Another beautiful fall picture.  This one was taken on the Blue Ridge Parkway in 2016.  

 

I am using it today to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, filled with joy, love, and all your favorite people. 

 

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

 

Remember all those chestnuts we collected back in October?  Pocketfuls, or is that pockets full?  Anyway, we collected a bunch.  We know from experience that you need to freeze them, because somehow when the flowers are being pollinated, insect eggs are laid inside the flowers.  Then when the seeds (the chestnuts) are formed, the eggs are inside them.  If you don't freeze them the larvae hatch inside the chestnut and then drill a hole in the shell to come out.

 

You don't even want to know how I know this.  But I do, and I'm telling you to freeze them when you collect them, to save yourself a lot of extra work.

 

OK, after all THAT:  Years ago Linda gave me a cool tool that exes the top of the chestnuts, cutting into the shell so they don't explode in the microwave.  So I cooked a few and they are delicious.  Now we are going to add them and to our Thanksgiving stuffing:  chestnut stuffing.  

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

 

This is the "resting rock" almost at the top of the community.  It is a huge, beautiful hunk of granite that probably weighs a thousand pounds.  Since our latest rainstorm, it has greened up.  The moss lives on it all the time, but it gets really green after a little rain.  And can you see all that pink in the stone?  

 

Anyway, this rock sits there waiting for us to come along and rest on it.  We love it.

 

 

HAPPY HIKING!!!

 

On our walk yesterday, I couldn't help noticing that most of the leaves have fallen, and aren't they beautiful!!!  But it is starting to look a bit wintry.  The good news is:  even though it looks wintry, the temperatures for the next week are still up in the 60's.  

 

So, we get to enjoy the look of fall into 'winter without the cold temps yet.  

 

 

HAPPY FALL!!!

 

I just love seeing this string of dogwoods in the fall.  Lee planted 12 of these pink dogwoods about 20 years ago, and every year they are fabulous.  They are beautiful when they bloom in May, and gorgeous now in November. 

 

I am so glad he planted them;  glad that we all get to enjoy them.  

 

 

HAPPY FALL!!!

 

 

 

On my walk, I also saw the Bittersweet showing its beautiful red and yellow berries.  

 

Don't you just love the colors of Fall?  Me too!!!

 

 

HAPPY FALL, Y'ALL!!!

 

This was our road earlier this week.  I went for a walk and this sight really tickled me.

 

I know that some people like to blow the leaves off their lawns and the road;  and we like to rake them and put them in wire bins to add to our compost pile.  But I really love seeing the roads and yards covered with leaves, especially when they are still showing a little fall color.

 

 

HAPPY FALL!!!

 

 

 

Today is the official "frost date" for our hardiness zone:  November 15th.  

 

I didn't get any pictures for you, but on Monday and Tuesday of this week we had SNOW!!!  Not much, but the temperature got down into the 20's, and on Tuesday the high temp was 25!!!  EEK!!

 

It's back up in the 40's now, which is WAY better, but the frost has already taken out most of the garden plants.  I am hoping the Swiss chard and Arugula will perk up, but I'm not holding my breath.  

 

It has been a great Summer and Fall, and that makes me happy.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Remember, earlier in the fall, I told you about my "before" and "after" pictures?  I took a "before" picture of the hill just to the west of us, and it was all green.  I may have shown you another one along the way, too.  Here it is at the end of the fall.  SO pretty.  

 

By now, most of the color is gone, and most of the leaves are on the ground.  But I did get this pretty picture for you at the peak of Autumn.  You're welcome.

 

 

HAPPY FALL!!!

 

You see, this is the problem with naming a favorite tree:  the next day you see another tree that is the new favorite.  

 

However, here is my all time favorite tree to see in the fall:  Gingko biloba.  Look at that color!!!  Aren't these fabulous?  These are the ones at the church in Blairsville.  There are three planted close together, and they are magnificent right NOW!!!  

 

Go there.  Or just keep your eyes trained on bright yellow, and you may see some in your travels.  I hope so.

 

 

HAPPY FALL!!!