Lovely Autumn

After the nor'ester blew through yesterday with high winds and a cold driving rain, we emerged today ready to seek out not only the perfect pumpkin but the perfect pumpkin muffin!(and of course a mug of mulled cider to warm us!) Our peke-a-poo Hawthorne has been helping us pick pumpkins for years now.(He turned 19 on October 10 and was feted with a new chew toy in the shape of a duckling and a mound of hamburger with a candle tucked in). We love Sunday afternoons in autumn in New England. They were just made for leaf peeping and long walks with our darling dog! When we returned home, Hawthorne decided to curl up in front of Raphael's Madonna, who appears to be holding him in her gentle gaze.(We won the painting in our Church raffle and had just brought it home when Hawth decided to nestle in front of her!