Chit Chat on Patrice’s Farmhouse Porch

The crisp morning air is such a contrast to what we’ve experienced here in the Tennessee Valley. Every year it never fails,  I have a sense of almost surprise with the onset of the changing temperatures. It’s like, one minute it is summer and the next it’s not. The coolness really is welcoming, but it also serves to remind me of winter’s approach, which I’m not looking forward to.

Autumn’s splendor is usually on mind several weeks before the official fall equinox date. I associate September/October with the sweetness of candy corn, hot apple pie, toasty bonfires, the taste of melted S’mores, the smell of a hayride, and the comfort of a steaming bowl of soup.

I want to share with you a little treasure I found this morning while surfing the net. It’s a lovely fall poem by Laura Beth from Cheerful Hearts.

 

 

Is this just so… happy?  This woman depicts precisely how autumn makes me feel, can you feel it, too? There is nothing like the freshness of an autumn morning, with that in mind, let’s stroll over to Patrice’s this glorious day to sit awhile amongst friends on her farmhouse porch with a hot cup of coffee and chat a spell.

Patrice: Would you rather cook or clean house?
Cathy:  If I had to pick one, Patrice, I’d most certainly would choice cooking.  Cleaning the house is actually therapeutic at times, but cooking unleashing the creative side in me.  I love how cooking makes me feel.  When I was young, my mother worked outside the home.  She cooked for the big holidays, but she and I didn’t get to spend too much time in the kitchen as mother and daughter should.  I understand she had to be away, I’m not upset by that in the least. I’m thankful for her determination to provide for our family.  However, the special meals she made for the family during the holidays cemented a warmth in my entire being and that’s something I enjoy not only for special times, but all the time.  I want my husband and children to constantly sense that warmth.  Does that make sense?

Patrice:  Who do you resemble in your family?
Cathy: When I was growing up, I always thought I looked like my mother.  Maybe, I just wanted to look like her because everyone would tell me how beautiful she is. I felt like an ugly duck as a kid. Then, I began to think I looked a little like both of my parents. However, in more recent years, I’m beginning to see more of my daddy in me than my mom.  Either way, I’m blessed with both of their good looks. lol

Patrice: Have you tried e-books yet?
Cathy: About a year or so ago, I downloaded my first e-book on my PC.  I got the Kindle for PC.  I really didn’t take too much fancy to reading books on my computer, though. In May, when I got my iPhone I got the Kindle app and downloaded In Faithfulness, He Afflicted Me by friend, Lynnette Kraft.  That absolutely was the way to go for me. I could take my book anywhere and everywhere I wanted to go. When I stopped reading for a while and then came back, my place was automatically bookmarked. I just loved this new way of reading books without having a printed version.  I didn’t think I would like it so much, but I do. In fact, I would love to have an iPad now so I can get read e-books on a larger scale. I hope Santa is listening! =D

Patrice: Do you collect anything?
Cathy:  I’m a hodgepodge collector. In the early 90s, I got hooked on the Department 56 Christmas villages. I liked the New England collection, so my husband splurged and bought me several pieces. I haven’t bought any new items in several years, but it’s not that I don’t want to. It’s just I don’t have room to spread out my collection like I want. I also have a few Precious Moments and Cherished Teddies figurines, which I could very easily get out of control if I had unlimited resources and a spot in my home for every adorable trinket I see. But… my husband has me on short leash…kinda. He once said, It’s alright if you have a few of these things, just so long as every nook and cranny isn’t filled up. Now, who am I to not respect his wishes? After all, he’s the world’s sweetest and best husband. So, I force myself to keep it under control.

Patrice:  What’s your favorite fall tradition?
Cathy:  With autumn comes the season of football and the prompt for the traditional home-made cookie baking time.  I have gotten in the custom to baking anything from Chocolate Chip cookies to autumn shape sugar cookies ever since, but oddly I haven’t gotten into the groove just yet this fall. I really need to get cranking on this and whip up a fresh batch for this weekend!

My chat time is up. I hope you’ll take a moment to visit with Patrice and Thanks for visiting with me today!

Wanna make me happy? Leave a comment!