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Thursday, October 30, 2014

fall around the farmhouse



Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.
- F. Scott Fitzgerald -


It's that magical time of year in New England.... fall
As I wrote in my last post, fall is a three-month ceremony of change and beauty.  It's more than a season, it is a spiritual ritual.
I've been taking photographs to share with you for a while and have compiled them together for this post.
This is the magic that is fall around the farmhouse.....







The sun setting as seen from the front porch.





The stone beehives at the entrance.




The antique stonewall along the road.




The kitchen dining table with its jarrahdale pumpkin and miniature white pumpkins on the mantel.
  There is so much color and beauty outside I like the interiors to be very simple this time of year.




Menu board from last Sunday's lunch with friends!




The front porch.




The front porch with fall pillow covers.
(a "favorite detail" of mine is to use down-filled pillow forms in all pillows on the three covered porches- it always feels so luxurious to sit in an exterior chair with a down pillow!  (and yes, they hold up/weather beautifully.... well, maybe not if you're in Houston or Baton Rouge :):)

















View down the drive.




The front meadow.




Sweet Ella with her always-wagging tail!




This is our largest and oldest antique maple tree on the property.  It is at the entrance from the road and it will sometimes "weep" from the hole in the tree seen in this photo.  It always reminds me of the spigot in the movie "Under the Tuscan Sun" (remember that scene?!) as it never did this before we started tending and gardening the beds and grass around it!




The drive up to the front door.




"Little Red" that was Dan's birthday present last year wasn't pleasing the groundskeeper (aka Dan) and was traded in for the much bigger Ferris that has a larger cutting width (61" instead of 48") and has a triple bag grass (and leaf;) catcher on the back.  The groundskeeper is very happy with new "Big Red!"




The lighting and colors were spectacular on this day!

























Inside looking out....




You walk into the rooms of the farmhouse and they just glow!





View from the upstairs guest room.




View from the master bedroom.




In this photo you see a ladybug on the window sill.  Fall is also "ladybug season." ;)  They make their way into the house in droves and hide in the cracks and mouldings through the winter. Try as you might, there is not a thing you can do to prevent this so one just welcomes them as "good luck!"








View from the upstairs master bedroom porch.




View from the upstairs porch to the terrace.  The Nantucket Blue hydrangeas have turned pink, as they do in fall, but are still blooming away!  They've been amazing all summer.




You can see all the large (7-1/2' to 9' tall) evergreens that we planted in late summer in this photo towards the front meadow. 




Distant view to the hillside beyond.




The setting sun....



Hope you're still here (?), and hope your fall has been magical too!





106 comments:

  1. What a wonderful fall the northeast is having this year, just beautiful! So glad to see two post from you this week.

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  2. Gorgeous photos and everything looks so welcoming!

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  3. We don't get a "real" Fall like that in So Cal.. Loved these photos!
    Marcy

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  4. Gorgeous. As a born-and-raised New Englander who has lived in California for 45 years, scenes of a glorious autumn inevitably tug at my heart strings. By the way, love, love, love the cow painting in your dining room. Is that a vestige of Texas?

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    1. We bought it at the Vanves flea market (Porte de Vanves) in Paris. But that is exactly why we fell in love with it- it reminded us of France AND of Texas!

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  5. Oh my goodness!! What a fabulous place to live!! I'll just have to visit one day though. It is beautiful here in Virginia too but we don't have very many maples. One side of my house has sycamores and poplars and they tend to loose their leaves early. I am enjoying this last beautiful day here because we have snow in the forecast this weekend...possibly four inches!! :( Thanks for sharing your gorgeous home and grounds. :) I always love to "visit' you. ;)

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    1. We had snow in the forecast for Sunday, too, Gina. But, thankfully, they've taken it off the 10-day. Phewwwww. 4".... that's quite the introduction into winter;)

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  6. your love for you newfound lovely New England home is so evident...I've been here my whole life and feel exactly the same...your photos are beautiful!
    Linda...Newton, MA

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  7. Stunning beauty...........outside and in! Thanks for sharing these lovely photos. What color is the paint on your dining room wall? It looks wonderful.

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    1. Thank you! All my colors can be found on my sidebar under "my paint and stain colors."

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  8. Your house is GORGEOUS & the views are STUNNING!!! Thanks for sharing! Happy Fall!!

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  9. I would love to move in with you. I think if this were my home, I might never leave. Absolutely breathtaking views. God is such a amazing artist!!!! Thanks for sharing!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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  10. Oh my word, Joan - spectacular!! I swear there is more color in any one of your pictures than in the ENTIRE state of Georgia! Breathtaking!

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  11. Oh my, Joan, all of your photos are just breath taking. A magical treat and btw, I am so glad to see you posting again.

    Carolyn

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  12. Your home and photos are seriously beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing the beauty!

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  13. Very beautiful setting and your photos capture it so well. I love the light in the fall at all times of day, but especially the morning. Off to rack leaves - I need a tractor like that!

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  14. You must pinch yourself every day living in such beauty and splendor! Here in the Pacific NW I had very little color in my maples (the vine maples didn't disappoint:) . . .maybe because of the sizzling summer we had. So a big thank you for sharing your magical display. Simply beautiful - your home and grounds!

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  15. You are blessed. But I think you already knew this.
    The house is something we can all mold and renew, but the vista - that is a gift. Thanks for sharing the beauty of your home.
    Hope all is well with you and Dan - and sweet Ella.

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  16. Beautiful! And, ugh, the lady bugs. Nope. Nothing you can do about them. Love the chalkboard menu!

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  17. You and Dan have made such a beautiful life for yourselves...and Ella. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.

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  18. Fall is my favorite season as well and ours has been wonderful! Just yesterday I spent the day with 3 other bloggers up in Lancaster county and driving home the colors were spectacular! What a GIFT! Your pictures are spectacular also. The colors of Fall are MY colors so my whole house makes me happy right now. I try to enjoy every minute of it. Thanks for sharing your beauty with us, Joan!

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  19. Absolutely breathtaking! This Tennessean-transplanted-to-Florida-for-30-years is homesick for autumn and wants to come visit you! Seems like you have the best location ever for fall beauty! Thank you so much for sharing!

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  20. OH! Forgot to mention, Joe had a 4 wheeler in the last house that he called "Big Red":):)

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  21. Lovely, simply lovely! Fall on the east coast is always stunning. And I'm still here! donna :)

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  22. Lovely! Although we have seasons here in the center of Argentina, they are not as pronounced or colorful as the falls we enjoyed "up north" :) I miss the patchwork of red, yellow and orange so am always happy to see photos that others post. Thanks for sharing!

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  23. Still here - and entranced by the beauty!

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  24. Wow, I am still here and going back to see the fall folliage again. Never have that in Texas.

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  25. Glorious! Your beautiful property in all its autumn glory is incredible. I can imagine how relaxing it is to live with this beauty surround you. Thank you for sharing all these photos. As you well remember, Texas doesn't get the show of color that you have. ;-)
    Want to pass along a word of caution about the pumpkin on the table. A friend had a pumpkin on her dining room table, it developed a rotten spot, and now there is an ugly burn through the finish of her beautiful antique table. Keep an eye on it or place it on a trivet.
    Happy Autumn!

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    1. That "is" a good word of caution Sarah. I initially had a glass candle trivet under the pumpkin, but didn't like how you could see it. So I cut a double layer of wax paper that just covers the bottom of the pumpkin, but you can't see it and it looks like the pumpkin is sitting directly on the table. I do, also, check it every few days because like you said, once they start to go it's not pretty;)

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  26. It is a wonderful time of the year. I always enjoy seeing your beautiful home and property. Ella lives a wonderful life doesn't she!!

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  27. Joan - your house and grounds are absolutely stunning!! I would love to wake up to that scene every day. Such beauty - and you have wonderful decorating taste. Just perfect!
    Donna

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  28. Breath taking! It looks similar to our Northern Ontario Autumn!
    Love your cozy home and your dog is very cute!
    Thanks for sharing!

    All my heart,
    Deborah

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  29. Absolutely gorgeous home and countryside. The view of the hillside is poetic.

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  30. So pleased to read / view your posts. I have followed your blog for several years enjoying your beautiful home, the landscape, and Ella. Fall photos are spectacular!

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  31. Joan, Have you tried tapping your maple trees? You could bottle the syrup and put Ella on the bottle :) Beautiful pics. (Still working on leaves). Sara, Ohio

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  32. ...magical is too small a word...heavenly might come close...blessings laney

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  33. Absolutely beautiful, My dear friend ( she has since moved South) would always spend time up north "leaf peeping" I do miss the masses of color up north. Rule #1 keep groundskeeper happy, hahaha.

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  34. Hello Joan, Your landscaping is settling in beautifully--it looks original and well-cared for. I guess that's one of the ironies of working on an old property like this. The harder you work, the less you want it to seem like your own efforts. And 61"! No wonder Dan has time to maintain the rest of the property so beautifully!
    --Jim

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  35. BEAUTIFUL , STUNNING pictures......really enjoyed your post !!!!
    Hugs,
    Stella

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  36. Hi Joan...beautiful fall colors. We got the same here in Vermont, one of the best I've seen for quite a while. I'm loving the changing light in the rooms. Can't believe it's almost November 1, and we're still out mowing...same kind of grounds as yours! And by the way, I totally get the new Big Red! We have "Baby"...a Kubota tractor for whatever he does with it!! and "Little Baby" another Kubota riding mower. I'm telling ya, you're going to need that barn one day! Best wishes to you, Dan, and Ella.

    Bev

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  37. PERFECTION both inside and out! So grateful that you take the time required to share such beauty.

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  38. Hi Joan! Your posts were worth the wait! Everything looks SO PRETTY!!! Barbara P from Ma

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  39. No fall here - it is spring! And my roses are out in full bloom. thanks for sharing your spot of paradise. You must have the best compost in the world with all those leaves. So Dan picks up the leaves with Big Red? Amazingly beautiful!!

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  40. Spectacular. Will you be posting any pictures of the removal of all those beautiful leaves? I think sometimes people who don't have them and are so envious forget about that part! (Does Big Red play a part?)

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  41. Thank you for sharing the beauty that surrounds you! Your house is gorgeous and you captured the colors and that GLOW beautifully.

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  42. Beautiful pictures! Thanks for sharing. Nice to see Ella in some of them, too!

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  43. What a stunning fall foliage tour around your homestead! Thanks for the mini getaway!!

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  44. God is really showing himself around your house!

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  45. Such beauty - you have an amazing good eye to capture these vignettes and just adore how Ella is included! Live in Southern Ontario, Canada where we also are lucky to enjoy the autumn colours and could live with this season until spring....

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  46. Beautiful home and grounds. Your falls are stunning. Thanks for sharing.

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  47. I want to move to your house!! This post is absolutely breathtaking,and I cannot imagine waking up to that each day. Please keep sharing!
    Betty from Mississippi

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  48. I feel more relaxed after looking at your serene photos. You must be smiling almost all the time with such beauty everywhere you look.

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  49. Beautiful photos! Fall is an experience up there, I think. :) We are still feeling warm temperatures here in Dallas (as you know ;) )....so it's nice to "feel" the cool, crisp weather through these gorgeous views of yours. Happy Fall to You!! Thank you for sharing!

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  50. If I ever had to produce an example of what I thought was the perfect house, I would show yours. It is a touch more formal than I would have (and I don't care for your kitchen chairs), but it is just beautiful! Your living room and reading room have been my favorites for a number of years. As a matter of fact, I think that I will spend the evening soaking your rooms in again. Just lovely! Wish I lived in them!

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  51. I simply can not imagine living in all that splendor. In the 'grass is always greener' department - I do love our fleeting fall season here in Georgia, but would love to experience fall in New England just once. This post is a keeper. I'll go back and enjoy it again and again.

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  52. Thank you for sharing. Both your home's interior and the property are beautiful!!

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  53. Joan,
    Picture postcard images! I love the beauty of the rolling hills around your home and the incredible trees. Fall is a magical season even here in Southern California. Not quite as picturesque but still, the colors change and the light is wonderful.
    xo,
    Karen

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  54. Joan, Dan, Ella: This is why fall is a favorite of mine; spectacular! Joan, I do have a question...do you have to do anything special, over winter, with your hydrangeas being in pots versus in the ground? Cindy

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  55. You have captured the golden, magical light of autumn beautifully! Your photos are stunning! We grew a few of the Jarrahdale pumpkins this year, and I like your idea of featuring its beauty simply! Kudos to the groundskeeper, too!

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  56. Spectacular Autumn color! Love your beautiful home & am so glad to see 2 new posts from you this week :-) We are in the process of building a home & your's has been a great inspiration for me. I love, love, love your kitchen!
    Blessings, Lisa

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  57. You really do live in a piece of heaven. So beautiful and warming to the soul. Thanks for sharing with us!
    Susan in MT

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  58. Love the pics. Had to laugh at the new mower. Men and their toys! Mine does not trade in, he just accumulates more mowers/tractors. We are up to 2 riding mowers, 1 zero turn, and a New Holland tractor. Many mowers make light work! Lol!

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  59. Wonderful pictures. I, too, love the glow of the golden light that warms the rooms in the fall. We've had a glorious week with really warm temperatures, clear blue skies, and wonderful color. The red and yellow maples, the hickories, and the rusty oaks have been at their peak up here at the top of the mountain, but are falling fast. Now more trees are bare than leafed. Snow is predicted tomorrow night! Not prepared!

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  60. Just breathtaking. It must be amazing to live somewhere so beautiful!

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  61. Belíssima fazenda. A grama linda, amei o carro vermelho, aqui em casa quem corta grama sou eu, eu ia amar ter um desses. Belissimo lugar, a cerca branca e as árvores tudo formou uma paisagem dos sonhos. Parabéns pelo belo lugar.
    Tenha um ótimo dia.

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  62. Our colors were beautiful this year too!! Joan your home and grounds always look stunning!!

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  63. See? I just don't get why people raise their eyebrows when I say I want to retire in New England..the beach is so blah! Thanks so much for the pictures…Fall here in KY is not as pretty as usual. Too much rain!

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  64. you actually live in such beauty? wow! lucky you!!! it's all so gorgeous. just gorgeous!!!!!!

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  65. Your home and your land never fails to take my breath away. What a gorgeous view you have, no matter the season! I had to laugh and then gasp when I saw your amazing fish floats strewn about( meticulously placed I'm sure) on your gravel outside the barn room. To me it would be like an Easter egg hunt as I would run as fast as I could to be the one to pick them all up! A much better prize than an egg! I have started my own collection and will feel like heaven when I have enough to keep some casually outside. Lol!

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  66. Thank you for sharing your beautiful surroundings!

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  67. We've had a very pretty fall here, too, in Minnesota! Gorgeous pictures....always look forward to your posts! Rosie

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  68. a truly beautiful home and property!

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  69. House proud worthy ness here, and I could and would move in, in a flash moment.
    You have a home that inspires beyond emotional attachment, it's a home to love.

    I am inspired beyond inspired.

    Xx
    Dore
    Love your Autumn colours, and looking forward to the holidays here.

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  70. Oh Joan, your home and your property and spectacular. What a feast for the eyes! The fall color and the light ... words can't describe how beautiful they are. Thank you for sharing your gorgeous photos with us. Ella looks pretty as ever. Give her a kiss from me.
    Claudia

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  71. Hi Joan,
    We are having our porch ceilings painted in the spring. We are still fairly new to our home (just 2 years) and the ceilings are presently white. I am looking for the perfect 'haint' blue/green. I think your California paint 'smoke and mirrors' might be in the running now that I have noticed yours are painted with such a lovely shade.
    Yes, autumn in New England is almost indescribably to those who have never been here.
    Great post and lush lawn!
    Fondly,
    -Lisa

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  72. Thank you for sharing your beautiful house and property...the photos made me feel like I was right there. It has been nice to read current posts from you, I check your blog everyday...one of my favs!!! Mickey in Pennslyvania

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  73. If it is possible to fall in love with a property and home as someone enjoying your images, I can only imagine the love you guys must have for it all (which is always evident just in the way you care for it). A home and property like yours is beyond the stuff of my dreams. Thank you for sharing it. Your images are all SPECTACULAR and artful, but the bird feeder one really sings. Just incredible.

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  74. It is really beautifull there in New England. Last year my husband and I visited New England as tourists and we were really fond of it. Thank you for sharing your beautiful pictures.

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  75. How very lovely fall is in your neck of the woods! I love that the maple tree sheds a few tears for all of the wonderful work you guys have done to restore the old homestead, clearly it knows the love you have for it and the entire property. And we have our fair share of ladybug luck too!

    Have a wonderful week!

    Kat

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  76. Everything looks spectacular! We've had a wonderful fall in southern Wisconsin this year, not only wonderful temperatures, but absolutely stunning fall colors! I love the philosophy that you have about keeping things simple on the inside because of all the colors on the outside. I couldn't agree more. You and the "groundskeeper", have done a wonderful job! ;)

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  77. Wow! what a breathe taking farmhouse.

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  78. So very beautiful. I'm so happy to see these beautiful pictures and happy that you are posting again. I've very much missed your posts.
    Best regards, Wenda

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  79. Hi Joan as always such beautiful place. Love your photo on Instagram of the autumn leaves inside your front door.
    Kind Regards
    Karen

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  80. After running around from store to store today this is SUCH a treat!!! Perfect way to settle in for the evening! I Love seeing Ella in the pictures too! Thanks for making my night!
    Betsy

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  81. Beautiful! I'm always amazed by the beauty you're surrounded by, it's all straight out of a fairy tale.

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  82. You are killing me Joan! AMAZING. Makes me want to move to a farm TODAY. Amazingly beautiful pictures that "took me away" to the most wonderful place. Thank you for this amazing virtual getaway...LOVED it.

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  83. Glorious colors and photos. Worth the wait, I think.

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  84. Hello Joan,
    Your home and property are gorgeous. I always love to see what you have been up to :)
    Oh, I don't think those bugs are lady bugs. I believe they are those stinky Asian lady beetles. I have them here at my cottage. Apparently they were imported to control aphids but now they need controlling...
    Cheers,
    Beth

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    1. Oh my gosh Beth, you are Right!! I just googled "asian lady beetle" and that is exactly what they are. Thank you for the info. Now, I won't feel so bad vacuuming them up;)

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  85. I do so love New England. In fact we were there twice this year! Fall is my favorite time of the year. Your photos are breathtaking. Thanks for sharing
    Jeannette

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  86. Wow! You live in a beautiful post card scene. This looks so peaceful and quite. Lovely home.

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  87. Just found your blog (from Instagram) and I am in LOVE with your home! I have been snooping through all your old posts and I can't decide what room I love the most! Everything is so gorgeous! Thank you for sharing!

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  88. Your photos are so beautiful, thank you for sharing!!!! Your blog has always been one of my favorites.

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  89. What a beautiful farm house! This time of year is wonderful with all the color, scents and yes, a time for renewal. Thank you for sharing!

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Welcome! Thank you for leaving a comment; you have no idea how much your comments inspire me to keep writing- I appreciate each and every one. Comments are moderated by me prior to publishing on the blog, so if you don't see your comment post immediately it will be posted as soon as I receive and read it. joan