The Changing Of The Colors

It is starting to occur in my garden as you can see by the background STELLATTA MAGNOLIA Tree.  It turns a  very pretty yellow before it drops its leaves.  This yellow rose is trying to outlast all the other rose bushes. It looks so cheerful through the dining room window on this very dreary day.  I think rain is in the forecast!

Quite close to the Magnolia Tree is a favorite plant of mine that will soon be a gorgeous rich rose red. The WINGED EUONYMUS (also called Burning Bush) is just beginning to turn colors.The branches are interesting because they feel like they  are almost square with ridges as you run your fingers along the stems..

 

And here we have a bunch of green acorns that came down during the storm this past week. I gathered some of them, washed them off and brought them in to add to my fall decor. I do not recall ever seeing that many green acorns in my garden in the past. I am sure the heavy winds brought them down.  The brown acorns are falling all day and all night. I can hear them falling when they hit anything that is hard, especially anything that is metal .

Hope you are having a Fabulous Sunday.

~Mary~

Silver Threads

What can I say. It is happening before my very own eyes. But, I guess that's not to bad for 70 years of age! Let me say again - it is genetic. The color may be good, but the texture and volume are the pits. Very fine hair and not a lot of it, takes a lot of "smoke and mirrors" to make it look decent!

It's not good hair for going swimming, exercising or driving a convertible. But, I do drive a convertible (Chrysler, Sebring JXi) and I love the car even though I usually have the top up. My car is a pretty metallic green car and is very comfortable, which is important with my back issues.  It is a low mileage 1998 model that has given me very little trouble. I enjoy the fancy gold wheel covers and all the extras - it is loaded. I certainly enjoyed the comfort during my recent trip to Carmel.

It is a beautiful fall day in the neighborhood!

~Mary~

When The Lights Go Out

Start knitting, of course!

Last night we had a storm with a capitol S. We certainly need the rain but this was a very powerful storm. About 3:30 PM yesterday afternoon the phone line and internet went out. And not long after, the lights went out. It is different in the mountains when all of these sources of power make an exit. It is very, very, very black once the night comes. You literally cannot see your hand in front of your face. And it is as quiet as quiet can be other than when the rain is falling and the wind is blowing.

It was time to light some candles and my favorite kerosene lamp. The lamp is so pretty with its 15 inch tall glass chimney. I don't use it often, but I am so thankful to have it when we have one of these storms. It really gives a lot of light. Enough light so I could knit. There really isn't very much that you can do when you live alone with your dog and the lights go out! However, I got a lot of knitting accomplished on the prayer shawl.

With all of the many "big an' tall" trees on my property, there was a lot of swaying going on around here. The wind brings down a lot (I wish all) leaves, branches and "dead wood" from the trees. The day before the storm I spent the day preparing for the "big storm" by cleaning up about six large trash barrels of fallen autumn leaves and the garden  looked so nice and clean. Not so, anymore. It is a mess!

Good and faithful Pumpkin was steadfast in his duties. To tell the truth if the electrical cord had not been anchoring him, he would have been long gone to who knows where, maybe to the rapidly flowing creek which I could watch from my window.

The power sources can back on about 2:30 AM this morning . It was certainly nice to be able to prepare fresh coffee this morning.  And, most importantly, I am thankful that I did not have any big damage from falling trees or large limbs.

I hope you are nice and warm and safe.

~Mary~

Have You Met This Man

Let me introduce you to one of California's infamous stagecoach robbers - Black Bart. The man in the photo is a local resident, Glen Wassen who is a reenactor of  Black Bart. He came to visit one of the groups that I attend. He was the subject of the program and very informative and entertaining. It was like an old fachioned melodrama with "hissing and booing". What fun!

"Black Bart was one of the most unusual stagecoach robbers in American history. There is no record of Bart every firing a shot in any of his robberies. Bart, however, was not so lucky. During one robbery a bullet shot at him grazed his head and left a scar. In his final robbery he was shot in the hand. When Bart was arrested he was using the name Charles E. Bolton, the name under which he had been living for years in San Francisco. When he was booked, he gave his name as T. Z. Spalding. However, Bart's real name was Charles E. Boles. Bart was tried, convicted and sentenced to San Quentin prison. He served his time, was released early, then disappeared without a trace. Is that the end of the story? Not a chance! The story of Black Bart is unique and interesting." 

If you are curious about Black Bart, you can find addition information from the Black Bart website http://www.blackbart.com/. 

Stay alert and keep an eye over your shoulder! OK.


~Mary~

Girls Night Out

Don't you just love it? This picture hangs on the wall in my living room over the television. It has some great detail that doesn't show very clearly no matter how I take the photo. However, if you enlarge it by clicking the photo it sure helps to see just how much fun "those girls" are having.  It certainly fits our current season but I leave it up all year because it makes me smile and I like the unexpected in my decor. What do you think about it?

Have you had a Girls Night Out lately?


About two years ago, I was "window shopping" with a friend in our little town and it was in the window.  Yes, in the window. I guess they know what they are doing with their window dressing!  I knew if I didn't get it, I would be sorry later. I have never regretted getting it.


Hope your weekend has been Bountiful and Fun.


~Mary~

Pumpkins And Acorns

Little by little more seasonal decorations are showing up at this home!

 Look at how the sun is shining through the flag from behind. I think it is quite interesting and I like it.

I hope you are having an Excellent Day.

~Mary~

Soup Making Weather

The nights have been chilly.  The days have been windy. That means it is time to prepare soups for the freezer - - - and for dinner. So, we have Lentil Sausage Soup and Black Bean Soup.  They are both nice hearty soups that are excellent for autumn evening dining.

The house is starting to look like the change of season. I am a little late getting started with the season decorations because of being away.

Have a Wonderful Day and keep a smile on your face.

~Mary~

On The Road Again

Pacific Grove was the next place that we enjoyed. We walked Lighthouse Avenue and enjoyed the shops. This is one area where I really noticed a lot of vacant store fronts undoubtedly because of the recession! However, Miss Trawick's Garden Shop really caught my attention.

In the distance you can see the evening time fog rolling in. But, look at the cute things for the home and garden in this shop. The inside shop area was very large and immediately I spotted a pair of small ceramic roasters similar to what my mother had on her kitchen window sill.

Immediately I knew I had to have them, REALLY, even though I have been downsizing. They are nicely crafted by Raz, just the right size, about 7 1/2 inches tall. Even after perusing the shop, I knew that I still had to have them. My shopping/buying has been minuscule as it should be.   I bought them. Then, I took myself back to Carmel Country Inn hoping to stay away from any further mischief!

Before long, I was hungry but not too hungry.  Clam Chowder sounded in my head so it was time to find another "pet friendly" dining spot. A short walk from 3rd Ave. (where we were) to Sixth Ave  and we were at Village Corner (a mediterranean bistro). Once again, the hospitality was unparalled. The evening sun was beginning to set and the fire fit was aflame. The Clam Chowder was devine. Bread and a little vino and I was "a happy camper". Lily was excellent (what can I say?) and drew lots of attention. By the time we were ready to depart, the patio was full with diners. On our way out, Lily was getting all kinds of admiration and it seemed as though everyone wanted to talk to us. It was fun.

I will leave you now, with this beautiful picture of the evening sky taken from our dining spot.

We traveled home the next day. We experienced a WONDERFUL "get-away"! I feel very blessed.

Wishing you a Beautiful Autumn day.

~Mary~

Traveling, Shopping And More Eating

But, NOT traveling home as originally planned. I was having such a nice time that I decided to stay another day. I still wanted to go to Carmel Valley, Monterey and Pacific Grove. I thought we should spend another day because I don't know when I will be able to return.  Also, I wanted to go back to the Sierra Shirts of Carmel and purchase a pink hooded sweat shirt with the Carmel emblem. So, off we walked to Ocean Avenue.

After getting my sweat shirt we walked through Carmel Plaza and stopped in at Talbots and Anthropologie.

Then, it was time to get into the car and go to Carmel Valley. It was fun to see all the changes since I was last in the area. I had no idea where we were going to have lunch, but I knew that I wanted seafood. When I saw the Village Fish House with patio seating, we stopped to have lunch.

Crab cakes on a Mixed Greens Salad with French Bread and Red Wine fit the bill along with a little Creme Brulee for dessert. Nothing very special, but OK.

Lily was her usual self and nicely behaved. Monterey was the next destination. The ocean was beautiful!

This next photo is a real favorite of mine. It was about 3 PM and the fog was starting to roll in at Asilomar Golf Course. The deer were grazing along side the golfers and their moving golf carts. I was surprised that the deer were so nonchalant!

It is so nice to relive all of these beautiful sights as I am posting. Tomorrow, I will have the remainder of the vacation entries. Until then - - -

~Mary~

Window Shopping And More Eating

Another view of the ocean before the fog had completely cleared.  How would you like to live in that house overlooking the ocean?

The time had come to walk around the town of Carmel and have a look see at lots of things that are gorgeous, very expensive and not needed by me. If you have ever been to Carmel, then you know what a lovely little town it is. How 'bout a little blue box from Tiffany -

or, some halloween/fall decorations -

or, maybe some glittery baubles?

It was very enjoyable walking around and acting like a "tourist". Oh, I guess that is what I was!

I decided that I was going to have a nice dinner with almost anything I wanted from the menu. The only important issue was that the restaurant had to be "pet friendly".  PorteBella (mediterranean country cuisine) was highly recommended by some folks that we met. When we arrived two gentlemen were having drinks in the front courtyard.

A tall dapper European man with a straw hat (probably the proprietor) welcomed us graciously and escorted us to a terrace for "pet friendly" dining. Since I was the only pet-owner diner, it was like having our very own garden room for dining.

As you can see, Lily did not lack for first rate attention. And, she was her angel self.  The wait staff seemed to really enjoy her.

And, I really enjoyed my dinner. A leisure walk to our B & B in the evening dusk and I would call it a Very Good Day.

Until next time.

~Mary~

Vacation Day Three

It was Thursday, September 24. - - - Because there was a plumbing problem with the vanity sink, we were upgraded to a "King Size Suite". The inn keepers moved everything for us while we went "out and about". It was a lovely upgrade for one night while the plumbing issue was remedied.  You can tell by this photo that Lily really liked the front room window with the sofa so she could fulfill her surveillance duties.

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With the return of a high level of energy , we were "off and running" for a fun day. We started with going to see the ocean by starting at the end of Ocean Avenue and driving along the coast. It was a gorgeous day and the views were out of this world. We couldn't have had better weather. You can see how the morning fog was lifting and the skies were becoming a beautiful blue color.

The next stop was Cypress Inn to have some afternoon tea.

This was the first time for Lily to go into a restaurant setting (which is always patio seating) with me for a meal.  I had no idea she would be so good and "trouble free".  She just sat on the chair looking around and when she would see someone or another dog, her tail would start waging as fast as she could make it go. I really could hardly believe it. She never begged! But, as you can see I did give her some tiny bread crumbs at the corner of the table. She happily ate them and then continued on with her excellent behavior. What a gal!

This was a wonderful time in Carmel. I am glad that I can share it with you.  There will be more in my next post.

Hope you are having a Wonderful Day.

~Mary~