Chester County Fall

Zoe and I stayed with my Mom, in neighboring Chester County, the last two days so we could take her to the hospital for shoulder surgery.

We decided to take the scenic route to the hospital so I could take some photos. It was fun going down roads I haven't been down in ages. The fall foliage makes the perfect backdrop.

This property is near Longwood Gardens and is my dream farm. 

Would you look at that gorgeous barn!

Japanese Maples in my Mom's yard. I was mesmerized by the colors. 

A cormorant type bird near Parkesburg, PA. 

Happy Weekend!

Farms from the Car

It's such a beautiful time of year! 

I talked my family into a drive to nowhere on Sunday. 

Mainly so I could shoot some fall farmland during the magic hour before sunset. 

Someone from out of town said to me the other day

 that they bet I take this beautiful landscape for granted.

Never, ever. Not for one moment. I love Lancaster County.

I managed to get a few good shots, even from the car...

We stopped briefly at Lititz Springs Park to see the ducks. 

Zoe had a near duck experience. 

Trick or Treat?

We had a freak snowstorm yesterday. The only bad thing about it is that I had to cancel our Halloween party. 

I'm sure the monarch caterpillar wasn't too excited either so I brought him inside along with some of his food and 2 brothers. 

I also was able to bring in a few beautiful flowers...

Just the night before I snapped these pics at an Amish farm down the road. 

They grow the most beautiful squash...

And always have a pretty display out by the road. 

The cats were happy to stay indoors yesterday.

The snow was pretty but I want my fall back!

Embracing Autumn

I have been so busy lately that I haven't had time to get out and enjoy the lovely fall landscape. After I dropped my daughter off at kindergarten, I took a drive around Lancaster County Park...

Rock Ford Plantation...

I parked at the covered bridge and took a little hike...

Then I went to Woodward Hill Cemetery in Lancaster. I've always wanted to check it out. 

President James Buchanan is buried there. 

I was underwhelmed by his grave.

I liked this grave site better. 

I think the lady above looks a bit sadder than the lady below. 

The one below has a slight Mona Lisa smile.

Since I saw Buchanan's grave I thought I should go get a better look at his house, Wheatland.

The back was just as nice as the front and had a nice little veggie garden growing too. 

And some lovely trees.

Just what I was looking for...

Delicious autumn!  My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.  

~George Eliot

Winterthur Part 2

I took so many photos of Winterthur on Wednesday, I thought the outside photos needed their own blog post. Du Pont's woods were still beautiful despite the trees loosing most of their leaves and the slowly setting sun added a bit of magic to our late afternoon stroll. The photo above with the quote was the idea of my husband who wanted to make sure I gave him credit for the composition:)

A view of the mansion and pool. There are some 175 rooms in that big house!

 Beauty berry, I really need one of these bushes!

 Frog fountain in the Enchanted Woods.

 Beautiful koi still quite active despite the falling temps.

 My Zoe exiting the toadstool house.

What child wouldn't want one of these in their yard?



 I've loved this hippocampus sculpture since I was a child! I have a photo of me sitting on it when I was around 5 years old. My Aunt Frances has worked at Winterthur for over 25 years.

 Colorful leaves litter the forest floor.

Thought I would take a photo of this giant in black and white.

 

 This is the view du Pont wanted to 'keep open forever'.

One of my favorite sites in all the world!

My daughter finds herself a walking stick.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I have a few porcelain ornaments that I will be hand painting horses on and selling through Ebay. Keep checking my auctions to see what's listed. they make excellent gifts and no two are ever the same.

Printed porcelain ornaments are available through Cafepress for only $8.50!

Click here to see my designs.