Happy 234th Birthday to the United States Marine Corps!

Painting. Just when you thought that all the painting was complete, out come the rollers and brushes once again. Our goal is to have all painting done by Thanksgiving. A quick glance at the calendar will tell you we'd better get a move on!
I spent Thursday and Friday applying coats to the downstairs hallway. Why two days on such a small space? Because our original color choice just didn't work. What was a nice creamy neutral on the chip and in the can turned into a pale sunshine yellow on the walls. A great color, but better suited for a bedroom than a transition area.
This new color is called English Tan. As soon as it started going on the walls, I knew I was going to like it. Back to Home Depot I'll go for more. It's going in the hallway upstairs, the stair case and the kitchen, too.
A quick look out the back door will tell you that fall has fell. Almost all of our beautiful fall colors have now dropped to the ground. The neighborhood is abuzz with all manner of leaf taming equipment today. It's fun to see just how each family copes with the piles and piles of leaves.
In the mailbox, I got a package from my favorite quilt shop. This bundle of fat quarters represents each the different colors available from the Aged Muslin line from Marcus Brothers.
I want to make some window coverings for our family room, but didn't want to pick my fabric sight unseen. The good news is I now know which shade I want. I'll place my order this week and ask for a piece from one of the other choices to add to my stash.
Ordering muslin only didn't seem like fun. So I asked for a bundle of the brushed cottons from the new Brannock/Patek line Blessings be included. Funny how I had no problem deciding on that sight unseen.
I've not got a project in mind. I'll add them to the stash. Just the right thing is sure to come along. When it does - I'll be ready.

Does it seem like I'm rushing the season just a little?
It's really more of an - if you can't beat 'em, join 'em attitude. We have 8 boxes of 'stuff' that won't be unpacked until after the first of the year when we do a remodel of the kitchen. Right now the cabinets are stuffed to the gills with pots and pans spilling into the laundry room. So rather than look at cardboard boxes for 2 or 3 more months, I decided to use them as holiday props. The rest of the Christmas decorating won't happen until after Thanksgiving. But these boxes are sure a lot more pleasing to look at disguised as gifts.
Rest assured that fall is still all around us. Harper and I took the camera on our walk to the Common one day last week. Our town had sponsored a scarecrow building event. They provided the frame and stuffin' and you provide the head and clothes. Here is a collage of just a few, everything from traditional, to youthful, to political. They'll be on display through this week. I hope next year Hubby and I will be able to build one, too.
Back on the home front, look what I spied out the kitchen window!
He seems to be giving me 'the eye.' I will say that the New England cousin of my California nemesis is a whole lot cuter and much less mangy looking. Maybe that means they can easily sustain themselves without making a salad bar out of my garden. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Quilting. There was a time when quilting was the main topic here at A Simple Girl. I don't know about you, but I've missed it. Things are beginning to feel settled enough that more quilting time is being found in each day.
The applique on this piece is done. Now to turn it into a finished project. I'm thinking of a pillow. More diamonds are being added to the stack.
And I have been working on signature blocks for a swap with my California quilting buddies.
The blocks are assembled. Now to stitch my name on each of them and get them in the mail. Does anyone out there know what my deadline is?
Then there was a finish! I joined in Finn's New New Year's Eve 2009 Challenge. I perhaps didn't challenge myself by much. But I have met my stated goal of completing one project.
The Mourning Quilt from Prairie Children and Their Quilts by Kathleen Tracy. I found this little quilt languishing in the bottom of my hexagon basket. The quilting was nearly done, but for some reason it had been set aside. A couple of evenings of stitching and attaching binding was all it took.
Now I'm ready to pull this project out and start getting some stitches in it. I won't be able to complete it before New Year's Eve, but it will be the perfect winter's day companion this year.

Nearly a week and nary a word. How does time get away from me? Well, first there was the snow. Oh, I fully understand that its coming was not a happy thing for the natives, but for me it was exciting beyond belief. It was just magical. Second, I have come to believe that I cannot form another interesting way to describe unpacking of boxes. This is due to the undeniable fact that unpacking boxes has now become drudgery.
So now fall has returned let's take a moment to enjoy its splendor. Here is the view from my blogging spot.
It is a changing kaleidoscope of color. Something new and different every morning. Fall has not disappointed me in any way.
Yesterday I took the opportunity to get away from the boxes and meet a fellow blogger. Yvonne from Quilting Down The Stairs has been a source of encouragement and New England knowledge for us during the last few months. What a delight to be invited to her home for the afternoon.
I not only met Yvonne, but the kitties, too. They were slightly interested in my arrival, but soon settled back into their favorite napping positions.
I was treated to lunch - complete with orange cheddar cheese for my sandwich (more on that in a future post) and finished with blueberry pie. This little pincushion plant on the kitchen windowsill will be a warm reminder of the day.
And on the coffee table, this fabulous book which Yvonne sweetly inscribed as a 'welcome' to Massachusetts and a budding friendship.
Did you notice the quilt on the cover? Hexagons. Maybe I'm going to fit in in Massachusetts after all.

Krazy Kalifornia Kids?
Yes, that was us - the family that was out in the front yard, in our pajamas, taking pictures of Harper and the first snow of the year. She is completely un-phased. Hubby is cold. I am just mesmerized.

Would you care to join Harper and me on a walk to the Post Office? The weather has certainly become 'brisk' with a forecast high of 45f. It is currently 35f. But we decided we didn't need a jacket. As it gets colder, I won't be doing that again.
At the end our street is the town Common.

Across from the Common is the library.
I haven't thoroughly explored it yet. I had to wait until I got my MA identification before I could get a library card. Just haven't made it back yet. I wonder if they still use a card catalog - I miss them.
Here's another view of the Common.
Everywhere you turn right now is bursting forth in fall colors. I just can't get enough.
Living in a small town is different, too. On this short walk, we greeted 2 different neighbors, got a shout out to Harper from a passing truck and a couple of waves from others. It's nice to not feel so anonymous, but it will take a little getting used to also.
Okay, we've dropped off our mail. Time to head home again. We just have to walk down this street a little bit and we'll be there.
After our little outing we'll spend the rest of the day inside working on some stitching. There's always a project nearby that needs some tending. Thanks for coming out with us. It was fun.