senior living

 More beautiful leaves!

Lots of hiking!

Pepita is ready to hit the trails.  She balks a lot less in cooler weather.

I've found some gorgeous mushrooms...

shaggy mane mushroom

jack o'lantern mushrooms

golden scalycap mushrooms

...and some late-season chrysalises.  

common buckeye

monarch

Fall baking...

*apple* upside-down cake

...and a little visit from one of our resident seniors!  Claudia goes outside almost every day for an hour or so to get some fresh air and a little exercise.  

Our other senior get exercise, too, when she does "pajama yoga" with me every morning.

Up in time to see the sunrise!

A happy fall!  

Don't forget to vote while we still can!

unpack-it jacket

Someone is exactly halfway to their next birthday!

I made the usual:  half of Desserts For Two's chocolate chip cookie recipe pressed into (half) a pie pan.  I accidentally dumped a bunch of pie beads down the sink drain during the clean-up process and Todd had to take our garbage disposal apart to retrieve them...not exactly a "half birthday" activity but all in a day's work around here!

He also rebuilt part of our front porch!  

It's been great weather for working outside.  Blue skies every day.

Warm days, cold nights, and leaves are changing!

Although we're both in knee braces right now, we're still hiking.  It's too pretty to stay home!

Just in time for cooler weather, I unpacked this 1960s jacket that I bought years ago.  I love the color and the double-button fit at the neck.  It doesn't look like it's ever been worn...a major score!  The sleeves are a little bit short but it doesn't bother me too much.

Cats are still keeping close...

...loving the warmth of the sun.

Looking forward to what's next!

milkweed deed

 A few signs of the changing season...

...but not much yet.

Although our burning bush is becoming glorious...

...most things look about the same.  And we still have so many insects out and about!

goldenrod soldier beetles

eastern bumblebee

grasshopper

inchworm

oleander aphids

sachem

large milkweed bugs

We're especially seeing tons of these milkweed bugs.

They're eating the milkweed seeds that are just emerging from the opening pods.  They're going to start traveling south soon and need the energy.  The milkweed pods have plenty of seed to spare!

There are so many flowers still in bloom.

The days are still pretty warm.  Up to 87 this week...

still plenty of warm spots

...and down to 33 a few days after.  So while I can...windows open, fall baking...

maple pecan scones from Sally's Baking Addiction

...puppy romps...

...and looking forward to the coming color!