We have been having a beautiful November this year. We are trying to soak up the sun and enjoy the blue skies while we can.
I hope you are enjoying your November.
The Blink of an Eye
I didn't realize how much I was enjoying this fall until I was looking at my photos from the month. I have over 1000 photos saved in my October 2009 file. And yes, I have deleted hundreds that weren't that good. For example, I have twenty nine photos taken at this corner across the street from P's school. All taken the morning of the Halloween party. Twenty nine, that I KEPT, from one corner, on one morning. I am really trying to savor the season.
Like raising children, it's all over too fast.
You can't stop it from happening.
Time marches on.
You just have to try to soak it all in, and watch from all angles.
In the end it all becomes a memory.
More Fall Color
We've been out enjoying the fall colors as much as possible. They disappear so quickly!
Japanese Maple
Viburnum berries
Forsythia
Red Oak
The right light makes them even prettier.This Japanese Maple stopped me in my tracks on the way to the preschool Halloween party today. It is right next to the school. Isn't it beautiful?
Fall Fluff
Taking our cue from mother nature, it is time to prepare for colder weather. I am feeling the urge to get out the wool and start knitting mittens, hats, scarves, and more socks.Goldenrod
Indian grass
Little blue stem
Milkweed
Switch grass
Enjoying Fall - or How I Spent My Time at the Cross Country Meet
Be warned that this post contains several thrills.The weather on Saturday was predicted to be cold and cloudy. I was pleased to see the sun and clear skies on our way to the cross country meet. I dressed for the cold because it was in the 30s! I stopped in town to take a picture of this tree that catches my eye every time I drive by. 
There were lots of pretty trees and leaves at the park where the meet was held.
This yellow tree was right next to the finish line.
Even the ground was beautiful.
Oh, and did I mention I was there for a meet?
A Brighter Day
Today was a brighter day. The sun came out and P and I rushed out for a walk around the fields. That was just what we needed. We came in refreshed and started in on our projects. She is still working on coloring and cut outs.I, however, started something new.
I am using every last bit of that animal print, some scraps, and some non scrap (gasp) fabrics. It feels good to have the scrap bin under control so that I feel like I can use larger pieces of fabric. The whole little quilt is planned around the animal print.I bet you are on the edge of your seat waiting to see how it will look! I know I am.
Out of Focus
Some days this is how I feel in the fall - blurry and out of focus - only able to concentrate on one small thing at a time.I have a lot of things I want to do and projects to work on. But when the darker days of fall arrive it is hard to keep the momentum. I move slower. When the cloudy overcast days start to pile up I just want to snuggle under a quilt on the couch and read a book while sipping cocoa or tea.I keep plugging along at a slower pace. One stitch at a time, making progress while I adjust to the shorter days.
Thoughtful Sunday
"The fact that she had a nut for a head did make new ideas difficult for her mind to grasp."Miss Hickory, Carolyn Sherwin Bailey, 1946.
Happy Bench Monday
We are enjoying a beautiful "summer is almost over" day! Happy Bench Monday.
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My New Toy
Some of you may have noticed that I have been having fun with my new toy. I purchased a fancy pants big girl camera just before leaving for the gulf coast!I took tons of photos on our trip and am still learning about the camera and lens settings. I got some fantastic indoor photographs of family members while on vacation. I had not been able to do that with my old point and shoot. 
These two pictures are of the same flower from the same camera location but using different camera settings to change the depth of field.
D read the entire manual while in the car and is my "go to" man when I have a technical question. Teenagers are great for that. I read the manual but I can't remember much of it!
Mini Vacation
The weather was just wonderful today! Sunny, not too hot, and the wind seems to have blown the mosquitoes away! It was a great day for a mini vacation - in the back yard! 
Of course, Miss Petunia came prepared with all the essentials for a fun time under the plum tree.
I brought a book to read too!
Take out dinner, books, markers, paper, crayons, a magic wand, and a pink umbrella - just in case - THIS is summer relaxation!What have you done for a mini vacation this summer?
May Day
April showers truly do bring May flowers.
We have crab apples, apples, and red bud all blooming now. P is enjoying all the pink.It was a warm sunny day so I played with my new camera.
I finally figured out the macro setting.
We have made jelly from our crab apples before. It is a lot of work as the fruit is very small.
The apples, however, are used every year.
May brings promises of good things to come.
Thoughtful Sunday
"The blues seemed to come from the deepest part of the ocean, the whites from the northernmost snows, the greens and purples from the abundant wildflowers, the reds, oranges and pinks from the most wonderful sunsets."The Quiltmaker's Gift, Jeff Brumbeau, 2000
Color Week :: Violet
Color Week :: Blue
"With color one obtains an energy that seems to stem from witchcraft." Henri Matisse
Color Week :: Green
"It's not easy being green." Kermit the Frog
Color Week :: Yellow
"Color is my day-long obsession, joy and torment." Claude Monet
Color Week :: Orange
Color Week :: Red
"Red is the ultimate cure for sadness." Bill Blass
Mud and a Week of Color
March is almost here and with March comes mud. Everything outside is brown and soggy. Getting through March in Michigan can be very tiresome. Brown, brown, and more brown. We start to go out every day looking for some sign of spring, some little sprout of something that is not brown. I have started seeing signs of spring on flickr and some blogs. Keep them coming. It gives us hope!
I am feeling the need for more color.
Spring doesn't really get going around here until April or May.In an effort to think spring and focus on color I am designating next week a week of color.
I'll kick it off with a rainbow of color on Sunday and will focus on one color a day for the rest of the week.Sunday- rainbow of colorMonday - redTuesday - orangeWednesday - yellowThursday - greenFriday - blueSaturday - violetSunday - finish it all off with another rainbow of color.I am off to find some color in my house and around town.
