Old Fashioned Afternoon

Someone made me feel very happy yesterday! It was a Mom who thanked me for "an old fashioned afternoon." Sure made me smile when she told me that. I wonder how often most people have an old fashioned afternoon? We have a lot of them here! What she is referring to is my afternoon at my house with my Brownie troop. I had taught Caitlin how to do various stitches this Summer~~cross stitch, straight stitch, back stitch and she loved learning. She embroidered a couple of sayings on pieces of felt such as "Cats Are Sweet", "Best Dad Ever" and since she loved learning how to stitch I put it out there to the Moms of my Brownie troop that if any of the girls would like to learn, they could come to my house for a sewing circle. The response was overwhelming! What a fun time we had! They told me ahead of time what they wanted to  so I could write it out on felt squares. I told them to choose a three word saying (Most wanted "I LOVE (and the name of their dog)"  and it was great! They diligently sat and learned and stitched! And we chatted and stitched! AND the most unbelieveable thing of all (at least for this modern day and age) is the Moms opted to STAY! Yes, they didn't leave for nail appointments or mall visits. At first the intent was to drop off but when they stayed for a few minutes and saw the eagerness of these kids to learn, one by one they sat and stayed! It was the feeling in the room. The pleasantness of the peacefulness! They helped thread needles and clip stray threads...And everyone was happy, happy, happy.

This is actually a card I have saved; not a stitchery by the girls!

Later in the evening, I got an email from one of the Moms who thanked me for an old fashioned afternoon! How nice of her. Another emailed me and said her daughter enjoyed sewing so much that they stopped at Michaels Craft Store on the way home and bought their own supplies. What a compliment. AND proof that kids don't need all the bells and whistles of life all the time to have fun. These eight year old girls sat for 2 hours laughing, talking, snacking and stitching and were thrilled with the work their little hands produced. Oh and I think their Moms learned a thing or two as well!

Outside I bring you to my new apple orchard :)  I know; not quite but I am in LOVE with my apple trees. Cousin Johanna started me on these! We now have four! One is a granny smith, the other is a gala, and the other two are multi types. Each tree has four kinds of apples! Obviously fused together but apples nonetheless! When all is said and done and the apples (hopefully) bear fruit, we should have 8 different kinds! I want an almond tree next!

pumpkins!

The Halloween Garden is growing well! The Indian corn and the mini Indian corn are getting tall! If I don't get actual corn, at least I will have cornstalks for decorations! My birdhouse gourds are overtaking everything! Theyare growing wild! As are my pumpkins! We have made or enlarged a few other gardens too. My son's hard work!

roses and sunflowers!

newest garden of azaleas and a Japanese maple

 I bought his bridge on a recent trip to Lancaster County from the Countryside Roadstand. Next year I have plans for it! This year we just set her in the garden bed!

loving my bridge!

my son made this bigger and planted the new front row of shrubs

Hope you have a beautiful day!