This Fall

This Fall, so far, lots of things have been happening here at Girasole Farm. 

We are patiently awaiting the arrival of Gran-baby #4- a BOY! 

I suspect he will make his grand entrance this week or next. 

We're still working on the back porch addition, finishing up the roof. We have the posts set and the cross beams up. It's been a work in progress that's for sure. 

Caveman's last day of work for the year is November 15th, and he will return to work on January 6th. 

This is the time of year when the long, long, work days of Summer really pay off. YAY! 

We've collected wood from the mountains, and officially had our first fire in the wood stove just a few days ago. 

 I spent a day baking a cake with Laci and Mia. 

I can cook a mean pie, but cake..well... 

I'm not so good. 

I can certainly make a tasty cake, but let's just say there is severe lack in presentation.  

In my cookbook obsession, I purchased this book on cakes...

Most of the recipes make nice small 6" cakes. 

The pans used are 6" round, 3" deep, although the only pans I could find were 2"deep. 

Isn't that cake on the cover lovely?

Simple, clean, and beautiful. 

That's what I tried to achieve...

but it didn't turn out so well...

Yummy none the less. 

I had positively adorable helpers...

Mia

Laci

We had a really great time together! 

That is what really mattered. 

Then there was Halloween...

 which consisted of a Butterfly
(Laci)

A Little Stinker Skunk

                                                                                                                    (Harper)

                                                                          A Ladybug

(Mia)

 Ryan, Tonya,

Laci and Mia

Kristina and Harper. 

In other non-pictured news-

Cousin Aletha came for a visit. 

I put up 3 batches of Pomegranate jam.

I painted  and re-decorated the Hall bathroom.

My sis and her boys came for a unexpected, Pre-Thanksgiving visit, this past weekend. 

My head is swirling with all sorts of ideas for Thanksgiving.

We are blessed enough to have some extra special family coming to be with us this year. 

My home will be full of family, friends, and LOTS of babies this year. 

Our hearts, as always, will be filled of  love, contentment, and peace. 

I see skies of blue, 
And clouds of white. 
The bright blessed day, 
The dark sacred night. 
And I think to myself, What a wonderful world. 

-Louis Armstrong-

The Girasole Lady

Finished Pumpkin Book Project

The Pumpkin Book is finished...

(or do you call it a book pumpkin?)

and because I'm terrible at tutorials

you'll have to visit  HERE to get the tutorial from my daughter's perspective. 

and since I'm finally getting in the FALL 

feeling, I went to the Pumpkin Patch yesterday and 

gathered up a few pumpkins

and since I gathered up these very fine pumpkins yesterday,

this morning I set the goods out on the kitchen table

see that metal can, to the far right, with the lavender in it?

 It's the old milking can that my Grammy used for goat's milk 

when she was a young girl

Lovely, isn't it?

The Girasole Lady

Finally Fall

Could it be true that Fall has finally arrived?

I do believe so...

I walked out to the barn this morning and noticed several leaves on the grass under the Maple tree. 

I noticed one or two in the past week or so, but with the heat so intense here in N. California, I couldn't even begin to think about Fall. Our temps are cooling down today to the 80's, and we may see some 70's over the weekend. 

Oh- I am so ready. 

Another sure sign of Fall- Caveman, as of last weekend, does not have to work on Saturdays & Sundays, and he is back to his 'normal' work schedule. 

We are planning several projects to keep us busy. 

First on the agenda is tearing down and remodeling an old fence.

(in process)

Graveling around the shop and out to the barn.

Re- painting our bedroom, and both bathrooms. 

Virginia Creeper is beautiful in the Fall. 

Bright orange and red, full of purplish berries.

(non-edible) 

I'm finishing up the pumpkin project today!

Listen! The wind is rising,

and the air is wild with leaves.

We have had our Summer evenings,

now for October eves!

-Humbert Wolfe

1885-1940

The Girasole Lady