Blessed Season

Created with the Blue Rhapsody Bundle, available at the Digital Scrapbooking Studio

Brighten Up

We've had quite a bit of rain here in my neck of the woods. Not that I mind. I really enjoy the rain! But, I also enjoy the sun at this time of the year. So, I figured I would do a little digiscrapping to brighten things up.

This kit from Laitha's Designs fit the bill. It's called Glowing Mind...and boy, does it GLOW!

So I dug around in my photos for a little something colorful. While I was in Ohio this Summer to visit family, my two best girlfriends did their first 5k, The Color Run. PERFECT! Then, a few weeks later, one of their daughters did a similar 5k called Color Me Rad. So, armed with some great colorful photos, this is what I came up with. 

Colorful enough?? Even though I LOVE color in my every day life, I usually shay away from such bold colors in my digiscrapping. But, I figured I'd give it a shot. Turns out, I like it!! :)

Home Again

In July of 2011 we adopted a new kitten from a local cat rescue group. We named her Xena and she brought a lot of life and love in to our home. This past September we lost her to massive kidney failure. The autopsy revealed that she only had once kidney and it was very small and abnormal. We were heartbroken.

In the first week of November we decided to go ahead and adopt another cat. Ziggy (our 11 year old boy cat) needed another playmate. So we headed to a pet adoption event being held by the same cat rescue group. We immediately fell in love with this little girl....say hello to Tilly. 

She made her way to the rescue group though one of their feral traps. Shortly after her arrival at the shelter, she gave birth to three little ones. When they were weaned, they were quickly adopted out, and Mom was left behind. Apparently, she was waiting for us.

When we brought her home, she walked in like she owned the place. She took about 15 minutes to walk around and figure out where all of the important things were....litter box, food, water, and Ziggy. Ziggy was naturally annoyed, he hissed as she walked by. She put her tail up and just strolled on by, she was home!

It's been a little over a week now, and she has settled in more and more. Ziggy is relaxing, and he's letting her know that he's the boss, which is good. He's watching her play, and she wants to play with him so badly. I think he'll be up for a playful tussle within a week or so.

As I type this, Tilly is running though our apartment, from one end to the other, at top speed. She has also decided to start attacking my toes. So I guess that means it's playtime!

Purple Delight

Purple is my favorite color. I love it. Now, I'm not one of those people who love a color so much that everything I own is that color, but I do seek it out from time to time.

I was thrilled when this kit from Laitha's Designs plopped in to my lap. It's called Purple Delight, and, well, it's delightful.

First up, it's my friend Lynn and her Hubby celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary. 

Then, it's my friend Renita, and she's pretty much unstoppable.

Trust a Witch

It's that time of year...Halloween is near. The season of the Witch. They have been persecuted and misunderstood throughout the centuries, yet they strive on. They were the village Doctors, the counselors, the shamans, the teachers. They were important parts of community life, offering help and healing to anyone in need.

This time of the year they seem to be everywhere, only to fade into the shadows the rest of the year. But, they're always here, even in this day and age, working, learning, teaching, healing.

I hope you all have a safe and Happy Halloween!

This layout was created with the Mummy-sh {Bundle}, a collab from Aimee Harrison Designs Studio, ADB Designs, Mad Genius Designs, and The Urban Fairy.

Autumn...again and again, Autumn

Honestly, I would be happy with Autumn year round. I'm sure I've said that before, haven't I?

Autumns here in the Silicon Valley area are very different from the Autumns in Ohio, where I grew up. In Ohio we had the leaves, the colors, the cooler weather, the frost....ahhhh!! I love all of it! Here, we have a tiny bit of colorful leaves, but we do have weather changes...the hot dry days of Summer give way to cooler days, with clouds and occasional rain. The cooler nights start first, then, before we know it, there's light rain, washing off the dust that has been sitting around since July.

I love it. After 13 years here, I'm learning the seasonal patterns, and falling in love with them. The migratory songbirds started showing up here a few weeks ago. White Crowned Sparrows spend the winter here in the trees and bushes beside our patio. Their cheery song and striking head stripes are always a delight to me, even when they wake me up at the crack of dawn after only two or three hours of sleep. I can't help it, I'm a bird girl.

13 years. Yup. October 9th was our 13th anniversary...yet another reason why I love Autumn.

I've been drooling over the Project 365 kits from Digilicious Designs. When I saw the October edition, I fell in love!!! Luckily my longtime friend, Jaymie, sent me some Ohio leaf love with her adorable sons!

What's your favorite season??

Autumn Garden

My big, ongoing project for this year has been my patio garden. We live on the second floor of a two story building, just our apartment up here, and five single car garages below us. Part of our place includes a 12' x 12' patio, and this Spring I decided to start my own patio container garden up here.

In the spring I grew a few edible veggies, mostly leaf lettuces and also some heirloom carrots. Everything else has been flowers. I chose my plants to draw in native bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. I also have a bird feeding station out there that is frequented by the neighborhood Goldfinches, Scrub Jays, Mourning Doves, House Sparrows, Oak Titmouse, and the occasional California Towhee.

Now that Autumn is upon us, I know my garden will start to fade a bit. I have made sure to include plants that will be beautiful year round, but the splendor of Summer's blooms will fall prey to the wind and rain that will start soon enough. I'm OK with that. I love the seasons, and all that they bring. I enjoy watching the changes that happen, I find beauty in the dried blooms, the seed heads, and the fading leaves. I also look forward to the renewed growth that will follow next Spring.

For now, here's my tribute to my Autumn Garden. I created it with the Blustery Day Collection from Aimee Harrison. It's a beautiful kit full of natural elements that fit perfectly along side my garden!