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Monday, October 12, 2009

FROSTY PUMPKIN IN A MOONLIT GARDEN

"Autumn"

Pumpkins in the cornfields
Gold among the brown



Leaves of rust and scarlet
Trembling slowly down


Birds that travel southward
Lovely time to play



Nothing is as pleasant
As an autumn day!

by Blair Buell

Happy Columbus Day!! Today I thought I would share some photos of my "Moonlit Garden" by Blackbird Designs. I love the big pumpkin and the bright full moon. I am thinking about putting a bead on the door for a doorknob, just need to find the "right" one. A little squirrel (named Charlie) to add some mischief to the piece and maybe some little acorns. I don't know why, but I always seem to have a need to embellish my cross stitch projects. They don't feel right unless I do. I love the saying on this fall sampler, it is so true. I believe everything has a purpose whether it be for an hour, a day, a month, a year or a lifetime. You just never know.

On a lighter note, I hope you had a wonderful, relaxing kind of weekend. My hubby and I went for a drive on our "Put Put", which is what I call our vintage 1972 Honda 90. I inherited it from my parents when they passed away. It is pumpkin orange and I love it!!! I told my husband we should name it "Harley". I remember when I was about 12 years old my Dad taught me how to drive this motorcycle when we were camping. I have a photo of me on it with an orange, yellow and blue "Chevron" striped coat.






It was an eery day, gray and overcast so it was the perfect setting for a spooky adventure. We went in this old house that had been abandoned so to speak. The windows were broken and the door was open. I was curious so I ventured inside for a peek, I just couldn't help myself. I normally would never do this, but since it had already been vandalized I felt a little more as ease so I crept in slowly, I didn't want to get in trouble for trespassing. Just inside the door there was a headstone on the floor. I thought that was really weird and freaky!!! I wonder where it came from??? Inside, there was a room just off the back porch that had an old freezer with it's door opened upward, it reminded me of a coffin and I knew I wasn't about to look in it. The house felt cold inside and I was a little nervous that I had actually went in it. I was drawn to the window on the upper level so I had my husband pose and look out the window so I could capture a "ghost in the window" shot. Kind of cool! Then I went in and took a photo looking out of that same window. The winding staircase leading up to that room was really narrow with tall steps.















On our ride, we stopped and played with a couple of miniature horses named Buttercup and Barney. They were so adorable!! There was also a goat, just not sure if it was a nanny goat or a billy goat. The rain sprinkled a little on us, but it wasn't too bad. Later on that evening we went to my brother-in-laws to deliver his birthday present. It was fun visiting family and playing with their two adorable cats. I love cats!!

I guess I will get my recipe out for some Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies this evening and make us a little treat after dinner. I keep thinking a cream cheese pumpkin roll would be really good, but it is time consuming to make so I will have to wait for the weekend. Which reminds me, it is Witches Night Out at Gardner Village this weekend so I will be meeting my cousin for a witches night out. I will take lots of photos and post some for you to see. It has become a tradition of mine to be a witch at least once a year!!

I am getting my crickety skeleton put together and I will show you some fun ideas for displaying him later this week. Until then I hear those cookies calling my name and if I'm lucky maybe I can stitch a little while they are baking. Have a lovely evening and don't forget to rsvp for the giveaway......it will be here soon!!!





27 comments:

Jules said...

Cool photos! That house looks beautiful even if it is abandoned and has a headstone inside. lol I love old houses like that.

That Chevron coat you mention is something that I remember so well.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies?! I have never even heard of them. They must be delicious! Enjoy!!

Pumpkin said...

Ohhhhhh, lovely finish Jolene!!!! Beautiful colors and such a perfect saying. Congrats :)

Wow! I think you should call it Pumpkin. Hey, it's orange so I think it's appropriate ;) LOL!

What an awesome looking house! Such character and something that is lost in houses today. I wonder if the owner was buried in the house? Weird!

Sounds like a perfect day :) I would love to have a copy of that recipe for pumpkin chocolate chip cookies if you don't mind sharing it...

Daffycat said...

Oooo, beautiful finish! It's just wonderful!

Wonderful too is your spooky house story ~ creepy!

Jan said...

Wow, Jolene, you are so very creative with your posts!! Just love them! And that trip on that savvy bike, sure brought you to a really neat and spooky house! Wow!!

This BBD is one of my faves, have to stitch it before next autumn rolls around, for sure!

Enjoy them cookies, child! Yumm they sound so good!

Cari said...

Love your finished stitch Jolene. It's beautiful...and I think your bead and button add-ons will be perfect. Love the pics of the spooky house too. How cool is that? Sounds like you had a great Columbus Day!! Hugs - happy stitching and pumpkin cookie eating!!

Siobhán said...

I love your BBD, Jolene! Very beautiful--the fabric that you used is perfect for it.

Oh my gosh, the house that you went into... wow. I would have loved to do it but been too scared to do it. There's an old stone cottage on one of the roads that Duff & I take on our walks, it just has the roof and walls, and I would LOVE to know the history of it, know who lived there, when they left, to go inside... but nobody local knows the history of it and I can't get up the nerve to go in. The gravestone on the floor would have had me flying out the door! ;)

Jackie's Stitches said...

A beautiful finish!

Love the bike. The spoooky house would have sent me running!

Lisa said...

What a fun post - it really put me in the autumn/Halloween mood. And the beginning with your finish, was great. I love the colors of "Moonlit Garden". I, like you, tend to feel the need to put some little personal touches on my finish work. I guess that is what makes the things we make by hand extra special.
Take care and Happy Autumn!

Catherine said...

Love the BBD! You'll have to post a picture once you add your extras!
What an adventure and how cool to have the bike from your childhood! I love, love, love the house! I'm not sure I would have convinced my hubby that it would be cool to check out the inside. I bet it would be fun to fix it up!

Marjorie said...

Awesome house, I want it!

Tracey said...

What cool pics, and a beautiful old home! Your Moonlit Garden looks wonderful! I wish I would've gotten that pattern when it was in print. Even on ebay the prices get quite high. Maybe I'll get lucky one day. lol

Sharlotte said...

Great post Jolene! I love the Moonlit Garden,nice finish! Love the motorcycle too! The house...boy if only walls could talk huh? That would seem a little wierd to me too to see a real tombstone in a house also. As a ametur (sp?) genealogist though, it's not totally unheard of. Once in a great while when people have a new stone put in to replace an older one, they will bring home the older one. Could be someone just swiped it from a cemetery and just put it there. Lots of sickos out there. The freezer would bother me as I would be afraid that a child may climb in it and get shut up in there. We have a law here that if you have an old freezer or fridge your not using , you either have to chain it shut or remove the door to prevent children from getting shut up in them. Got your email about the strawberry.Let me know if you change your mind.

Have a great one!

P.S. I wouldn't have looked in the freezer either! LOL!

staci said...

Love, Love, Love your Moonlit Garden finish! And love that poem you added too ;) Awesome job!

doris said...

Very nice finish. I feel bad that the house isn't being lived in. Seems like a perfectly good house that's just been left to ruin. Sad.

Unknown said...

A doorknob! Now why didn't I think of that - alas, mine is framed and waiting for me to decide wear to hang it.

I just love your orange motorcycle! And it sounds like you two had a lovely day! What a neat old house and such unique architecture. You a have to let us know if you learn why there was a headstone in the house - how odd! And why is it vacant?

Hearing about your cookies made me think I need to pull out my Pumpkin Chiffon recipe and make it - maybe this evening if the dinner doesn't run to long.

Enjoy your day!

5 Foot Runt said...

That is such a beauitufl finish. I think everyone is out looking for that pattern in cluding me,lol. Very pretty.

Deb said...

I love your finish! And I also like the idea of adding some extra touches that are just your own. Love that house too, but how scary is that with finding the tombstone and all. I think the hair on my body would have stood on end! Those pictures are great that you took. I especially love the one with your DH in the Window. Maybe you should go back and have him put on a cape or something!

Myra said...

Your autumn piece looks fabulous. The honda reminds me of the one I learned to drive with - mine was a 1975 I believe. I wish I hadn't sold that thing, it was such a fun ride.

Nicole said...

Great finish!! I just love this BBD design! Awesome house too - how cool that you went in and explored.

blueladie said...

What a great finish and I love your idea about embellishing your finishes. I am going to have to dig out all my charms and buttons and put them in one place to see what I can use when I finish pieces. Thanks for the cool idea.
:D
Cathryn

Carin said...

I love your stitching work !! And the old house is beautifull.

TammyK said...

Moonlit Garden is awesome! Love your bike too.
You definitely have more guts than I do, first sign of that tombstone in that house & I couldn't have taken 1 step more.

Andrea said...

Oh gosh, I thought I'd commented on this post, as I keep on coming back to look at it....your progress is inspiring me so much! I even pulled the chart out of the stash and have it sitting here waiting! Your piece is gorgeous!

Kellie said...

Congrats on your Moonlit Garden finish. It is beautiful. I would have been too scared to go in the house. The tombstone thing is freaky. The house, the tombstone, the freezer...all a good setting for either a mystery or a horror novel. :) Love the motorcycle. It looks like a lot of fun. Have a great weekend!

aprilmecheelesdulllife said...

I love your Orange Hog !!! I wish I had one. I love old houses !!! Great Pictures !!!

Anonymous said...

Moonlit Garden is awesome! One of my favorite BBD! Love that old house you shared! Wow!

Hope your pumpkin chocolate chip cookies were delish!

Robin in VA

Jane said...

Your Moonlit Garden is lovely, Jolene. I like your idea about finding something for the door knob. I love the extra embellishments you can put on designs. Hope you find the right one! :)