"Yart" Memories, Autumn Colours, Warm Friends....and...a little extra something...

I knew I would be the last to post about the amazing "YART" Fair because I spent most of Monday flying across country....but I am home now.....and if it were not for all of YOUR fantastic retellings and photographs, I might just think I had dreamt the past four days.....

I was so busy with "Madame" KJ, prepping for "YART", then trying to keep everything going smoothly, that I wasn't able to take many photos....  but I did take a few.  The one above is the lush carpet of golden leaves from the large tree in front of#9.  For a San Francisco Girl, it was luxury to hear them crunch when I walked and to see them fall in a magical golden shower during the night.  (My wonderful room overlooked the tree....)

Many of you captured the now "infamous" "PARING" sign.....but, I was there to watch KJ place it in the ground!  Ha-ha!  It brought smiles to many.....and yesterday, before KJ took me to the airport, we collected the signs - this one still made us laugh!  (We are saving it for next year!)

The "Morning After"....grey skies, cold temperatures....the Magic Cottage sighing, looking a little lonely after all the happiness and giddiness of the weekend.  The Magic Cottage really is MAGIC!  When JB asked if I would like to visit it.....I really felt like Alice through the Looking Glass....and as you know, it is as wonderful inside as out.

A yard one day full of tables and artists - now hosting one white wicker chair...  but the memories and the laughter will linger on forever!

I was happy to take Stella for a walk in the park between rain showers on the Friday before "YART". She is so gentle and loving,  a real sweetie... and we had fun skipping over puddles...although she thought "Auntie Robin" was a wee bit mad....as I often stopped to collect some red Maple leaves and "Elven acorns"....  I needed to bring back a bit of Autumn with me. 

The little "extra" I spoke of in the title of this post..... my Ex and Bofie (our Chocolate Lab) drove up from NY the day after "YART".  We went to lunch, explored the charming town of Northfield - then ended back in the park - where we sat on a bench overlooking a lake and we talked - for the first time in 18 months. No matter what happens now....seeing "C" and Bofie was healing for me.....  so - you see - Madames KJ and JB really wield  magic wands....

I know all of you who were there, know what I mean.  Their home, their yard - everything about them exudes warmth, joy, love (wicked humour) - and they envelop you with it too.

I can only echo what has already been said.....meeting Laurel, Brian, Mim, Suki, Chewey and all the others (too numerous to name) filled me with such happiness...  attending "YART" was the best thing I have done for ME in a long time.  Every member of our "Blogging Family" was exactly like I thought they would be....there was no initial awkwardness - we already knew and loved one another.  Renee's spirit was close by - I felt her every day....and early one morning, I looked out my window, dawn was just breaking and a silver crescent moon was peeking through the large tree - and I thanked Renee for coming into my life when I needed her most....and helping me find the courage to reach out to all of you....  without her, I would have never met you and my life would be so much sadder and emptier.

I hope those of you who could not attend this year will be able to do so next year.  You will experience the magic too!

I could write more....but I a battling a monster sore throat and now, general achiness....  so I am off to bed.

I love you all.  And.....sigh.....I miss you all....

♥ Robin ♥