It's Feeling Like Fall!

Good Morning to you all! It is a beautiful Autumn-like morning here on Long Island! I have certainly been away for a while--over a week, and I've certainly missed blogging with all my friends. So much has happened around here that I haven't had the time to sit and write about it. I have been reading most every one's blogs though and haven't lost touch! I am truly enjoying this cool weather; I feel refreshed and rejuvenated and ready to tackle all I want to that the Summer heat won't allow! I feel sluggish in warm weather and not very motivated. This is the season for me! Summer came to a very abrupt end with Hurricane Irene and the effects of her still linger. After being without our power for a week, it took a while to get back into the "groove." SO much clean up, and I felt as though I was walking around in circles here! We sadly had to take down 5 trees in our yard. Two had already fallen from the hurricane and two more were tilting precariously towards our house and shed. With the Winter approaching, it made sense to take them out. All we would need is a blizzard wind and that's it! We also took down a tree that had been dying for some time and although I was sad to see them go, it has opened our yard to more sunshine, space and a clean palette for some plans we have next Summer for the yard.

After Irene, school started and we just segued in very nicely. My son loves all his teachers, thank goodness. In 7th grade they change classes. Billy is a good student, a good reader and he just started right back into his routine as if Summer vacation never happened. He didn't want me to post his first day of school picture though.....which I understand. He's growing up and some things are just for Mommy! :) Caitlin, of course, gladly posed, and she went off to school with a smile. First grade for her. It's a challenging year, but we know she will do well. Between the greatly experienced teacher she has, our wonderful school and of course all her support from home, she will have a great year. She also started Sunday school and I started Bible Study every Tuesday so between school, church activities and everyday things it's been fun and very fulfilling.

I have started my Fall decorating. As you can see, Robin has made himself comfortable in one of my cartons. Thank you, Robin. Let me also tell you that he never moved out of it for many hours and so I was forced to work with all my other boxes until he finally climbed out around dinnertime. I've been working on some arrangements with Fall flowers and in my next post I will show you the wreath I am working on. I have been cutting out squares. It isn't the rag wreath where you tie on the material; it's the one where you poke the squares into a styroam ring. My sister-in-law and I have been working diligently on them on Saturdays. She is working on a Halloween one; I am working on a year round one. I've been picking up Halloween goodies here and there as I see them. I have to buy two of everything as my friend Mary does the same for me and when we find something interesting, we buy one for each other. At this point both of our Halloween decoration collections are so large, we don't jump on every item...BUT when we find something we love it's one for her and one for me. As I've posted many times, Halloween is my favorite holiday but NOT horror style. I love TRADITIONAL Halloween with it's amazing orange and blacks, black cats and witches and ghosts. Nothing scary.

One of my favorite arrangements I did this year is in a little milk can from my Mom. I have two of 1970's orange items. These weren't for Halloween---back in the 70's an orange kitchen was super cool :). My Mom had both these items --a cat lantern and a milk can--in her kitchen. I have them many years now, and I love them though I usually have them out in the Fall only. SO I did an arrangement in the milk can which I think came out nicely. I also redid a basket for my front door and hung it in front of a wreath I had. I loved how it looked! Another simple thing I did was just fill a jar with pumpkins. How can something so simple be so cool? Simplicity is magic, that's why! With all my crafting go on, oh and I also started two Halloween pillows!, Caitlin also has the crafting bug and when I was in AC Moore last week, I found her the most adorable needlepoint! We'll be starting that tonight! She is very excited!

I wanted you to see my little raccoon buddy again. He came the other morning to eat. He is very polite but the funny thing is, he seems to need to eat a little more before he goes to sleep for the day so he comes in the morning (very early) for one last meal before he retires! He sits and waits and enjoys his food on a plate. We enforce table manners in this house after all!

I'm gonna start my work now. I want to finish my cleaning so that I can move onto more decorating! Have a great day!