Monday, October 5, 2015

Autumn Once Again


As the days shorten and it is finally cooler, a nice long walk seems just the thing to do, especially when one has such great girls to walk with!  Even little Emma doggie agrees.
It has been a busy summer!  One of the busiest I remember for quite sometime.  We have had some wonderful times with our friends, Frank and Cy who we spend time with in Sunshine Village in the winter months.  They journeyed up to VT and spent six weeks here enjoying our wonderful late summer and early fall.  Apples, Apples, Apples!  Right?   Everywhere we turned this season there were events centered around the lovely red Apple.  Tastings of all things Apple,and the watching of cider being squeezed and even boiled into wonderful boiled cider!  Apple crisp and Apple cake, Apple pie and Apple cider donuts were on the menu everywhere including in Dottie's Kitchen!  I finally found time to make lots of applesauce and Paradise Jelly with the quince and apple and cranberry juices.

Now I find it is nearly time to think about packing up and migrating to FL once again.  The hummingbirds have long gone and we saw Canada geese flying over in greater numbers than usual yesterday.  The old owl who has been Who-Whoing us all summer sounds clearer now that some of the leaves have already fallen.  The colors are finally coming to full bright beauty but as yet here in my valley we haven't had a frost.  Nearly had one this morning as the thermometer registered 33 degrees and the neighbors' brown roof looked a bit frosty.  My dahlias are still blooming and they are the first to succumb to a frost.  Guess I will go pick one last bouquet today.

The wood is stacked on the porch ready for us to burn when we get home in March.  All this thanks to our friendly helpers Frank and Cy.  The new (to us) family truck has a nice shiny snowplow and is ready to report to duty soon as the snow flies.  Hubby has been cleaning up the garden which was sure productive this year!  Just picked the last of the late planting of pole beans and the winter squash are ready now.  Grapes have been harvested and the jelly all made.  Cousin Natalie gave us rose hips and that too is now in jelly jars along with jars of pickles and relish.  Didn't make any mustard from the garlic mustard seeds this year as I have some from last year.

We went on a few little trips around VT this summer in the Gypsy Wagon, to the Northeast Kingdom where we make our rounds of family and friends.  Also a trip to Burlington area and a few weekend camping trips with the Rolling Wheels Sams club we belong to.  I am really thinking of some down time after the trip to FL !!   Maybe time to sew a little and finish up a couple UnFinishedObjects, UFO's we call them.  Two quilts to finish and some smaller projects.


Also, a great surprise 59th Wedding Anniversary/ Birthday party for Den and I given us by daughter Angel and son in-law Paul and the grandkids.  We thought we were having a family cook out and we did just that.... then the surprise...when many friends and relatives and neighbors came pouring into Angel's backyard for cake and ice cream and lots of love and hugs.  How about the funny hats and the  old people canes!  

Now I am headed out to pick that last bouquet of dahlias.  It all looks so golden outside with all the yellow and orange leaves surrounding the backyard.  No sun now but the brightness of the leaves really makes the world look so golden and mellow.

This verse has popped up on a few occasions this week as I watch the year move on toward it's end and I guess it reminds me that we are all moving on toward our own time to reach an end here on this earth.  Praise the Lord we have hope and plans for a life in the hereafter!!

Isaiah 46:4  " Even in your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you.  I have made you and I will carry you: I will sustain you and I will rescue you".

Thank you God for this assurance!     Take care and enjoy the lovely, crisp and fragrant days of Autumn.

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