Autumn Leaves ~ Creating Compost

Autumn Leaves by John Everett Millais

“It is not everyone,' said Elinor,

'who has your passion for dead leaves.”

~ Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility

Don't the maidens look lovely in their modest apparel? Aren't the colors brilliant in this painting? I love those burnt siennas, deep oranges and rustic browns all blended together in a heap of autumn beauty. John Everett Millais, the man who painted this picture was given a place at the Royal Academy school at the unprecedented age of 11 years old! You could see why! (View the bottom of this post for more paintings by this talented, Victorian Era artist.)

Question for Mothers and Maidens:

• What do you think they are doing with the leaves? (Let's pretend they are making compost!)

Autumn Activity:

This autumn, why not prepare a batch of compost? Compost is simply free fertilizer or soil amendment for all your planting projects. Gather up the fallen leaves in your yard and place in a pile, add raw scraps from the kitchen and grass clippings (organic matter in general). You may want to place a cover on the pile (like a burlap sack) and stir every once in a while with a pitchfork or shovel. Spray the pile with water on occasion to keep it damp. Soon, you will be pleased to have a nice and rich substance resembling soil in which to indulge your garden this spring without having to invest in garden additives. For more information: visit Making Compost ~ The Basics.

"She considereth a field, and buyeth it:

with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard."

~ Proverbs 31:16

Other paintings shared here featuring the artist, John Everett Millais:

A Beauty (A Desire to Be Beautiful)

Return of the Dove to the Ark (Waiting for Ham, Shem, Japheth)

Huguenot Couple on St. Bartholomew's Day (Remembering Ribbons Series: Reformation)

Sisters (Purity is Precious: A Collection of Quotes)

This post may be shared with some or all of the following lovely link-ups: Modest Mom Monday's, Teach Me Tuesday, Domestically Divine Tuesday, Raising Homemakers, Wise Woman Link Up, and Deep Roots at Home. Thank you, dear ladies, for hosting these!