Autumn colors, pottery, loons

 Today we drove to Columbia City which still has a Richards Restaurant similar to the one we liked in Warsaw that shut down. We took Old 30 (Lincoln Highway) until we came to a section shut down by road work. South to Highway 30, but then at Indiana 5 we turned north toward Old 30 again. We wanted to enjoy the fall foliage. Actually Indiana 5 had one of the nicest stretches of colorful trees right off of Highway 30. 

When we arrived home, we noticed that we have some nice color right in our neighborhood. The fothergilla bush has turned yellow just as I predicted last week.

It is 75 degrees and sunny. When I finish this post, I am going to sit on our front porch and read a book. It is windy, but the porch is somewhat sheltered. 

As I looked down at my feet while taking the photo of the above tree, I saw one of the bright red leaves that had fallen from our backyard maple. The wind yesterday and today and probably tomorrow is going to knock more leaves from the limbs.

I moseyed down the west side of our house and was surprised to find a hydrangea bloom and some other colorful leaves with blooms. Since I hardly ever enjoy those plants because I don't walk around out there, I snipped them for a vase inside.

I cut down the Veronica (speedwell) and pulled up the last of the moss roses yesterday. Now the cheddar pinks are all that remain in our patio plot.

One of my neighbors is going from a conventional brick house owned by Grace Village to one of its apartments. She had a moving sale this weekend. I bought a piece of pottery and a book. She has lots of big furniture to get rid of (two dining tables, a stand-alone fireplace, side tables). 

Monterey Jade pottery was made in the Carmel Valley and sold in gift shops in Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea mostly from the 1940's to the 1960's. Since it incorporates my favorite color (blue), I paid the $2 and brought it home. I don't know what I am going to do with it. I have some places it could be displayed, but right now I have fall decor out. It does look especially lovely with light coming through the window of the sunporch bringing out its iridescence. 

The other item I bought at the sale was a book about loons. I have never seen nor heard a loon in nature; I have just seen them in movies, etc. This goes through the whole life cycle. I think it will be fun to learn about these intriguing birds.

Color At Last

 I read a statement once that said: "There are two seasons; fall and waiting for fall." A few cold nights and autumn has arrived in all of its glory. I think this week will be peak color for the foliage.

Unfortunately, I was busy this morning when the sun was shining. I didn't want to go out mid-day as usually photos taken at that time are flat. But I waited too long this afternoon. I was wearing my bone stimulator "collar" which is to be worn for a minimum of 60 minutes at a time. I guess I should have gone outside wearing it. I could see the sun getting dimmer. Now it is completely covered by a thin layer of clouds. It is really chilly. I had my jacket fully zipped up around my neck; when I got home my nose was very cold.

That is my house in the background. I can see this tree out my bedroom window.

This morning we made our annual pilgrimage to our public library for "free magazines". Once a year they put out the previous year's issues for patrons to take permanently. My husband wants to be there on day one at opening time so he can get the 6 annual issues of Fine Woodworking. I ended up with a dozen magazines: a few Good Housekeeping, one Country Woman, the rest Garden Gate or Country Living. I quickly skimmed through what was available in the library looking for issues I might want for recipes or mainly for pictures for my folders. I could have taken the whole lot of a title as there is no limit, but I really only wanted ones where I saw potential. 

I am super busy tomorrow and Wednesday, but Thursday and the rest of the week I will have lots of time to happily peruse my loot.

A Beautiful Autumn Day

Wow! What a difference a few cold nights make. As I drove King's Highway in Winona Lake and towards Warsaw on Center Street the trees were bursting with color. I said thank you for the sharing of the fall beauty. 

I had some donations for Goodwill to drop off. When I browsed the books, I found 6 paperbacks and 1 hardback. Two decorating books will be perused for photos for my decorating folders. The cherry on top is that this was Senior 50% off day, and I didn't even know it. 

$4 for 7 books and that included rounding up for a donation to the Work Center. 

I am especially looking forward to reading this book by Ellen Stouffer as Thanksgiving approaches.

It is illustrated short stories.

I even have some time to play Qwirkle and Text Twist on my ipad before dinner. A great day.