Showing posts with label leaves changing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label leaves changing. Show all posts

Monday, October 28, 2019

the gold standard

The trees are finally putting on their fall attire...just like Borga!


It was just a week or so ago that we barely had a touch of color at our house.


But now...wow!  We are nestled in a clearing of Morgan-Monroe State Forest, so we've got color on all sides.  Our street is absolutely gorgeous!





Even our pond cattails are tipped in gold.




We've been too busy and distracted for our normal fall hiking, but we took some time out a few days ago to stretch our legs.  Morgan-Monroe Forest is so close...there's really no excuse not to take advantage of it.  So...much...color!









All this color, and it's still been mild enough for just a sweatshirt.  Perfect weather for enjoying sunny days and gorgeous sunsets!


Ahhhhh...fall. 

Monday, October 30, 2017

It's a BOO-tiful morning!

IT'S COOL OUTSIDE!  I felt like pulling a Julie Andrews this morning as I took in deep, chilly breaths.  True, we're supposed to be back in the upper 70s in a few days, but this morning it was in the thirties.  At last, at long last!  The hills are alive!!

The leaves, too!  I'm loving the colors that we're finally, finally starting to see.


Our dogwoods are showing the most change...


...but most trees are just barely tipped in color.




Todd and I were finally able to sit comfortably by the pond and watch the rain.  Yes, it rained (insert another Julie Andrews spin here)!


It's so nice to be outside again, checking out interesting fungus...



...and watching the insects!  Here is a syphid fly, a bee mimic.



Acorns are falling like crazy...maybe even more than last year! 


I'm keeping a very close eye on our camellias.  They've got some beautiful buds...maybe we're within a couple of weeks of full bloom!


Our early bloomers are already popping!


Meanwhile, our cats are falling into their regular cooler-weather rhythm.  Seeking out sunbeams...


...and, when the heat is on, sleeping on the registers under the couch to maximize their comfort.


It's nearly Halloween!  I ordered our cards...


...and baked Oreos.



Our scary movie marathon has already begun!  Hooray!

I have been trying to knit, but it is just killing my hands.  I finally switched back to Portuguese mid-sock, but it's slow going.  I think I should finally have these socks done within 2 weeks.  I've been doing my usual sampler quilt project, trying to complete one block per day.


And, I started a new quilt.  I know, I know.  I have a queen-sized quilt waiting to be sandwiched and quilted, plus this sampler quilt.  But here's how the rabbit hole of quilting goes.  I got an email from a fabric store, indicating that the fabric I bought recently...


...had gone on sale.  Hmmm.  I'd bought a pre-cut lot (half yard, I think) and had no idea what I was going to do with it, but maybe I ought to take advantage of this sale?  What if I needed sashing?  Binding? Quick, pick a quilt design, just to see if I had enough fabric or might need a little more.


This is perfect.   Four fabric patterns per 12 inch block.  I have 20 different fabrics in my pre-cut bundle, which equals out to five different color combinations.  The block is simple enough, and would show off the fabric well.

Maybe I ought to just make one to see how it looks...


Before I knew it, the whole first row was done and I was cutting up the fabric for the second row!  It will be mix-and-match...seven blocks of each color combination of four, plus there's enough leftover fabric from each color combo to create a few random ones.  I didn't intend to start another quilt, but I did, and now I'm alternating one sampler block with one welcome block.  I never did take advantage of that sale, either.  I'll just see how it looks once all the blocks are completed.  I LOVE the peach, navy, and cream color combination, and this fabric has birds, feathers, and flowers.  Love!!  It will be a great winter project. 

Happy Halloween!


Monday, October 9, 2017

Veni, Vidi, Vinca


Our leaves aren't really changing just yet, but acorns are constantly dropping and leaves are starting to come down.

We have some slight change in color...



...berries too...


...which seems odd, with the random juxtaposition of early-blooming camellias and azaleas.




I always assumed that it was a temperature drop that caused leaves to start changing in the fall, but we're still in the mid-80s and I'm starting to see glimpses of color.  Apparently the length of daylight can also be a trigger for the reduction of chlorophyll production in plants.

Our vinca, too, is still going strong.




We have thousands of them.  Hard to believe that they all came from 2 or 3 plants, just 3 years ago!  They're rampant re-seeders and I let them do their thing.

Our evergreens are still as vibrant as ever.


Still, it feels more like fall when I see our empty birdhouses.


Our randomly-blooming gardenias are definitely done for the summer.


The turkeys have returned, although I've only gotten a few late-dusk glimpses.


When this recent bout of 99% humidity breaks, we can go back to sitting by the pond again. 


So peaceful, and even the many fallen trees contribute a little color and texture to the scene.


Our "goz" are really active right now, mainly in the early evening.  It's easy to see evidence of their presence.


I'm not seeing many insects, although they're still pretty active.


Where there are flowers, there are bees, butterflies, and skippers.  They may be the last to go!


It seems like the insects are hiding away, and we are too.  Until this weather breaks, we'll continue to find our fun indoors.


Have a great week!