pass the mustards

 We're deep into late fall here and I love the saturated colors.

(one of many deer that we're seeing in the fields in the early evening!)

Some recent rain has helped move the season along, but we still have those deep mustards and muted rusts that make the landscape so interesting in October.  Sigh...the colors and dark brown patches where the leaves have fallen are so dreamy and atmospheric!

Such a wonderful time of year, air so delightful and crisp that we're still sleeping with our windows open...holding morning "staff meetings" on the front porch...

(Todd seen here with our director of "cat"-alogue sales)

Strawflowers are still bright in the garden...

...and unbelievably, my climbing roses are putting out a final flush of blooms.

It's still warm enough to go hiking with friends...

...and find insects burrowing in spent blooms...

...but cool enough to justify lazy hours on the couch, curled up in a quilt with a good book and a homemade English muffin dripping with salted butter.

Recipe found on the King Arthur Flour site and I highly recommend it!

Overcast rainy days or bright skies overhead...

...it's the best time of the year for us!  We've had a long, delightful fall and are appreciating every second of it.

Have a great week! 

the gloved one

This is such a beautiful and unpredictable time of year.  Just a week ago, I was still bringing in plenty of flowers from the garden.

A new favorite is this Cardinal basil.  The leaf tips look like flowers and it's the perfect "spooky" color for the end of October!

This was my only bouquet, though.  Soon our nighttime frosts started...down to 28 degrees several nights!  Hello frost...goodbye flowers.

The frost looks gorgeous with the fall color, though...

It melts off quickly, and the days are so lovely with this saturated fall color.

(I can't believe how green the grass still is!)

I've put away my Halloween things...

...and am focusing on more cozy late-fall activities.

Sweater...done!

Milet gloves finished...and a perfect fit!

Hiking with friends!

A certain someone is starting to feel her age.

She had multiple teeth pulled last month, and now she's showing signs of hearing impairment and mental confusion.  She barks wildly at nothing, is either pacing frantically or drooping into a nap, and is showing a lot more fear response.  Last night, she sat by Todd and stared fixedly at him for hours...not typical behavior at all!

Lives have changing seasons, too, and we're keeping a close eye on Borga as she navigates through this one.  Borga and her dad are great pals and we want to make her comfortable in her old age.

Have a great week!