Wisconsin Fall, Transition in full swing

I am so delighted to see Fall arrive here in Wisconsin. As you can see in the picture above the Cottonwood trees are almost bare because of the drought. The predictors are saying we won't have much color in the trees and so far it is coming true. The Amur Maple are all yellow instead of the beautiful pinkish red. Nature put itself into the survival mode with the torching high heat and no rain. It is sad, but there is always next year.

Pattern from a DVD collection from McCalls Quilting The
best of American Quilters Inspire . Design . Create

Because of the extreme high temperatures this summer, I have spent much of the summer in the house, in air conditioning, reading, sewing on an Applique table runner and playing with my stash of colorful material peaces. The table runner showing, is orange not blue like the pattern shows to the right of runner. I switch things around when I sew to things I like, but use a backup pattern for original design and directions of putting it together. I get a new DVD each month with four new ideas and techniques to learn on it.. So much fun! I also order a new sewing type book each month from Amazon too, to keep this old brain going... :)

Still trying to find out what I want to do with the antique fans I have, waiting for a return to a permanent spot in a quilt.

I discovered a new author Grace Livingston Hill this summer, who wrote over 100 books that were published starting in 1902 through 1940 and beyond that. Her writing is full of mystery, romance, lessons in life but oh so thrilling as I turned the pages one after another. Finding over 22 books of hers in Amazon used book section, I bought them so I can keep them. Haven't checked the local library for her books simply because when I find an author I like, owning the books is more fun because I will re-read them as the years go by.

Now that the cool windy days of Fall are here, walking and working outside is possible again. I see the change gradually each day transpire more and more towards Winter.

Ornamental grasses are in full bloom and the wild white asters go nicely with this setting in my fairy garden. Although grasses can be extra work keeping them in check, they are too pretty and useful to leave out. Here they give the fairy on a pedestal a backdrop and separate it all from the next section of the gardens behind it. I like to make garden rooms on our two and a half acre area I have the perennial gardens. The fairy garden is a fun place to work in and also stroll through.

The Fairy garden is a good place for my collections of do-dads that I have
found in rummage sales or garden centers that just would look silly in the
formal gardens. Here is a red two layer garden shelve meant for pots
but I place extra birdhouses and nick knacks on it instead to make me smile as
I turn a path, finding this setting , it is so silly. :)

Here a fairy is doing a somersault on a blue bench. The pale blue Asters
add to the comical scene. I built the large fairy garden for the grand kids to
enjoy but I find myself working and playing myself there so often . It gives me
permission to be a kid again myself.... :)

The Bless arch and gate going into the fairy garden is one of my favorite
entries of all the gardens. It's message reminds me Laughter is the best
Medicine.

Just before you enter the Fairy garden, along side of the Bless arch is this old out house we bought for $5.00. The farmers already had it on its side and were going to burn it. My Dick came to its rescue with a trailer and brought it home, behind him the farmers were laughing their heads off at Dick. Now they sell for over $100.00 if you can find them.

This picture was taken yesterday morning, a frost has hit the hostas and you can see trays of dead plants that never got into the ground. Between health issues and the terrible heat and draught it made it difficult for me to groom flower beds and keep them watered. Two and a half acres, out of our 27 acres total, is a lot to keep up. I have cut way back but their are so many different sections to keep up in my pictures you will see weeds and neglect. There is always next year. Is that acceptance? I found a beautiful prayer to help me through the rough spots in life so I do not fret and worry about things. It is the Serenity Prayer and I do not know the author yet.

God, grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot

change, the courage to

change the things I can,

And the Wisdom to know the difference.

The prayer might not change the situation but it sure helps me to find peace among the bumps in the road.

Peace to you all, and may God bless us all.

Kate