Fall is in the air!

The start to my favorite season has arrived, brought on by shorter days and cooler, crisper nights.  Although the leaves have not quite started to change color, one can feel the change of seasons in the air.  With autumn just beginning, so has my decorating.

I purchased some fresh gourds and pumpkins to grace our dining room table at the farmer’s market on Saturday.

The antique wheel barrow that sits on a huge rock on our front lawn is a perfect place for pumpkins.

A friend gave us some corn stalks from his garden which I fastened to the wrought iron stake marking our civic address.  I think I’ll add a few pumpkins around the base to add a little more color.

These sunflowers started growing as a result of the black oiled sunflower seeds dropping to the ground as the birds were feeding.  The tallest one stands over six feet high.

Our rose garden is flourishing.

They seem to prefer the cooler weather because they are laden with plump buds just waiting to burst open.

Twice yearly we have the opportunity to put out large items for trash pickup and this is the week. 

The barn with the coop that houses the “ladies”…Rhoda, Ruby and Roxanne…became a storage area over the years for junk and trash by previous owners of the property.  This morning Mr. Painted Quilt and I went at it…actually Mr. PQ did all the slugging and hauling because all I was capable of doing was to drive the tractor that pulled the trailer loaded with the trash to the roadside where Mr. PQ unloaded and stacked it all.

Step inside, shall we?

I know I should have taken ‘before’ photos but I only thought about it after the  work was done.  

Looking to the left as you enter the barn, this is what it looks like now.  The junk was piled clear to the ceiling…and I’m not exaggerating.  You wouldn’t believe what was in there!

This is looking to the right as you enter.  The door to the coop where the ladies reside is on the left.  Their feed is in the galvanized bin and the green trash bag behind it contains wood shavings to freshen up their digs. 

We decided to save the upstairs clean up until the spring.

I underwent a second surgery on Wednesday of this past week.  It has not been an easy time since then.  Because I’ve undergone three general anaesthetics in the last three months, it has taken me longer to recover each subsequent time.  Thankfully I don’t feel as ‘out of it’ today but my memory still leaves a lot to be desired.  As a result of the incision, I was given strict instructions not to do anything physical for at least three weeks. 

But that didn’t include shopping!

How do you like our new gourd birdhouse?  Pretty cool, huh? 

Mr. PQ took me to a local quilt shop where I just happened to find these Civil War reproduction fabrics in my favorite colors.  A three color quilt is definitely in the planning stages.

Even Frankie approves of my choices.

It might take me a little longer than usual but I did manage to start on the interior decorating as well.  Here’s a little peek.

Be sure to come back because I’ll show you the rest after I’m done.