LAST TOUCHES OF FALL

Almost the first of November - I can't believe we are still experiencing Fall weather; but I suspect Winter is on it's way!  Thought I would share a couple more touches of Fall before the snow flies.

This painting, which typifies the Rocky Mountains in Fall, was painted by Bob's grandmother's sister-in-law.  It was a gift to his grandparents, and hung in their home until 1965.

In 1965, Colorado experienced major flooding and Bob's grandparents were victims.  With water flooding their basement, there was an explosion and their home was destroyed -- they were elderly, injured, and never fully recovered.  Bob's mother retrieved Aunt Lottie's painting, cleaned it up, and it then hung in her living room until her death last month.

And, now, it hangs in ours.

With everything that has gone on this Fall, I finally went out to cut my hydrangeas.

 It amazes me the metamorphosis of my hydrangea's color from Spring to Fall.  

 When they first bloom, they start out a beautiful shade of blue; then turn pinkish.

 Now that they have dried, they are green, brown, and maroon ---  the wonder of God's creations.

I'm joining the following:

The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday

French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

Nancherrow for Fridays Unfolded

Pieced Pastimes for Saturday Sparks

Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday

The Dedicated House for Make It Pretty Monday

Confessions of a Plate Addict for The Scoop Tuesday

Coastal Charm for Show and Share Tuesday

Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday

Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday

"HAUNTED HANDS"

Every year Caitlin and I do a Halloween kitchen craft to share with her friends and family.  You can check out some of our previous attempts - some more successful than others -  here, here, and here.  This year Cait is busy, busy, busy; so we were short on time.  We had about 45 minutes, and this project was perfect and simple.

I found the instructions for these 'Haunted Hands' in the magazine section of our local newspaper.  Check out these other simple projects from the same source.

No instructions are really needed for this project -- In clear plastic disposable gloves; put Peanut M and Ms in the tips for fingernails; then fill with popcorn.

Tie off the cuff with some curly ribbon.

And that's it!!

Hope you have at least 45 minutes to spend with your favorite goblins this Halloween.

I'm joining the following:
Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Inspire Me Monday
Kathe With an E for You're Gonna Love It Tuesday
A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday
Green Willow Pond for What We Accomplished Wednesday
Savvy Southern Style for WOW Us Wednesdays
Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday
Chic On a Shoestring for Flaunt It Friday
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday

CANE CONNECTIONS

We never started out to collect canes, but now we have three.  Like I have said before, we don't really collect; we just accumulate.  We have had the middle cane for a lot of years -- it belonged to my paternal great, great Uncle Asa.  You can read his story here.

 Upon Bob's mother's recent death, we inherited the two other canes.  They were made by her grandfather, Nathan A. Stout.

 At the time in the early 1930s, they spent time in Texas.

 The canes are covered with drawings and carvings.

Lots of animals and critters --

We've enjoyed our NEW collection --  checking out another connection to the past.

I'm joining the following:
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Inspire Me Monday
Our Home Away from Home for Tuesdays At Our Home
Coastal Charm for Show and Share Tuesday
A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday
Knick of Time for Knick of Time Vintage Tuesday
Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday
Savvy Southern Style for WOW Us Wednesdays
Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday
Nancherrow for Fridays Unfolded
Pieced Pastimes for Saturday Sparks

CELEBRATING AUTUMN RANDOMNESS

Fall Randomness #1

You know that when I can't think of anything to blog about, I show you a quilt.

I made this quilt top in 2002, which was then machine quilted by Terri Lynn Ballard.  We then donated the quilt to the Colorado Quilting Council to use as a raffle which raised several thousand dollars for the organization.  The quilt is 71" x 95" and contains almost 2000 pieces.  I chose a large variety of gradated fabrics to achieve the "glow" in the center of the quilt.  We named it "Autumn Glow".  It was later published in Quilter's Newsletter Magazine in May 2003. When you make a fundraiser quilt, you always hope the winner enjoys it as much as you enjoyed making it.

Fall Randomness #2

Having just had surgery 10 days ago, I was reminded of another October surgery in my past when I was a young mother.  It was of a much more serious nature, and I was in the hospital for a week.  In those days, they didn't allow children to visit on the surgical floor; so it was a loooooong week.  I'm sure I was much more traumatized by the separation than my two-year old was.  
Is there anything cuter than a squeaky clean two-year-old 
 in their jammies and ready for bed?

Not only did I miss him, but I missed Fall completely during that week.  Due to Montana's fickle weather that year, when I went into the hospital it was summer; and when I came out it was winter.

Fall Randomness #3

These pears were such a beautiful Fall color, I had to take a picture of them.  That's what blogging does to you -- you withhold food from your family until you can get your camera out!

Fall Randomness #4

There's gold in them, there hills!  Colorado mountain gold!

Fall Randomness #5

This mum plant from my mother-in-law's funeral is so beautiful, I just had to show it again.

Autumnal Joy, Everyone!

I'm celebrating my joy with the following:
The Dedicated House for Make It Pretty Monday
Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Inspire Me Monday
Confessions of a Plate Addict for The Scoop Tuesday
Our Home Away from Home for Tuesdays At Our Home
Coastal Charm for Show and Share Tuesday
A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday
Knick of Time for Knick of Time Vintage Tuesday
Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday
Savvy Southern Style for WOW Us Wednesdays
Green Willow Pond for What We Accomplished Wednesday
Imparting Grace for Grace at Home Thursday
Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday
Nancherrow for Fridays Unfolded
French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Pieced Pastimes for Saturday Sparks

THE END OF AN ERA

Here at Salmagundi we lead a very uneventful, peaceful, and thankful life.  But, every once in awhile; there's is a bump in the road.  Last week was one of those weeks.  

We have known all summer that Bob's mother, who celebrated her 100th birthday in May, was deteriorating.  We were called in last Tuesday to her bedside (100 miles away).  Bob and I, his sisters, and hospice were there.  She passed away peacefully on Wednesday. 

I had previously scheduled gall bladder surgery for Thursday.  After some thought, we decided I should go ahead with the surgery.  I hated to miss the funeral, but traveling wasn't an option.  Bob was gone for a couple of days to the service and to help his sisters clean out the apartment; but I got along just fine by myself.  I'm so thankful that my surgery went very well, as Bob certainly didn't need anything else to attend to.

Beautiful mum plant from the funeral

My mother-in-law was the best MIL anyone could have had -- we had a very good relationship for 56 years.  Is that some kind of record? Who has a mother-in-law for 56 years?  She never interfered, she loved our kids and grandkids, she taught me so much about sewing and cooking, and treated me like another daughter (only better).  I knew I was welcomed into the family when she told me I could put a diaper on a kid so much better than her own daughters could!!!  She said that their kids' diapers always sagged down around the knees; but mine were pinned up there good and tight -- oh, the days before disposable diapers.   

We will miss her very much.

Hopefully, next week I will return to my usual blogging schedule.

A BIRTHDAY AND A BLOG BREAK

18 YEARS IN THE MAKING!

From day one you stole our hearts.  We'll love you forever!

Happy 18th Birthday,  Sweet Cait.

- - - - - - - - - -

  I will be on a break from the blog world for a little while.  My surgeon has decided that I need a cholecystectomy!  I'll be back when I return from anesthesia la-la land.  Ugh!!!!!!