sleeping with the enemy

 The warm weather continues to confound.  The grass remains green...and growing.

Flowers are still blooming...

...but I don't dare pick them, since there are still a few bees, wasps, and flies around.

Spiders too!  A week away from December!

crab spider on garden gate

Perennials are LOVING this warm/cool cycle.  My perennial garden is full of green...coral bells, mint, lemon balm, coneflowers, lambs ear...so strange.

Still some pretty leaves, too.

We're still seeing plenty on our trail cams.  Big bucks...

Sleepy does...

...and active coyotes.

The cats are missing the big players but keep an eye on the birds, at least, through every window.

Most of the time.  They need a lot of rest...wherever.

The Barnacle on a pile of clean laundry

Even near (but not too close to) a worn enemy (Calliope), in a surprising show of holiday spirit!

Pepita keeps an eye on everything.

With so many drizzly days, we haven't made it to the park as often...so she gets to hang out in the barnyard.

Silently judging me for not throwing the ball.

She's quite the character, although she has quite a bit of down time too, just like the cats.  She'll be a year old at the beginning of April - she won't be a puppy for much longer!

she almost made it to the bed before collapsing

I'm looking forward to more fun with them all!  :)  They're all so fun, with their own unique personalities...I can't imagine my life without pets.  

Have a great week! 

'snow more snow!

It's amazing how quickly things can change.  In the span of a week, our favorite hiking trail changed dramatically!

Our little bit of snow...

...quickly melted as we returned to bright blue skies and warmer temperatures.

Still, I could see rapid changes in the leaves.  In only three days, the red leached out of these oak leaves.

A benefit to 70 degree temperatures in November is finding new plants!  This is an herb known as shaggy or gallant soldier, from the Latin Galinsoga (strangely, the genus itself was named after Spanish physician Ignacio Galinsoga, who was not a botanist, but someone who was famous for his anti-corset views).  

Wild ginger has also been sprouting!

I've been seeing caterpillars again...

But sadly, these extreme temperature fluctuations are too much for our local praying mantises. I know I complain about them, but it's kind of sad to see them splayed about like this.

I do like the opportunity to get a closer look at their wings.  Their veining is so much like fall leaves.

With this latest temperature drop (73 to 29 degrees in a single day, the latter being overnight temp), I'm afraid we've seen the last of the red leaves...

...and berries.

We're working outside while we still can!

I mean, Todd is.  ;)

Have a great week!  

red has fled

 The leaves are definitely in "late fall" mode.  Just a few reds...

...we're mostly in the yellows/rust phase.

I picked a massive sycamore leaf, much bigger than my hand!

Until our recent cold spell, I was still getting plenty of flowers from the garden.  So strange to see in November.

Several weeks ago, Duke Energy came and cut down several trees along our fence line that were a little too close to the power lines.

(They chipped them for us so we could add the mulch to the garden.)

Because of this, we have a much better view of our neighbors up on the hill.  They regularly put out food for the turkey vultures and I love to watch them congregate!

Not much else stirring since it got colder, though...especially inside.

Pepita is sleeping more (thankfully), but she still loves to get out on the trail.

We've spotted some interesting mushrooms there lately...

berkeley polypore, edible!

gloeophyllum

cauliflower mushroom - edible!

...and even interesting fungus that was showing up on leaves just before they changed, in beautiful rosettes.

cristulariella

I'll be looking for more this winter.  Meanwhile...staying inside and feeling cozy.  

Have a great week!