inspiration from the intrawebz

Autumn Mobile from Bird For Bread Studio

Look what I just found on Design*Sponge.  I LOVE it!!!

{{{I have a feather thing right now}}}

Buddy and I are off to the chicken run to gather some feathers.

I don't have any forged copper leaves lying around, but I'm sure we can come up with something!

fall: al fresco

Fall has finally hit, and it feels wonderful out!  We simply do not want to be inside!

John has been busy painting away on the house.  Every time I ask him what I can do to help he says things like "oh don't be silly, you're already so busy".  What he's really saying is "you are way too messy of a painter.  I would only have to go back and fix your mistakes.  So please, really, just stand there and bring me an occasional glass of tea."  But he's too nice to say that.  I am fully aware of my shortcomings as a painter, so I'm not offended one bit.  However, I do like to be busy with projects outside when it feels this good, so I've been creating my own- cleaning out garden beds, painting furniture, pulling my back while lifting said furniture incorrectly.

Last night I really wanted to eat outside, but we were having soup, which is not exactly conducive to blanket eating.  I have been lamenting for quite some time now the fact that we don't have an outdoor table.  So last night, I got my act together and made do.  I stacked some old concrete pavers that we had cleared out of my dad's yard, and placed an old door across them.  Voila!  Instant table that didn't cost me anything!  I love the adventure of 'making do'.  Stretching my creativity in repurposing until it's not such a stretch anymore-

rather

- my first response.

i like...

...that when i ask my buddy "what's going on?" he answers "fine"

...or when i ask "how are you?" he replies "three"

...dire straits on pandora

...sunshiney fall days

...buddy's dirty jeans, delivered via plyers

...soup on the stove, bread in the oven

...that moonpie has been inspired by our reading this week and has fashioned herself a tutu out of chicken feathers, twine and tape (native american princess)

...that i am home to witness all of this- these conversations, sunlight on wood floors, nourishment, and creativity

our weekend

along with a little a welding, a little dirt turning, and a little rain barrel construction, we went to a little autumn festival.

with little horses! have i ever shared here my love of all things tiny? big horses are a bit formidable to me. but miniatures! oh my, i could have a whole herd of these in my backyard. there is plenty of room in the chicken run!

this annual festival is at st. clare's monastery and miniature horse farm. this was our first year to attend, and we had such a good time.

moonpie and this man were fast friends. he let her hang out by the fence while he was watering the horses in between rides. they chatted away about horses, her kitty, and more! when it was her turn to ride, they talked the whole way around the ring. he even went one extra round. i like to think that he just couldn't get enough of the delightful company!

the games were sweet and old fashioned. here's buddy rolling the pumpkin! (this is the point he wondered aloud if the nun was in her halloween costume...ahem.)

after each game the kids were awarded a ticket- whether they won or not! some games were not even manned. you tossed a bean bag, and then got your own ticket. and then, in the middle of the grounds were a couple of buckets filled with prizes. you exchanged your tickets, on your own, for a prize. there was no one there to check for honesty-

just an expectation, that everyone would do the right thing.

i loved that.

fall planting

can you feel it? the cool of fall around the corner? can you taste it? the fresh greens, cabbages, beets and turnips. i can't wait! the end of summer, when the grass is brown and crunchy under foot, the days are too hot after 9am, and the tomatoes are sick and tired of tap water, is a time of hope. a time to begin planning the fall garden.

i have just found the greatest help to starting my seedlings. check out this site to find your frost dates for the year. once you find your first fall frost date, count back 12-14 weeks. this is when you should start your fall seeds (in doors). turns out i'll be doing some planting this week! good thing i checked when i did!

if you would like a comprehensive list of what to plant, and when, check out the mother earth website. it is full of good, easy to follow information! you can type in 'what to plant now' in the search box, or follow this link.

if you're looking for a great place to buy your seeds, check out my favorite, baker creek.

what are you putting in this season? i'm dreaming of broccoli, brussels sprouts (the family favorite), a whole box of spinach (for our green smoothies), red russian kale, carrots, lettuce, garlic, shallots, turnips...

happy planting!