Autumn on the Farm in the Shenandoah Valley

Be advised, I'm writing this in the company of a puppy of little brain, like Winnie the Pooh, with a big heart, and even bigger puddles. At seven months, Cooper is a handful, chasing the kitties, and into everything, then he goes into sweet mode and I feel guilty for complaining. Such is life with this boisterous baby. He's a Morkie, Yorkie/Maltese cross, but more Yorkie in the mix so a heap of bounding terrier. Super busy. Super loving. Super devoted. Hard to housebreak. Must change my socks from stepping in a puddle. Again. Walk the puppy. Again. Cooper and I head outside a lot and I'm aware of every flower, leaf, the change of seasons on the farm.

(Cooper watching me)

Back to fall 2017. Autumnal splendor is late to the party in the Shenandoah Valley this year. We began with hopeful indicators, rain and cooler temps in late August, but that dissipated and the weather turned hot and dry. Colors getting underway halted for the most part and we despaired of ever seeing them. How we've longed for our wondrously painted trees, without having to spray paint the leaves ourselves. But now, we've had rain and colder temperatures and ta da! Fall. It's too late for some trees but many are strutting their stuff.

I glory in this time of year. Granted, I'm besotted in April, giddy with spring fever But October brings a mellow kind of joy. I'm happy for the summer heat to go, and though I miss the flowers, pollen isn't my friend. Frost brings freedom to us allergy sufferers. I've cleared the vegetable garden and planted greens, beets, and radishes in the salad patch We shall see if they emerge and thrive in late winter or early spring. I missed my window for a fall garden.

I'm also writing, of course, working on the next time slip/time travel romance in my Ladies in Time Series. I may never finish this book. Writing while hopping up to walk a puppy every half hour or forget to my regret is challenging. My other alternative is to put him in his pen and insist on 'nighty night' no matter what time of day it is. I feel like I have a toddler in my care. And yes, he is adorable. I got him because I was devastated after losing my dear little Sadie and had forgotten what an exuberant puppy is. I remember now. 

Some pictures from our farm or just up the road.

(The woods up behind our meadow)

(Old Order Mennonite School Behind Our Farm)

(Sunset behind our Farm)

 (The old cemetery at Cooks Creek Presbyterian Church a mile up the road. and maple tree in front of the church below.)

(Buggy going past our farm from last fall)

(Cool tree in the mist in our meadow)

My time travel fixation is ongoing. This is the blurb from my upcoming November 10th release, The White Lady (Book 2, Ladies in Time) in pre-order now in Kindle at Amazon.

Avery Dunham has always been ready to follow her friend, time-traveling wizard, Ignus Burke, on incredible adventures. This time, though, she has serious misgivings. It's just one week before Christmas, but she cannot get him to change his mind. The usually cool and collected magic-wielding leader is wholly obsessed by the portrait of the White Lady whom he is bent on rescuing.

Almost as soon as they begin their journey, it becomes clear their mission is a trap.

Avery was right: this adventure is not going to be like any other,

(If a ghostly white lady summons you back in time--don't go.)

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