Monday, October 01, 2007

Welcome October!

Welcome to a new month! As I contemplated how quickly the month of September passed, I resolved to make the most of the month of October. I am treating today as if it was New Year's Day and making a few resolutions for this month. Some are concrete things which I want to accomplish before the end of the month in my home and garden.

Some resolutions are more 'spiritual' in nature as to spending time outdoors looking at nature and autumn's beauty. We have been so busy with the fencing at the cottage that we have not had time to take our walks in the woods to look for toadstools. So far, I have only been able to photograph those in the woods directly beside the cottage. This photo is one I took on a country road leading from the village of Diever to our cottage. It is always very magical to see these red spotted toadstools which are so connected to the stories of the Dutch writer Rien Poortvliet, who wrote the books about Gnomes. I can understand when I am in the woods here in Holland, why he was inspired to come up with these stories.

Does anyone else try to plan or set goals for themselves at the beginning of the month? I will do it in a forgiving way myself. I will use them as guidelines but accept if I don't get finished what I set out to do.


"There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October."


~~ Nathaniel Hawthorne ~~

11 comments:

Nancy said...

The toadstools are wonderful! I still keep looking for them in my yard, but I haven't seen any yet. I do love to find them.

Nunnie's Attic said...

I don't get to see toadstools like I used to when I still lived at home with my parents. So thanks for sharing and I don't believe I have ever seen a red one! I don't normally plan month-resolutions. Lord, I can barely keep a few New Year's ones. But that got me thinking that maybe if I set monthly goals instead of year long goals I might accomplish a few more. That's a great idea. Now let me think...

Love,
Julie

Mary said...

October...........best month of all and you have certainly made me open my eyes and realize it's here and I've things to do and places to go.........and soon!
Heidi - your dresser looks lovely - true one can add just a few things for Autumn and make the home warm and comfy. I will soon change just my drapes, ottoman and cushions in the living room (from cream to terracotta shades)to warm things up.
The countryside around your cottage is so beautiful and it's amazing how even the toadstools are so brilliantly colored. After Holland's tulip fields one wouldn't expect there to be even more color to gaze upon - what a wonderful landscape, I have to get there soon!!!
Meanwhile my resolutions for this month include getting to the wedding next weekend with hopefully some Fall photos from that rural SC area. Then off to the UK where I'll be snapping away at villages, cottages and all those English pretties to share later. While there I will see as many family and friends as possible in just a short visit - this seems so important as I'm not sure when I will return.
Thanks for all your visits and lovely comments - you truly are generous with your words and I love to have you visit. Looking forward to your Mother's blog when up and running.
More later - off the clean out the potting shed!
~ Hugs ~ Mary.

Joanne said...

I, too, think of the first of each month as a chance for a new beginning, making tiny resolutions or goals :) Love the toadstools!! I just know that one of your pincushion creations has to be one of them :)

Ragged Roses said...

HI Heidi, thank you for your lovely comments! I can't think of a better way of spending a wet Monday than watching Jane Eyre (have you seen the recent BBC series?). I shall rise to the challenge and write a post one wet Monday about all there is to celebrate on those kind of days (I can think of quite a few already, the Brontes being on the list of course!)
Kim x

Nancy said...

Hi:
I still say, you need these at the cottage. Send Jos out at midnight to dig some up and plant them in your backyard there. I will be happy to share my many gnomes with you if you do. Guess I need to make a blog entry now of my gnomes.
Love you, Mom

Janice said...

Heidi, I love your idea of treating this day like New Year's day! Perhaps resolutions would be good to make at each changing season! Oh, the toadstools are amazing! I've only seen ones like that in fairy tales! Thank you so much for sharing the photo of them! Blessings to you on this first day of October!

Andylynne said...

I used to set goals, always fell short and gave them up. Then as you say forgave myself and have started setting them again. Not the year long ones, but weekly and monthly things. I find my self saying well if I get this done by the end of the month then it's ok. It's been the bridge between feeling like a failure and being productive. Autumn is a good time to put things in order at my house. Don't get to see any red toadstools though. Beautiful photo!

Kristen said...

The picture is very nice! I plan to enjoy the outdoors a bit more than I usually do in the Autumn as we will be experiencing our first winter in Northern New York. BRRRRRRRR.... so I would like to have my kids do a few autumn crafts as well. Bring the outdoors indoors if you know what I mean! :) Great post Heidi!

Anonymous said...

The beginning of a new month is a wonderful time to set new goals. I've been trying to do this for quite sometime although I'm not always successful at it! lol! The months fly by so quickly and it's so easy to lose track of those things that are important to us. Beautiful toadstools! I've never seen any like the ones you find. ~ hugs, Lynda ♥

Anonymous said...

We have nothing as colorful or large as your toadstools and truly, they look like they form a small clandestine city there by the roadside, if only for a short time. Thank you for sharing this magical surprise.