Stuffed Mushrooms
Enjoy your week!
I think one of the reasons I love coffee in the morning is because it reminds me of my Papa. Every morning he would be up at the crack of dawn making coffee in the old percolator coffeemaker. He would sit there at the kitchen table with the morning paper and a cup of the best coffee you have ever tasted. Nanny would wake soon after and start breakfast... usually fried eggs with bacon and biscuits. And on nights when I stayed over in that little four room house on the hill, I would wake to these smells surrounding me like a comfortable blanket. As clear as if it were just yesterday, I can still take a deep breath and smell their home.
What started out as a place to share my crafty creations has turned into so much more. Though I still post about our crafty times together and the yummy food we have made, it seems I have also found a place to talk about all kinds of other wonderful things. A place to share our love of nature, a place to write about special family times, a place to store a memory of my little boy growing up and of our old dog in her golden years, a place to share a quote that touched my heart, a place to 'wreck it' with other creative souls, a place to explore writing and seeing and feeling. And a place to just be... I know it sounds silly, but this little blog of mine feels like home.
But I think maybe... just maybe... the most wonderful thing about this blog has been the people I have met through it. I was already fortunate enough to know some of you and call you friends, like Jennifer, Jodi, Amber, Karen, Lisa, Michelle, Jenn and Jo-Ann. But most of you I have never seen in person. I have never had the chance to shake your hand or give you a big hug and tell you how much you mean to me. But I know you... and you know me... and that means something. From Stephanie, Mon and Denise who's blogs were some of the first I visited and fell completely in love with... to Holly, Ciara, Cinner and Nettles who's words always touch my heart and open my mind to all kinds of magical things. From Beth and Tabitha, who's love of God inspires me... to Amber and Erin who's outlook on life and family warms my heart. Amazing moms like Sherry, Ladybug Zen and Madeline and their special little boys, who remind me so much of my own. And whimsical and creative blogs like The Magic Onions, A Peace of Bliss, Frontier Dreams, Cottage Garden Studio and 5 Orange Potatoes, who fill me with inspiration each and every day. Not to forget all of the wonderful blog friends I found through Jamie Ridler's blog (the 'Wishcasting Wednesday' and 'Wreck It' group of ladies and gents). Of course there is nienie... who is living proof that life does go on, and that life can be so very good. And to all the other blogs I follow or that I have visited (there are so many that I absolutely love). Thank you all... and I look forward to continuing to read all of you and to finding new little treasures out there in blog land.
There is nothing like the sound of jingle bells to get you in the spirit.
Frosted Cranberries
In the midst of everything else going on, I am trying to get two of the above Advent calendars made for friends of mine. I made this one last year out of an old cookie sheet... don't you just love it? And I have two friends that asked me to make them one this year. Oh the things I do for my friends.
And a rummage through the bargain bin at Michaels has left me with a few other Christmas things to be crafty with. Now to find the time... I will.
My beautiful willows are now bare... all the leaves fallen from them. I miss them already. But with the falling of the leaves and the cooling of the air will come a great and wondrous season of snowflakes and sledding... magical walks through a wood covered in snow... and cozy nights spent sitting by the fire. I know this... but I am still a little sad to see the leaves go away. 
I spent a good majority of the day today and yesterday out in the garden... raking, digging, bagging and preparing for the coming Winter. It felt good to be outside. It seems to have been weeks since I've had a nice long time outside. But today... it was perfect. I feel renewed.
My raised beds are now empty... no more vegetables and fruit to be had. They served us well over the course of the Summer and early Fall. And my perennials are all cared for and ready to wait out the Winter. I am looking forward to seeing them rise in the Spring.
Bags of leaves and branches are ready to go to the recycling centre. They will be made into compost for the city's use. We have way too much for our own compost.
I feel like Autumn today...
Enough candy and goodies to last a year. Some will be going back to J's school, for there is a local dentist that will donate a certain amount of money to the school for each pound of candy that is brought in. And we will be keeping some of our favourites... tootsie rolls, peanut butter cups and various others.
The leaves from our willow trees have finally fallen. The deck was clear last night, but we had a quick but heavy/wet snow fall this morning, and down came the leaves with the snow. I'm going to wait a few days before raking them up... this is a lovely part of Fall. But once these leaves have been raked and bagged, our Fall will be almost over and Winter will soon arrive. Autumn is over too soon up here.
This tea smells wonderful. Make sure you're not taking any other medication that might react with the alcohol.
