WE'RE ROCKIN' THE AUTUMN THING ON SPRUCE DRIVE!

"Now's the time when children's noses

All become red as roses

And the color of their faces

Makes me think of orchard places

Where the juicy apples grow

And tomatoes in a row"

--From Autumn Song, by Katherine Mansfield

 It's HERE, it's HERE, my most favorite, favorite time of the year. That's right, FALL. When energies shift from BBQ's and red Geraniums and Georgia Peach Pie to crisp apples, pumpkins, candlelight, mums and hearty stews.

SPEAKING of mums.....went a little bit nuts at the nursery the other day and loaded up on the best kind of mums, the kind with the flower buds JUST beginning to peek open in shades of pumpkin orange and cheerful yellow......

I love to decorate this vintage wheelbarrow for all seasons.......

Found this gorgeous mum at my friend Kate's wonderful flower and gift shop, Mountain Greenery, located right here in Old Forge, on Main Street.............

I just love pulling out this little black cat pillow every single year, even though I really don't decorate much for Halloween.....BOO!.....

I love the color found in these gorgeous silk leaves and flowers, most of which I've collected over the years from my friend Marianne's shop, Old and Everlasting......

Moving inside, I like to set the table for fall...check out these cute napkins from (gasp) WallyWorld!...........

More fall color, scattered about my home........

And CANDY, don't forget the CANDY!! I love using little candy pumpkins, indian corn and candy corn instead of potpourri in glass hurricanes.....

Please join me again in a few days for an outrageous Pumpkin Chip Muffin recipe, PLUS a bonus tour of Old and Everlasting's Fall Open House Celebration.......Hey, if you're in the Cazenovia area this weekend, check it out!...................

 Big Daddy and I are making our annual pilgrimage down to Cazenovia this weekend to  do a little shopping, and maybe find some wonderful pumpkins at Critz farms while we're at it. B.D. is seriously on the hunt for some deep fried Apple Fritters.....so excited! See you soon.....Leslie

TODAY I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR.....

***My super star realtor sister Debra in Tulsa, who has been giving me lots of great real estate advice recently...thanks, Deb!

***The research position that our daughter landed at UC Berkeley--great job, Little Miss Thing! She will be doing research for a professor--something to do with French Colonization. Waaaay over my little head!

***The scent of Tortilla Soup cooking in my kitchen....so delicious, it's making me hungry, with hours to go until dinner!