the weekend

You know... it was a good weekend.  However, the winter blues are still very apparent in my soul... especially when I am alone.  It takes a while for me to accept the change.  I find myself walking around the house aimlessly and finding it hard to settle on what to do.  Luckily, I do get over it when I finally have to.  The snow that we woke up to this morning, early as it may be, may just help.  Once winter is here and I am convinced that spring is not far behind I begin to feel better.  I am simply being honest here.  The winter blues are definitely a real thing.  I would be a complete basket case if we lived any further north than Tennessee.  No thank you.

Never-the-less, I did manage to clean up the basement (with a little sisterly help) and use my dutch oven twice, watch a movie, start several things that I didn't finish and do a hint of Christmas decorating around my kitchen window.

Are you too a winter blues sufferer?  What did you do this weekend?

This chicken made the prettiest presentation.  Pretty good flavor too.

This is the cheapest thing I've done in a while that turned out so pretty.

I got the pine cones from my sister Marty's yard, sprayed them with spray glue 

and sprinkled gold glitter on them.  Then strung them from my herb drying pole

over the kitchen sink which I also draped a strand of white lights from.  

Suspended, they move slightly which makes them sparkle.

I could see them from the couch in the living room.  

I told Shaun that I may just not put the tree up and put the presents in the kitchen sink this year.

He said he was certain his present wouldn't fit in the sink.

I am going for the majorly imperfect Christmas decorating look this year.

A craft I began using my fair pictures from years past.

Didn't finish... did clean it back up though.

I love that picture of me and my head up off holding my jugs of elder flower cordial that I made.

I made the apple bread again.  So delicious.

This morning's dusting.

welcoming fall

Instead of allowing the fall/winter blues to set in this year I am trying something new.  A new point of view.  I began by verbally being thankful for summer, for the season and all it held for me... such as hot weather (which I adore so), our garden and all the canning I did, friends, family, just basically everything I was allowed to experience and hold dear during the season.  I am now thankful for the coming season and welcoming it as a break from some of my work and deeds that summer holds.  I am enjoying the sun coming up a little later (until the time changes).  I held this as sort of a ritual and plan on doing the same on the last official day of fall.  I think this will help my blues and maybe make them non-existent. Last night we had a friend over from Texas that I haven't seen in a long long time.  We laughed, talked, had supper and really enjoyed our time together which was awesome and a great way to spend the last day of summer... with a great person and sharing.

Also yesterday, to welcome fall at the day care, I printed out outlines of leaves on white card stock for myself and the kids to color.  I then cut out a circle from card board and glued the colored leaves on it making a fall wreath for our back door.  It turned out lovely.  The kids also colored pictures of a squirrel with an acorn and leaves that says "Autumn" to hang on the door.  

Welcoming the season ahead by acknowledging the blessings that the previous season held is giving me a bit of a different outlook on the colder months ahead.  Maybe I will allow myself to enjoy them a little more.

Had to involve refreshments of grape kool aid and chocolate animal crackers.

Me and Precious Sass!

By the way... we found a new home for sweet Gypsy.  I miss her so much but she now has a home on fifteen acres, with a horse, other dogs and most importantly a boy of eight which I know her soul needed.  It makes me sad and happy at the same time.  Her new owner has sent me a picture of her.  I feel they will love her.  I had a harder time with it than I thought I would.  This morning Kate seemed to really notice that her playmate wasn't there so I played frisbee with her in my robe outside for a bit even though I was short on time.  

Here's a little tune from one of my favorite movies Practical Magic.  Good for the season change.