Dear Reader:

Autumn continues to call nature to start planting seeds and letting go of its leaves. I spent the last two days in Mt. Pleasant helping Mandy with the children while John was at a meeting in Florida.

A great time….and while Tigger (the dog) and I relaxed by the pool (our “Zen” time) I saw an opportunity for the perfect photo shot….a crack in the fence separating the pool/yard from the canal waters. Autumn and peace in the lowcountry at its best.

Then yesterday morning, while it was still foggy and rainy… I got another perfect photo moment….through the screened back porch…perfect reflection!

Peace and tranquility can be found everywhere in the fall….each natural region offering its own beauty and surprises. * The picture (below on the left) was taken on our way to the Doyle Farm from Steeple Falls. Again nature reflecting in the waters doubles the beauty, doesn’t it?

In the right photo…my Bradford Pear (not to be outdone) had a surprise for me yesterday….one branch of its leaves is starting to turn colors…fall really is coming to the lowcountry! *It will be in the upper forties tonight and a high of 69 tomorrow….(that’s almost winter weather down here! 🙂

Here is the rest of my garden and yard…foliage filled with fun surprises. The Confederate Rose is outdoing itself this fall.

Gazing balls…bringing good luck and weather to my garden!

Even the setting sun seemed to be welcoming me home last evening.

The kick-off to the food extravaganza (on the “Spruce and Moose” Adventure) started Monday night (a week ago.) I went over to Anne’s to spend the night since her neighbors were taking us to the airport at 5 am the next morning. *Anne said she just threw some things from the fridge together for our kick-off meal…(I want Anne’s fridge if this is just  those “things” inside! 🙂

Everything was set in pink for breast cancer month…so thoughtful!

Cold cuts and cheese for sandwiches and deviled eggs, cole slaw…glorious deviled eggs…how I love them!!!!!

When we got to Kathy’s (Anne’s sister’s house outside Portland) a beef stew had been cooking all day and made the house smell delicious… it was  the perfect meal after a day of traveling)…the next morning the blueberries came out with the eggs and we ate them from that point on…..luscious blueberries…straight from the fields of Maine.

The next day was a beautiful drive through winding back roads on our way to Camden and then onto Sherry’s ….a wonderful, zany, lovable friend of Anne’s….her last principal who now has a second home in Maine. I can’t think of Sherry without her red truck (symbol of Sherry’s out-going personality)…I felt like “Queen of the Road” traveling to Arcadia National Park, Cadillac Mountains, and Bar Harbor in that amazing machine!

The gourmet dinners Sherry made for us were spectacular!

Try this on for size…fresh corn on the cob…yes, you heard me…fresh corn in Maine in October! Steak, homemade diced potatoes, fresh asparagus, and fresh squash. Sherry always had homemade apple butter and apple sauce on the table.

Our final meal was at some high school friends of Anne’s….Becky and her husband Dan, who live in Kennebunkport….gorgeous home on beautiful acreage .  Again…fresh fish, potatoes and broiled fresh vegetables….with homemade gingerbread. (Believe me there wasn’t enough farm pastures or mountains to work all that food off! 🙂 *But worth every bite!!!! (*They live just a few short miles from the Bush Compound in Kennebunkport)

So until tomorrow…Fall seems to be following me and I love it! A season that shares a parody of vibrance, death, and renewal. (A wreath at Mandy’s house)

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh