Veni, Vidi, Vinca

Our leaves aren't really changing just yet, but acorns are constantly dropping and leaves are starting to come down.

We have some slight change in color...

...berries too...

...which seems odd, with the random juxtaposition of early-blooming camellias and azaleas.

I always assumed that it was a temperature drop that caused leaves to start changing in the fall, but we're still in the mid-80s and I'm starting to see glimpses of color.  Apparently the length of daylight can also be a trigger for the reduction of chlorophyll production in plants.

Our vinca, too, is still going strong.

We have thousands of them.  Hard to believe that they all came from 2 or 3 plants, just 3 years ago!  They're rampant re-seeders and I let them do their thing.

Our evergreens are still as vibrant as ever.

Still, it feels more like fall when I see our empty birdhouses.

Our randomly-blooming gardenias are definitely done for the summer.

The turkeys have returned, although I've only gotten a few late-dusk glimpses.

When this recent bout of 99% humidity breaks, we can go back to sitting by the pond again. 

So peaceful, and even the many fallen trees contribute a little color and texture to the scene.

Our "goz" are really active right now, mainly in the early evening.  It's easy to see evidence of their presence.

I'm not seeing many insects, although they're still pretty active.

Where there are flowers, there are bees, butterflies, and skippers.  They may be the last to go!

It seems like the insects are hiding away, and we are too.  Until this weather breaks, we'll continue to find our fun indoors.

Have a great week!

cookie dough and color woe

Twice in one week is kind of a cookie record for me, since I don't bake as much any more, but I couldn't resist these no-fail pumpkin snickerdoodles.

I replaced the white chocolate with cinnamon chips (of course) and they are officially my go-to snickerdoodle now (which might sound dramatic, but I have collected over 20 recipes for snickerdoodles alone, so being able to simplify my life here is very pleasing!).  I just ordered Sally's new cookbook and think that I'll be baking cookies again this week. 

I've been sewing quite a bit.  I've started on my Farm Girl Vintage Sampler quilt and have put together four squares so far.

I continue to struggle with color choices.  I was thinking, "Bright, bright!" with gritted teeth and put together the upper left block, which has a pop of red, but wouldn't exactly be considered colorful.  I'm more pleased with the stacked bowls and chick (embroidered legs forthcoming!), but I'm going to have to toss the block on the lower right.  The pink tulips look annoyingly like leopard print from a distance, the center pinwheel doesn't "pop," and the frame around it fades into the background.  I've remade two squares three times, which might sound insane overly careful, but I really want to push myself to work with color and make squares that go together, even though a wide variety of fabrics are being used.  I spent hours this weekend tidying/organizing some "bright!  bright!" scrap fabric into mix-and-match piles...

...and hopefully it will become intuitive by the end.  I have gotten pretty good at something I used to struggle with:  fixing mistakes.

Here, a piece of fabric was probably accidentally sliced, then frayed.

I'm a perfectionist, but there's no way I was going to pull out that green piece and try to re-sew it accurately, or toss the block altogether.  I cut a piece of matching fabric, folded it, and pinned it over the mistake.

I used clear thread and whip-stitched the edges.  It took about 5 minutes to do three sides.  Then I sewed this half of the block to another one, and the "fix" basically disappears.  All you see is matching fabric.  Once this is quilted, it will be even harder to see.  Hooray for quick and easy fixes!

Other than work and sewing like a maniac, I've been enjoying the cooler weather.  We've had a resurgence of gardenias:

More beautiful fungus:

Actually, I'm not sure what that bottom one is...an insect gall, maybe?

Pretty seed pods:

Berries...

...and more abandoned webs.

I've been growing cat grass in our sunny window.  This is FIVE DAYS OF GROWTH...from seed!

Bosewichte loves it.  He sits on the kitchen rug and waits politely for me to notice and bring the pot down to his level.  It's a nice treat for him and keeps him out of my house plants.  Tabitha isn't interested, though.  She's more interested in sleeping than eating!

Have a great week!

The Whole Kit(ten) and Caboodle of Fall

It's going to be 82 degrees today.  This makes me rather cranky, because in my mind, late October should mean cozy fires, flannel sheets, hot cocoa, and sweaters.  Well, I'm keeping the faith, because the forecast for Saturday shows a high of 59 and a low of 33!  So I'm going to enjoy this warmer weather while I can.

At least the garden is responding to our increasingly colder nights.  We're ju-u-u-ust starting our flower blooming season.  Our gardenia bushes are blooming again. 

Our camellias...not the big, droopy, peony-like ones, but the smaller, delicate ones...are blooming, too.

Hostas are shooting up flower stalks.

Our front japonica bushes are just starting to unfurl the round orbs that will eventually turn into big black berries.

And oh, the fall leaves!  I love living in the woods!

To borrow a phrase from Karen Carpenter:  "[They've] only just begu-u-u-u-u-un..."

The berries are all turning...

And the turkeys are back!

Our town just had their annual hot air balloon festival, too.  It's small, but we love watching the colorful patterns drifting over us.

The cats are loving the prolonged warm weather, too.  Whether hanging out on the back deck...

...chillaxing in the warmth of the sun room...

...or generally making themselves comfortable wherever...

...they know how to enjoy life!

I hope you have time to slow down a little this week, too.  Enjoy the extended fall!