Not Quite Yet!

With temps in the mid 60's today I knew if I wanted to get some final yard work done before old man winter was breathing his icy breath down my neck I needed to get busy.  We have had several frosts so I assumed all my plants and garden had gone to sleep for the season.  Under a pile of leaves I found this plant happily blooming and looking as if it was Spring.  What a nice gift in the middle of November.

While pulling up tomato vines I found these three fellows snuggled

down close to the ground under all the dead foliage. 

So I guess it's not quite winter yet.  But probably tomorrow.

Bob & I

I lost my baby brother early this morning to that ugly monster cancer.  He has put up a brave fight since he was diagnosed in late April.  He did his chemo, radiation, had most of his stomach and esophagus removed but that monster still invaded the liver and lungs.  I was twelve when he was born so he sometimes felt more like my child than my brother.  He would have been 59 in March I will miss he so much he was such a good, gentle man who loved his garden and cooking for his family.

This is a photo of him and me when I went home for my Mother's funeral.  Rest now dear brother.

Have You Ever

Have you ever done something so stupid you didn't want to call anyone and tell them you needed help?  This weekend while hubby was chasing the invisible deer through the forest (they must be invisible as he didn't bring one home) I decided to move the furniture around to make it more cozy by the fireplace.  You may have read my previous post where I discussed the fact hubby thought my cute bench wasn't made for relaxing winter evenings.  I decide the love seat in the computer room would make a much nicer seat for fireplace viewing.  If it goes in a room it has to come out - right!  I even measured all the openings to make sure the love seat would fit through the door the way I planned.  I removed all the legs just to be on the safe side.  Through the first door no problem.  Second door in the hall not quite a good fit.  I shoved, I puffed, and said a few not so nice wordds.  But it would not budge.  It was stuck tight.  I finally got up enough courage to call my SIL and asked him if he could stop by and help me a few minutes.  He was very gracious and didn't laugh too long or loud.  We had to lift it straight up in the air until it touched the ceiling because the door frame was 1 1/2" smaller at the bottom of the door then at the top.  Who would of thought?

Here is the poor love seat stuck in the hall tilted on it's side.

This is my door frame after we finally squeezed the love seat through. It will need some serious sanding and painting before hubby comes home.  I guess sometimes it doesn't matter how well you plan it just doesn't work. 

The love seat looks great in it's new place in front of the fire.  Guess I will have to pour hubby a glass of wine and build a fire as soon as he gets home.  Maybe he won't notice the door frame.

First Impressions

I first saw this young man at an estate sale.  As I passed him by I thought how haughty and regal his demeanor.  Certainly not the kind of personality that would fit into my casual life style.

On my second walk through,  I thought you know he would look nice in some one's home that has a beautiful foyer or sitting on a buffet in a formal dining.  So perhaps I should take him home and find him a fitting home through my antique booth as he does have a certain air.

Well, he came home with me and found a home in my living room until he could go to the booth.  As the days went by I noticed that perhaps he wasn't really haughty but probably just a contemplative man.  As you can see he didn't even protest when I deck his immaculate clothing with a few fall leaves to celebrate the season.  So for now he will grace my humble home.  And on second thought maybe first impressions aren't  always the most accurate ones.