Today is the first day of Autumn and it feels like it here! The temperatures dipped into the 50's overnight and for the first time in a while, I put long pants on for our walk. I simply adore the change of seasons. Changing from summer to autumn is always welcome after a hot humid summer.
Last night we took a drive a couple miles from our home to see the changes that are occurring all around us.
I've watched this barn change over the 47 years we have lived in this area. As you can see it is quite overgrown and will eventually fall into the landscape. The farmer has just cut the corn in the fields so I could see the barn is still upright.
Just above the hill to the right is another barn that appears to be in good condition. There used to be many farms in my county. I sure hope that open spaces will still be here for future generations.
It's time for me to add a few Autumn touches to our home. I brought out the dough bowl and filled it with dried citrus that I bought last year in Williamsburg.
I added a few of the last zinnias to a Beatrix Potter mug in the kitchen window sill. I'll add a few more things as the season progresses. Autumn comes slowly, so I'll add touches as time permits.
My daughter posted this on her blog yesterday.
RUN, RUN, AS FAST AS YOU CAN
SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 NOEL
I was pondering on some things at the end of a long workday yesterday (as I am wont to do) and I saw some pictures of some Halloween themed gingerbread men.
It brought my mind back to a story my parents told me about when they were dating. Mom was a teenager when she was dating my father. She was experimenting with cooking (something she still does well into her sixties, I might add) and was making a gingerbread man for my father.
As she was taking it out of the pan, it broke.
Oh no. Disaster right? She’s trying to make something nice for her boyfriend and it broke.
Now my mother is totally a perfectionist. She doesn’t let that get in the way, though. Instead of trying to bake another, more perfect, gingerbread man, she iced the leg, and attached a note to it when she gave it to my father, saying that he broke his leg trying to jump out of the pan and run away.
That was an important lesson to me later on in life. Sure, sure, doing your best is important. But, an important part of being a person is to make good use of mistakes. I doubt I’d have ever heard of any gingerbread man my mother baked for my father as a teenager if it had turned out perfectly. It was the fact that she took a mistake and made it into an interesting story made it memorable fifty years later.
Do you have the creativity to turn a mistake into something awesome? If you do, what did you do?
I have to say this post of my daughter's gave her Mama and Daddy a big smile! ♥
Did you remember that story? Sometimes I hear such things from my younger years and I had forgotten all about it. Your daughter told that story very well; although, she did make you sound ancient "well into her sixties." Ha! Doesn't she know that 60 is the new 40? LOL!
ReplyDeleteLove the vivid colors of fall...the yellows and oranges and browns. You've captured them very nicely in your potpourri settled into the dough bowl. What is the scent of your Yankee candle? Something autumn~y. I love your window sill. It looks as if it could be one of Susan Branch's. Perfection!
Oh yes, Vee, I did remember making that gingerbread man. I was heartbroken that he had broken as I removed him from the pan. What's a girl to do? Yes, I imagine I am ancient to my daughter! LOL
DeleteFalling Leaves is the name on the candle---I haven't lit it yet. I found it on sale at Home Goods.
Yes, I'm a copycat decorator. I may need to copy some of your lovely fall vignettes! ♥
That is a great post by your daughter! I'm sure you are smiling. Your autumn pictures and decor are nice--we too have cooler weather and it is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteToday has been just glorious, Dotsie. My daughter is a writer and suprises us sometimes with the things she remembers from childhood. ♥
DeleteWhat a sweet story told by your daughter! Seems like this really made an impression on her and a good one at that! :) Love your fall snaps and I can almost smell that candle in the pretty vignette! Well, I'll get over the DA experience. Just to know I was just this close!
ReplyDeleteThanks for popping in.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
My daughter thrills me with little stories such as this, Shelia.
DeleteI'm sorry about your DA experience--at least we knew not to go out of our way if we couldn't tour. It just gives us an excuse to go back! ♥
Autumn has arrived!! It's my favorite time of the year, so I intend to soak it all in. Right now, in fact, I am sipping some Harvest Pumpkin tea. I love your dough bowl!! The citrus is so beautiful and Williamsburg-y!
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting the details that our children remember. Your daughter recorded this tale quite eloquently! It is obvious that it made an impression on her. Thank you for sharing this!
Pumpkin harvest tea sounds yummy, Cheryl. I do love Autumn and it surely came in beautifully today! So yes, lets soak it all in and enjoy every moment.
DeleteMy daughter loves to hear stories about the family and delights in all the old tales from yesteryear. ♥
Love the story and the Beatrix Potter window display. I also adore the change of seasons, I just wish they would change already. It is still so hot and humid here.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Amalia, I hear your longing for cool Autumn temps. I've been feeing the same way for weeks now. Hopefully it won't be long for you! xo ♥
DeleteHappy autumn, dear Martha Ellen! Like you, I enjoy seeing the landscape change as the seasons shift. I've started fall decorating, too. This is my favourite season of all. Enjoy all the beauty of it. Hugggs!
ReplyDeleteI just read your daughter's post! How very touching. I can see why it put a smile on your face.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I love your Beatrix Potter inspired window display! xoxo
Happy Autumn, Rosinda. I know you and I both share a love of Beatrix Potter. It just makes me smile to have my figurines at the window as I'm washing dishes and preparing meals. Enjoy all the glory that is fall! xoxo ♥
DeleteHappy Autumn Martha Ellen ~~~ Well, I just love your dough bowl. The fruits must be very well dried, and you must store them well too, for them to have survived.
ReplyDeleteOften, when coming across the shells of buildings in the wilds, I wonder what stood there. I wonder how much longer that barn will stand for.
I loved the gingerbread man tale!
One day, I must share my Beatrix Potter figurines with you too. How sweet to have them arranged where you do! xoxo
Deb, the dried citrus was bought in Williamsburg in a little shop that sells antiques also. I'm so happy it survived the storage in an air tight bag. I've tried making my own but it always gets moldy.
DeleteThe barn that I took a photo of has always been a favorite of mine--watching it change over the years and now overgrown--there must be a metaphor in there somewhere!
Please do share your Beatrix Potter figurines--I would love to see how you display yours! xoxo ♥
Happy Autumn, Martha Ellen! Isn't it fun to drive into the countryside to see the barns? We must drive over an hour to see farmland, but I love seeing the old barns ~ especially the small ones! I love Noel's story! It's fun to hear the stories that family members remember. Although I don't have children, my brothers and I often share our childhood memories when we are together. It's such fun to hear the old stories from three different perspectives! Wishing you a lovely Autumn weekend, dear Martha Ellen! ♡Dawn@Petals.Paper.SimpleThymes
ReplyDeleteDawn, it's wonderful to see the countryside dressed in different attire each season. I hope you are able to take a drive soon to see the changes in your area if you haven't already.
DeleteIt is so fun to share family tales. It is interesting the different slants we remember as siblings--How fun to share with your brothers. Enjoy your Autumn weekend, dear Dawn. ♥
Hi Martha Ellen,
ReplyDeleteI just want you to know that I haven't fallen off the Earth. Our house went on the market last Friday afternoon.
I love the citrus in the wooden bowl! I found the bread in Williamsburg, when I took my son there for the first time. He is in the process of moving from Arizona to Florida. He only made it to VA four times in the last 11 years. I told him he HAD to see Williamsburg and Yorktown.
I just loved your daughter's blog post!!! You never know what words of wisdom will stick and how they will relate to our children's lives.
Autumn beauty is starting to surround us. I am planning a trip to NH next week. Is your daughter interested in SB's book signing in Merideth?
Margot, I'm so happy to see you here today. I was getting worried when I hadn't heard from you and mentioned that to Grayden yesterday! You have been quite busy--yes, your son did need to see Williamsburg and Yorktown! That must have been an enjoyable time for you!
DeleteHave a lovely trip to NH---Are you going to the signing? I hope you are. My daughter is not really into Susan Branch---can you imagine?? She and I have completely different tastes.
Good luck with the house sale and enjoy the beautiful Autumn beauty in NH. ♥
Thanks again, Martha, for coming along with me on my trip! Have a wonderful weekend.
ReplyDeleteBe a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Martha Ellen, thank you for your thoughts today on my post. I was actually talking about friend's who don't comment that often, and when visiting them, I comment all the time. That certainly wouldn't be you because you comment all the time and I appreciate it so much. You are doing a great job on your blog, and I enjoy reading it very much. Yes, you are new, but you are one of the dearest women I've met in blog land.
ReplyDeleteThat orange Yankee candle looks so lovely, and I smiled when I saw the oranges with the cloves. My sister used to do this all the time, and when I visited her, I could smell the scent of orange and cloves, and it was wonderful. I loved the story of the gingerbread man. : ) Your Fall touches around your home says "welcome" to me.
~Sheri
Sheri, thank you for your thoughts on blogging. I feel there are different ways of presenting our thoughts. Diversity makes for more interesting blogs in my opinion.
DeleteI hope you are enjoying autumn. It's fun to add touches to our homes as the seasons change. Have a lovely autumn weekend. ♥
That is a lovely story your daughter told about you, Martha Ellen. I always feel a sadness when I see a neglected house or barn. Another pretty song I've added to my bookmarks!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cathy. ♥
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