Thursday, October 7, 2010

Surviving the Seasons

October is not my favorite time of year.  It gets dark too soon.  There.  I've said it.  Sorry, but that's the way I feel.

Last year while strolling through Amish craft shops in Berlin Ohio, a lightbulb went off inside my head.  I was feeling all warm and fuzzy as I glided past the soft twinkling lights, fall flowers, scarecrows and smells of pumpkin spice. So I thought... I can do this.  I can have this same fuzzy feeling right in the comfort of my own home.  It will help me deal with the blues I get this time of year.  

So I started spending the money that (up until then) I had been hoarding.  




I collected a lot of Autumn stuff... 



I'm thinking my fireplace might be a little too cluttery, what do you think?  Rissie likes to play with the stuff so maybe I went overboard.  Also, does anybody know how to get the sooty area of the fireplace clean?  Open for suggestions...


These things make me happy.  Even on short dark days.



And, oh my!  There's my dried wildflowers...  They found another home.  



This is a Peanut Shell Pumpkin.  He looks like he might need Pro Active.  Rissie supervised my carving him into a being...   He needs a name. 



These froggy's make me happy.  Yard sale find.  Ten cents.  I almost lost them Saturday when I agreed to let Rissie take them home with her.  She forgot.  Shhhhh....


Toasted Hazelnut...  Smells so good!
*Happy Face*



Pumpkin Spice of course....


At night I am at peace watching the soft lights and leaves...



And though this fall basket is pretty...



It's even prettier when the lights are down...


More stuff that 
makes me happy:






But what's making me really happy right now is Gracie's face as she "Questions" why I'm in the mud room taking pictures of smiley faces on the wall.....  



Everything has to be routine.  Every word has to be ones she hears every day.  Everything has to go according to her plan.  Otherwise...

She's confused.