October Days

October has always been a favorite of mine.  The cooler weather brings a refreshing change of pace.  I do enjoy the change of seasons as fall settles in.  Our leaves are falling now, though not the color that one would hope.  My grandson and I have begun mowing and gathering the fallen leaves weekly.  The compost is now acquiring more brown matter that will turn into rich earth for future garden beds. 

It's been thrilling to see monarchs continuing their journey to Mexico.  I don't remember seeing them as late as October.

October is a month of birthdays in our household.  Both me and my husband's birthday and our anniversary is celebrated this month.  We usually plan a special trip every year around our anniversary, but this year is different.  Unfortunately Grayden has a stress fracture in his foot.  So hobbling along in a boot has kept us at home so he can get the rest that his doctor prescribed.  

I've enjoyed these anniversary roses so much.  We were married on the 14th and these roses are still around.  I did recut them and put them in a clean vase of water with a tablespoon of bleach.  They are now on our dining table.

Zinnias always look like Autumn to me.  So I'm cutting them as often as they blossom until frost comes to our area.  It's quite late for us this year.

I have continued to walk without my walking buddy.  For my mental and physical health I lace up my walking shoes each morning and venture out for my three mile walk.  It's not the same without Grayden by my side and I've found it difficult not having his hand to hold.  Yesterday while out I was treated to a lovely sight!  A bald eagle flew over my head.  

This is a photo I took last year.  My camera is a little too heavy to carry as I walk.

Don't you love apples?  We have a bowl full in our kitchen all year long.  Grayden and Samuel love Granny Smiths.  Hopefully we'll be able to take a trip to get some great Virginia apples. 

"A plate full of apples, an open fire, and a jolly good book are a fair substitute for heaven. "  Lucy Maud Montgomery

I hope you are enjoying the change of season in your area.  Have a safe and happy week. 

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

♫ It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year ♫

December brings great joy and happiness to our family.  Both of our children were born in December so festivities begin with our son's birthday on the second.  It's a given that the grands want to take their Dad to the Japanese Steakhouse for his birthday.  It seems this is the place for everyone to enjoy good food and the entertainment that sends happiness to the grands.  Who doesn't want Happy Birthday sung to you in Japanese?  So much fun!

What little boys don't want to eat their Dad's birthday cake?

Of course it's time to decorate for Christmas.  After Thanksgiving we usually start bringing out the boxes of decor that we have collected through the years.  Our decor really tells a story about our family.  Do you find yourself placing ornaments on the tree that have been in the family for years and years?  We have ornaments on our tree that belonged to our parents along with those that we bought our very first Christmas as husband and wife.  So many Christmas'... so many memories.

Grady made this ornament for me when he was in Cub Scouts.  Would you believe I'm sentimental?

Grady

My Mother-in-Law crocheted this little frame around this photo when Grady was born.  She had it on her tree for years.  Now it is on ours.

Grady and Noël

I always bring out this Santa.  He was mine when I was a baby.  That makes him old!  He also used to play music, but he has long tired of that.

We always find a spot for this ceramic Christmas tree that I made in 1979.  

Do you have items that you bring out for Christmas--decorations that you're not ready to downsize?  My sister gifted me a lot of her artwork on various occasions.  She made beautiful Christmas items.  Susan passed away six years ago.  I decided to give those items to her children last Christmas.   Admittedly  I missed those things as I began to decorate this year, but I know Susan's children will receive great joy as they begin to decorate their homes with their mother's art.

Many memories come flooding to mind as I prepare for the season of JOY and LOVE.   I wish for you a most wonderful time of the year! ♥

October birthdays and an Anniversary

♫ Music ♫

October is a very busy month celebration wise!  Grayden and I both have birthdays and it is also our anniversary month.  We are so blessed with a happy and long marriage.  We usually go away for our birthdays and anniversary and this year was no different.  Usually you would find us going to Williamsburg or the mountains and some years even to a beach for our celebration.  This year we decided to go somewhere completely different and quite unusual for us.  We went to Scottsdale, Arizona last week to celebrate 48 years together!

This photo was taken when we were dating and right before we were married.  Grayden was a senior and I was a freshman in college.  We were so young, but very much in love.  We knew what we wanted in life and very much wanted to get married.  My parents were quite concerned that we were too young to get married.  They said we should wait, but we had other ideas.  I was not a rebellious teen, but I wanted to get married!  Grayden and I had plans to marry no matter what.  So we decided to elope!  Now you must know I was the child that always did what my parents wanted, but I felt they were being unreasonable and I knew what was right for me!  How confident I was that I was doing the right thing!

Grayden picked me up from school on a Friday afternoon and we traveled to South Carolina to get married.  You could not marry in Virginia without your parent's permission!  How bold we were.  We had rented a small apartment to move into after we married.  We were poor college students that were certain of what we were doing!

My parents were so hurt by what I had done, but accepted me and Grayden with open arms when we returned back home on that Sunday evening.

Looking back on this experience I find I can hardly believe I did this.  I am so blessed to be married to a fine man who loves me and I love him.

As I grew older and had children of my own, I realized how bold I was to have taken such a step as a young woman.  I don't recommend it to others.  Marrying so young is not advisable!  I was very lucky that it worked for us!  That alone is a miracle that is a gift that I thank God for every day! ♥