Autumn arrives

Just two weeks ago when we were up, all the flowers in the field and woods were white. Now, everything is yellow, golden, purple.





and we have mushrooms everywhere. If only we knew which were good to eat! Not this orange one: I think it's a Jack 'o Lantern (mushroom) although it doesn't glow in the dark like the mushroom book says. I did not see many boletes this weekend and those are often good to eat. Amber, we need a mycologist up here! Know any?



On the left: this is a golden coral mushroom, I believe! Right? don't know.



We have a wild pink dogwood that's on its last legs. I did find some seeds on it and collected them to see if I could sprout them but according to an article I read, they will probably be white. To get a pink one, you'd have to graft a pink branch onto a white one. Anyway, we'll try sprouting them. To the right: loading up the stove for our first fire of the season. It was chilly at night. But in the cabin, warm.



It won't be long before the leaves begin to turn, but they haven't yet except for some early ones.

Russ continued his batter board project. The strings are where the walls will be. Where they cross is a corner.



Couple weeks ago we got a load of manure. Now I'm planting a bed near the screen porch: gardenias (we rooted from mine) and irises. Generally speaking, we will just use native species but this and vegetables will be an exception.



Russ finished the collecting basin for the kitchen sink drain. A hole filled with small stones which will allow the water to go out, air to enter the line, and keep people from falling the hole. This will make these azaleas very happy.



And on Sunday, we went on a rock gathering trip. We're making another raised bed at the Atlanta house. We are thrilled with this year's tomatoes! On Monday on our return to ATL, went out to look and one of the Amish paste tomatoes has 11 green ones on it! Full size. Let's hope they are ready before frost comes. Also, the Amber brandywine producing like crazy.

Russ talked me into some target practice. Here's a terrorist we blasted.



So that was the weekend! We're going up again this weekend, trying to get as much in as possible before cold comes.

Beautiful Weekend

Russ is busy installing batter boards. You connect them with string to see where your corners and walls are. Then, when you start digging footers, there are no stakes in the way. Also the strings are level.

Fall means lots of mushrooms. We're not sure what's what so have actually not tried eating them!



I'm putting these rocks across the back to stop the erosion; we've also covered it with chipped wood mulch. We have two wild azaleas out on their own; will soon move them into the bed with the others.


As usual, we roasted a chicken and this time a big squash also.

Finally Cooler Weather; Back to Work

We've gone up to RW two weekends in a row and will be up again this weekend.
Last year when they visited, Ron and Linda gave us this hummingbird feeder. It's on our back porch, being used by both hummingbirds and yellowjackets! When I first filled it last weekend, first one hummingbird came, then two, then three. It's like the first one went and found the others. We also have a little mobile on the backporch, metal triangles, and one lighted on it. So I guess we have both a perch and good food here! Meanwhile, Russ was fixing the wheelbarrow.



And I starting digging a big flower bed where we had Richmond Woods Beach (kiddie pool) during Russ's party. We rooted some gardenia cuttings over the summer for it. I think they will like this sunny spot and we will like the way they smell in the spring! Generally speaking, we will have all native species of flowers in this place but this will be one of few exceptions. Irises to be another exception. All I need is enough soil to build this up and some manure.



Left below: You can't tell much about this spot but it's a flattish area right along the road and I'm thinking it will be a good spot if and when I get an artist cottage/guest cottage. To the right: there's been a lot of wind up here lately (and rain it looks like); this tree was in the road when we came up last week. Lots of big branches down.



On Sunday, here's Russ just staking out where his new shop will be. He plans it to be about 24 x 32.



So here's what we have so far, after three years of lots of weekends. It's one room, with a screened in front porch (white door) and a rocking chair back porch where the hummingbird feeder is. We eat on the screened porch; here's a delectable feast of BBQed chicken and fruit. After Russ's shop is up, we plan to add a bedroom and bathroom to the right end of the house (visible in this picture) and a kitchen on the opposite end, big enough for a big table. We also would like to do a summer kitchen for BBQ, outdoor eating, breadmaking, canning, beer making and other messy/steamy or smelly activities. Of course the hot things, like breadmaking, will be nice to do inside when it gets cold. I am hoping the summer kitchen and artist/guest cottage are less finished than this place, more rustic, so we can move a little faster! We may need professional help. We'll just have to see how it goes.



A cute little place inside, with an oak floor, wired for electricity and plumbed (water and elec coming next year; we were thinking off the grid but didn't know if that would be best for us as we get older. It would be nice to have all modern conveniences!). Bed at one end, wood burning stove in the middle. And at the other end, kitchen in one corner and sofa, Debbie's glass coffee table in the other. Just about all built from salvage, donated and local materials. As for home furnishings, we already own enough to furnish anything added to this place!