Kiki's Scary Halloween Doppelganger!

Brrrrrrrrrrr! Wouldn't want to be confronted with this frightening little demon-dog in a lonely dark forest!

Mighty Golden Oak

I love this oak tree. I speak to it, it listens. I lay my hand on it's rough bark when I need a source of calm, empowering energy. 

It's wearing it's golden dress now, looking so bright and beautiful. Part of it came down in a summer storm, but the rest of it still towers strong and majestic.

A dear friend told me that, if you talk to your tree each day for seven years, it will then talk back to you.

xo country girl

Dream Home nr 12

Isn't it sweet, tucked between golden trees with white siding and dark green shutters? Probably the best part about this house is that you can stay here! That's right, this is a vacation rental in Upstate New York. It's called The Waterfall Rental because it's located beside a beautiful waterfall. Here is information about it and photos of it and the surrounding property in all seasons. 

Hope you're enjoying your week! I know I am. 

xo country girl

Amazing Fall Day

'Candy Is A Delicious Food!'

Yesterday I was talking with my mother and aunt about sweets. My mother could do without, she says. That's incredible to me! I LOVE treats. When I've cleaned my home, walked the dog twice, done the grocery shopping, ironed, emptied and filled the dishwasher, and stuffed another load of laundry into the machine, I love nothing more than to select something tasty from my stash, sit in an overstuffed chair with Kiki, and enjoy my reward. And on the weekend, when my husband is finally home, we like to cozy into the plump couch, cuddle up under a blanket, put in a film, and snack on sweets.

When I saw this vintage ad, I could hardly believe it was real; "The crave for candy is a call for energy!" "Candys dandy, keep it handy!" "Candy is a delicious food!" Those were some times....

:: yum, cupcakes and candy corn, my fall favorites ::

I would love to hear about your favorite treats. Do you have a stash? Do you like to make your own? Do you tend to reward or comfort yourself with sweets as I do? Do you give sweets as gifts? Could you live without them?

Global Warming Effects Autumn Foliage

Autumn foliage is getting duller and arriving later, and at an alarming pace. 

I first heard about this while brousing google images for photos of houses and fall colors to share with you all. One photo came up as part of a report on this matter from 2007 (from fox news of all places.) Please have a look at it here. I told some people about it and began observing the trees in our forests. Fall sure is taking it's time this year, I thought, looking at the greens and light yellows. There are only a few spots were there is really bright color. I figured fall foliage is just taking longer to get here. 

Then, while dilly-dallying on twitter, I received one of Martha Stewart's tweets. "How is your foliage?" it asked, and included this link to her blog, where she compares photos from last year's fall colors on her estate to this year's. It's really scary. Go see the comparison photos for yourself.

I have begun to investigate a little online (here is a scientific report on it from the Appalachian State University), not just because I would be sad if autumn colors slowly fade away, but also because this is a clear sign of what's to come: a time where there are no seasons, just irratic, strange, and extreme weather. 

Have you noticed changes in your environment lately? I know we were all shocked when it snowed here last week in mid-October. And this year's mild spring caused problems for the bees; the local bee-keeper informed me, while I stopped by to buy a glass of honey, that by the time the bees had left their hives, the species of flowering plants where they gather the first vital nectar of the year had already faded. 

Can you make your peace with the thought that one day, children will look at picture book and ask their parents with disblief, "There used to be a beautiful thing called Autumn where the leaves turned all different colors? What happened? Why doesn't it exist anymore?"

I can't.

the golden trees of last year, taken on october 31st

the almost-all-green woods of this year, taken october 20th

Dream Home Nr 11

can you imagine calling this place home?

it's nice to daydream....

xo country girl

A Few Of My Favorite Things

:: pumpkin carving at the farmer's market ::

:: watching a class of kindergarden children tromp through the woods ::

:: being reminded how much i love my husband and doggy ::

:: witnessing the quiet seeping in of autumn ::

:: looking at the world through kiki's curious eyes ::

:: painting cards for loved ones ::

:: discovering nests in trees now that some leaves have fallen ::

:: bundling up in colorful hats and scarves ::

:: storms coming in over the village ::

:: my mom cooking up hungarian chicken paprika in my kitchen ::

:: devouring the first cinnamon-sweet persimmon of the season ::

enjoy your monday!

xo country girl

Happy Diwali to All Of You!

Happy Diwali everyone! May this festival of lights remind you all of the light we each carry within. May this light guide you. May it inspire others. May it shine bright in these times of darkness! 

If you would like to learn more about this very auspicious celebration, watch this clip of President Obama. He has a wonderful way of describing and explaining it. If you are inclined to do so, fill your home with lit candles tonight, and take a moment to thank whichever higher power you believe in for the blessings in your life. 

Wishing you all the very best in your lives,

xo country girl

The Charming Art of Johanna Wright

I want to share these wonderful paintings with you by an artist named Johanna Wright. A fellow blogger, Molly Chester, told me about her, and I am fascinated! Her use of color, her fanciful themes...simply lovely. Christmas wish-list material for sure. So fortunately her work is available at her etsy shop.

'stocking up for winter'

'lazy sunday'

'cozy den'

'among the weeds'

xo country girl

1950's Farmer's Market

Before I head out to the farmer's market today, I thought I would share this photo I found of the Duboce farmer's market in San Francisco, 1951. Isn't it baffling how the world has changed in such short a time? And yet, some things remain the same, like the appreciation for fresh, organic, locally grown foods. 

xo

It's SNOWING!

Woke up this morning to snow flakes flying past the windows! Apparantly winter is in a hurry to get here. Most of the trees are still green, but by the intense cold you wouldn't guess it with your eyes closed. Where will the weather go from here? What's in store for us? I wonder...

The Girl Who Collected Autumn, part one

Once upon a time there was a girl who lived in a small village. The people in the village were very busy, but the girl wasn't. She took walks with her dog in the woods, over hills, and through fields. Some people in the village said, "Look at her, all she does is walk all day, and paint, and sing, and write, and play with her dog. She doesn't do anything important. She doesn't make any money. Most importantly, she doesn't contribute anything to society!"

Still, she went on, taking her walks, singing her songs, thinking her thoughts, dreaming her dreams. 

It began to get colder and the leaves were changing color. The people in the village were very busy. They complained about the weather and didn't like the biting wind. But mostly, they didn't really notice.

Leaves flew down from the branches, and scattered themselves all over the village. They flew over rooftops, cluttered the sidewalks, and stuck to the wet streets when it rained. Every now and then, when a village person looked up from their desk or out of their shop window, they would see the girl in her pink coat, looking all around her with wonder and stooping to pick up leaves. "That girl! She really is wasting her time. Why doesn't she make something useful of herself?" 

The girl didn't pay them any mind. She knew in her heart she would have something to give, come winter. She quietly continued, making sure to remember the smells, the light, the taste of dew, the sound of crows squaking and of wind rustling.

She collected the prettiest fallen leaves, placed them in her pockets, and brought them home.
There, she scattered them on the table to admire before pressing them between the pages of thick, heavy books. 
The girl had a plan.

part 2 coming soon xoxo