bother me too much.

Cats are still keeping close...

...loving the warmth of the sun.

Looking forward to what's next!

milkweed deed

 A few signs of the changing season...

...but not much yet.

Although our burning bush is becoming glorious...

...most things look about the same.  And we still have so many insects out and about!

goldenrod soldier beetles

eastern bumblebee

grasshopper

inchworm

oleander aphids

sachem

large milkweed bugs

We're especially seeing tons of these milkweed bugs.

They're eating the milkweed seeds that are just emerging from the opening pods.  They're going to start traveling south soon and need the energy.  The milkweed pods have plenty of seed to spare!

There are so many flowers still in bloom.

The days are still pretty warm.  Up to 87 this week...

still plenty of warm spots

...and down to 33 a few days after.  So while I can...windows open, fall baking...

maple pecan scones from Sally's Baking Addiction

...puppy romps...

...and looking forward to the coming color!

fall thrall

It's finally OCTOBER, my favorite month!

Halloween decorations are up (more scattered throughout the house).

Leaves are starting to turn...acorns too!

Fall-themed puzzles are in full force.

I probably have at least 30 flannel shirts and I'm wearing one almost every single day!

(Pepita approves.)

Gorgeous sunrises and sunsets.

My roses only look really great in October, for some reason.

Baking intensifies!  This week, German chocolate cupcakes for a birthday party.

I bake bread every week for my daily toast, and have for years.  The past six months my loaves have gotten worse and worse.  I tried replacing the yeast and still got this:

I replaced the whole wheat flour next, and it made a HUGE difference.  Now that's toast-worthy!

The cats are still sleeping the days away...

We had some temporary plastic tubs on the dining room table and the boys loved them so much, we had to make them permanent!  They prefer them even to their heated cat beds.  

Pepita too.

Warm days, cool evenings with our nightly horror movie, a cat in the lap and a dog snoring on the back edge of the couch...it's the best time of the year!

from our SC house...can't wait until the leaves turn here!  Another couple of weeks.