We've had a lot of wind and rain these last two days as well. The wind managed to do very little damage but just enough to be aggravating. I had just put up what I thought was a really pretty Fallish wreath on the outside of our house but came home from work last night to find that the wind had managed to tear it pretty much apart. This morning I worked on it, putting it back together the best I could. Geez, I can't seem to win. The earlier I start, so I can get everything accomplished, the more time it seems I have to redo it all again!! Oh well, tis the season!! The wreath is nothing fancy but it adds a little color to the house. I put it back together and will hang it later today.
As I was typing this blog it suddenly occurred to me that I had forgotten to show you pics of the witchhazel trees that are now in full bloom. Witchhazel is a nice astringent and is not difficult to make. What you make at home will probably not be as strong as what you buy at the store unless you go to extra effort to make it so; but it makes a really nice, toning face wash. By the way, I get pieces of information sometimes that I, to be honest, did not have previously and this year one of the pieces of information I gleaned is the fact that if you are making your own witchhazel astringent use the bark and tips of the tree stems right after they bloom - this makes for a stronger decoction. Witchhazel trees are attractive bloom-wise but not necessarily the most beautiful trees if you're looking for conformity. They grow best beneath and around other trees, almost like underbrush. The color is ever-so-pretty but the tree can sometimes become crooked reaching for the sunlight.