Autumn!!.. abundant,colorful, beautiful

 

Ghosts around the tree are made of plastic trash bags..

An Amish farm stand provided these beautiful pumpkins

Preparing lunch for the "girls", Pumpkin Soup, Greens marinated in a cranberry vinegrette,
and a coffee punch  , which was a big hit.

Summer was fading, catching last moments...

Summer is fading and before Autumn arrives, I wanted to enjoy one last weekend morning, admiring all things outside.  I decided to get up an hour before the light and greet the day from the porch. Steaming coffee in hand, and Scooby at my side, we went out at dawn to watch the Day break. Risidual hurricane effects created a thick, stand still layer of clouds, which prevented seeing a midwest sunrise. However, the magic didn't stop,as the light came across the grass, the plants, still wet from nite's rain, lit up and their vibrant summer green leaves were beginning to drop.  Morning Glories and wild seeds I sowed were in full swing and the littles beauties that had given us so much pleasure all summer were showing signs of fall with yellow and  brown heads that were seeding. The humid summer air wafted the floral scented passion flowers on to the porch, encouraging me to go and have a look at them. The three leafed vines were growing to the top of the roof and rambling over the tops of other bushes and arborvitaes. The flowers; fragrant, lavender, detailed beauties. The plants are known for their herbal remedie properties. They

Remembering porches..

     I have been wondering about how porches fell out of vogue during housing designs of the 70's and 80's? They are essential to socialization in neighborhoods. So many memories are connected to the porches of my own childhood.  A visit to Aunt Pauline's house could mean bounce-rocking in one of her vintage shell back metal chairs. Remember those? They were American made , Wormack designed, singular tubing  framing bright colors of red, yellow, turquoise, white. I adored sitting on her porch, in one of those chairs. Aunt Pauline, a beautiful woman, well dressed, energetic, with a gift for hospitality and conversation. When you left, you felt warm and important. Her strong Southern accent made you smile inside, often I would replay her lyrical voice in my head. A Sunday visit was nearly always the case because she lived in town, close to church. That meant dressing up, attending service, then visiting on her porch afterwards. As you walked up the dogs would come out of nowhere to greet you, then scatter as you sat to chat and sip fresh lemonade served in a colorful aluminum tumbler. Remember those?!

Early and abundant Summer