Grape Jelly

The grapes on the vines in the back yard are deep purple!
It's time to make the grape jelly!
If you need a recipe just google it....there are dozens of sites that tell you how...even videos to show you the steps!
....If you need the grapes....come on over and pick 'em!
:) Laura

An Autumn Tale

Autumn

When the trees their summer splendor
Change to raiment red and gold,
When the summer moon turns mellow,
And the nights are getting cold;
When the squirrels hide their acorns,
And the woodchucks disappear;
Then we know that it is autumn,
Loveliest season of the year.

Charlotte L. Riser













I am enjoying the season...wearing my sweaters and cowboy boots again...loving the last of the flea markets in the cooler air...
...feeling joyful and playful and I hope you are too!
:) Laura

Zinc Watering Cans

Putting away all the zinc watering cans that line the deck and and sit in the garden at the lake...



Asking myself...
...."Can I sail through the changing ocean tides...
Can I handle the seasons of my life"...?







...and these are just the ones at the lake house...way too much of this stuff!

"Times they are a changin'".....

Maybe in 2010 I will begin to part with some of these things...maybe an Etsy vintage shop...Ebay...or a booth in an antique mall or maybe I can sell at shows and flea markets like we did back in the 70's....

"To everything there is a season,
a time for every purpose under the sun"....

Finding my way!
:) Laura

5 White Pumpkins, 17 Metal Drawers and a Fruitcake

It was beautiful yesterday on our drive up to the lake....



The foliage is changing color and autumn is upon us in all its glory...



We stopped at a farm stand where we found the white pumpkins I love so much...
....you know how I feel about orange!



Not far past the farm stand we saw a sign that said BARN SALE.....
....Miraculously, Rob agreed to make the turn and follow the signs to the sale..



There really wasn't too much there but I spied this old set of metal drawers marked $3 and I knew I had to have it...
I also knew Rob would make "that face"...
So while he was looking over the old John Wayne videos...I gave the elderly gentleman the $3 for the 17 drawers... (so what if one is missing...no problem!)



It all worked out fine after a few negotiations (with Rob)...
As a bonus (?) one of the drawers even came full of rusty nuts and bolts!



My ever so cooperative and agreeable husband also stopped at one of my favorite antique shops along the way and I found this old tin...Smith's White Fruit Cake....how appropriate...

It was a happy fall Saturday and after we arrived at the lake house, I kept up my end of the bargain and we even got a lot of outside work done!

Hope your weekend was good....Getting ready for another week of work!
Take care, Laura :)

Pillow Talk

We have slipped away up to the lake house to check on the progress of the new siding that is going up.....long overdue...our neighbors will be relieved to not be looking at our peeling paint any longer...



With the help of my sisters this summer... I started redecorating the master bedroom up here.....decided on grays and a touch of red and splash of black...with a nod to Paris.....remembering our romantic 25th anniversary trip (10 years ago!)...
There really wasn't much to it....change of curtains to a silvery gray, new bedspread from TJ Maxx and a few great pillows! The gray flannel ones and the ribbon one are from Home Goods. The other is a Jeanne D'Arc Living item....The accessories, meaningful small antiques and souvenirs of our trip are what make me think of our special time in Paris...



Pillows can make all the difference in the world....these are in the guest room....the lacy one came from Marshalls, the crewel work on the cream colored one was hand done and the floral one was made from a piece of bark cloth.



It's very, very quiet up here....the boats and floats have all been pulled out of the lake. People have left their summer homes and gone back to their school and workday schedules....



In a few weeks we will be closing up our place too...draining the water from the pipes, stacking the outdoor furniture on the porch and getting things ready for the long Adirondack winter...
But for now...it's peaceful and calm here...the sun shone on the gold and red leaves this afternoon as we traveled through the mountains......hopefully I will have a few pretty pictures to share.
I think I will sleep well tonight and hope you do too!
:) Laura

Lucca Luminara di Santa Croce

We were very fortunate to be in Lucca on September 13th which is a Holy Day dedicated to the Volto Santo. The Lucca Luminara di Santa Croce is part of a series of festivals during September. It is a devotional procession in which the Volto Santo or Holy Face, a wooden crucifix figure is carried along the streets of the old town centre from the Church Saint Frediano to the Cathedral of Saint Martin, illuminated by thousands of small candles.
... As we walked about Lucca late Sunday afternoon we watched as candles were lit on the facades of buildings on the main streets of the historical center in preparation of this annual event.



...Vale and Paola took us to where the Lucchese gathered to watch the procession (La Luminaria) through the town. The procession consisted of groups representing all of the parishes around Lucca.

















...It was beautiful, each group walking slowly and solemnly, some were dressed in full ceremonial costume, holding candles, crosses or banners, and accompanied by chants or a marching band. Lucca appeared magical in the candlelight and it was wonderful to share this special event with our new friends...
...Afterwards there was the "Mottettone" concert inside the cathedral and fireworks on the banks of the river.
...As we lay in bed that night with the shutters wide open in our ancient villa...we listened to the beautiful music...and fell asleep with visions of candlelight and memories of our special time here with Valentina and Paola.
... We will never forget the beauty and friendship we found in Lucca.

Looking for 52

While in Florence, I admired the blue and white porcelain numbers on the buildings....
...as we walked down the street I was on the lookout for my number ...52...



Oh no! What does it mean?
...How sad....

I really like my number.

Les Cotrions and Shopping In Lucca

Besides treating us like royalty...Valentina and Paola gave my sister Lynn and I some wonderful gifts...
...Gray candles wrapped with sheet music and tied with hemp twine with a religious medal accent... and little white heart soaps in linen bags with the Les Cotrions name and pretty logo...



Also included in the gift bag (all elegantly tied up with black lace ribbon ) were a cookbook filled with traditional local recipes and a CD of special Italian music....so thoughtful!



We visited Paola's home.....she is in the process of remaking her garage into a loft type living area...with a garden terrace on top and a large showroom below which is used for staging and photographing items for their online shop and will be open to the public on certain dates or by appointment. As you can see, it is a lovely, open and airy space. I love all the stone and texture and beautiful linens...











Their product line includes new items, antiques that they have searched for locally and in the brocantes in France as well as beautiful handmade items that they have created themselves. These two ladies are truly talented with a sophisticated sense of style...To check out their online shop click here....



Vale pointed out this shop which is famous for the secret family recipe they use to make their delicious and unique bread...



I loved this table-scape in one of the little shops.....
....Here are some other images and store front snapshots...







































As you can see....Lucca has lots to offer in the way of retail therapy....

Hope you're not getting too tired of my carrying on about our trip to Italy... it was such a special time for me and I have a few more posts left to share...

Take care,
:) Laura