Monday, October 27, 2014

breathing in fall....




















It has been a slow moving fall around here.  My main focus has been to take it easy.  I've been working on making my health my main priority besides my family.   Eating good food, getting extra rest, and running.  

We have had a lovely time visiting one of my favorite fall places to take in the scenery.  I must say that this year has been one of the most spectacular years for fall color in these parts!  The grounds are full of history and charm at the old equestrian farm.   Our family celebrations have been endless but oh so wonderful just to have everyone together.  My new favorite tablecloth for parties is brown craft paper.  Just throw it down with some fun notes about the birthday bean and presto!  You have yourself a table!  The garden is getting cleaned up as bulbs are going into beds and containers.  Always being covered with chicken wire of course, to keep my outdoor friends away!    I have done some thrifting.  I found that tray up there for 10 dollars at an antique shop.  Covered with birds and a pretty gold finish it is perfect for a little fall display.

All and all life is good!  I'm glad I took the break but I'm happy to be back here in my little space to catch up with all of you!

Happy Making, Baking, and Growing Friends!


55 comments:

  1. Welcome back! Looks like you had a great time.

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  2. Hope you are feeling better! That red tree took my breath away... Autumn is so magical isn't it? Heres to a happy week for you all xxx

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  3. Those colors are incredible. I can't get over the red tree in a few of your photos, it's stunning. I love the paper idea for the table, that is a really fun idea for a party and a way to express special feelings too. I'm so glad you're back, Nicole, and I hope your break was just what you needed to feel refreshed.

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  4. Wonderful to see you back! Your fall colours are spectacular, there is something very special about October. I love all the seasons but autumn is high up on the list! It's so pretty and colourful, fall cooking is so good and it's nice to be outside when it's cooler. I find it invigorating! Keep keeping well it's very easy to run out of gas!! Chris

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  5. Nicole: Your posts are like a mini vacation- just beautiful and peaceful. I hope you are feeling better! -Derrith

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  6. So nice to have you back, Nicole! Lovey images of your beautiful autumn. My favorite is the sweet beans walking down the path - so precious! I love your idea of using the craft paper and your pretty thrifted tray with your charming 'still life'. So glad you are taking good care of yourself - you have the most important job in the world - 'Mother'. Hugs xo Karen

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  7. Hi Nicole, Things are looking wonderful in your area, and you've got some nice photos of the colours. Your kids are growing so fast!! I've read back a few posts (I was on a break too), and your new patio area looks amazing ... love all the lovely stonework and new deck too! Lucky you :) You must be so happy with the results. Have a great week, and it's nice to see you again. Wendy x

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  8. Very smart of you to take some time off. Your Fall photos are lovely. I've planted more tulips too, red, yellow and striped.

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  9. Oh yay! You're back. Hope you're well and that you've had a nice break. Taking care of your health should definitely be a priority. Only then can you better take care of your beautiful family. Gorgeous pics!!!

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  10. I've never heard of Danada Forest Preserve, I'll have to make some time to go out there next year. Glad to see you are planting some tulips!

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  11. Welcome back Nicole! I've missed you my friend! Glad to hear you've been taking care of yourself while enjoying time with your family and the beauty of this season! Your pics are lovely and really highlight autumn.

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  12. Wonderful colours.
    Merle...........

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  13. I lost two comment cuz my internet went down....grrrr....anyway---glad you are back. Great photos- love the ones of the gardens and fences...and the kids by the fencing. Hope your tulips all survive. xo Diana

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  14. Glad to see you back. I love this time of the year and when most people are winding down I too think it is a time to reflect and see what matters in life. You have to take care of yourself, especailly when you have others to take care of. As women we often forget that.

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  15. Such pretty photos Nicole! In our part of Australia we don't get colourful Autumns, so I always love seeing the pictures either from over seas or down south where it's colder. We're in Spring here at the moment as you know, although lately it's felt more like summer!

    Hope you have a good week,
    Sarah xxx

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  16. Beautiful photos! And I love your squirrel deterrent!!!

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  17. So glad you had a great time away! We all need it sometimes. Fall is so pretty in your part of the world! We're enjoying the sites and events, too, but think some cooler weather is moving in soon. Outside chores are almost complete. Enjoy these last few weeks of this beautiful season!!

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  18. Danada is gorgeous, such a welcoming looking place, all that space and neat fences. I'm glad you've enjoyed your break, it's lovely to have you back though! I love those multi-coloured corns. CJ xx

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  19. Glad to have you back! Lovely photos!

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  20. Hi Nicole
    Lovely to have you back I have missed your posts and enthusiastic comments - blogland is a duller place without you. Gorgeous pictures - you have certainly been busy and look to be enjoying your life at the moment - it seems fall is a time of beginnings and endings. Lovely coloured tulip bulbs too - should make for a colourful display. Enjoy the rest of the week.

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  21. YAY! helllo, good to see you. The fall colours are amazing. I haven't made bulb plans this year because I can't remember what I already have! Jo x

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  22. That post is like a spoonful of sunshine - beautiful xxx

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  23. Lovely to see your fall Nicole...so peaceful and beautiful to drink in...I adore that stone path and the view you shared...good to hear you are looking after yourself too!! Be well and keep enjoying the season...plant a few tulips for me this year!

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  24. Welcome back Nicole! The colour on those trees is amazing, I just love it, and your little beans running through the leaves! :-) x

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  25. Beautiful fall colors! It's so nice to see you again. xx

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  26. oh my, the colours are so pretty. i love your garden too

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  27. Nicole! So good to see you back, and what a wonderful pop of colour you have brought with you! Those fall pictures are stunning! I hope your break did you good and you're feeling rested and refreshed! xxx

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  28. So nice to have you back - such stunning autumn colours. Enjoy it, such a pity it means winter is on her way though.

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  29. I am glad you are seeing some beautiful fall color because it is pretty blah here and a lot of the trees are still green! We have had a warm fall and the fall color is very blah when it is warm. And I hear ya on the r&r. Lately, I am all about r&r. You are going to love your new tulips. I have grown them before and they are gorgeous. I hope you have many more happy memories with your beans this fall!

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  30. Lovely to see you back my dear. Take care of yourself won't you. xx

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  31. Doing nothing can be really something when you are exhausted. Rest and take care of yourself. :o)

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  32. Ah...Nic! So glad you are back! I thought of you while I was planting some daffodils. I remember reading in a gardening book about how squirrels love to dig out bulbs. Argh...then, I remembered your post about a squirrel stealing your children's toys. Well, I planted my bulbs, covered them with chicken wire, and thought the squirrel that lives in our trees will never even know they are there. Ha...he went to the exact spots where I had planted them trying to figure out how to get under the chicken wire. Hehehehe...he can't get to them. ;) xoxoxo Jen

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  33. Welcome back I hope the rest did you (andf your family) good! You are very wise to listen to that 'call' to slow down and take time to focus on health. life gets busy sometime and often our healths gets put on the bottom of the list! (speaking from personal experience!) What wonderful colours on those trees. breath taking! x

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  34. Welcome back Nicole! "My new favorite tablecloth for parties is brown craft paper."- love that! It's always good to take a break.

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  35. You show us an amazing series of colourful pictures, fall is much more beautiful on your side of the world than here, but that's why they call it Indian Summer. You must have had a lovely time at Danada House and Gardens, it looks gorgeous and then the racehorses, just what I like.
    Hope you had a good rest and take care! Hugs to all the beans.

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  36. Oh my gosh these photos are so beautiful! I would so love to have a lovely garden like yours! I live in Chicago where it's so freezing and everything is slowly dying...I guess I'll have to live vicariously through you! :D

    <(') Hoda | JooJoo Azad

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  37. Sounds like you had a nice break! The pictures are beautiful :)

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  38. my oh my. these colors are insane. gorgeous!!

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  39. This is amazing. I inhale fall, and it makes me exhale happiness...

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  40. Our health should almost always be our first priority . . . but as moms, wifes - I think maybe just as women ~ we tend to put our needs (such as rest) last. I'm 46 and still working on moving my health to the top of the list. :-)

    Your photos are just beautiful ~ absolutely capturing the colors of autumn.

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  41. Your photos are just lovely. My favorite time of year, I love Fall Autumn.. Happy days to you with love

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  42. Your pictures are stunning Nicole. I love Autumn and I miss it so much. Yes you do need to take care of you, if you don't who will?
    Hugs and Happy Halloween,
    Meredith

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  43. So breathtaking. This year has been almost perfect weather all around. Green grass all the way through summer and the best fall foliage!

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  44. Gorgeous images. Came to you from Mere's blog. I need more help with winter landscaping in the midwest....so dreary. i want to liven it up with lights or something.
    ideaS?

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  45. You've captured the beauty of fall so brilliantly in your pictures... Love it so much.. Happy Halloween!

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  46. So that's where I've been going wrong - I haven't been using chicken wire to stop those pesky squirrels from eating all my tulip bulbs!

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  47. Hi Nicole,

    Welcome back and so glad that you had a lovely break away.
    I love all the gorgeous fall colours and beautiful photos you have shared.
    Many thanks for the kind visit and lovely words you left me - appreciate your friendship.
    Have a great weekend
    hugs
    Carolyn

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  48. we all need to take time out for ourselves-I have not been on my blog as much as usual-hopefully my readers will understand-welcome back.
    we have had a gorgeous fall here too-just last nite we got our first freeze-22 degrees this morning-hated to see my plants get hit-but is the cycle of the seasons-

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  49. I do hope you've got your health well in hand, my friend. I love that you're taking time out to do so...these photos are breathtaking, and yes, when you're that age, everything IS better from Dad's shoulders! XOXOXOXOXO

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  50. I'm just back from some extended time away too, checking in to say hi! I hope you're keeping well, lovely. Those autumnal colours are spectacular! Take care. X

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  51. Dear Nicole.
    I love the color of fall you captured. :)

    Glad to know you plant apricot impression bulbs. I'll be waiting for updates. I am now chilling some spring bulbs. Hopefully they're doing well here in tropical area.
    Happy gardening,,

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  52. Hi Nicole! I came across your lovely blog while visitin sweet Mildred's blog :) Your photos are simply beautiful and I had a wonderful time reading through your posts. I am your newest follower and I look forward to visiting again.

    Happy weekend to you! Hugs and blessings!

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  53. Beautiful Autumn photos. hope to see all your tulips bulbs in full bloom soon. bet they will be beautiful!
    I love your garden.

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