Harvest Time---- Winter coming?

We have had a great 3 weeks getting many things done for a cozy winter at home.  First, we got a few cords of wood delivered for the wood stove.  You can see that we got home in time to enjoy our Red Sunset Maple in its glory and the grasses blooming.  I do love grasses as they color up in fall!

After 2 weeks of frosts, rain and fog, we got a fantastic break in the weather with 75 degree days and 50ish nights.  The deck stain likes this type weather so on Weds. and Thurs. we " got  'r  done" !!!              

Here's the job in progress on Wednesday.

What a challenge and what a sense of accomplishment!  This  morning we celebrated with a wholesome breakfast at Brown's,----- eggs, bacon, pork chop, GRITS, 2 biscuits with gravy and a biscuit with blackberry jelly for me.  No lunch is needed.

The sunrise this morning was gorgeous!  I love the mist rising from the creek valley.  
I've found time to enjoy lots of music--3 indoor concerts at the Blue Ridge Parkway Music Center, a concert at the Rex Theater in Galax and 3 Line Dance Classes at Alleghany Jubilee in Sparta.  The hills are ringing.
Winter is due on Sunday with the arrival of Hurricane Sandy and possible snow flurries OR record breaking snow.  Have to wait and see, but we are ready!

Bright Leaves and Sunshine

The bright sun and cool, crisp weather made today a perfect one for a hike at Cumberland Knob on the Parkway.  It is neat to return to some  of our favorite places.  The trail was covered with huge tulip poplar and mountain magnolia leaves of yellow, brown and gold dotted with little red and orange maple leaves.  The crunch and scatter of the leaves as we walked made it a wonderful fall hike.

The cheese grits I made for breakfast are a distant memory as lunchtime calls and I must eat before getting back to an afternoon of re- storing all our summer gear to a temporary home before our next trip.  

Here's a photo to share of our return home.