Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Just One More October Post




I'm squeaking in under the wire on this last October post. Interruptions of the trick or treat sort are a certainty. I enjoy seeing the children in their costumes at my door. They are invariably polite and always say "thank you." The last group included a girl dressed in a paper bag with a cardboard crown. She was tickled pink when I told her that I, too, love "The Paper Bag Princess." 

In my garden the fig tree is virtually bare. Surprisingly, there are some ripe, but not too ripe, figs now visible. I plan to get a ladder and pick them in the next day or two. The dahlias and zinnias keep blooming and I cut another bouquet yesterday that included heathery hydrangea blossoms.



More hydrangea blossoms on the mantel, entwined with a string of small lights. Brass candlesticks suit autumn more than any other season, I think. Tonight there's a smiling jack-o-lantern on the porch and I've lighted a few candles inside, too. When the nights draw in, adding light and warmth makes home such a cozy place. 



Reading past and current. The bottom three are finished and back at the library and the top two are being read. 

I highly recommend A Gentleman in Moscow. It surprised me how much I enjoyed it: history and philosophy woven into a compelling tale. Women in Sunlight was so-so - too much telling and not enough showing, in my opinion. The House Between Tides characterized the lovely remoteness of Scotland with a deserted house and a bit of romance and mystery. I've just begun The Clockmaker's Daughter, and look forward to carrying on with it this evening. 

A Light So Lovely is about Madeleine L'Engle, an author I admire very much. The first book of hers that I read (back in Grade 7) was A Wrinkle in Time. Who can forget Meg and her adventures? Another of L'Engle's books I own is Walking on Water, which contains this favourite quote: 


"When we are writing or painting or composing, we are, during the time of creativity, freed from normal restrictions and opened to a wider world, where colours are brighter, sounds clearer, and people more wondrously complex than we normally realize." 



These two trick or treaters were the first at our door this evening. Are they not so very cute? Just for them I dressed up a little as a Snow Queen all in white/cream with a string of little lights in my hair and a soft feather boa around my neck.


As anticipated there have been interruptions during the writing of this post. In the distance I hear fireworks popping. And so this golden October ends. There's a lot of living packed into one month. Now we open the door to November and welcome in her days, one by one, "like pearls off a string" in Anne's words.  

22 comments:

  1. Such a beautiful photo of you and the Grandchildren. The last photo left me wanting to know where this beautiful old gates leads...

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  2. I love that last photo too - it is enticing and makes me want to explore beyond.
    What a lovely way to welcome the children with a whiter feather boa and lights scattered around in your hair.

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  3. You should wear lights in your hair more often. You’re just so pretty. The paper bag princess is new to me...will have to investigate. Because you see beauty everywhere, I know that November will be another wonderful month. Yes, the grands are adorable!

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  4. Oh, you make a beautiful Snow Queen with those precious little ones! Happy November!

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  5. What a wonderful snow queen you make with the littles!

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  6. I love this post. All my favorite things . Beautiful flower bouquet, interesting reading list, charming photo, and a beautiful door to an imaginary secret spot.

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  7. It's so sweet to see the very special trick or treaters at our doors. Lovely costume you put together. Love that last photo!

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  8. Always so enjoy your posts with their beautiful photography. Thank you for sharing the books you have and are reading, I will be checking at my library for some of them. What a be surprise that a beautiful Snow Queen answers your door to the cries of their trick n treat.

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  9. More books to add to my list thank you. Love the snow queen look, bet your grandchildren had a great time with you. Lots of candles and fires here now. A time of year to relish. B x

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  10. I've jotted down two book titles from your reading pile: A Gentleman in Moscow and A Light So Lovely. I'm on a wait list at the library for the first one, and our bookstore has the second title in stock, so guess where I'm headed tomorrow.

    Great costume photo of the three of you!

    Wishing you a great weekend and a wonderful November.
    Brenda xox

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  11. You look lovely as The Snow Queen. Book club is going to read A Gentleman in Moscow in January. I'm going to reserve A Light So Lovely because I enjoyed all of Madeleine L'Engle's books. Beautiful photos as always. Thank you for the book suggestions.

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  12. I love how you dressed up for your grands and you look lovely! Such a good sport! The photo of the gate is beautiful!

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  13. A beautiful post Lorrie...love your photos and descriptions. How sweet you look dressed as the Snow Queen for your grandchildren! Wishing you a happy November. xxx

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  14. I love reading your writing, Lorrie. I'm thinking that YOU should write a book! The quote you shared is a beautiful one. You looked lovely as the Snow Queen with those two cute trick or treaters. Happy weekend!

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  15. Hi Lorrie,

    I'm always amazed at the sheer beauty of your flowers; you have an incredibly green thumb! You have gathered three of my favorite varieties in one vase, and they look perfect for fall. We finally planted a hydrangea bush here; I'm so excited and really hope it will thrive.

    Are these your grandchildren by any chance? I really like your Snow Queen costume. Enjoyed seeing what you're reading. I just finished a few books about Charleston, a medieval mystery, and a cookbook about Carolina cooking. :)

    Thanks so very much for your visit and kind comments on my tablescape, Lorrie. You are much appreciated. Have a wonderful autumn weekend!

    Hugs,

    Denise

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  16. The Paper Bag Princess is one of my favourite children's books so I loved that one of the trick-or-treaters' costume was inspired by the book. Your Halloween pic with the grandkids are too cute. I dressed up as Anna from Frozen for our Halloween party at work. Sadly, only 4 kids knocked at my door so I have TONS of chips left over.

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  17. The words in your post just flow, much like a song . . . you have a true talent for writing.
    I enjoyed my visit so much :)
    Connie

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  18. How special that you dressed up to greet the children ... dressing as a Snow Queen is such a wonderful idea and you look just lovely.

    Love your hydrangeas with the lights and brass candlesticks. I have brass candlesticks that were my mother's ... guess I should set about polishing them up and see about using them in a similar way.

    And the gate in the last photo ... oh, my, just beautiful. It tells a story.

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  19. I am jealous that you had trick or treaters at your door - we live too far out for that - but we enjoyed an adult Halloween - watch for an upcoming post. Have you seen the movie they made of A Wrinkle in Time? I did not think the movie did the book justice! Love the last photo - very evocative!

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  20. Such a great post! I love that you dressed up. You all look wonderful. Thank you for your reading suggestions. I am going to put them on my list. Happy November! :) Kit

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  21. A lovely post and such a beautiful photograph of you and the Grandchildren.

    All the best Jan

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  22. Oh your Royal Highness, that is a beautiful family portrait. And yes, those trick-or-treaters are definitely so cute!! I have read the Clockmaker's Daughter and just finished another book by Kate Morton "The Forgotten Garden" -- also excellent. The rest of your stack looks tempting, but I am a little sad because I don't know "The Paper Bag Princess" *at all*..... and I like to think of myself as an expert on children's literature (the truth is that I've never outgrown it). Already though, I know that the book will make me wish I had a great-granddaughter ! I'm pretty sure it will not be a good gift for the boys we do have (who are amazing and smart etc etc , but not good candidates for a princess book).

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Thank you for your comment. I read and value each one, cherishing the connections we can make although far apart. Usually, I visit your blog in return, although if you ask a question I try to contact you directly.

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