The Three Trees

We have three trees in a mulch filled island in our backyard. They have grown tremendously over the past seven years. Our backyard went from half shade to full shade this year. These trees are my seasonal gauge.

I can tell you which tree will get its leaves first and the one that hangs on to its leaves the longest. The tree on the far left, sheds its leaves first. Come mid-August it gives me a sign, one leaf turns bright red. It's not two or three leaves, it's just one deep red leaf. The leaf is not located on the backside or nestled somewhere deep inside the branches. It is right out in front, glaring at me, reminding me that fall is just around the corner. I grit my teeth. My first impulse is to quickly remove that leaf and pretend I didn't see it appear. 
 

The tree on the far right hangs on to its leaves way past fall. I relate to this tree. While everyone else is applauding the arrival of fall, I'm kicking and screaming as the morning temperatures begin to drop. I'm not normal, I thrive in summer. Maybe it has something to do with growing up in Florida. I cherish those warm nights, when the humidity is so thick, you can cut it with a knife. I love wearing my skirts, tank tops, and my fish flops. I like greeting the morning on my porch, in shorts and a t-shirt. If I could hug the Equator during the cold months, I would. The Equator, so I've read, has a permanent summer.

The official arrival of Autumn was Wednesday, according to the calendar. Because I  live in what I call paradise, the cold weather will only last approximately three months. Therefore, I hang on to that thought, and set my sights on Spring.

To Blog or Not to Blog?

When I first heard about blogging, my first thought was, "I could and would never do that, PERIOD!" This past year, I discovered the world of blogging and have fallen in love with this trendy form of communication.

My interest in blogging was peaked after a friend and I went to see the movie Julie & Julia. I began searching  for some baking/cooking sites to follow. It was a little difficult to find what I was looking for, until one day, I saw an article in our local newspaper about Ree Drummond. She lives on a ranch and blogs about her life and the food she cooks. Ree Calls herself, and her blog,  The Pioneer Woman.

I love her blog for many reasons. The thing I fell in love with the most is the way she includes pictures of every step of her recipes. Those who really know me, know that for me to love a cookbook, it has to have pictures of the recipes. Ree hit that one out of the park!

The past four years have been about me stepping out of my comfort zone. So far I have taken some big leaps. As for the question "To Blog or Not to Blog?" Well,  I'm hopping over that huge PERIOD and blogging.  Here we go.

Yesterday, my pastor posted an interesting take on Ezra 3:3. I posted it on my Facebook  page and it helps to motivate me.

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Most worthwhile things involve risk. If you wait for the fear to subside, you'll never do it. from Ezra 3:3

 

You may be wondering, "What is this blog's genre?" 

It will be a little bit of everything, new purchases,  happenings around town, funny things in my life and, of course, some cooking and baking. No blog would be complete without pictures.  Pictures are worth a thousand words. Pictures, pictures and more pictures. Sometimes, it will be just quick blurbs and pictures.

I'm new to this blogging stuff, so for now, I'm pretty generic on my background and everything else. I even went to the Mt. Pleasant Library and checked out one of the gazillion Dummies books. If anyone out there has any tips, please share, I'm all about sharing and helping. 

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