Friday, October 12, 2012

Harvest Days

It seems like fall signs are appearing everywhere ....cooler temperatures, shorter days, fall colors and LOTS of pumpkins. 

We attended the Savor the Central Coast event that is sponsored by Sunset magazine.  It is an amazing celebration of harvest.  Check out this great idea.



I was told that they go out to the pumpkins in August and carve the names into them.  The pumpkins then scar over and this is the result.  I think that I will be trying this technique next year.

This is another fabulous idea.  Talk about having your salad at your fingertips!!  I have a pallet of strawberries growing here, but mine is just sitting on the ground.  I may have to elevate mine. 




We've been watching little ones lately so there hasn't been much creative sewing going on here, but we have enjoyed the little ones.  Their visit included a trip to the pumpkin patch.




Taking the train to the pumpkin patch.

If my cow had that name, I might be a bit worried about riding in it too.

Even Grandpa fits!!!


The last few days we were in Atlanta for business.  While there we were able to spend a few hours at the incredible Oakland Cemetery.  It is as much a botanical experience as it is a cemetery.  I, unfortunately, forgot to bring my camera so these photos are from my camera.  I just have a couple of pictures, but this cemetery dates back to the mid 1850s.  Among the well known people buried there include Margaret Mitchell (author of Gone With the Wind) and Bobby Jones, the golfer.  The cemetery has sections which include soldiers from the Civil War - both Union and Confederates, buried separately.  As a sign of our history, the plots are also divided into the black section, the Jewish section and the pauper section.  Known for it's statuary, it was an amazing place to visit. 

Granite obelisk from stone obtained from Stone Mountain - the Mt. Rushmore of the South.  This was a tribute to the Civil War soldiers.

I think this fellow must have like trees to have his stone as a tree trunk.  Interesting!

I loved this flower, but I have no idea what it is.  It was just gorgeous.

I'm thinking something like this might be nice.  The cemetery was filled with different family ones.


We had our first measurable rain yesterday with some wild thunder and lightening to go along with it.  We even had a rainbow that arched right over our yard.


Pot of gold?????  Looks close.


Finally, the winner of my Leafs Me Happy Blog Hop was Barb of Mountain Quiltworks - selected by Random Number Generator.  Congratulations, Barb.

36 comments:

  1. Fall is so much fun! The flower is a hibiscus, I believe! :0)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Cute pictures of the kiddos - bet all of you had fun! It looks like a good idea for growing things, to have them elevated like that... Hope you have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I Love that idea with the pumpkin carving! And, as always, your Grands are adorable....wow...looks like 5 under the age of 6 or so....I'm sure Grandma and Grandpa had their hands full at times. Thanks for sharing your Atlanta trip with us. I was there for an evening layover many years ago and was only able to visit the Atlanta "Underground"....very interesting city.

    ReplyDelete
  4. That pallet of lettuce was very interesting! Russell once built a 4 x 4 and grew some tomatoes and jalapenos, but that was the only year.

    What cute pumpkins and who know you could do that? They are so, so pretty!

    Love the train, but obviously the name on your little one's car was not so appealing!

    What a great rainbow and double at that! I love those evidences of the Creator.

    We aren't that far from Atlanta and I want to go visit that cemetery now, so we'll see! How interesting!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I just LOVE fall! I used to work at a pumpkin stand about a decade ago and we would do that! By cutting and getting the scab while still growing you don't have to worry about bugs crawling around your door step as much. HOw does that pallet garden work? I just love that idea and I have been trying to figure out a way to have a little garden. I'd love to see your strawberry pallet!

    Enjoy your trips! It may sound morbid but I love visiting cemeteries! I used to drive all over visiting them. We had some really old ones in Juneau from the early pioneers and missionaries.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great photo's Mary! It does look like you keep busy! :-) I think the flower is a hibiscus~ they are sure pretty. Have a happy weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  7. That pallet of lettuce was very interesting.. This Gandma and Pawpaw have been having these Days too..Isnt great

    ReplyDelete
  8. What an interesting post you made, just full of adventures and fun. I like that pumpkin idea and the hanging gardens are interesting. What a fun and busy time you must have had with your grandchildren. We're just taking care of one right now and he keeps us hopping. That hibiscus flower is gorgeous, I like the pot of gold photo too.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great post love all the pictures!! Looks like fun was had by all!!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. So much going on there. The pumpkin idea was clever. Your grandchildren are all so cute and everyone looks like they were having fun! The cemetery does sound and look like an interesting place to visit! Others have named the flower type so I won't! LOL

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love pumpkins, pumpkin patches, harvest things. That rainbow is as amazing as the photo.

    ReplyDelete
  12. i just LOVE reading your blog!! The kids are so darn cute, even with the fake forced smile - lol!
    Pumpkin-very cool idea, and the rest of your photos and stories are just as wonderful as ever. I was going to guess a Rose of Sharon, but I think the other ladies are more correct on the flower.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Looks like you had a fun time with the grandkids. I will have to try the pumpkin idea. The rainbow is beautiful. Thanks for taking us along on your adventure.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love the pumpkin idea! know in hawaii there are trees with leaves that you can write your name on the leaves. Last time I was on the north shore, I saw my name on a leaf from the 80's....it was funny but I really had to look.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love visiting old cemeteries ... may need to include a visit to the Oakland Cemetery.

    I didn't know that you could do that with pumpkins - if I grew pumpkins, I'dd definitely want to do that. Cool.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Lovely post. Great photos of the little ones and Grandpa.
    Love the picture of the rainbow over your bueatiful yard..

    ReplyDelete
  17. That rainbow is gorgeous! I am glad you have had some rain as well. We seem to have too much of the stuff! I think the idea of writing on the pumpkins in August is great - I must try that next year too. Playing with the grands looks like a whole heap of fun. Did Granny get on the train too??

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thanks for sharing your wonderful pictures of fall visits and travels. The pumpkin patch trip looks like a lot of fun and that old cemetery had some very interesting monuments. Love the pictures of the rainbows. Enjoy your weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  19. It is definitely a hibiscus!! Beautiful pictures, Mary...Congratulations on your win!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Beautiful photos! I love grandpa in the cow! Great captures on those rainbows. The flower is definitely a hibiscus - a perennial hibiscus. I have a couple of them growing in my garden.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Sorry Mary, your post slip through my blog list a couple of times. Look like the G-children were enjoying the day - Hugs Nat

    ReplyDelete
  22. The pumpkin scarring thing is one of the coolest things I've ever seen. What a fantastic idea! And the idea of the pallet strawberry stacker is genius.
    Your grandkids are adorable.

    ReplyDelete
  23. A wonderful post, loved the kids in the cows....and Grandpa too!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hello dear Mary:-)

    First of all, I want to thank you so much for the birthday card you sent me, I love it! I feel so bad for having forgotten to send you one, I really need to look at my calendar more closely for upcoming birthdays!!!

    I so love seeing children's reactions when they're at the pumpkin farm:-) When Steve brought me to the one near his place on my birthday weekend, I was having just as much fun watching the kids as anything else! lol Your grands are just adorable.

    What an awesome idea about the pumpkin scarring! It always leaves me in awe the ideas people come up with:-)

    Now as for that cemetery...well, you know me and cemeteries, I so love them! lol Isn't it amazing some of the monuments and such!!

    Wishing you a wonderful week my friend. xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  25. I was just stopping by to catch up on your posts! Lots of fun with the little ones in the pumpkin patch and lots of eye candy also! I love that orange paper pieced block!

    ReplyDelete
  26. All your photos are great but the rainbow photos are gorgeous! The kiddies and grandpa look like they had an awesome time. Ohhhh, I may just try to grow a pumpkin or two so I can try the technique of scoring the names in before they grow! Very cool!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Thanks for sharing your cute grands.
    I really enjoyed catching up with you again.
    What a clever idea for pumpkins.
    We did not have to many pretty colors this yr because of the drought we had this yr so trees did not do well and leaves fell off early.
    Hugs

    ReplyDelete
  28. Cute grandbabies. You've had your hands full. I've been babysitting my grandies for 9 days, and not much sewing going on here either! (but lots of snuggles and kisses, which is better :)

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hi Mary, I'm still caring for mom here in CA. I head back to NC on Tuesday. Blogging has been next to nil. I enjoyed seeing what you've been up to this sleepless night. Lol

    ReplyDelete
  30. ohhh I Love the salads in that what looks like a fence..how cool..great shots of your wee ones..

    btw you did get your winnings?

    ReplyDelete
  31. The grandchildren are just adorable Mary! I would put everything else down to spend time with them!

    ReplyDelete
  32. That idea with the pumpkins is fantastic! I want to give that a try next season, too. Pallet gardening is an interesting idea, too -- especially when they're elevated. And I'd take a trip to the Pumpkin Patch with the grandkids any day! You were in Atlanta?! So close!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  33. What great photos of the grandkids and what a neat idea with the pumpkins, that would be fun to try. I love old cemeteries and that one looks so neat!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Such great pictures. I love that pumpkin idea. Aren't grandchildren the BEST?

    ReplyDelete
  35. Awesome rainbow picture. Looks like the pumpkin patch was a great hit. So much fun.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Lovely pictures of the little ones and the 'big' one!

    ReplyDelete