'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!  

this is the end, beautiful friend

Halloween has come and gone!  We concluded our 31 days of horror movies with "Rosemary's Baby" and some spooky homemade Almond Joy bites.

We went to a costume-optional Halloween party a couple of weeks ago.  We've gone multiple years and everyone always wears a costume...this year, it was just me, Todd, and someone's teen son.  I worked on my costume for a week (Puritan woman getting burned at the stake for being a witch):

I took ashes from the fire pit to smear on my face and arms.  Unfortunately, my hat and apron were more 'French maid' than Puritan lady, and at least one person asked me if my costume was 'dirty wench.'  Meanwhile, Todd threw his costume together day-of.  He went as a LEGO brick.  He cut holes in a cardboard box, used cut-off yogurt container bottoms as the protruding studs, and painted the whole thing red.  Since it was hard to eat while wearing a cardboard box, he took it off once we got inside.  Then it was just me and some teen in a costume.  Sigh.  Better luck next year!

Of course, Pepita participated.

Weather is still warm and sunny, with impossibly blue skies.

still so green!

So many "I can't believe it's November" moments, like when I found wild strawberries blooming in the yard.

Still, we're having some nice color.  This is our neighborhood, taken from the car with my terrible cell phone...

...and some trail pics.

And house:

lilac leaves...one of my favorite!  

We've had some insane sunrises.  These are going to look unnaturally enhanced...but they aren't!

Despite the advanced date, we're still seeing bees, butterflies, and other insects.

a clump of brown marmorated stink bugs

Berries are still everywhere.

from a couple of weeks ago...leaves have changed by now, but still berries!

Speaking of berries...these might be wild gooseberries or some weed that is some variant of a wild tomatillo, but I love them.  They grow in our side garden and I pick them every year in the fall.

After they dry out, they resemble tiny delicate lace cages.  They're so pretty!  

Even the morning glories on the porch are still going strong!

It's going to be near 70 today, but as Jim Morrison said, this is the end, beautiful friend.  The forecast by Sunday is 24 degrees and snow. It's time to set up Falafel's shelter and then hunker down by the fire.

Pepita approves.

Have a great week!

roam if you want to...

Fifteen years ago, when Todd and I were planning our wedding, I immediately thought of August.  Not only because it coincided with a time when our friends from Scotland were going to be in town, but because I knew that August was the absolute worst month of the year and I really, really wanted something to make it special.  August is hot, August is humid, and August is the month when summer has REALLY overstayed its welcome.  When you go outside and your glasses immediately fog up...it's August.  When you're scrounging around in the bottom of the freezer for something to eat and evaluating degrees of freezer burn ("It's not that bad!") to avoid going out in the heat to the grocery store...it's August.  

But at least, August is almost September.  Fall is coming and then every day will be glorious.  I've been looking at photos of autumns past to buoy my spirits, and it's very encouraging.

Fall leaves.

Fall hiking!

Fall baking.

Fall berries.

Flannels!

Pumpkins!

Crisp, foggy mornings!

Bringing the outside in...

Quilts...

Cozy knitting...

Fall-roaming creatures...

I can't wait to join their roaming ranks when the weather finally cools.  I'm starting a countdown to September...and October is going to be one big pumpkin spice extravaganza!! 

Have a great week!