Autumn in the Rain

 Wet and Drippy

The garden season is almost done. In a couple of weeks, I need to get my flower pots in the greenhouse (before I head to the States again, for a family wedding this time). Sunshine is rare, and clouds predominate. Drip, drip, drop, little September showers….

The snapdragons have been chipper in every weather.

Oma’s little Fox is still grinning, nonetheless. I have rescued many of her garden decorations, before her house is gone.

Soggy Lobelia, but also ever-bloomers.

We might not want to sit on the bench and read today. 

These neon geraniums are still blooming bravely. They are protected by the house and still get what light there is. The lavender below them bloomed nicely earlier in the year. 

A wisteria tendril drips on the unwary.

Goodbye, September. 

Take What You Get

 While You Can

Yesterday we went to church. For us, that is not a given. Normally, we meet at a home. This church is borrowed. The pastor is leaving very soon (compelled, not by choice, not our choice). And our group is small. But, we give thanks for what we occasionally get. Yesterday, the congregation of the church at which we met had a thanksgiving service (in Swiss German, of course) - before our service (in English) -  so the decorations were profusely autumnal. 

After the service, we all walk a half hour or so (or drive) to a restaurant for a fellowship dinner. The trees are just starting to hint of fall colors. The walnuts are dropping, the corn fields along the path are harvested, and Maria was giving lessons on medicinal herbs along the way.

Happy Fall

 In Total Fog

The sun is gone, the warmth is gone, the summer is gone. It’s raining. Hello Autumn. 

🍂 

But, we get to put out new decorations. Maybe soon…. next week. Busy days. Sister Ruth is here after finishing her Camino in Portugal and Spain. She wants to go again, soon. Highly recommended. 

Back Again

 And Back to Busy

We are back in Switzerland. Unpacked and some putting away. Then we had this night sky to tuck us in for some much needed sleep.

Paint Chip challenge Art Quilts

Here is another challenge prompt that the art quilters of Beyond the Block used to create a collection of art quilts that will go on exhibit later this year. These blocks are all 12" x 12".

The challenge was to use paint color cards (from the local paint selling hardware store) to inspire a story that would be interpreted in fabric using the colors on the cards. Color cards have creative names for each color such as "Lemon Rind" and "Clay Pot" or "Sunset Skies".  I found it easiest to choose phrases that seemed to go together for a story and then use the colors. I did have to search at several stores to come up with a color element that had a name that would work in my story. Getting the phrases and colors to be what I wanted was the most challenging part but it was also very fun!

Here are a few of the results in the art guild--

"Balmy Breeze"- "River's Edge"- "Fruity Sangria" (Sorry, missed the other but probably "Sand")

"Friendly Hello"- "Wild Thistle"- "Salty Dog"- "Fun Days"

"Clear Blue Sky"- "Land of Sunshine"- "Rushing Water"- "Hello Spring"

"Razzleberry"- "Crisp Lime"- "Banana Rama"- "Velvet Plum"- "Sumatra Orange"

"Fond Memory"- "Pizza Pie"-"Amber Brew"- "Mountain Lake"

This one is mine. So fun.

"Downpour"- "Swiss Coffee"- "Blueberry Pie" -"Simple Pleasures"

 

Hello Again

 New Update

This blog site got an update this month, but before that I was blocked from posting. So last month got no posts. Now, with expert help, I think I am back here, but I have to learn new formats to operate this. We will see how it goes. 

I am currently in Colorado. New twin grandsons have been safely delivered and are home with Mama and family. I spent three-plus weeks being Oma to a lively bunch. We did nearly daily “arts and crafts,” as little Leo said. He loved making things, so this Oma put together a new idea every day. Fortunately I had brought some materials and their Mama had other materials. We made our own puzzles, paper airplanes, and paintings, did drawing lessons, and puzzle pictures, made paper chains and paper campfires until we could have a real one to roast hotdogs and marshmallows after the rains, and lots of other things. Oma made a treasure hunt just before we left, because I got constant requests for one, with “60 prizes, Oma.”  But this Oma can’t count that high, so they each had five items. Anyway, we read lots of stories, played lots of games, learned Bibles songs and prayers, read Bible stories, and had adventures. 

Thank you, Pam for your posts, which I haven’t seen yet, since I was just set up with this page and want to try it, before trying to look at other things. Thank you for letting me know the site still existed, or I would have given up and never touched it again. 

I will try to get help to figure out more about this update, but for now - we still exist and can still connect, sort of.