There was a time. . . . . .

 . . . . . . . I was so much more neutral when it came to decorating the cottage. 

If you've followed my blog for years you will recall the days of white slip

 covers, a pain to remove, wash, and get back on, and not favorites of the

 red wine guzzlers - of which I'm definitely a member in the winter months, 

once the hot weather rosé has been consumed!

FYI - if you're interested, a much favored red around here is 

Robert Mondavi Private Selection - Aged in Bourbon Barrels

 Cabernet Sauvignon

The two awesome plates, bottom left - Swan & Leopard - are two more birthday 

gifts from granddaughter Jasmin. I told you she spoils me!

Color is now popping in my no longer mostly white living room.

Nothing new purchased recently, other than the little velvet pumpkins

 on the plate, and a bunch of chrysanthemums, but I have changed out art, 

pillows and throw . . . . . . . because this evening as the cold front roars

 in and the temperature drops to 33F, we will light the first fire of the season!

  Bob has the hearth ready. 

I have the red wine waiting.

OMG - just now see I have the painting upside down in all these photos, 

and not even a sip of wine yet, honestly!!! I'm off to turn it around.

This morning I skipped the extra hour of sleep and was up busy at 6:30 AM,

putting away Halloween decor, clipping ivy to add to the flowers, tossing

 pillows, planning a nice dinner menu etc.

Tonight's the night for me. A blazing fire, a glass of wine, knitting

while watching some good TV.  Hopefully it will mean farewell to

 mosquitoes who don't survive the cold. I'll be free to get cracking on garden

 chores including 'mucking out' the potting shed, potting up my waiting

 amaryllis bulbs, all without getting bitten!

****************

Are you ready for the week ahead?

Here in the USA I think we all agree that Tuesday's election will take center stage.

No matter the outcome, there will be both good and bad in the months and

 years ahead. Please get out and vote if you have not done so.

We will definitely be there casting our votes early morning.  

Over in Europe I know many of you are now in a huge COVID lockdown

yet again. This includes the UK, France and Germany where my family

 and friends are. I hope so much you will manage. My thoughts are with you all.

Stay Safe - Be Well

************

BTW - we only had three little boys come by for Trick or Treat last evening!

How about you?

Bob is already munching on those leftover candy bars!!!

There is a season, a time for everything. . . . . .

Awaking to this scene beyond the front porch yesterday morning 

was quite a surprise. The first night with temperatures dropping below

freezing caused all the fig leaves to fall at once, carpeting the ground

in soft and muted greens, golds, even figgy purples.

I thought it all quite a magical sight.

This really was the color - Carolina Blue - of the sky yesterday while we were 

working in the garden.

We raked up all those leaves.

Two or three green figs are left hanging on - a winter feast for 

a lucky squirrel or hungry little bird.

So it's farewell to our lovely, leafy fig trees - we have two - for this year.

This one, the Celeste, was definitely prolific this past season. . . . . . 

I'm still handing out pots of Fig & Lemon and Fig & Ginger jam.