Mum's the Word

Just a warning....this is a completely stitching and Panzer free post.  I just wanted to share some of the beauty my family and I took in yesterday at Longwood Gardens....

This beautiful creation is one plant!  This year containing a record breaking 1,416 blooms!  You can find more information on how they grow this (and a second one) on the Longwood website. 

I had to add a few of my favorites from the Orchid Room...

One of our favorites is the bonsai exhibit...and they added these for the mum festival! 

I'm curious as to what you see in the next picture...my little guy and I decided on a monkey/gorilla... 

Although many of the leaves in our area have already dropped, there were still many colors to be found outdoors...

Sometimes, you notice things that you have never noticed in previous trips...just by taking a different path and turning your head at just the right time... 

We always take some bread to feed to the fish and geese....the fish have already gone deep for the winter, but the geese enjoyed their treats...

See the decorative band? 

A frog...for all of my stitchy friends... 

And if you step inside and look up....

Down another not often taken path, we found this... 

This conjured up images of gnomes and fairies... 

And speaking of creatures you find in a garden...

The boys were actually enjoying each others company on this day...

I have strange creatures, despite the chill in the air, they still prefer their shorts....but, I gotta love 'em!

“Always watch where you are going. Otherwise, you may step on a piece of the Forest that was left out by mistake.”
― A.A. Milne

 



Fall?

I know that fall is not officially here, but in my mind, fall starts after Labor Day.  Yesterday and today, I am not so sure what happened ~ we've been having wonderful early fall-like weather and then bam....the heat and humidity have returned.

 

When I last posted, my older boys were starting a break from baseball and my youngest had one more tournament.  I am proud to say that they played hard, had fun and placed second! 

The face of a boy that just scored a run!

After a few weeks off, we are back to practices and tournaments.  My two oldest competed this weekend.  The middle guy getting the job done...

My oldest was in the care of his teammates, so I have no pictures of him this time ~ the team placed 2nd out of 20 teams!

My middle guy also celebrated a birthday...

And the boys returned to school ~ I can't believe I have a 8th, 7th and a 4th grader!

And with the boys being back in school, my husband and I can enjoy some dates on the days he has off.  The first week, we ventured to Longwood Gardens.  It is definitely looking like fall there!

 

I can also return to getting some much needed girl~time by helping out at the Strawberry Sampler every now and again.  I was also able to see all the wonderful new things from market, and wow, my wish list has grown!

My stitching time and mojo has been running on low.  My latest start...and that's all I have to show...

And, I started to teach myself something new...

When my mother~in~law passed away, I became the keeper of her crochet hooks.  I decided it was time to get them out and give it a try.  I've got a long way to go, but hope to at least be able to make a few cloths and scarves.

And because I am ready for fall, here are some oldies, but goodies....

 

No post is complete without Panzer!

Our handsome boy needs a bigger ottoman...

Still missing Joker, and now missing his boys....

 

One thing I definitely learned this summer, is that teenagers are a mystery...and this quote somehow fits what I found to be true many times this summer...thanks to those of you that tell me there is a light at the other end of teenager~hood!

 “If the person you are talking to doesn't appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear.”
― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh