Autumn in the air

One of the perks that lured us out here was having family around. It had been a while since our kids had seen their cousins and The Professor said yes to the guy on the phone who asked if we wanted a free night at their resort if we listened to their time share spiel. So the kids got to sleep at The Farm and we got to zip up the mountain and enjoy a peaceful fall outing in "the most normal city in Utah" {whatever that means. I guess if you consider a resort town full of reeeeally rich people "normal," but I digress.} And then we got to come home with a car full of pumpkins, corn on the cob and cornstalks for the front porch. I've been trying to come up with fall decorations without buying anything and the wreaths I've redone four times just weren't doing it for me. This is much better. Though I admit I feel a little bit like those lazy animals in the Little Red Hen. We'll help you Eat the corn...
Did you also notice the pots of hydrangeas and other shrubs scattered in the flower beds? This week I have been foraging local nurseries and garden centers for advice and clearance stuff for the yard. It has been educational, exciting and disappointing all at the same time. {disappointed about not being able to grow blueberries or aspen trees but excited about the peonies, hydrangeas, roses, honeysuckle, clematis, wisteria, fruit trees and all. The only thing that is still evading me is what trees to get. I mean, it's one thing to throw in a few of these and a few of those when it comes to flowers and bushes, but a tree is, well, a TREE. So many variables.}

Easy has not quite appreciated the experience as I have, except for the fact that garden centers have wagons to pull around and nice workers who give her free geraniums. She actually fell asleep in the cart at Walmart on Thursday after I had dragged her around all week. I can think of one other time she has done that, other than in infancy.

And here you can see how nice the grass is coming along in the back yard. There's the lineup of roses and peonies. The Professor actually said, "Are you sure you only want two rose bushes?" Say No More!! I mean, seriously, when I can buy a rose bush for twelve dollars versus a bouquet for ten--at the very least. No brainer.