Let them eat Autumn cake. . . . . . .but pasta first!

In the blink of an eye things changed. . . . . . .Autumn arrived this week
and I almost missed it! 
 Medical appointments led to a major medical procedure yesterday - all is well
 thankfully. This morning after my first full night of sound sleep in almost a week, 
I awoke to a cold soaking rain, the leaden sky sunless and threatening, fallen
 leaves - the fig tree now almost bare - and a little voice telling me I can eat real
 food again after a five day liquid diet and a 6 lb. weight loss due to it!

 Autumn and Winter are my favorite seasons to cook. . . . . and eat!
Last week the jar of pasta sauce caught my eye in HomeGoods - 
Pemberton being my mother's family name, her father bringing it to England
 from his birthplace in Canada.  A name far from sounding Italian,
however this delicious sauce is as Italian as pasta sauces come, and actually
 came from a gourmet food company in the New England state of Maine!

I tell you, the world is really getting to be a small place in more ways than one.

Leaving home ---------------

This could be my 'last rose of summer' - a yellow Peace tucked in between 

two huge now withered hydrangea bushes.

Did it bloom to say "goodbye" as we leave, hefting the cumbersome luggage 

down the driveway for our ride to the airport later?

We stowed all garden knick knacks, seat cushions, bird feeders, umbrella etc., 

anything able to blow around and cause damage in a windstorm.

First leaves falling from the fig tree - on yet another already sweltering morning.

Very little autumn color here yet, but perhaps on our return it will have cooled at
 long last, the leaves will have changed to gold and rust, and hopefully rain - a lot
 of soaking rain - will have fallen to end the serious drought conditions. 

When we leave town this afternoon the temperature will be 99F/37C - hard to
 believe this is October and each day is breaking heat records here.

Next post should be from London when we arrive tomorrow and have an
 overnight at Heathrow, then on to Lisbon Saturday where we board the
 ship . . . . . . . or, if not from there, who knows where! This trip is going to so 
many places and I'm hoping to blog when Internet is available!
At least it will be cooler our first few days in Europe . . . . . . . . . . . I'm so
 looking forward to that, plus wearing boots and a sweater at long last!

Enjoy your October days.

Sunday Morning Raptor Visit!

Bob yelled, "Quick, a hawk in the tree."

I rushed to the window, saw who he was talking about, though almost 

hidden behind the dead leaves.

Asked him to grab my camera while I gently pulled up the blinds!

Dive-bombing small, very fast, noisy birds were hitting the young

 Red-tailed hawk's head, but it stayed just long enough for me to get a

 few photos then apparently said to itself, enough of this malarkey, 

I'm off to greener pastures.

I always enjoy unexpected garden visitors!

Classic Knits in Desert Shades -

Sweaters!  

Perhaps not for the desert, although those who camp out overnight

would require one as it does get chilly once the sun sets.

Sweaters in desert colors have however been on my radar recently.

Each year, especially around this time, the knitwear choices seem more

and more exciting. I'm definitely a sweater collector and probably

should never buy another, but when I see something that catches

my eye - a new style, a color I've been searching for, sumptuous yarn -

I'm hooked!

I have purchased this rust version because it checked all my boxes -

a color I've wanted for some time, mock turtleneck, dolman sleeves, 

lighter weight for here in the south, and at H&M quite inexpensive.

Coats can be knits too!  

This camel shade from H&M is a knitted fabric brushed on the outside

 to a soft, lightweight and cozy fabric, ideal as a grab and go casual coat, 

perfect for travel in the cooler weather. It is a classic cut, straight with

 good pockets, always a must for me. It also comes in a light grey, and a

 deep chocolate brown, and the price is awesome.

Yes, I did buy this one and I know I'll find it useful once the really chilly days

arrive and a longer coat feels better than a short jacket.

This collage displays some favorite things of the season. 

We've just enjoyed two early mornings with dew and much cooler

 temps - a fabulous feeling after such a long spell of heat. 

But the desert calls and soon we'll be feeling the heat again. . . . . .packing 

will not include hefty knitwear, perhaps just a classic cashmere cardigan

to throw over the shoulders evenings when on board the ship.

Best wishes for a lovely early Autumn weekend.

We're heading out of town for an overnight and a visit 

to dear friends. . . . . . then back here to really get on with 

all the things necessary to leave home and travel overseas. . . . . . 

. . . . . . . it's hard work, take my word for it!

Time Tables -

I love old tables.

Farm tables especially catch my eye and make me want to pull up a chair, 

sit down and run my hand over beautiful aged wood. 

Family histories have often been created around a table. 

A beautiful slab of wood supported on four legs, plain, turned or carved,

can hold history from several generations.

Tables age but seldom wear out, they stand solidly taking the daily knocks,

scratches and dings of life.

They may have been dressed elegantly on special occasions when

 the best ironed linens, china and silverware were used in celebration.

For everyday, a more rustic look with a linen tablecloth draped 

casually can turn the table into a surface for a casual meal, even a

 workspace for writing and creating.

This year I've used the farmhouse style table in my dining room much more
for projects than dining. Currently it's my desk and covered with folders, papers, 
lists, travel itineraries - we'll soon be on the move again to places far away.

The bounty at our favorite pumpkin farm. . . . captured on a lovely Autumn
 afternoon in early October last year.  I'll really miss our annual visit chatting to
 our farm friends and bringing home pumpkins, gourds and squash.