We've had a beautiful fall this year!
While always a sight to see, fall in New England is different from year to year. The amount of rain we get in August and September, the amount of sunshine, the temperatures- too hot/too cold, heavy winds, etc... are all elements that can dramatically alter the brilliant fall foliage that New England is so well known for. The best weather to produce gorgeous fall foliage is to have a summer with ample rain followed by a dry, cool, sunny autumn with warm days and cool, though not freezing, nights- which is exactly the weather we've had this year!
Take a look for yourself...
The view from the front meadow.
Notice the new (antique) orb!
You all know of my love for orbs (here and here), so it was only natural when I spied two large (over four foot) iron treads from antique wooden wagon-wheels in a neighboring town that I immediately thought they would be perfect as a huge orb for the yard! Several months went by and while antiquing in Maine we found a second pair of iron treads the same size!
I love how this photo is a little out of focus- you can almost feel the leaves swirling in the wind!
The view from the back meadow.
This is sweet, polite Ella's stance when she wants to go into the house- she'll just stare at the door! When I open it, she marches directly up the stairs to get on our bed! You can't go inside just yet Ella, we have more pictures to take.
The sugar maples along the front drive.
The sun setting on a beautiful autumn day.
Hope you're having a wonderful fall!
Lovely. Thank you for sharing. We've had a lovely fall here in the Midwest. I didn't get around to decorating, but one look outside, and I thank Mother Nature for decorating for me!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy,
Angela
Agreed Angela! I have a blue pumpkin on the entry chest and some white mini pumpkins on the kitchen fireplace mantel, but other than that I let mother nature decorate the house!
DeleteSweet Ella! I love her way of asking in. I have a friend whose cat sits in front of her gas log fire, waiting politely the same way, for it to be turned on.
ReplyDeletetoo funny Sunny! Ella does something similar when Dan sets the fire- she sits in front of the fireplace looking at it the whole time, even during his trips to the garage to get wood she sits there and waits and watches! She loves a fire too!
DeleteElla gives you a wonderful showdog "stack" when she wants to go in -- Love all the pictures! Keep them coming please!!! and of course thank you for sharing through the months!
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right, Fall is Fabulous in your neck of the woods! I have not seen color like that yet, but I am a lot further South. I love all of your photos and most especially beautiful, sweet Ella!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
Elizabeth
The trees are stunning, I love the contrast of the trunks and branches against the leaves and sky. Your house looks beautiful too. Hope that you are having a great autumn. Love the orb too!
ReplyDeleteJoan, those photos are simply breathtaking. You are a lucky, lucky girl. Thanks for sharing it with all of us.
ReplyDeletei've been waiting for this post...it did not disappoint. :)
ReplyDeleteA beautiful place to call home.
ReplyDelete(and I share you fondness of orbs)
Lovely photos, as always!
ReplyDeleteI can't tell you how much these photos have blessed me today. They bring back wonderful memories of my childhood home, here in Missouri. just beautiful!
ReplyDeletebeautiful colours and pictures. thank you for sharing. the sugar maples are divine and the orb stunning.
ReplyDeletethis is gorgeous times ten. reminds me to capture the color i'm seeing in our forest--so fleeting!
ReplyDeletesmiles to you.
michele
You're right Michele, it is fleeting. Once we get to this point it changes so quickly- almost as if you can see the leaves turning from yellow to orange right in front of your eyes!
DeleteAbsolutely beautiful! What a joy for you to enjoy it with your own eyes!! Thank you so much for sharing =)
ReplyDeleteThe Fall colors are amazing. Those orbs are just the coolest.
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful! That first photo is like a painting.
ReplyDeleteWe've had some really beautiful color this year too. Bright color sometimes doesn't make it to the city because our nights aren't as cold but we've had some really intense reds and oranges.
Have you been to Withington to find out the scoop?
hi Steve, Yes- we were there a little over a week ago. The merchandise just wasn't the same, but the salesperson said it was the same two dealers. She said she didn't know why they were closing (no one in my party believed that;) and that she had just heard that very morning that they might stay open for another month or so.... Such a loss of a great shop :(
DeleteBeautiful Joan!!
ReplyDeletexoxo,
A
joan, your photos are spectacular! here in alabama our leaves are about a month away from looking anything like yours. i just shared your pictures with my husband and he thinks they are gorgeous too! it's starting to "cool off" a bit around here but as you know, in the south, we never get as cold as what you experience in new hampshire.
ReplyDeletethank you for sharing your beautiful home and landscape with all of us.
Beautiful pictures and oh, what colors! Enjoy what's left of fall before the cold really hits... And Ella is delightful: our dog would always head straight for our bed also. She would land on my pillow where I learned to put a towel over it every day!
ReplyDeleteYour fall colours are spectacular there. Just gorgeous! The trees here were so so this year and mostly not as colourful as other falls. Lots of yellows and golds but not many reds and oranges which was disappointing. The leaves on our maples are already gone. Some trees just dried out, curled up and fell. A strange year. Ella looks so cute standing and waiting to be let in. Enjoy the fall colours! Blessings, Pam
ReplyDeleteWe had a fall similar to that several years ago Pamela. I felt so bad for the leaf-peepers who had come to see all the colors.
DeleteYou've taken my breath away!
ReplyDeleteOnly nature could create such colorful beauty, don't you agree?
Happy Autumn!
xo
Brooke
I do indeed Brooke! And, I adore your current Instagram photo of Steve and Leila under your huge tree- such a perfect moment in time.
DeleteI like your orbs...they look just beautiful among all of the beautiful trees! I love the views of your wonderful home, especially from the back meadow. It looks just spectacular in the fall! And I just love your cute pup!
ReplyDeleteXO,
Jane
Joan - oh really, it's so pretty. The orb looks so stately sitting there among the tree's and leaves.
ReplyDeleteI've learned {as I've gotten older} to enjoy the leaves on the ground a bit longer, not to rake them up too soon. It really is a rich carpet full of colour that only nature can bring us.
Walking at this time of year with the sound of the leaves blowing and crinkling under foot - it's so special. Enjoy it all with Dan and Lady Ella.
ps - I love the instagram pic with the stone steps and the big tree glowing orange.
I am the same way now too Katherine- I used to want them picked up immediately, but here (and being older;) I like them on the ground!
DeleteA beautiful sight for sore eyes! As a Tennessean living in Florida for the past 30 years, it's been a long time since I've experienced autumn, except vicariously through gorgeous pictures like yours! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteRhonda, I think it's time for a visit home!
DeleteWow! Beautiful pictures, love Ella's patient plea.
ReplyDeleteyour photos are always gorgeous. i love the orb and am already on my way to move in with you. i can even pitch a tent in the meadow. lol.
ReplyDeleteBring some down comforters Meg, as we are to have our first freeze of the season tonight;)
DeleteBeautiful, beautiful trees! You are so fortunate to have those views from your own property! ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd not a day goes by Donnamae, that we don't think that exact thought, and are so grateful!
DeleteAmazingly beautiful. Looks like you're ahead of Oregon. We're just now barely starting to turn.
ReplyDeleteI wish it was that easy to get our Ella to bed! Beautiful, Joan!
ReplyDeleteLove your beautiful fall photos. Your home looks so calm & peaceful. Love the orbs. We are just now getting into cooler weather here in San Antonio. Acorns are falling, not many leaves falling yet. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYour comment brought back so many memories of growing up there! For the first couple of falls here in NE I kept having flashbacks to elementary school on our walks in the fall. The memories baffled me until I realized that growing up in SA that was the only place I had ever seen the red/orange/yellow leaves of a maple tree- in grade school when the teacher would decorate the room!
DeleteJoan,
ReplyDeleteThanks for a little arm chair sample of New England's beautiful fall foliage. We have a small sampling of that with some of the trees here in Southern California.
Karen
How spectacular, Joan! I love the photos with sweet, polite Ella in them too, of course. I really wish we could be in New England this year to enjoy the color. Maybe next year ...
ReplyDeleteClaudia
Joan, Dan, and Ella: We are blessed to live here! This year's colors have been spectacular. I noticed the large orb right away; it is perfect! Cindy
ReplyDeleteThank you for these stunning pictures. I lived in MA for 5 years and firmly believe there is no way to capture the magnificence of the New England Fall. You did a great job. I am insanely jealous of that orb! How fabulous is that? I LOVE it. I kind of doubt I'll be able to find wagon wheel parts in Southern California anytime soon.
ReplyDeleteIt's true Karen, so many times I will take a photo of the most magnificent foliage and it just doesn't transfer to the camera. It is so difficult to get the real "feel" of the season. Thank you about the photos.
DeleteHa! Yes, probably true about the wagon wheel treads in CA;) Maybe ebay?!
What a beautiful setting you live in, Joan! The orb is FABULOUS!!! Just perfect. Sweet Ella is a dream. Happy Fall to you. We are behind in our color but getting there here in southeast Pa.
ReplyDeleteWhat am absolute dream this is.
ReplyDeleteHello, gorgeous photos, many thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletewe had lovely fall color here about 2 weeks ago... now today, snow flurries!
soooo cold and soooo early!
Rhonda in Naperville, IL
oh no Rhonda.... that's so early. But, seems to be the trend in the midwest this fall. Bundle up!
DeleteImagine, you don't even have to step one foot off your property to see the most magnificent autumn show! People drive hours to see that! Best, Beth C.
ReplyDeleteThe colors are brilliant, Joan! We're just now getting a touch of color here in Atlanta... hoping for some brilliance of our own this year. :) Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletexo Heidi
Your pictures are breath taking, Joan! And Ella is such a polite little lady, being patient while you finish taking pictures. She looks like the sweetest girl! Our little dog brings us so much joy, I always say he is our 3rd child because he is so loved and such a big part of our family. I can see Ella is too :)
ReplyDeleteOn another note, my son brought home an empty turtle shell from the lake park, and I knew exactly what to do with it. I hung it on the wall like my friend Joan! Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos...enjoy this lovely season!
ReplyDeleteThese pictures literally took my breath away, that tree right in front of your home is outrageously beautiful! What kind of tree is it? What a beautiful view you must have from every single window! I feel my stress o meter going down several notches just looking at these serene pictures:)
ReplyDeleteThey are sugar maples Tina!
DeleteCan I come live with you? Haha! What lovely images!
ReplyDeletewhy, of course Heather:)!!
DeleteThis is the stuff dreams are made of! Just beautiful! I love that Ella waits for you in her door stance. Our beloved black lab has started having seizures and we are in the midst of trying different treatments. I tell you it is as emotional as my children's illnesses when young. We do love our pets. Hello to Dan, I love the orb which I am sure is his handiwork. xo
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry about your fur-baby. I hope they are able to find a cause and cure quickly. We do indeed love our pets.
DeleteYes, Dan put the orb together- even checking his workbench drawers for rusty old nuts and bolts.
Wow! Just WOW!
ReplyDeletesitting here with a big 'ole smile on my face. brings on a very peaceful feeling. thanks for helping my day to start with a smile and calm.
ReplyDeleteJoan-
ReplyDeleteYou truly are living my dream! I look at all the land you have and how wonderful it would be for my children to run freely and play for hours and hours letting their imaginations run wild. :-) The fact that your lot is big enough to have random, awesome, yard orbs lying about is so cool! Do you feel that any lot size could pull that off? I'm also wondering about your leaf clean up... do you just mow over them? Do you have to rake them from your drive? I'm sure yard work is more fun to do when you have so many beautiful leaves to look at while you're working. :-)
Happy fall!
Amber
Amber, I do feel that any lot size could pull off a large orb- but with something so large I think it needs to be the only focal point in the space (especially if the space is small). Often I see yards with a LOT of little things, when one large piece would be more dramatic and more pleasing to the eye.
DeleteThe new lawn mower has a wonderful mulcher kit on it and does mulch the leaves well, but Dan mainly uses a jet-pack blower and blows them (he just did this, blowing leaves from the entrance and the leaf "line" he was blowing was about 100 feet long!) into a big compost pile in the back of the property
Your pictures are so gorgeous! I'm so happy to be able to say that we saw fall in NH personally this year. We were there at the end of September. I had emailed you awhile back and you were kind enough to recommend some things to see and do (like shopping!!). Thank you so much - they were wonderful recommendations. I can see why you love NH so much - it's almost like a fairytale. The weather was absolutely perfect during our entire stay. We stayed at The Hancock Inn and I couldn't help but notice the realtors office right next door!!
ReplyDeletehi JoAnne, So glad you had such a good trip. I remember you writing. The Hancock Inn must have been busy this fall- just had someone else write and tell me that they were staying there too! Happy to hear the recommendations were helpful. And yes, "almost like a fairytale" is a pretty accurate description- we've been known to say that ourselves!
DeleteNothing like sitting in a 70º office space and stumbling across this post... What a beautiful home you have! The perfect 2-minute vacation. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Anna! Love your lighting!!
DeleteStunning!
ReplyDeleteNo wonder folks visit New England during fall!! :) What fabulous old established trees in the front of your home. Love that Ella is in so many pictures! Sweet baby. ;) Love the orb too! :)
ReplyDeleteI live in New England and when I look at the pictures of your beautiful home I can hear the sound of the rustling leaves and the smell of a wood stove.The orb is awesome,can't wait to see it on the snowy landscape.Thanks for sharing your beautiful home. Christine Dracut Ma
ReplyDeleteJust looking at those photos made me feel calm and serene. Those colors are why I love living in the northeast.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely stunning. "Move to New England" is on my to-do list.
ReplyDeleteYour surroundings are so beautiful. Both outside and inside. If I were ever to visit New England, I would find it impossible to refrain from knocking on your door. I love the orb. I have tried to get something to grow inside the orb that I found for my yard and to no avail....Best Regards, Wenda
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely stunning...as you well know we don't have falls like this in the Dallas/Fort Worth area!! :(
ReplyDeleteSimply stunning! Thank you so much for sharing~~
ReplyDeleteBlessings~~Shine
So...many...leaves. :)
ReplyDeleteBreathtaking!
ReplyDeletePicture perfect as always....
ReplyDelete..."oh world...i cannot hold thee close enough" (edna st vincent millay)....blessings laney
ReplyDeleteThis makes me miss my parents house this time of year! I think its time to take a short drive up to see the country!
ReplyDeleteJeez! You know down here in Texas, we don't get much of that. Breath-taking!
ReplyDeleteYou read Cote de Texas don't you? I thought you when I was reading about the Texas "Farmhouse". Elegant and wish I lived there beauty, kind like your place! What beautiful pictures. & sweet Ella!
I just found your blog, but love fall foliage and this is breathtaking! Can't wait to catch up on old posts! And I'm from Dallas, now living in DC! Maybe New England is in the cards . . .
ReplyDeleteLove your photos - we in Southern Ontario are also viewing some glorious fall colours!
ReplyDeleteNB in Ontario, Canada
Just as beautiful as I remember (from last week in Hancock)!! It was an unforgettable trip and the memories grow sweeter as the days pass. Wish I could snuggle with Ella... we noticed all of our favorite stops in New England (from shops to B&Bs) had the sweetest dogs waiting to greet us inside. Feels like any place with a dog says "Make yourself comfortable!" and we LOVED that :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! You don't mind if I pop over to visit do you ;-)
ReplyDeleteYou have got a beautiful and extraqordinary house. This is really love! I've also renovated a house for 2 1/2 years now and have been pretty alone with my love to old houses and renovating them. In Germany this isn't a topic, people prefer to build new homes, but I always have been loving old houses. They have got their own soul. Glad to see that there are other house-obsessed people, too. ;) You can be very proud of your work. By the way, I love this blog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWill read every single renovating story!
Hope you haven't got a double-comment now. For the first time there was a problem with the server.
that is one huge and magnificent Maple tree . . . there by the orb. Is that a Maple or something that this Midwesterner doesn't recognize. gorgeous with a capital G.
ReplyDeleteNance, It is a maple... more specifically a "sugar" maple.
Delete