autumn gold

I woke up bright and early Saturday morning

with the sun streaming in through the kitchen windows.

Rain was in the forecast for the coming week,

so I decided to take an afternoon drive to capture a bit of autumn.

Early October is only the opening scene of an Island Autumn,

with the leaves just beginning to change in most areas.

early autumn PEI (click to enlarge)But, I discovered this vista not far from New Glasgow - a small village near the center of the Island.

In a week or so, these hills will be a blaze of colour.

I decided to head to the shore to watch the sunset,

stopping for a moment to capture goldenrod in golden light.

I arrived at Cavendish just in time to catch the last of the sun's rays.

Cavendish shoreSo much beauty

Marin grassmy heart

could barely contain it.

and then this

Harvest moonto crown a perfect day.

Happy Monday!

with love,

Friday Fave Five

Well, hello there

and welcome back to

The celebrations have died down

and things are much quieter here on the homefront.

Life is settling back into the simple and lovely rhythms of day to day life.

Here are a few of the gifts I've enjoyed this past week.

1. Autumn's blooms

Hydrangea

Sedum ~ Autumn Joy

2. The garden's bounty

sweet cherry tomatoes

purple peppers

3. Bright autumn colours ~ and it's only just begun!

Burning bush

Peter's sunflowerOur friend Peter planted this field of sunflowers

just so people could enjoy their beauty as they drive by his farm.

And we are! Thanks Peter!

4. A golden evening ~ shadows slanting in long, lovely lines.

5.Our newest batch of barn kittens.

Lily is a prolific marvelous mother ~ she surprised us with this litter.

They are pretty cute aren't they?

Big brother Rollie Pollie loves them too. But that's a post for another day!

I've reached the end of my Friday Favourite list

and I haven't even mentioned the latest book I'm enjoying this week, or practicing my harp, or visiting friends, or fall campfires, or early morning misty walks . . .

Next week ~ ok?

Thanks so much for coming by.

It's a sweet gift to see your name and read your comments. I appreciate every one!

For more Friday Fun, join Suzanne and the gang at Living To Tell The Story.

with love,

PS - great new fall button Suzanne - thanks!

two questions:

1. Will the frost hold off?

We have a lot of green tomatoes in our garden this year.

Do you recall the passage in The Long Winter when an early frost hit, but Ma found a way to use even the green tomatoes?

Ma and Laura picked the tomatoes. The vines were wilted down, soft and blackening, so they picked even the smallest green tomatoes. There enough ripe tomatoes to make almost a gallon of preserves.

"What are you going to do with the green ones?' Laura asked, and Ma answered, "Wait and see."

She washed them carefully without peeling them. She sliced them and cooked them with salt, pepper, vinegar, and spices.

"That's almost two quarts of green tomato pickle. Even if it's only our first garden on the sod and nothing could grow well, these pickles will be a treat with baked beans this winter." Ma gloated.

I've never tried that recipe - but I have the Little House Cookbook.

I wonder if it tasted like Roger's grandmother's green tomato pickle recipe - we always called it Nannie's Piccalilli.

A lovely clove-spiced relish - I haven't made it for many years.

But this just might be the year to pull that recipe out again.

Which leads me to question #2: do any of my lovely readers have green tomato recipes they'd like to share?

Gardeners on PEI will be saying thank you!

with love,

gifts

Don't you love it

when a rainy week is forecast

and

the sun breaks through anyway?

Unexpected gifts are sometimes the best.

I'm off to town, camera in hand . . .

I wonder what unexpected gifts I'll discover?

Happy Wednesday - Tuesday! Hooray! Another unexpected gift -  I gained a day - thanks Ellen

*grin*

with love,

for all things

bright

and

beautiful!

Joining Ann with a V and the Gratitude Community.

with love,

and

thanks for you,

memories

It's Friday . . . I think.

It's been such a busy two weeks that I'm not sure of my name, let alone the day.

*grin*

Celebrations are wonderful (even if they are exhausting!)

1. The best, of course, was having all my children home. It was the first time that we've been all together since Andrew and Hyekoo's wedding, Christmas 2007.

2. The wedding day ~ I loved watching James' and Nora's faces - such a happy couple.

eyes of loveYou could tell by their expressions that they enjoyed the day to the fullest!

The shoe gameDoesn't that  ring look good?

Happy days ~ beautiful memories.

Wedding Cake topper

3. Other highlights? time with extended family especially grandparents ~ Roger's mom and dad.

4. A day trip to Peggy's Cove in Nova Scotia.

Serenaded by a Highland Piper.

A romantic spot!

Peggy's Cove Nova Scotia (click to enlarge)

5. Time together with Andrew and Hyekoo - such a lovely two weeks.

Father and son just before heading to the plane back to London.

*sniff*

It's hard to be apart.

Thank You Lord for Skype, email and phone calls!

And life goes on here at home ~ the sun is shining and there are new kittens (surprised? we are too!), pickles to be made, woodpiles to be admired, a garden to harvest, some wonderful library books waiting for me, a field of sunflowers waiting to be photographed and tomorrow? The 70 Mile Yard Sale - I'm resting up for that  today! :)

Thanks so much for coming by and especially leaving a comment.  I love to read your cheery hellos and messages.

If you have a moment, be sure to pop over to Suzanne's and join in the Friday fun.

with love,

why hello!

It's been a two week whirlwind of glory days.

 Oldest son and wife home from the UK,

Peggy's Cove, Nova ScotiaShowers, rehearsal dinner

the wedding

daughter's 19th birthday ~ Princess theme :)

extended family get-togethers, meals, late-night games,

tons of laughter, fun

long talks, walks,

drives, beach rambles

Let's not forget the film-star daughter

and

a lovely (but much too short) visit with dear friends from the other Belfast.

Two weeks of shining moments

My body is tired

but

my heart is full.

with love,