So glad to hear that you're okay, Sharon! That was far too close for any kind of comfort.

Your pictures are so pretty. Love and miss the wee violets. Ours didn't get enough early fall moisture to bloom again this year, but they're so tough and dependable that I know I'll see them again in the spring.

This is the first time the violets have bloomed this late in years. Usually we have a heavy late summer drought and it gets them every time, but this year we've had rain, so it's looking a little unusual in my back yard!!

Thanks Chelle -- the tornado was here and gone before I even thought about being concerned.

So glad you're ok Sharon and your color is just beautiful

Thanks Vic. Not much color yet, not until the golden maples start to turn. It's always prettiest then.

I do miss the leaves turning color. My plumeria plants didn't bloom this year, except the mini one I bought a few months ago and it is still blooming. Winter time the leaves are suppose to fall off, but so far mine have all their leaves and I have one that is going to bloom soon. Of couse it isn't winter yet, but I believe we still are having summer.

Pegi,

I think of you so often and always wish the best for you. Sorry that you have no color, just keep looking at fall pictures so you'll see some color even from a distance. At least you have blooms! I only have a few berries and they hardly count.

It's so good to see you again.

New planting of burning bush is now banned in MA because they are so invasive. However you don't have to turn out the old ones so there is still bright red color in some yards.

I read that, Lucy, and just mentioned it to JMorth -- he has 3 growing at his place in Illinois.
At least you still get to see the old ones.

Just lovely, Sharon! Fall has such beautiful colors.

Now I'm going to get out there and enjoy this gorgeous day! Son-in-law is making vegetable soup! Bye!

Veggie soup made by somebody else sounds divine!!
Enjoy, Vickie!

It was good Sharon! My son-in-law loves to cook but he rarely uses a recipe, so we never know what it will taste like. He went to the store, perused the produce section, and bought what he thought would go into vegetable soup. He cut up the roast, browned it, cut all the veggies and put them in a crock pot. He got some Carl's Seasoning from our other son-in-law and threw some of that in. Then, in a small crock pot, he added some of the soup and added pepperoncinis!! When we got there he asked me to take a look at it. He said it looked like it was missing something because the water was clear. "Shouldn't it be brownish?", he said. I told him I usually add a can or two of diced tomatoes. "Oh! That's what I forgot!" So we added a can of tomato paste and some seasoned salt. It was much better.

Now he does not know much about crock pots and he thought it would be ready to eat around noon. Ha! All the veggies were still rock solid so we ate popcorn and watched the movie "The Heat" and also played Rack-O while we let the crock pots work their magic for another four hours.

We really enjoyed the day.

Not a crock potter, but what a fun day anyway!! I'll bet you and he will long remember that soup!

Yes, we will! We are his guinea pigs for his concoctions. At least now he knows how to use a crock pot if he has his friends over.

I too am thankful the tornado did not hit you even though you were unaware.

Very pretty colors Sharon. In the photo with the violets I was struck by a silver leaf among the others. Such diversity!

That silver leaf is the underside of a golden maple that's still green on its front but was blown off the tree by the high wind that lasted only a few seconds. Neat how they look silver in the sunlight. Nice catch, Anni! And thank you.

;-)