This is my friend, Diesel.  He belongs to the Bradleys, and we've known him for nearly 14 years.  

 

He used to be large and in-charge, but now he's happy to just hang out on the porch or........the sofa.  Look, he has his own hand made quilt to snuggle.

 

Jon loves dogs and I do NOT.  But Diesel is such an old gentleman that even I can love him.  Really, just look at that face!!

 

LOVE YOU!!!  

 

 

 

 

 

This is what was left over from the pile of mushroom compost we used in the garden. These tomato plants planted themselves here, and have been growing all summer.  We thought they were kinda pretty, so we just left them to grow, since they weren't in the way of anything.  

 

Well, the deer just recently decided that they LIKE tomato plants, and...

 

 

Now, THIS is what's left over.  Ahhh, gardening with deer.  I thought you'd enjoy the before and after pictures.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

We harvested about 4 bushels of apples from our trees.  Yay!!!  Our squirrel-proofing worked!!!

 

We started canning applesauce, but still have a couple more days to go before we are finished.  Sandy canned 30 quarts and as many pints from her 4 bushels of apples.  She worked constantly for two days.  We have also made apple pies, apple cakes, and fed a bunch to the deer.  

 

When we were little, there was an apple tree in the back yard.  We all have fond memories of Momma and Nanny and BeeBee sitting in the shade of the apple tree, peeling apples by hand.  They made a LOT of applesauce.  

 

And our friend, Ruby Whitman made tons of apple cake.  Her recipe is in the recipe section.  Try it:  it is easy and delicious.

 

HAPPY FALL!!!

 

 

 

Have you seen this butterfly around lately?  It is a Red-spotted Purple.  The red spots are on the underside of the wings.  It was still for a long time, so I was able to get my camera and take a picture.  

 

We saw it in the grass the other morning, one of those 52 degree days.  Jon moved it to a sunny spot, so it could warm up its body.  I read in the Stokes Butterfly Book that butterflies need their bodies warm to be able to fly.  After basking in the sun for five minutes,  it flew up into the Redbud tree.

 

I love seeing butterflies any time of year.

 

SO PRETTY!!!  

 

We got MUMS this week!!!  This is a 14" pot full of 3 colors of chrysanthemums.  It stands 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide.  Gorgeous!!!

 

It came from Gracie's Nursery on the Blairsville Highway.  I know you've seen all the mums when you drive by.  Well, stop in and get some for your Fall decorating.  Do it soon, so you can enjoy them longer.  If you wait til the flowers are all the way open, you will have missed out on about a month of beauty.  

 

I'm sure you can buy them at Walmart or Home Depot, but don't you love to support the small businesses here?  Prices are about the same.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

DO NOT PICK UP THESE HULLS WITHOUT GLOVES!!!  As you can see, they are quite prickly.  Learned that the hard way too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, you can thank Patty Tegtman for the fabulous fall decorations.  

 

She and Bill made these adorable Folk Art Scarecrows and pumpkins, including the ones at the signposts.  She asked for a hay bale, which Jim had delivered.  Then we spray painted this great face on it.  (I bet you didn't know you have graffiti artists as neighbors.)    ;D

 

She's the mastermind behind the whole thing.  I just provided the transportation and cheerleading.  

 

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!!!

 

 

 

We saw this bush in the park last week.  It is a Strawberry bush, Euonymus americanus.  

 

It has another local common name, Hearts a-bustin with love.  When you look closely at the seeds, you can understand that name.  This time of year the dark red seed capsules pop open, exposing bright, shiny red or orange berries.  Even though the name sounds inviting, this strawberry is NOT EDIBLE!!!

 

I've seen them in our woods, too.  So keep your eyes open when you're walking the trail, or traipsing through the woods.  

 

HAPPY HUNTING!!!

 

I told you about Nancy's puzzle.  It has 1500 pieces, and now it's finished.  She did it in less than a week.  WOW!!!!!  

 

She's smarter than I am though; she put it together on their dining room table which is pub table height.  She could stand up or sit in a chair to add the pieces.  No bending over the coffee table.  

 

I'm excited to trade her and tackle this one this winter.  So pretty.

 

 

HOW ARE YOU KEEPING OCCUPIED?  

 

Mark made this sign for me a few years ago, commemorating my advanced degree in blogging.  Well, I guess I've finally earned it.  The current status of blogs on this website is 496, and I have written 463 of them.  That's a lot of rambling over the last three years. 

 

Wait!!!  Is 'bloggery' a real word?  Or do you think he made it up?  If he did, that makes it even better!!!  ;D

 

Thanks for reading.  Love, Gerry