Thanks to Jon's nice clean windshield, and slow driving, you get to see the Bradford Pears in their autumn beauty.  

 

The ones at the front of the community have already lost most of their leaves, but these still look really pretty.

 

I hope you are enjoying autumn color wherever you are.

 

HAPPY FALL!!!

 

I guess we were the only tricksters out in our neighborhood this Halloween.  At least we didn't see any others around the loop.  

 

But we got big smiles everywhere we went.  It was fun.  Thanks to Jon for being such a good sport:  my bumblebee chauffeur.

 

HAPPY NOVEMBER!!!

 

I know I have shown you a bunch of leaf pictures, but it is October in the mountains, and they are SO pretty.

 

Jon and I went for a walk down the Creekside Trail, and I got this picture of MORE leaves.  Not much water in the Creek, but lots of leaves on the ground.  

 

And look:  we are in shorts and t-shirts still!!!  That probably won't last much longer, but it's great while we can do it.

 

I hope you are getting in some beautiful walks while the weather is still so nice.

 

HAPPY FALL!!!

 

There were the most beautiful sunflowers in the Ingles Market the other day, so I got a bunch for ME.  They are so bold and gorgeous!!!  They make me smile every time I walk past them.

 

The ones in the garden are long gone, but I saved seeds, so we'll have some again next year. 

 

But in the meantime...these will do just fine.

 

HAPPY FALL!!!

 

Here are some permanent sunflowers at Meeks Park.  They always look great:  spring, summer, fall, and winter.  

 

They always make me smile.  Thought you would like a little smile today too.

 

HAPPY FALL!!!

 

This is what we saw yesterday while we were having lunch on the porch.  Gorgeous fall color in the mountains.

 

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!!!

 

Here is an update on Mark and Renee's view from the top of Stonebriar.  The trees in the middle ground are showing more and more color.

 

We love this view of the mountains.  Almost as much as ours.

 

HAPPY FALL!!!

 

The maple trees on Clifford's hill are so pretty right now.  Having this to distract us actually makes the trudge up the hill a little easier.

 

I hope your world is beautiful too, now that fall is here.

 

HAPPY FALL!!!

 

This is what our road looked like yesterday when we started out on our walk.  So pretty!!!

 

HAPPY FALL!!!

 

You know how leeks are white at the bottom, and green at the top?  Well, the way that happens in the garden is by a process called "blanching."  You do this by piling up the soil around the base of the leeks, or use a deep layer of mulch to cover the base so the sun doesn't hit the parts you want to stay white.

 

I read last week about another way to blanch leeks.  See the new method?  I'm giving it a try.  I'll let you know how it works out.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!