WREATHMAKER

? I am using my Evesham by Royal Worcester today. Many years ago,I started out with a few bowls my Mom brought back from a trip to England where they visited the factory, and had a few pieces shipped home. I fell in love with the pattern and bought a few items to start a tea set. My dear husband then gave me the plates, etc. for 8. Since then I have added many pieces. I baked a rustic plum tart, using the remaining pastry from apple pies I made a few days ago.    Coffee will go well with the plum dessert, so I brought out the coffee server.  The centerpiece is a vintage cornucopia I bought for my Mom in about 1960 at Red Wing, Mn. I filled it with faux foliage and flowers. I decorated the mantel with lights and ropes of leaves, as it is so gloomy and cloudy these days...I thought it would cheer things up a bit... I hope you are enjoying autumn wherever you are!

  For The Beauty Of The Earth For the beauty of the earth, For the beauty of the skies, For the love which from our birth Over and around us lies, Lord of all, to thee we raise This our grateful hymn of praise. For the beauty of each hour Of the day and of the night, Hill and vale, and tree and flower, Sun and moon and stars of light, Lord of all, to thee we raise This our grateful hymn of praise. For the joy of human love, Brother, sister, parent, child, Friends on earth, and friends above, Pleasures pure and undefiled, Lord of all, to thee we raise This our grateful hymn of praise. For each perfect gift of thine, To our race so freely given, Graces human and divine, Flowers of earth and buds of heaven, Lord of all, to thee we raise This our grateful hymn of praise. For thy Church which evermore Lifteth holy hands above, ...

One of our favorite fall destinations is Minnesota...not far away, but still the experience of a different country... Last week we camped at Baker Park, near Minneapolis. Although in the photo below our trailer looks rather lonely, on the weekend the campground was almost full...including many brave souls in tents!  Some of the things we did... Attending Grace Church in Eden Prairie...(lovely building...seats 4200!) ...shopping at Arbor Lakes.. ...checking out the tablesettings at Pottery Barn... ...and visiting Bachman's garden center and gift shop.... ...nice memories stowed away in our minds....

This week's blooms have been brought in to the house, for autumn bouquets... The flowers included are: Mandevilla vine, pinky-winky hydrangea, limelight hydrangeas, incrediball hydranges, dahlias, solomon seal foliage, coleus foliage, chrysanthemum,dusty miller, buddleia. ..and some johnny-jump-ups in an old lustre cream jug... ..and Rosemary and sage, ready to dry... ...a pleasant sight as I walk through the kitchen... Let us join our lovely hostess, Tootsie , for her weekly gathering of gardeners. Thank you, Tootsie.

Happy Fall, Everyone! It is hard to believe we are into cooler weather now. I am trying to enjoy the remaining flowers in the garden as much as possible, and bringing some blooms indoors to cheer up some gloomy days.    Love the Granny Smith apple green of the hydrangeas...   Buddleia is pretty in the blue vase.. My supermarket mums are coming into full bloom...   Let's join Tootsie for Friday Flower Flaunting

Last week we packed up our little trailer and headed just 250 miles South, to Minnesota. We stayed at Maplewood State Park, a very pretty area.

It's time to think about replenishing my stash of tags, so while on vacation, I enjoyed making a few Thanksgiving and fall tags, as well as some for all seasons. There is something very relaxing about fiddling with paper and glue and scissors. There are some very generous folks, such as The Graphics Fairy, who allow their graphics to be used for personal use, and I thank them.

***Any of the photos can be enlarged by clicking on them*** This week we took a little trip to one of our favorite places-- Minnesota. We camped near Minneapolis at Baker Lake Park. I picked some lovely colorful maple leaves I tried out a method to preserve them , and rather like the result. This weekend we celebrate Thanksgiving here in Canada We are planning a family dinner, so I have to change from vacation mode to chief cook.

When flowers are blooming, I can't resist bringing in a bouquet for the dining room table, and let's face it, anywhere else I can inject a little colour. This week the lilies are blooming....

I am so surprised at the number of views (7300) and downloads (1200) my webshots album of fall flowers has received this week alone. One of the photos was chosen by webshots as "photo of the day", a few days ago, which generated all the interest. I am indeed flattered and pleased. Every year, I decorate the church for Thanksgiving ,which in Canada is celebrated on Sunday, not Thursday as in the USA. That particular day we also celebrated communion, so some of the photos show part of the communion table as well. The webshots album can be found at: http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/560966198rZjorn

It was good to have fresh flowers from the garden to decorate the church this year, Usually frost has killed them by this date.

The colours of autumn are so varied. We went out to our son's garden and picked luscious red tomatoes , and brought home honey-toned onions. The photo here is of a muted green pumpkin, which looks like it is glazed pottery. The orange Celosia is so vibrant. Someone said yesterday that he feels God gave us beautiful autumn colors, so that when winter comes with it's grey and white, we will remember.

Autumn is right around the corner, so I have started to decorate accordingly, with some late summer flowers.