Floating into Autumn

Just like you, we're trying to finish up all the outdoor projects before

winter settles in.  This morning when I went outside to work in the yard, 

I found a surprise waiting for me.

Can you see it?  

If you remember, last fall I was trying to decide what cutout design I wanted

on the new shutters we were planning to make.

Well, I finally made a decision.....

I decided to keep the old wood shutters after all.  

There have been many changes, both inside and out since our house was built in 1921, 

so we're keeping this detail just as it was back then.  Bill worked many hours

removing the old finish and replacing a few pieces, but now they're good as new

and back on the windows where they belong.  I have no idea how he got them

up by himself, but I'm happy and so is our house........

and probably our neighbor across the street, too.

It's not all work and no play at 911. 

 I always try to fit in one last outdoor adventure when the leaves are in full color.

Last weekend as Carol (Art and Sand) and her husband were enjoying the sunshine

and lively scenes while kayaking along the beautiful California coastline, we were paddling down

a northern Minnesota river enjoying an equally beautiful, but polar opposite scene.

The water was as calm as could be and the sky was slightly overcast.

The lazy river winds for miles without a noticeable current, so turning around

 and heading upstream to the lake is no chore at all.

We didn't see any wildlife other than a few birds,

but as you can see the beavers have been busy feathering their nests. 

 I guess they like weathered wood and natural elements in their decor, too.

Taking a five.

A lone water lily blooms in the warm water.

There were a even a few raindrops at this point, but I didn't mind.

It's a fifteen minute paddle across Swan Lake to the boat landing to the right of the bridge.

  If you look closely, you can see the profile of our state bird, the loon,

 who came to bid us goodbye for the season.  Its partner was to the left, out of camera range.

Seven o'clock and it's already getting dark.

And so the sun sets on another kayak season.

Thanks for coming along!

Vickie

I'm joining the parties at:

Cozy Little House Tweak it Tuesday

Common Ground Be Inspired

The weather outside is frightful!

Sing along with me.

"Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the.....

Wait a minute.....

isn't that a Christmas tune?

What's wrong with this picture?

Isn't it supposed to be frost on the pumpkin?

I think you can see why up north we prefer

to buy our pumpkins and mums from Michael's.

I don't think I'll be outside today, my day off, working on the twig sign

I started....oh, 2 weeks ago.  Poor, poor me.

Don't worry,  I'll suffer in silence inside the house whilst

 drinking coffee and reading blogs. :@

This area is under the roof, so it's sheltered from the snow, but it

looks like we'll soon be exchanging the rakes for shovels!

I hope my silk mums don't freeze. 

If I had Photoshop, I'd crop out the utility meter and wires near our back door for your

viewing pleasure, but alas, I fear it would be much too complicated for me. 

 Do you see my newest find?

 The old screen door, painted in the same shade as our back door was meant for me,

 wouldn't you say?  I painstakingly wound vines from our fence around it to dress it up

 for the season, but the wind took most of them away.  Now that I think about it,

 I would have been wise to anchor them with wire.  Hindsight.

 Oh, well, there's plenty more where they came from. 

 I bought the house numbers from Restoration Hardware about 3 years ago,

but I could never find the right spot for them.  Now they finally have a place to hang out while

diverting your attention away from those sad yellow mums.....I hope.

Do you remember when I said the turquoise

paint on the bicycle would soon fade into a softer color?

I guess I was wrong.

In case I don't get my Halloween post out in time, I hope everybody

has a Merry Christmas Happy Halloween!

Vickie

*I'm joining the party at:
Common Ground Vintage Inspiration Friday

The Sunset Colors of Autumn

Just one week ago, we enjoyed the last beautiful summer-like

weather of the year.  My goal was to travel to a nearby lake ( for the last time this year)

 with our kayaks to enjoy the fall colors and that's just what we did.

The temperature was an unseasonably warm 75 degrees and sunny,

so we took a drive to find a quiet lake to paddle.

No wind and not a cloud in the sky.

It was a gorgeous day to spend on the lake.

When we arrived home shortly before sunset, I took a walk around the neighborhood

 to take a few pictures of the colorful trees in town.

The setting sun casts its shadows in a neighborhood park.

Autumn is fleeting in northern Minnesota, but its beauty can't be beat.

Thanks for coming along!

Vickie

Diamonds are a girl's best friend. Or are they?

Just before my 50th birthday, I accidentally read an email with questions about diamond rings from Bill to one of our daughters.  Well, what I really wanted was a kayak, so I had to fess up before the diamond in question was purchased.  That was 3 years ago and the rest, as they say, is history.

We bought our kayaks from Spring Creek Outfitters which sells slightly blemished new kayaks at discounted prices.  They also designed the carrier racks that strap to the top of our car in less than 5 minutes.  I'm not sure if they know it, but the racks also come in rather handy for hauling.....oh, vintage fireplaces and other treasures that happen to find me.

So, I could be sitting in my yard on a beautiful summer evening admiring a diamond ring on my finger, or out on the water enjoying the views only mother nature can offer.  No contest.

(Bill securing the boats after a trip last fall.)

After more than a week of rain (which happened to be my week of vacation)

the weather finally cleared up on Friday.  In the early evening it was in the low 70's

with no wind, which is the perfect combination to lure me out to the lake.

We chose to visit a small chain of lakes just off the Scenic Highway.  We launched our boats

into O'Reilly Lake, traveled through Shamrock Lake and through a small channel (top photo) into

Island Lake, named for the small island pictured above.

I almost fell out of my kayak with my good camera while I was taking this picture

when something big jumped out of the water nearby!

I didn't actually see what it was, but it made quite a splash.

A few minutes later my question was answered.  Bill spotted a family of beavers

 frolicking in the lily pads.  With my slow response time, this is the best I could do.

  That little brown blob in the center of the picture is the last beaver to dive under

 the water to escape the curious onlookers.

"Come here, Norman. Hurry up. The loons! The loons! They're welcoming us back."

This is the 3rd year we've paddled these lakes, and without fail these 2 loons

can be found patrolling Shamrock Lake.  They serenade us, but only allow us

to get so close before they dive under and resurface out of range of my camera.

I'm sure you recognized the quote from "On Golden Pond", my all-time favorite movie.

If you've never seen this 1981 award winner, it's a classic summertime movie.

And if I could pick the perfect rustic vacation cabin, this would be it.

The setting sun signals the end of our evening voyage.

Who needs diamonds?!

After we unloaded the boats and settled in for the night, we heard a commotion outside.

(Photo taken through the trees from our front porch.)

The local raceway was kicking off the evening with a fireworks display.

The perfect end to the perfect day.

Vickie

I almost forgot to show you what I found!

 It's currently in the shop getting a new

paint color and I've already given my new toy boat a name.

Can you guess what it is?

Morning Glory: Man vs. Beast

For some reason, this post from last year is one of my most viewed posts.
I may be jumping the gun, but since we've had an unseasonably warm spring,
I'm going to take a chance and plant my morning glories a bit earlier than usual.  Here's
 a tutorial so you can get yours in the ground this week, too.

Last year's blooms.

"A morning glory at my window satisfies me more

than the metaphysics of books."

-Walt Whitman

*June 2011

Memorial Day has come and gone and so has the threat of Jack Frost nipping our flowers and vegetables.  One of my favorite flowers to plant is the Morning Glory, even though we northerners have to wait until late summer or early fall until the flowers actually bloom.  They are such a pretty sight in the early morning hours and the perfect solution to camouflage ugly chain link fences. Today I will pass on a little trick taught to me by my mother to give your seeds a jump start.

1. Empty your seed packet onto several layers of wet paper towel.  Pay no attention to the packet directions that instruct you to "nick" the seeds.  Impossible.
2. Fold the wet paper towel over the seeds and seal in a ziplock bag for several days until they "sprout" just like those taters you've kept in your pantry a few weeks longer than you should.  Now they're ready to plant.
3. Whatever you do, do not fertilize!  If you do, you will grow humongous leaves and very few flowers.

These are the seeds, not mouse droppings.

Night, night.

Incubating.

Heavenly Blue is my favorite variety and here's a clever way to cover an unsightly utility box.
(Google Images)

July 2011

September 2011

I even added some of the seedlings to a hanging basket.

Mix in some Moonflower seeds for large evening blooms.

Lil' sprouts.

Once you've turned over the soil and planted your sprouts, there's just one thing to worry about.  SQUIRRELS!!  Yes, those cute little varmints love nothing better than freshly turned soil to bury their winter snacks.  Well, maybe they like my pots of flowers better.  They watch me leave for work in the morning ( I see their beady little eyes watching me) and signal their friends to let them know it's time to.....

Par- tay' !!!!

(Photo courtesy of Google Images)

Look out squirrels, this year I am ready to do battle.  I am armed and dangerous!  I've got me a....

Gen-u-ine bobbing head owl!

Not only does he add cottage charm to your garden, he is absolutely guaranteed to protect those seedlings.  You see, the owl ranks higher on the food chain than rabbits and squirrels, so Mr. Hooter, do your stuff! 

Whooooo goes there?

Happy planting!

Vickie

*Linked to:

Funky Junk Interiors Saturday Nite Special

The Rosegarden in Malevik Saturday Show-off