Pumpkins love Gelato

 Plant companions... a long held standard for gardening and growing happy plants
Must be true... because the pumpkin seeds that I started in previously used gelato containers, are doing great!
(perhaps this version of companion planting isn't exactly as those gardeners of old imagined..hee hee)
The seeds are germinating at a 100% rate, with no loss of seeds.

 The seeds are from Baker Creek, and must be nearly 7, or 8 years old.
Hurrah for heirloom seeds!

 To get seeds started, I created a mini greenhouse on a folding table in our dining area. 
Cut down foam cups placed in smaller, clear storage containers.

 The zone that we are in now is a zone 7. Previously, I had learned to grow a garden in zone 5a. 
In fact, the local nursery owner told me last fall when we purchased new trees from him that we would have to water our trees in the winter. Once a month, dump a 5 gallon pail of water on them, so that the roots didn't dry out.

 Our daughter jokingly refers to our new town as the St. George addition. 
You see, we are just 2 hrs. from St. George, but our climate is more temperate. Not as hot in the summer as St. George, but not nearly as cold and snowy as our previous town.
In fact, our new home town is called "Little Green Valley"
Also, homes and land are still affordable around here, and if you want to park an RV, no problem.
(we had the hardest time finding a home to buy, or build in St. George that we could park our RV at our own home, without renting additional storage space)

 Our home was built in 2007, and faces East.
The morning sun had discolored part of the trim around 3 of the 4 garages.

 After a fresh coat of paint, the trim looks great. 
Quick maintenance project, with a big impact.

 Both the double garage door, and one of the single garage door trims are looking a whole lot better. 
The fourth car garage door doesn't get direct sun exposure and so there isn't any discoloration on the trim, therefore I didn't paint the trim on that door.

As I've been staying at home and getting projects done, I decided that I needed a creative project, so I went into my stash of silk flowers and put together a spring wreath for the front door. 

I also have a pretty big stash of ribbon, so that came in handy as well.

Until next time, stay well, and enjoy this glorious springtime season!

* Sunflowers, Sea Holly and pre~Fall mini Haul

 Sunflowers and Sea Holly arrangements...

A buttery yellow Zinnia and Sea Holly

 Gathered enough Sea Holly, and Sunflowers and feather tops from asparagus that has gone to seed that I made three...

 sweet little arrangements to place throughout the cottage.

 Not real wood. 
Simple faux wood signs from the Dollar Tree. 

 This little faux wood sign I'll attach a  wooden stake to the back,  and then place it in a pumpkin display on our front porch, once pumpkin season arrives.

 A newly acquired thrifted find. 
Sunflowers, leaves and an acorn on one side...

 Pumpkin and sunflowers on the opposing side. 

 A flameless candle {scented too!} small plaque, metal 'Gather Together' sign, and a thrifted flat back basket that hangs on a peg. ~ the above items were from Hobby Lobby.

 Hello, Fall wooden cutout, also from Hobby Lobby.

 A work in progress: Bleached Pinecones.

Bleached Pinecones, after the first attempt. I used 1/2 bleach and 1/2 water and soaked the pinecones for 48 hrs. 
Currently, the pine cones are on their second soak in the bucket. This time, I'm using 100% bleach and hoping that the pinecones bleach out more this go~round. I'll keep you posted. If you've bleached pinecones before, leave me a comment and let me know how well it worked out for you, and also how you used the bleached pine cones in your decor. 


Attitude of gratitude:
~ Thankful for a super fun date with my husband; fishing at the lake and a picnic dinner.

~ A few of my favorite things....October ~

 October is without a doubt, my favorite month of all.
I adore the colors of the changing leaves, the soft light of mornings, and that crisp air.
My sweet husband and I go for a walk everyday together, and these last few days we've walked up on the foothills and around the farms.

 The road to the dairy farm.
Our home is just on the other side of the dairy, and nestled alongside the foothills.

The road leads to the ponds.

 Over the creek we go, and up past some darling old farm houses.

 Old farmhouse made of cut stone.

 Adorable white farmhouse with a vintage wire and wood fence.

 Yellow farmhouse with a picket fence, and black shutters.

 Darling red screen door and welcoming entry posts.

Our home... all decorated for Halloween.
Can you spy our dog Rowdy's basketball? It blends right in with those cheery pumpkins~!

 Near the front door... broom parking for all.

 On the sofa table... a fantastic ceramic pumpkin that we bought in Santa Fe.
 Fence post pumpkins, made from scrap wood last fall, and four little Halloween ceramic 'egg heads' that I painted nearly 22 years ago.

Faux gourds and a white pumpkin, a Halloween hat box, and another little ceramic piece I painted 22 years ago too.

"Spooky" wood letters on the mantle, and a few wood craft pumpkins. The simple "boo" banner that I made last fall.

 These things are just a few of my favorite things this October.

~Attitude of gratitude:
~I'm so grateful for my wonderful family. They are my greatest blessing!
~Feeling thankful for cozy, fuzzy socks.
~Grateful for the time I had Sunday to study my scriptures; renewed my determination to be charitable, and loving, and to seek opportunities of service.
~Grateful for Monday night family dinners, and the opportunity to increase my baking and cooking skills.
~Feeling thankful for our 'new' leaf blower. Wow.. sure makes 'sweeping' the sidewalk, driveway and gutters a snap! Why didn't we buy a leaf blower years ago?? We were in St. George at to go to Tuacahn, and while we were there, we stopped by D.I. and I found a Stihl gas powered lawn blower for just $30.00. Yay!! Love a great buy!!

~* Autumn Blessings *~

 There is no other time of the year I love more..... for me, Autumn is the finest season of all.
The crisp morning, and gorgeous sunrises and sunsets, rain storms, and thunder.
A cup of cocoa while sitting next to the fireplace. The smell of woodsmoke in the air, cozy blankets to cuddle under.
Crispy~crunchy leaves to walk through, football games to cheer to, and warm bowls of soup.
The list goes on and on... all things wonderful about autumn.

 Slowly, I've been breaking out the autumn decor.
Little bits here and there, and most can stay out throughout the autumn season.
Gourds, and twinkle lights.
Chalkboard signs......

Faux berries, and candles.
A wee corn husk basket...

 More candles, and a flickering candlestick.

 The picture stays up year round.. a tribute to my favorite season, it depicts a harvest season in a small mountain village... quite like the area that we live in, actually.
Colors of gold, and yellows, and crimsons.

 In the kitchen, a large galvanized tray holds a 'blessings' platter, a small lantern, and a pitcher full of glorious green faux hydrangeas.

 On the range, a new pumpkin.; porcelain covered cast iron pot.
 I've wanted one like this for ever...... one day while perusing Wal Mart, I spied this lovely thing, and promptly bought it.
I think it will stay on the top of the range for many weeks to come. Of course I'll cook in it!
Thinking about chili, chicken and dumplings, cowboy casserole, beef and barley soup....etc..etc.

 A beautiful metal pumpkin sits front and center on the buffet in the dining area of the kitchen.
A small bunch of faux bittersweet tumbles out of a grapevine basket.

 On the windowsill, little acorns...... found on a morning walk recently.
The 'Fresh Eggs' sign is a recent yard sale purchase, and sits next to a brown spatter ware pitcher, also a yard sale find.

 In the living room, on the blanket hutch a small bowl of 'ancient' coins, and two aged brass candlesticks.
The candlesticks and the coins were a recent purchase, found at a thrift store in Santa Fe.
They always will be a warm memory of a great trip with my sweet husband.

While I can't authenticate the age of the coins that I was told are 'ancient', I still love their patina and their shape, and they are certainly a topic of conversation.

 The last of the flowers fill a few vases around the house.
Lovely colors of gold and pinks and salmon.

Little birds flock to the last of the sunflowers and enjoy the last of the warm days.
*my sweet husband took this picture.

 Another picture that my sweetheart took.
What a sweet little bird.

 One more picture that my hubby took.... I do love this one, so much. I love that little bird perched on a dry sunflower. A perfect Autumn photo.

 Deer in the meadow.... grazing.
I love to see the deer, but I am dreading when they move into the yard and start munching on our plants.

The elk, higher in the meadow.
The elk are in the rut now, and bugling can be heard at all times of the day, and sometimes at night.
The elk farmer has already trimmed their antlers so that they don't hurt each other.

 The time to be happy is now.... absolutely!
Autumn is an especially happy time for me.
Hope you are all enjoying this wonderful time of year.
So, have you tried the "Pumpkin Spice" Lindt truffles?
Or the Pumpkin Butter that you can buy at Trader Joes?

~Attitude of gratitude
~Grateful for good health.
~Grateful for a wonderful husband and great kids!
~Feeling thankful that the lawns have dried out from last weeks storms and I can get the mowing done. I have always enjoyed mowing the lawns, and I'm grateful that I have the good health that allows me to do it.