Because......
Decorating is endless.
Cooking never ends.
Gardens are always changing.
And best of all shopping goes on and on!

Hence the name,
Open Ended!

Monday, September 13, 2010

Bittersweetness!!

It's fall and it's BITTERSWEET time!
Now... if you are older you know what I speak of.
But if you are younger you probably don't have a clue.

Bittersweet is a wonderful vine that
produces these bright orange berries!
They are perfect for decorating for fall.


Most years my mom brings me some.
But this year my daughter and I got to go to her secret hiding place.

Several years ago my mom came across
all kinds of bittersweet growing along a farmers fence.
And it's TOP SECRET!
But... I'll let you have a glimpse of our perfect bittersweet day! 



Look at all this lovely bittersweet!



Even my step-dad got in on the fun!


The key to picking bittersweet is to get it at just the right time!
The berries should be very bright orange and 
the leaves still green not dried out and brown.


Perfect!


We packed the car to the top!

And off we went!
The only problem with packing your car 
with a bunch of vines are the BUGS!
OMG!
We had all kinds of bugs crawling and buzzing around in the car!


But...
 we persevered and we even saw all kinds of "wildlife"
on our buggy drive home!


And...my daughter thought she would capture it for all of you!!


~Horse~


~Sheep~



~Jack Ass~
{Really!}



Wild Turkey's
{Ugly!}


And even Bambi!!!

How about it? 
We saw all of these guys on Bittersweet Day!


Once we got home MaryKate and I went to work 
cleaning all the leaves off the bittersweet.
Then after a couple days the bright orange berries POP!
Seriously....they pop open!




And then....
you go to town and splash some bittersweet 
where ever you need a little hint of Fall!








Bittersweetness ~ Don't ya think?