rummaging 'round for autumn

 We've been busily searching landscapes for signs of Fall here in the South Carolina foothills. The air is crisp when the sun is low, but midday is hot as summer in New England-- not too hot, but tie-the-cardigan-around-the-waist warm nonetheless.

 But here and there, from time to time,

We catch of little glimpse of Autumn breaking through.

We feel she'll be here soon.

:: husband took flight in a homemade plane... among other topics

First things first,

Football season has begun, and our team won their first game... War Eagle to all you Auburn grads and fans!

About those flowers, they are my favorite shade of rose. Especially this time of year.

They were the last bouquet at the market. I split them up to adorn both the living room

in a slightly tarnished (just enough for a touch of character) mint julep cup,

And in the dining room.

We had dinner guests on Friday night. They are our neighbors who we've been meaning to get to know beyond brief sidewalk chats. It turns out, they have led very interesting Air Force lives, and he spent the first several years of his retirement building a plane in his garage.

Husband got a phone call Saturday morning inviting him to go on a brief scenic flight.

Husband thoughtfully asked me if I was okay with him traveling recreationally in a homemade airplane. I quickly calculated our neighbor's career starting as an airplane mechanic and ending as 316th Wing Commander, which essentially means he was in charge of operations and maintenance for the main base of Air Force One.

I decided if the country trusted him with at least 3 consecutive presidents' safety as well as the incoming flights of people like Princess Diana, maybe my Husband would be in good hands.

They flew over Clemson University and saw the season's first tailgaters, Husband's job site,

And one of the prettiest lakes in South Carolina. It was a perfect day for flying, and his wife and I (aka "the women") got invited to go "once the leaves change."

Does the Thanksgiving pageant song "This Land is Your Land" run through anyone else's head while looking at these photos?

Kiki La Rue

Most of you know the heartfelt, nature-ific, baked yumminess, vintage-friendly posts at May All the Seasons Be Sweet to Thee...

Therefore, most of you know Dawn.

But if you for some reason do not know Dawn, she has started her own etsy shop, Kiki la Rue, which is now open for the business of commercing all things dainty, uplifting, and charming. Like the birthday bunting pictured above.

Shop it (or just gaze and marvel like I do) here.

photos that bring good feelings

Lovely, deep-South images from the latest issues of Garden & Gun magazine:

That's enough imagery to inspire a whole week's worth of recreational relaxation!

Small dandelion decals

Or large dandelion decals

at etsy.

before i take you with me to greenville...

I want to reflect on what we'll miss most about our house in Charlotte, NC.

THE YARD.

Not only was it huge,

but every season something beautiful was growing.

Oregano from our summer garden sprouted again just before we left.

(I found me camera cord AND got the Internet running! It's good to be back in blogland...)

More to come....