Bringing those house plants inside for the winter.

Hello, my friends.  Do you do what I do and take your house plants outside for the summer and then bring them back inside for the winter?  Of course, I guess it depends on where you live.  I think my plants grow twice the size when they are outside in the fresh air and sunshine (or shade) all summer long.  Today I brought the last of them inside. 

Despite the fact that it's heading toward the end of October, there is still some summer lingering around the yard.  Flowers are blooming and  I even captured a butterfly on the black and blue salvia.  I always find it hard to let go of summer, but once it turns cold I find comfort in the warmth of our home, sitting by the fire, working on a puzzle or cozying up with a good book. 

 

Today was a good day for porch sitting and puttering in the garden.

 

Hope you are enjoying your day!

The fall garden

I wanted to snap a few photos of the garden this week while we still had flowers blooming and bees buzzing.  Sunday the weather changes for us and there will be frost on the pumpkin when we wake up on Monday morning.  

We had a fire in the fireplace this morning to warm up a bit and to take the chill off.  I guess this is what we can expect for November.  Enjoy your day!

Random things

 

Hello, dear friends.  How are you?  I just realized my last post was in August...how did this happen? ~ I guess time flies when we're having fun.  And here it is fall already.  Don't you just love all the warm autumn colors?  I bought a big orange pumpkin today for the front step and yellow and red mums for pots.  

We have had quite a lot going on lately.  September is a big birthday month for us and we celebrated our granddaughter's 2nd birthday with family at Galen's mother's house in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  It's a good central meeting place for all of us since Amy and Bruno and the kids live in New York.  What a great time we had!

And our other granddaughter, Maddie, here in North Carolina, just turned 15 in September. It seems like only yesterday that she was just a toddler, and now, here she is getting her permit for driving!  

Also, in September, I had my  6-month follow-up appointment at UNC Cancer Center.  Everything is good!  A little osteoporosis setting in but that is treatable.  I feel great, and this will be two years cancer free!  I am thankful everyday for my health and that I can garden and do all the things I love to do.  

And speaking of the garden, I planted kale, broccoli and spinach for the winter months, and have harvested quite a few tomatoes and peppers.  I've been cleaning up the flower beds, too.

Just to let you know, I may not be posting on my blog as often as before, but I am still here and will check in occasionally.  

Enjoy this wonderful fall weather! 

'till next time, 

Drying Hydrangeas

Would you like to have beautifully dried hydrangeas for fall and winter arrangements?  The trick is in picking them.  Hydrangeas do best when allowed to dry naturally on the plant before picking.  Fresh blooms do not dry very well.  

I cut a bunch the other day, took all the leaves off, tied them by the stems with rafia and hung them to dry.  You could also dry them in a vase or pot if the stems are strong.  

After the hydrangeas are dry, arrange them in a pretty container or use them in making a wreath for hanging.  Dried hydrangeas make lovely arrangements.  

Enjoy!

Decorating for the season

One of the things I love to do this time of year is plant pansies.  

These pretty flowers are certain to bring color all winter long, and carry through to the spring season here in the south.  

You can buy cascading pansies for hanging pots and hang them outside your window where you can see them every day!  

I am also catching up on my inside fall decorating here at Mourning Dove Cottage.  

I dried these large hydrangea blooms late in the summer.  

I like to put them in urns on the fireplace mantel.  

A few ceramic pumpkins and some berries.   

Pumpkins everywhere.  

I'm a bit late with my fall decorations, but better late than never ~ 
next week we will be getting out all of our Christmas things, right?

Hope you're enjoying this beautiful season!    

Time for Radiation

Monday I start radiation.  It's been several weeks now since surgery and my body is slowly healing.  I still  have some pain and tingly numbness but evidently that's normal.  

The radiation treatment will be every day, Monday through Friday, for the next 6 or 7 weeks.  That means this treatment plan will take me into mid November.  Ugh... 

The side effects from radiation are fatigue and some burning, like sunburn.  Not too bad.  There are others, but I choose not to think about them.  

After this I should be nearing the end of my long journey.  

Thank heavens!  

In the meantime, I am looking forward to enjoying this wonderful fall weather!  

Crisp chilly mornings, coffee on the porch, puttering in the garden, and taking walks with Otis and Riley.  

Be back soon,  

Laundry Day and Warm Blankets

Monday morning.....laundry day.  

While washing sheets this morning and making up the bed, I thought it was the perfect time to add an extra blanket.    

A warm blanket will feel so good on these Autumn nights when chilly breezes blow softly through the open windows.  

Enjoy your day and this beautiful Autumn weather!