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Monday, October 11, 2021

Autumn Decor by People and Nature

I had to go downtown on Sunday to drop off some seeds I sold on Etsy. The main post office has three big mail-drop boxes. The mail is very slow, so I didn't want to wait until tomorrow to do it. I was thinking if dropped off Sunday, on Monday it would be one of the first pieces handled. Seed sales are suddenly up again.
 
My husband acts grumpy, but he really likes being my "hand model" to hold seeds and other things I sell. "Do you need me to hold anything?" he will ask hopefully when I come home with seeds! "Of course, honey!"



The above is NOT a commercial! It's just an example of the little photos he likes to be in.
 
But I dropped the little package of seeds between the car and the mailbox! And I had just been thinking, "Gosh, I hope I don't drop the package! That'd be pretty bad!" Oh no! I opened the car door, hit it against the box, and could not reach down far enough to grab the package from the ground. And I hit my head on my own car door. Ow. I had to back up, open the door again, and get out to be able to reach down. I was so glad no one was waiting behind me during this elegant show of my graceful ways.

pretty desert store

Driving back, I saw the little store I love so much, and they have decorated the outside for autumn. Gone is the summer theme that had the pompoms and oranges and lemons, shown in a summer blog post. Now, all is silver, gold, white, and turquoise, but autumn items! I thought it very elegant. I like the regular colors for at home, but the store's color scheme was pretty.
 

 

The windows really caught my eye. I thought some lace panels had been added, but it was just paint! I am going to try to paint a lace "valance" on my bedroom window now. It's just bare, except for some blinds. 
 
painted lace on window pane

After driving down Main Street, I went to light some holy candles, and I had an extra $2 to light one exclusively for a job, which I need very badly indeed, and shockingly, the Perpetual Adoration Chapel was LOCKED. I have never encountered a locked door at a main cathedral before. I'm floored by this. All the smaller parishes lock up tight, yes. But our main parish? I hope I can find out what is going on, without sounding like I'm being disapproving. I know we had a lot of trouble with disturbed persons going in, so this may be what caused the change. But it was awful, that locked door.

On the way home, I decided to stop and take a look at the university's agricultural students' garden. It is in sad shape! I think the weeds took over there just as they did in my little community plot! Most of the garden has been plowed, and what's left is just a mess. And so many pumpkins, tomatoes, and corn just left unharvested and falling off the plants! Some of the vines were already plowed over but are still trying to ripen off their fruits.
 

 

 
I was so sorely tempted to take some tiny pumpkins just lying in the dirt, but of course I didn't. I put one of the tinies on top of another pumpkin and took a photo. Maybe a student will see the little pumpkin and take it to their dorm room!
 

There are at least 100 birdhouse gourds, still green, in part of the garden. I hope they will ripen and the students will gather them. I wonder why the university doesn't have a farm stand, so the students can earn money for their college studies. They used to do that where I went to college, but that's a long time ago now and maybe it is passe. I feel sorry for the students today. They aren't getting much of an education, and at such a price, too.



I had a heck of a time walking along the garden rows. My arthritis is so much worse lately. I can remember running up and down farm rows like a little goat! I watched "It's A Wonderful Life" (in color) again a few days ago, and boy is the quip true that the old guy on the porch says to a young Jimmy Stewart: "Youth is wasted on the young!" I've decided to get a cane, the kind with "feet," like the "HurryCane" they used to sell on television. I'd rather hobble with a cane than miss out on my little adventures!

Ah, my "exciting" life! But I'm grateful for my little pokey life. It doesn't feel pokey to me, actually. Every day I see, think, hear, or read something amazing!

Here's hoping each of you will have a good week ahead, light on the worries of the world, and heavy on amazing!

Kind regards,

Holly, The Olde Dame


26 comments :

  1. I am now thinking maybe you can find stencils for the widow? I've always wanted stained glass.

    Taking seeds is just like picking up a pumpkin or two....why not?!!

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  2. I am sorry to say that I have no idea what Indian Jujubes are! I must look that up! And yes, what a shame all those pumpkins, etc. going to waste! Is there anyone you can ask about picking some up? Just wondering. I love what that store did to their window! How lovely! Yes, perhaps you can find a stencil to do this. I can imagine your "graceful" exhibit at the post office drop box...I've been there and done that myself. And too often I've had an audience to my follies. I've often stated to others watching my antics that "I graduated from charm school with honors". They usually get a big kick out that. I am sorry your Chapel doors were locked. It seems to be a sign of the times. Nothing is sacred anymore and we must lock up our holy places lest the "thief comes to steal and destroy". Very sad state of affairs in our land these days. We must pray for our nation more than ever, lest "the thief comes to steal and destroy" it right from under our noses. I hope you have a blessed and wonderful week, and may God hear your prayer for a job and provide exactly what you need at just the right time. Remember, His timing is always perfect!

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  3. I am sorry you are feeling your arthritis. I would go to the garden during the week when the kids are there they may share.
    It should go to a shelter or something not just go to waste.
    Cathy

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  4. i really like the Little Store and changing the color of the door for the season is an excellent idea, each time it changes it will draw attention.. it is really pretty and i am happy it is not decorated for halloween.. me to on the arthritism all 3 of us are sufferering from the stiffness that comes from being still for more than 10 minutes. your drop at the mail box is describing my life now, i call it the droppsys

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  5. I'm going to write what you've written at the end in my journal today. I like my life too and still get excited about all the things I see and do! Enjoy your day...I think we're staying young having the fun we have! Hugs!

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  6. I have been ungraceful, too, so I can empathize. As someone who was born with a rare form of arthritis, I can definitely feel your pain.

    I hope you can find a job soon and take comfort in the fact you did the right thing in the last job you had.

    I like the autumn theme of that little store. Stencils can be quite expensive, so I hope you find one that looks like a window treatment. That was a lovely lacy window treatment.

    Sorry to read about the church being locked. Perhaps it's that time of year when it must be locked for safety. I wish you the best, dear, especially in light of you finding a good job.

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  7. Holly, the first time I saw that the doors were locked at my church I was surprised, but I guess they do that at times now. Sometimes they are locked and sometimes they are open to go inside and pray and light candles. Maybe it depends on the parish. What a charming little store. I've never thought of the color turquoise for Fall, but it does look nice. I like the painted windows, and they DO look like lace curtains! You know, I've never really seen the whole movie, "It's a Wonderful Life," just bits and pieces of it. I watched "The Christmas Carol" last night and that's always a good one. That tiny pumpkin on top of the big one looks so cute. I'm sorry your arthritis is acting up. My Mom had that also and sometimes it would be so painful for her. I hope you get the job that suits you, and I will put you in the intentions when I say The Rosary today.

    Have a beautiful week, Holly.

    ~Sheri

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    1. Holly, did you grow up in New Orleans? It is one of Jess and Nel's favorite place to visit. So festive when Mardi Gras comes around with their colorful beads and masks. They love this town with all its history. : )

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  8. I hate to see produce rotting on the vine too. I think you take a few pumpkins at least, that's what they put all the effort into growing for.

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    1. I'm going to call the College of Agriculture and tell them they need to get a farm stand up ASAP!

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  9. You reminded me of the roadside stands I used to see all over the place when I was a child. They are no more. What a shame. I'm sure you will love your cane. I fought against getting one for so long. My son finally got tired of seeing me fall off the porch and got me one. It makes life a lot easier.

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    1. I'm glad the cane is helping! I remember a lot of roadside stands. We still have a few here, too. One sells honey, on the honor system. I'm surprised they are still able to do that.

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  10. Hello,
    Oh, I get upset with our UW Research Garden's as well. SO MUCH of the harvest goes to waste.
    The excuse is.. people who come to the food pantry do not know how to use fresh produce. So do not give it away.. just let it rot.

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    1. I always wonder, when they tell me that it was "just grown for research," if they aren't harvesting the crop, and just letting it all fall down, HOW are they getting any worthwhile data?

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  11. The decorations around that lovely turquoise door are so pretty and it occurred to me that by removing the mini pumpkins after Thanksgiving it could easily become a Christmas/Winter decoration.
    It's sad that the Cathedral door has to be locked. We have a large homeless population, probably because our climate here on the lower mainland is much milder than the rest of Canada so of course the homeless tend to come here. Unfortunately they resist the Salvation Army's efforts and spend their nights in any unlocked ( and sometimes in spite of locks) building. A friend even had one break into his RV. So churches are locked unless a caretaker is around.

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    1. I agree, remove the pumpkins after T'giving and maybe put some big candy canes in there and it would look so pretty for Christmas, too! We have so many homeless here, too, from both sides of the border. I have seen a huge jump in just a few weeks. Our previous priest was adamant about keeping the doors open but he retired. He lived on the premises and it was not unusual for him to be praying in the wee hours.

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  12. Your hubby makes a wonderful model. :-) Wish those jujubes grew here! The painting on those windows is simply glorious...Parts of it even look shaded? If it was a stencil, perhaps the storeowner would let you borrow it? And those, poor, beautiful, pumpkins....to end their lives so squandered. Rightly or wrongly, I would probably have brought them all home with me. At least you honored them by photographing them so flatteringly (is that a word?? Sounds odd in my head LOL.) ~Robin~

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    1. I have decided to at least line them up along the field's edge if they are still there 2 days before Halloween. They deserve some glory!

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  13. That little store looks so pretty. And your hubby, what a great model and help for you and your products. It's always fun to read your blog.

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    1. Thank you, Inger. I will pass on the compliment to hubby, he will be pleased! (But he will act grumpy)

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  14. A shame about the student gardens. I hope they realize there is good gleaning there.

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    1. There is excellent gleaning! The farmers throw the things they don't want along the edges of their fields, for anyone to glean. But the ag college is getting lazy!

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  15. The painted on lace panels are so pretty. What a great idea. I feel sorry for the plants and things left in a garden. I'm always sad cleaning up the garden in the fall. There's always a few beans and things still tryin g to grow. Left you a comment about the witech too.

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    1. I feel sad about the garden in fall, too! It's like the poor plants are trying to live, live, live, but we know what's coming -- WINTER.

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  16. It is alwasy interesting to read what you write. The photo of your husband's hands and the seeds is beautiful! It is really strange that the students grow those things and are not harvesting. I am sorry to hear that they had to lock the doors at the church. In Norway we are not used to have open churches, except from some churches in summer. But I think it must be good to be able to visit church when you want to. So, sorry it is closed now.

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    1. I think photos of the hands of the very old are beautiful, too! Those hands have done a lot of things in 86 years. Thank you for dropping by! Yes, I am very sad that the church is locking at evening. I used to be able to go even at 3 a.m.

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