Point Lobos

I'm not quite sure what all this talk my daughter has been doing about the lack of sun at her new home in Monterey CA. Just look how beautiful it is...



The Redwood Forrest



Papa Fritz

 

We Found Them!



Daybreak

I will never grow weary of this moment from my home the valley.



*Linked to A Step in the Journey

Sage Cookies

These savory shortbead treats are perfect with a cup of tea on a crisp fall day. Even better with cocktails on a Friday night.

2 cups flour

1/2 cup powdered sugar

 2 teaspoons dried sage

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup  unsalted butter, softened

350 degree oven,  cook time 20-25 minutes

Stir dry ingredients together and then work in butter with a fork until the dough comes together. Divide dough in half and shape each into a log. Chill until firm (or freeze one for later use!). When ready, slice into 1/4 inch pieces and bake. Enjoy.

Old Friends

A couple of old...as in childhood...friends of Fritz's and their wives came to The Farm for 3 days with Harley's in tow.

Dave and Buddy (along with Danny who will be coming in a few weeks) grew up together in what must have been just a wonderful place to be a kid. I never tire of their stories. I met the whole gang of them sometime in my teens and am very happy to have been part of the lore from that point on. I do admitt that it has sometimes been a bit awkward for my children to have heard some of those stories...

The weekend was filled with laughter, games, storytelling and lots (and lots) of general merriment.

And of course a couple of outings on those Harleys. We rode many a country road along the Shennadoah River and experienced breathtaking autumn views from atop the mountains.

Our youngest showed up on Sunday to ride with us....how awesome is it that a 19 year old wanted to hang out with his half century plus old parents and their friends instead of his college buddies?

If only I could find a way to temper those stories...

Too pretty not to share with Finished Object Fridays

Yarn: Colinett Jitterbug

Pattern : Lacy Katy by  Birgit Freyer



More Friends

Two very dear friends paid a visit to The Farm today.
 Very Dear.

We have been though a lot together...babies, raising children, schools, carpooling, children's marriages, children's 'hicup moments', the deaths of parents, the death of a spouse...

And through all, we could always count on each other for lots of laughter.

Thanks Anne and Kathy.

I had a wonderful time sitting on my front porch and laughing with you.

Friends

Years after our children graduated from high school, we have remained good friends with a lot of the parents we came to know well at Ireton. Just one of the many benefits gained from such a wonderful school.

On a glorious weekend in the country several of these friends paid us a visit and I do believe a good time was had by all.

...especially the canines.

Thank you for coming. Thank you for for giving our children their good friends. Thank you for helping us guide our children through with your good examples of family life, compassion and service.

PLEASE COME BACK!

Saturday Afternoon in Luray

The parking lot in front of the liquior store..



Fall Heritage Festival Weekend

Apparently it is what the town lives for each year. People, motorcycles, street musicians and an air of excitement everywhere. Even the bridge over Hawksbill Creek is all dressed up for the occasion.

What a Wonderful Place to LIVE.

On and Off the Needles

My daughter's dress is off the needles!

 Just needs a final try-on before blocking and the finishing touches. Which of course Requires another trip to the West Coast. (only 19 more days to go!). I won't post another photo of Allegheny again until it is on Kate, so please check back.

On the needles are a pair of knee-hi boot socks to keep my legs cozy this winter at The Farm....I could knit my way through 'Country Weekend Socks' ...such beautiful projects.

The yarn is Three Irish Girls washable DK on size 5 needles so is working up very quickly and is nice and thick.

The air is crisp here in Virginia...I am already cold and thinking I am going to have to start a Hexipuff Basket to make a BeeKeepers Quilt..

                                          (  ...and then study up on BeeKeeping for the possibility of adding a hive to The Farm...)

~~~~

Linking with
Work-in Progress Wednesdays

I think I'll let you provide the captions

Hands

The ladies from The Knitterati of Virginia, the yarn loving group whose company I enjoy so much, paid a visit to The Farm this weekend. I had envisioned a lovely day on the porch, but wet, damp, COLD weather sent us indoors instead. I'm not quite sure that it was worth the 2 hour drive for these gals to sit around a kitchen table for hours, but they were as kind and positive as I have ever known them to be. 

My mother was able to join us for a spell and I was happy for her to meet my friends.
And make new ones herself.

The Pumpkin Soup, inspired by the beautiful blog From Beyond My Kitchen Window  was a hit. The author's gifted hand at photography has me determined to find lessons.

I did indeed try my hand at 'knitting' with Marzipan.

Yum.

~~~~~~

Meanwhile, out in the Garden, Ma's Ray lent a hand digging up the sweet potatoes.

Double Yum.