Good Morning!

One thing that Autumn always seems to deliver is beautiful sunrises!

During morning chores my eyes were riveted to the field across the street from us... glowing soy beans! 

 And then, in my own pasture... Red's winter fur was glowing as well! 

As I was laying there on my stomach getting the above photo, this fellow all of a sudden came running up to me and licked me right in the glasses!

Yes, I love you too, Forrest!!  

🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁

 Like most of us, I do love to decorate my home for the season.  Adding little seasonal touches makes a home feel warm and inviting, doesn't it?  There was a day when I would search out new decor in this or that shop.  However, in the effort to live more simply,  I am trying to use items found outdoors - natural items - to add a seasonal feel.  

All summer long, I cut flowers - both wild and from the garden - to bring into the house and arrange in bouquets.   Some of them I was able to dry. 

dried celosia

However, we are just about at that time of year when fresh cut flowers are no longer right outside my door.  So, when October arrives, I start scouring the farm for dried plants to use instead.

dried straw flowers

I have a collection of antique brown crocks that reside on my fireplace hearth and mantle.  Seasonally, I change what these vessels hold - to reflect that which we see outside.

Currently, there are curly willow branches, and sorghum...

dried hydrangeas and dried millet,

grass fronds and dried butterfly bush blossoms...

giant allium from Maven Haven and another type of hydrangea...

Hopefully, next week there will be a roaring fire in the fireplace... and cozy season will officially begin!

Come December I will replace all of these with holly and evergreens from our woods.  The fact does not escape me how lucky I am to have all of this wild flora at my fingertips.  It is very high on my gratitude list!

PS:  For those who have subscribed to my blog (ie: to have it sent to your email address each morning)  I will no longer be able to offer this service.  As a result of some individuals marking that particular email as spam, Apple shut down my email account.  Although it is back up and working, the same thing will happen again if.  Sadly, because I am unable to find out who no longer wants to receive it... I am unable to remove their name from the email list.  It's a Catch-22.  So..... if you might be one of my email subscribers and are still interested in following our stories - my suggestion is that either you follow us on Facebook (Bee Haven Acres has a page there) or.... bookmark the blog so that you can return to it.... or.... Search for us on any search engine and you will find us there.

My readership is down to half because of this situation - and I feel bad for losing friends in this way (because they don't know where to find us anymore)

My apologies for the inconvenience.