Falling into Fall

To Autumn

Seasons of mists and mellow fruitfulness!
.............J. Keats.............

With just over a week to go before leaving for France, I'm grabbing every little moment of 'almost Autumn' here in the Southeastern US. My favorite season............with the evenings closing in earlier, the mornings fresh and slightly misty as the sun peeks through. On Friday I felt a breeze as I left the grocery store and stood in the parking lot watching puffy cloud formations skid across a Carolina blue sky. At last, the air felt clean again and I felt energized.

Dancing on an Autumn breeze.

The goldfinch on a thistle head

Stood scattering seedlets as she fed,

The wrens their pretty gossip spread,

Or joined the random roundelay.

........Jean Ingelow.........

The Old Ways

Just two weeks from today I'll be on my way to the South of France via England - crossing the pond to both my true home, then on to where my family lives now, in this small village in the Minervois near the beautiful walled city of Carcassonne.

Arriving in the village.

It's always great to return to the place where you were raised, for me that was England. The memories flood back, you feel that sense of belonging even though you've been gone for years. It's also really special to have another place to visit where you feel surrounded by the love only given by your family. How fortunate I am to have this opportunity.

Village street.

The vineyards surrounding the village in Autumn.

If possible, I'll post again before leaving. On my return I hope to have photos of the many places I visit while in France - may even try to post some along the way! Thanks for all the good wishes from those of you who know where I'm going. I wish you could all come along and enjoy time in this lovely part of Europe. My wish for you is that you can take such a trip sometime in the near future.

Puttering on the Porch

Front porch clean up time. Long, far too hot, Summer, with watering restrictions which are still in place, required a lot of blood, sweat and tears to keep the outside areas of the cottage and garden constantly spruced up. With Autumn just around the corner, and being away for the month of October, I had to get out there last week and do some tidying, cleaning and a little something for seasonal decor. What would the neighbors think if I still had bowls of shells and the sailboat flag flying until November!

Too early for pumpkins, with these 90 degree days they'd turn into pie on the hot concrete. Did get last year's great gourds out though - they seem alright in the heat.

Morning glories, hummingbird vines, twisted and twirled into a green lacy curtain at the far end of the porch providing shade from the blazing afternoon sun. The hanging baskets with the huge Boston Ferns are still looking good - they usually survive until after the first frosts hit.

Cut chartreuse colored hydrangeas from the front bushes - love them when they turn this color and then dry out to grey-green and dusky pink shades later.
So this will be the porch decor until I return home from the trip to France - then it will be a mad rush to get Halloween decorations up.

Pink Saturday

Paris. Known for fashion over the centuries.

Paris Pink...............always fashionable

Hints of Paris pink and fashion spotted at SuzAnna's Antiques this week.

Stop over at How Sweet the Sound and visit with Beverly who has an ever growing list of Pink Saturday friends.

Decor Decisions

After trying other places, the decision was made. Display the sconce in the dining room where it just seems to be at home.

This room is visible when entering the front door. It's passed through as one way to the kitchen and, besides being a place to eat, is often my desk, a room to sit and watch the birds visiting the front porch...........and currently is even the French classroom.

I still have to find two candles for the holders ~ they have to be just the right type and I need to make them look old and used, with dried wax drips, perhaps faded or stained. Any ideas on aging candles appreciated.

When I finally decided to buy the sconce this week, I was really stopping by SuzAnna's Antiques in response to their phone call regarding these amazing books.

Found at an auction last weekend, they knew immediately I would be interested. The three large volumes of L'ILLUSTRATION Journal Universel were published in Paris in the 1860's and each is a six month compendium of a weekly illustrated newspaper. Each book has almost 500 pages, hundreds of amazing illustrations, and are in wonderful condition other than some wear on the covers.

Note: Anyone else having problems with Blogger this week? I'm so frustrated at trying to sign in and stay signed in, losing pics after uploading, being unable to SAVE a post, and even problems leaving comments on other blogs.

In Remembrance

Please remember to fly your flag today.

Congress has designated September 11 as PATRIOT DAY......a discretionary day of remembrance in honor of those who lost their lives on 9/11.

The President issued a proclamation calling upon government officials and all people of the USA to observe the day by displaying the flag at half-staff.

Most people cannot fly a flag at half-staff at home, so an accepted alternative is to attach a black ribbon or streamer, the same width as a stripe on the flag and the same length as the flag itself, to the top of the flag.

A moment of silence should be observed at 8:46 AM EDT for those who died.

Early Fall ~ North Carolina coastal cottage.

France Calling

October days in France beckon. Paris will only been seen from the air this time as I fly from London to Toulouse. Hopefully, if a clear afternoon, I can look down and spot this wonderful sight. I last ascended in June 2006. A ninety degree day when the metal was too hot to touch, and the sun blazed down while awaiting the elevator. It's always worth it though, the glorious feeling when you 're actually standing at the top ~ Paris is spread before you in all her loveliness.

Framed art available at SuzAnna's Antiques.