Happy Fall, Y'all

Remember the big tomato?  One of you (Valerie Greely?) suggested at the time that it was more the size of a pumpkin.  So check this out.  Our little crop of sugar pumpkins yielded this cutie, and I decided to try a side-by-side comparison. Can't decide which pic I like the best.  Nothing says summer like a tomato, nothing says autumn like a pumpkin - so take your pick.  

And speaking of pumpkins, a couple of my little bear buddies wanted in on the act.  Sending smiles your way.  Happy Fall, y'all.

 

End of Summer

We've been telling people for years that our dog, Maggie, swims to the deep end of the pool and climbs out the ladder, just like any normal "person" would do.  Here is the photographic evidence, snapped this afternoon while we were stealing the last hot day for a long afternoon swim.  Our weather is supposed to cool down into the 70's by tomorrow and I'm sad to say goodbye to Summer 2010.  What a remarkable five months we have had - filled with sunshine, bright flowers, shade trees and sweet tea, giant vegetables from the garden, long weekends at the beach, travels to wonderful places, country roads every evening at sunset with Ben E. King and The Drifters keeping us company on the car stereo, long conversations with faithful friends, lots of hard, rewarding work, prayers of thanksgiving and praise to God every chance we got, hilarious memories made with our family - and the best news of all - we're welcoming our first grandchild in March 2011.  So we look forward to Autumn and Winter - knowing that Spring will bring new life (in more ways than one) - and Summer 2011 will find us right back in the pool - teaching the baby how to swim!

The Courtyard

Here's a news flash.  I have a weakness for pink and white impatiens.  Who knew, right?  Actually, my motivation is laziness.  These little beauties ask only that you plant them in Miracle Gro Potting Soil and keep the water coming - a simple request, really - and right up my lazy alley.  In return, they spread their beautiful little wings and stretch and grow and live happily ever after, all the way to Halloween and beyond if Jack Frost cooperates.  You saw them at the potting shed, and here they are in my little hidden brick courtyard.  It is tucked behind a high brick wall, hidden from view of the street, and shaded all year long by a big oak tree.  In March, Solomon's Seal is the first to appear, followed by the hostas and elephants ears in April, the pink hydrangeas in May and the Stargazer Lilies in June.  By that time, the Boston and Kimberly ferns have fully fluffed and these little beauties are coming into their own and spilling over the edges of their containers.  The ones that you see in the foreground actually measure 3 feet across right now.  Of course, you-know-who insisted on being included in this post.  He thinks I plant all these flowers just for him.