I posted the photos backwards as to not ruin our secret to getting this roaring fire started

We hear there is more snow heading our way!!

It’s another dull, gray day here in Columbus, Ohio. Almost everyone I have talked to around here in the past few days is ready for some sunshine and Spring weather but according to the calender we have several more weeks of this doom and gloom to contend with. This morning after an additional cup of coffee, I noticed at about 9am that it wasn’t much lighter than at 7am and I was figuring out how many hours until bedtime. I was planning to either sit on the computer all day or take a nap . Then the sun peaked out for a minute and I decided to bundle up and head outside with my camera to at least get some fresh air in hopes that it would wake me up. I only got a couple of shots worthy of posting but a little exercise and fresh air certainly helped get us through the day.

I bet he is wishing for Spring too!

I bet someone is missing this but probably better that they don’t find it now

a little evidence of life

like a crook of an arm or leg

Other than this I’ve got nothing. Not feeling too crafty or too motivated these days. Just feeling like hibernating and drinking tea and eating oranges. So that’s what I plan on doing!

May your days be filled with comfort and joy!

Over the weekend we went for a walk and collected many treasures .

It doesn’t take long to fill a basket or a bag with pretty, little interesting things. I am worse than the kids!! I love little collections of this and that. If you just look around my house you can easily see my love of “stuff.” I also love to arrange these little collections, to set them out in interesting ways, like little still lifes. Molly also loves to arrange and rearrange and set up little scenes. Ginger on the other hand likes to investigate and touch everything. And sometimes break things in the process

I had just the thing to organize our finds…an old printers box. I set the box on top of a small table and perched a mirror on the back. Instant nature table.

Ginger sorted out the pinecones, rose petals, rocks, acorn tops and nuts and pretty red leaves into their own sections.

Until all the little pieces had a new home!

Ginger spent a long time this morning moving stuff around and taping the tops back on to the acorns (and taking them away from the bad, bad puppies that think they are treats!)

So between Ginger and the puppies, I give this pretty little set up a couple of days until things are smooshed, mixed together, tipped over and dumped. But that’s ok…I know where we can get lots more ’stuff!!”

Earlier this week, Maine Momma invited me to take a walk with her. I was so flattered to be asked! And so inspired by the “walks” others have shared!
Today was a perfectly, bright and beautiful Autumn day here in Columbus.
As we headed out the back of our yard I couldn’t help but notice the brilliant sun, vivid colors and long shadows.
Come take a walk with us to The Whetstone Park of Roses. Click on the button below to view my slide show.

Fall seems to be the shortest season. It’s the time of busy work; putting summer to bed and preparation for the long winter ahead. On days when the sun is shinning bright and the temperatures are still tolerable we tend to run outside to savor those crunchy, colorful leaves and take in the fleeting beauty of the season.

One of the ways to preserve that beauty and bring it inside is the simple but very satisfying act of ironing  leaves between sheets of wax paper. Never mind that this is not a new activity actually it’s more of a traditional one around here.

It’s a little late in the leaf season but we were still able to find several newly fallen, not yet crunchy leaves for our project. We heated up the iron to” almost high.” Ripped sheets of wax paper and folded them in half. We pinched off our stems and placed our leaves facing down, leaving a little space between each one so the wax can seal around them.

We folded the wax paper back over the leaves and placed a single layer of newspaper over the wax paper and gently pressed the leaves. Next a quick iron with out the newspaper and then ……

Ooooooo Ahhhhhhhh!!

Next we cut out our leaves, leaving a little space around them so they stay sealed in the wax paper.

We hung some on our front door and side door. And the rest we poked holes in and and hung from our ceiling. I love the way they blow around and catch the light.

Hurry up and enjoy the Fall….winter is just around the corner (whether the calendar says so or not!)