This weekend, in preparation for a visit from my (Great) Aunt Virginia and her husband Mark, Adam and I did a lot of cleaning. Real cleaning, too - vacuuming and dusting and organising of random corners filled with stuff. I only saw one closet where something had been stashed away in desperation, which is pretty good for me!

Ultimately their visit was cut short by time and health and the need for sleep, but it was great to see them even for a short bit. We gave them the grand tour of the (sparkling clean) place, talked a bit about holiday plans, and then they were off! I envied them their drive out the Dulles Greenway and north through Leesburg and into Maryland - the scenery is gorgeous out there, and I'm sure the leaves were starting to turn.

Speaking of leaves, fall on us with a vengeance. After the summer drought left everything parched, last week was a solid block of drizzle and rain. The temperatures are dropping, leaves are starting to fall, and pumpkins are cropping up in doorways. I put a pot on the stove with mulling spices this weekend because it just seemed to fit with the weather! I received the bulbs I ordered earlier this summer from Brecks, which definitely tells me fall is here - I've got to get planting!