"Good Day Sunshine"

Immortalized in the well known Beatles song, 

the lyrics stated, "good day sunshine". . .  

. . . .and that's what we enjoyed on Saturday for the 

Fall Festival at SuzAnna's Antiques and the 

Vintage Village here in town.

Hand painted signs are really popular again and there 

are some fabulous ones made by dealers at SuzAnna's.

For those of you perhaps waaaay up north, or living abroad, 

and not familiar with southern expressions, "HEY, Y'ALL" 

means Hello/Hi all of you! Yes, there is a different 

language spoken here in the south, and it took me awhile 

to get it. . . and even after 37 years here I still 

sometimes have difficulty when I hear a true southern 

accent rife with southern colloquialisms.

My personal pretty purchase for the day - the English 

(made in Staffordshire) tea pot naturally. 

Never have enough - although I did cull my collection 

some time back so this makes just three. At just $9.00

I couldn't pass it up.

The lovely girls - granddaughters Cassie, Jasmin 

(who works weekends at SuzAnna's), 

my fabulous friend Vanessa who now lives several 

hours away but came to see us, and Susie, co-owner 

of the shop with her daughter Jenny. Sorry Jenny we 

didn't snap you in this one, you were working so 

diligently with your many customers!

This lovely sign said it all. 

As always, we had fun here, then Cassie, Vanessa and I 

headed to Anthropologie for more eye candy browsing - and 

a little buying (show you later), then met up with my Bob 

for some thirst quenching iced coffee at Starbucks.

A perfect day in every way.

Fall means fashion. . . . . . . .

I'm catching my breath after a very busy weekend.

It's time for a fashion post from these parts!

Here in the southeast the humidity still hangs heavy in 

the air and the temperature has been heating up to around 

80F by noon. Not at all like true Autumn weather, 

but most enjoyable, especially when yesterday we headed 

back to the countryside and pumpkin farm in brilliant sunshine. 

Yes, never fear, I will be sharing more pumpkins in my 

next post, and yes I think you will love them!

I also had a marvelous time at the Fall Festival at

SuzAnna's Antiques at the Vintage Village on Saturday, so 

I'll be sharing that too. Some very special people came to 

town and were treasure hunting with me!

Today is dreary and showery, but that's perfectly OK.

Sweaters and boots have come out of storage and are 

ready to wear any day now!

I love Autumn/Winter clothes. 

I am a cool/cold weather person.

 I love soft pull-on hats and snuggly scarves. I have a 

drawer full of gloves and wrist warmers, and another of 

cuddly ankle to over-the-knee socks. 

I love this lightweight casual sweater for Fall days 

when a woolly sweater is just too heavy for my area. 

I bought this one in both grey and black at H&M - under $20 - 

washable, feels so silky yet cozy and will be great for 

layering as the temperatures drop later.
Leather pants, no way at my age, but I have invested 
in comfortable, classic, black knit ankle pants 
from J.Jill.

I'm picky about footwear. I would really enjoy just 

one new pair of boots for the coming season. 

I have flat riding boots and shorter boots, still in 
great shape, so looking now for a pair of ankle booties 
with a bit of a heel. 

Would love grey leather - these from Cole Hahn 

are my favorite. A bit pricey, but well made, all leather,
 and a classic style that won't date, I'm not into extra 
pointy toes and skyscraper heels. . . .plus they gave a 

$50 discount last week, and free shipping.
When I hear the UPS truck pull up today they will be on board!

I've finished knitting up my skeins of beautiful natural 
wool purchased in the Falkland Islands last year. 
A cozy scarf, very plain and classic in style.
When I wear it on chilly days I'll have happy memories 
of my amazing voyage to Antarctica.

I'd like a new Winter bag, something more 
constructed. I'm so tired of fishing through a soft 
bag and digging through the conglomeration of items piled 
in the bottom . . . just know there's pen or a Ricola 
down there somewhere!
I found one for Summer, soft leather outside but quite 
sturdy with three distinct sections and several smaller 
pockets to organize stuff - and loved it.
Anyone checked the bag section in T.J.Maxx lately?
What happened to discount priced merchandise there?
Many racks of high-priced designer labels now.
Last week the first bag I looked at was marked down 
to $398.00! 
Many others were in the $200-$400 price range, crazy!
Still looking for mine needless to say.

Are you adding anything special or fun to your Autumn/Winter wardrobe this season? 
Do you shop for bargains?

Measure, roll, chop, stir, bake, eat . . . .

What's missing from this Autumn afternoon

tea break? Something homemade to nibble on perhaps.

This was my grandmother's china. It's delicate and

really not for outdoor use, but now and then I just

enjoy making a cuppa in that exquisite little teapot.

The memories of my maternal grandma come flooding back. 

I loved her dearly.

I spent a lot of time with her. 

She cared for me until I was four and started school 

because my mother had to work. . .but I only had her 

until I was eleven. When she died, her leaving 

left a huge emptiness in my life.

I do enjoy baking something for teatime or dessert, 

especially if company is expected. Yes, I know, there are

nice pastries at bakeries, even some grocery stores, but

I always feel a sense of well-being when I've taken time

to bake something from scratch, don't you?

Blueberry muffins. . . 

. . . a blackberry galette. . .

. . . or a nice slice of cake.

Will you be baking over the weekend?

Now the days are cooler heating up the kitchen

is no longer a problem. 

My oven will be baking a blackberry and apple

crumble. . . .and those butternut squash!

. . . . . . .pumpkin eaters!

When at the pumpkin farm recently, I also gathered 

some smaller pumpkins and just-picked butternut squash

for roasting.

Did you know all pumpkins are excellent for cooking.

Freda at the farm told me to use the small green-striped 

(top left above) squash for a quick, delicious dessert.

She cuts off the top, scoops out the seeds, tosses in 

some brown sugar, cinnamon and butter, and microwaves for 

a few minutes . . . can't wait to give it a try.

We always love butternut squash, steamed and mashed 

with a knob of butter, alongside similar rutabagas 

(swedes to the Brits!), and some greens, on a veggie 

platter - perfection on a cold winter night. 

However, roasting butternuts is even better. Peel 
and cut into 2" pieces, drizzle with olive oil, salt 
and pepper, toss and roast in a 425F pre-heated oven for about 
25 mins., turning halfway to get nice brown edges, 
until fork tender.

My two golden pumpkins above, picked out by Freda as 

the best ones for roasting, will be cut up and oven baked just 
like the butternuts.

All pumpkins are excellent for cooking, according to 
the French, who are experts in coming up with fabulous 
savory and sweet dishes containing these rustic 
cultivars of the squash plant.

Long ago, the Native Americans roasted long strips of 
pumpkin over open fires for food, they also dried strips and 

wove them into mats. The origin of the pumpkin pie occurred 

when the Colonists sliced off the pumpkin top, scraped out 

the seeds and filled it with milk, spices and honey, then 

baked it in hot ashes. . . .much better, and healthier, 
than a microwave.

Sounds quite delicious to me!

Do you have any special pumpkin or squash recipes to share?

Oxford Green . . . . .

This is the lovely shop I discovered on Saturday evening 

while having a glass of wine at the Oktoberfest. Of course 

hubby, and most other people on the green where live music 

was in full swing, were quaffing large glasses of beer - 

I'm just not a beer drinker - so he managed to 

find me an overpriced plastic cup of a not too 

bad chilled Sauvignon Blanc. 

What a great guy I have!

The shops were open late so when we rounded a corner and 

spied this inviting doorway, we decided to look around.

I love it when I enter a shop and someone calls out 

"Welcome" and really seems to mean it, as owner Shawna 

(left above)did. I love it even more when the merchandise 

is gorgeous, and when I ask if I may take photos for my 

blog, the answer is, "yes of course". 

So, take a look at the shop dressed for Autumn,

 and the pretty items that caught my eye.

Shawna, and her assistant Angelica, also design 

beautiful informal floral arrangements, the kind 

I love. I must go back and get some pics of their 

work with flowers another time.

I was thrilled to see my long time blog friend 

Vicki Archer's book on display - I know many of you follow 

Vicki's fabulous blog.

I love this shop, so full of color - that's something 

with me being such a 'neutral' decorator in my cottage.

On my wish list here would be the original painting 

(local artist) of the irises, one of those beautiful 

birdhouses, the floral inspired trumeau style mirror, 

and some of those gorgeous blue planters. 

I also love the menswear fabric pumpkins for fall decorating.

So, what would you like to take home from Oxford Green?

Edited: Here's a few of the beautiful flower arrangements I told you about.
I went back today. Rain is coming down in buckets, but as I'd
already made lunch plans at a restaurant almost next door, I was 
able to take a lovely friend with me and introduce her to 
the pleasures of Oxford Green.

Cottage decor for Autumn . . . . .

Autumn is a second Spring when every leaf is a flower

~ Albert Camus

Autumn touches inside the cottage are quite minimal. 

Although we've no overseas travel planned to take us away 
this Fall, I just want to keep things simple.

I've saved and dried the two largest sunflower heads from 
the garden, complete with their seeds intact. They are really 
so beautiful. I had to cut them from their five foot stalks 
before the squirrels or birds made a meal of them.
Perhaps I'll sow these seeds next Spring and the cycle 
will be repeated - I like that thought.

These dainty 'stripeys' will become dessert later! 

I'll tell you how in an upcoming post on cooking squash 

and pumpkin.

I'm using two of the grey-green pumpkins here in the 

antique French dough bowl on the dining room table - they

blend well with those great spools of linen thread.

That's it for now - but I may do something floral when I find

the right blooms, something loose, wild, with berries and 

leaves, perhaps a walk in the country, through the fields, 

along the hedgerows is required. 

Have you done any interior decorating for Autumn yet?

Hello Autumn . . . . .

The Autumnal Equinox brings the 

fall season to the Northern hemisphere 

at 10:29 PM today.

Are you ready to celebrate this

beautiful season of the year?

The weekend was busy. After the visit to the pumpkin farm on Friday, see my previous post, I also visited the Vintage Village and SuzAnna's Antiques on Saturday. The lovely Jenny was on TV last week as part of the 'Garage Gold' show on the DIY network, and she'll be in more episodes later. You may want to watch out for this show.

Sharing pics of a few treasures from SuzAnna's for those of 

you who love 'the hunt' for antiques, vintage and more.

I especially enjoyed photographing a few rusty finds - the 

color for Autumn, and definitely great with bright blue,

such as the azure Carolina skies of the perfect 

'Indian Summer' weather we're having. 

SuzAnna's Autumn 'flower' made from rusty saws 

is a hit this season.

Next weekend will be another busy one at The Vintage Village 

when Saturday's Fall Festival celebration will take place. 

Fingers crossed the great weather continues.

Saturday evening Bob and I also stopped by the early 

Oktoberfest celebration at nearby Lafayette Village 

shopping venue.

While there I discovered another really great shop for home 

and garden decor - I'll soon be sharing the lovely things

I found there with you soon.

Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile.

 - William Cullen Bryant

Pumpkin country . . . . .

This post will wow you with color! Autumn IS on its way, 

and here's proof from the fields of our beautiful 

North Carolina Piedmont area.

My partial stack of beauties - and Jasmin still had to add 

her picks . . .

I love taking country drives away from the hustle and bustle 

of the city.

On Friday we headed south to Harnett County. Partly sunny 

skies, very warm temperatures, and yet a feeling of Autumn 

was definitely apparent as we got farther away from town.

Tobacco fields were starting to be picked, hay was baled, 

corn was gone, fields already being ploughed under and new 

Winter crops were being planted.

When we arrived at our destination, Johnson's Pumpkins 

were waiting, plentiful and pretty, every color, every 

size and, as always, hard to pick favorites from such 

an array.

Perhaps even more enjoyable than choosing pumpkins, 

was spending time with not only farmer Doug - Bob loves 

'shooting the breeze' with him, and his welcoming wife 

Freda who always gives me great recipe tips for cooking 

the pumpkins - but a lot more of the Johnson farm 

family including their children and grandchildren.

Their grandson Easton above, permitted us to watch his 

efforts at hill rolling, posed for me with the horses in 

the nearby pasture, and talked us into playing ball with 

him in the farmhouse driveway. I assure you this was no 

quick stop to grab pumpkins and drive off, it was a truly 

wonderful afternoon visit with the nicest people imaginable.

 

This was granddaughter Jasmin's first visit with us 

to the farm - I think she'll enjoy going again. 

She took some awesome photos, nice to be young, 

able to crouch and get up again! 

Perhaps she'll share them with you later.

If you're close by I think you'd truly enjoy a visit to 

Johnson's Pumpkins as we do. It has become an annual 

happening we look forward to in September. In fact we 

even stopped by in July just to have a chat - Doug 

introduced us to his cows, and took us on a stroll 

around his pond, from there we could see the fields 

where Freda had planted her pumpkin seeds. We know

the hard work involved to grow from seed to harvest

on a family farm is huge, so much of a successful 

harvest depends on the weather. This was an usually 

wet Summer here in this area of North Carolina so

there were problems - quite honestly though I still 

think the Johnsons pumpkins are magnificent as always. 

I also purchased baking pumpkins and butternut 

squash, more on those in another post.