Sunday, October 14, 2012

Fall weekend.

No denying it, it's autumn.
I looked out the window yesterday and was surprised to see a random kid raking my backyard. Later he introduced himself to me and said he and my next-door neighbors had been gathering leaves for a big leaf pile. I told him they were welcome to take all the leaves they wanted!
Fall colors are starting to appear, but it is still very damp. Mushroom colonies have been sprouting up in my yard alongside fallen dogwood berries.
But there are still spring-like touches. A blooming azalea and my impatiens and begonias are hanging on, their pinks incongruous in the slightly chillier air.
My older son came home for the weekend and he and his brother spent some time trying on winter hats. This one on my younger son was my favorite.
While I was working in the front yard, my new across-the-street neighbor came over to introduce himself.  He said he and his wife and their 3 month old baby had just moved here from Utah. I told him my sons were older, but that the neighbor was full of young kids and very safe. He asked if I had a daughter and said he'd seen a girl earlier driving in after running, he thought. I'd gone running that morning, so he'd seen me in running clothes. Later, when I was telling my kids, my younger son missed part of the story and asked what had happened. My older son said, "The new neighbor thought Mom was her daughter." I'm my own daughter - now that's Appalachian!

28 comments:

  1. I LOVE THAT! No, that wasn't my daughter, I'm just hot!!

    Hope they're not Mormon!

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    1. I'm guessing they are - he said they went to BYU. But I'm thrilled to have friendly neighbors of any stripe replacing the ones who were there before.

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  2. Beautiful photos!

    And I'm so jealous of your colorful fall leaves because we barely have any so far. It's been a strange fall hasn't it? One day it's chilly and fall-like, and then the next day it's warm; almost like spring. Like today, it was in the high 70's, yet yesterday it was in the 30's!

    "I'm my own daughter - now that's Appalachian!"

    LOVE THAT!

    You GO, girl!

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    1. Thanks! It's been a strange year all the way around in terms of weather. Our leaves are just starting to turn, so I'm hopeful that there will be great color this year.

      My kids and I laughed about that "I'm my own daughter" thing for a while.

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  3. haha we had a bunch of fun the other day with the crazy stocking caps they have out this year....smiles....too cool on the kid raking your leaves...i am anxiously awaiting mine to fall so we can rake them up and jump in them...

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    1. You, too, are more than welcome to any of my leaves that you care to haul away. :-)

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  4. too funny about the neighbor kid taking your l eaves and the other neighbor thinking you were your own daughter. the hat is just plain hilarious.

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    1. I was sorely tempted to buy one of those hats for myself!

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    1. Yes it was, and I thanked him the next day when he came over to talk to me.

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  6. That hat would go with a woman who is her own daughter!

    XO
    WWW

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  7. It is very cool that kids are still playing in big leaf piles....there is hope for the world!
    And it appears that your new neighbors will be keeping a watch on your place. If that young woman (your daughter/you) gets into any trouble, perhaps they will be available to help.

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    1. I love that the kids in this neighborhood are out playing all the time. No couch potatoes!

      He said that I (and presumably my daughter/me) need anything, to let them know.

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  8. I look forward to reports of all those fascinating mom and daughter chats, lol.

    That's a big bonus having some of your leaves raked off the lawn. It's a tedious business at the best of times....

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    1. Fortunately, my daughter and I have a pretty good relationship and we do talk.

      I always love raking leaves... for the first ten minutes.

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  9. It does seem like you live in a very nice neighborhood. Really makes life easier.
    I like that the hat could even be used as part of a Halloween costume!

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    1. You'd have to cut eyeholes in the hat, but I thought the same thing. Brown sweats, mittens and a tail and you're done.

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  10. Doc...
    You do kinda look like Ellie Mae Clampett!!!
    Only you're much smarter and sexier...:P:P

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    1. Actually, no. I don't. Not even a little. Silly.

      But thank you for the second bit.

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  11. What a great compliment!!! Love the color in the leaves.

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    1. I took it that way - I still smile when I think about it.

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  12. You need to soak up that compliment and bathe in it!

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  13. I see a few of my friends here and thought I'd visit from Debby's blog. I think your photos are awesome - I am in GA and we are not quite there yet.

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    1. Welcome! And thank you. We are a little ahead of you in winter approaching.

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