WREATHMAKER

 Our Canadian Thanksgiving is in one week. Due to COVID, we won't be having a Thanksgiving family dinner this year, but I did some decorating anyway. This Thanksgiving will be different in another way also, as one of our Grandsons is getting married during the same weekend. Due to our Provincial rules, they are only allowed 10 guests The wedding will be held in his parents' back yard so another 10 of us will be seated in the yard next door to see the ceremony.+ It has been almost 2 years since I  last posted. Sometimes life events get in the way!

"Sprucing"  up the house for Christmas...

I like Halloween to be fun..no tombstones, witches, ghouls, or ghosts. ...And the carved pumpkins should look cheerful. The little kids who came by tonight smiled ...no terror!

Some years we have had a killing frost by this date, but today these gardens are stunning. Photos just don't do it justice! The groundskeepers were still busy watering, trimming, and replacing worn sod. I have never seen such fine edging!

Garden flowers

Cooler days of fall often intensify the colors of our annuals, even though many have begun to produce seeds instead of flowers. I am still enjoying this arrangement in two planters,  I plant a mandevilla vine  each year especially in memory of my Mom, who so admired  that plant. I am loving succulents, and they seem to suit their terra cotta pots. Hoping that we have a late frost!

In my younger years I disliked petunias and preferred that my Mom planted pansies, stocks, or phlox. Fast forward to today, and you will find petunias of many different types in my garden. One of my favorites is "starry night". The flowers vary on the same plant, and are vivid shades from white to deep purple...truly a wonder in hybridizing! Each morning I head first to the petunia pots to see these lovely blooms... I hope you all are enjoying your summer days!

For the last ten years our family has gathered on the first day of the new year to celebrate cultures of different countries. This year our theme was Scandinavian. We went to the internet to find recipes ...everyone contributed a dish or two. Our daughter hosted. The menu was posted on the blackboard... Mason jar hand crafted lanterns were part of the table setting  Dansk china held some of the main dishes.... We had a lovely feast, and great family conversation. A wonderful start to 2017. I hope you are all enjoying God's blessings in  the fresh New Year!

We have a very snowy day today... poor driving conditions, but very pretty! I took a few photos and couldn't help comparing them to some taken August! Each season has it's own beauty.. Meanwhile, in the house preparations for Christmas are underway. After not decorating last year, I am enjoying decking the halls this time....(thankful!!) I heard that many areas of the USA and Canada are experiencing icy and snowy conditions. I pray that all of you will be safe.

The summer flew by and now we are enjoying autumn. My brother brought an armful of lovely bittersweet branches, so appropriate for the season. I wasted no time in decorating the mantel! Speaking of the  fireplace, we have made some changes during the summer. This is what it looked like last year... and earlier this summer... BEFORE.. and AFTER... We had the dark brick for 30 years...yes, 30! ...so it was time for a change. The room is considerably brighter. We had the walls painted in a blue-grey color and I am still looking for suitable art for the walls, and new window valances are in the works. We wanted a whitewash appearance to the brick so we used chalk paint diluted, and a small roller to skim the surface, leaving the indentations more exposed. The most difficult part was painting the grout lines. Just one more picture...our 4 foot tall vase with summer flowers... I miss them already!