At Last...Fall.

I could see my breath when I went outside this morning. The air was delightfully crisp, and I'm so happy that the weather in general has finally aligned with the calendar. It's October, and fall is here!

Evidence is everywhere. Squirrels are busily carrying acorns and patching up nests. Squirrels can smell the saliva they leave on nuts, even through snow and soil, which is how they're able to dig up their treasures when needed.

Birds are busy, too. They've nearly stripped my pokeberry bush...

...but leave evidence that many more pokeberry bushes will grow in the spring.

I find lots of feathers around...birds are either shoring up old nests or shedding feathers during their daily rough-and-tumble routines.

There's not as much life in the garden lately. As our temperatures dip into the 30s at night, most carpenter bees have begun their hibernation, although I still see one or two anemically clinging to spent blossoms.

I still see a few moths, huddled amid the pine needles...

...but I haven't seen a butterfly in a while. Sometimes, though, I'll come across an old chrysalis, like this one, belonging to a monarch butterfly.

Snails still hide under rocks, but soon they'll bury themselves in the soil. They secrete a type of lime that seals off the opening of their shells, and they hibernate until spring. Believe it or not, a snail can live up to five years!

I see lots of mysterious nests in the fall. This could be the nest of a jumping spider.

Insects and spiders utilize leaves, too...any small place where they can spin webbing and be sheltered and safe from predators and poor weather.

Everything has gone to seed. This zinnia, with its conical center, still provides nibbles for birds. I won't take the spent plants down for at least another month.

I love tree seeds, and frequently bring them home to arrange in pretty glass dishes. It's not a very common way to decorate ("Do you think you could have a few less seeds out?" my realtor asked nervously), but I love it.

This sweetgum seed pod has several protrusions that remind me of long, grasping bird beaks; gnarled, like the type of bird a witch might have for a pet.

Of course, I always have lots of acorns. One day, when I'm more organized, I'm going to make big acorn wreaths, but right now I have to settle for little dishes of them. Once, a squirrel got into the house, somehow slipping down the chimney and forcing itself through a small grill at the bottom of the furnace. I think he felt right at home in my house, because he had plenty of acorns to nibble on during his captivity! He certainly depleted my stash in no time.

I love these maple "helicopters." The thin, dry tops are delicately veined...

...yet they're able to catch the wind and, carrying the seed along, twist and flutter their way to an opportune spot.

I've seen some interesting transformations lately. I always like to watch for these progressive changes. Here, a morning glory bud, still green, prepares for seed.

Just a couple of weeks later, the seed head is dry, and the leaves pull back to reveal a paper-thin seed covering.

Next, the covering splits, revealing the inky seeds within. As more sections peel off and waft away, more seeds are exposed, and can drop easily to the ground.

Finally, all seeds are gone, and the seed pod opens up to reveal all. I like the rice paper-thin slivers that at one time divided up the seed chambers.

Not all is lost, though. Just as my sedums have finished flowering, my mums start to stir. In the span of a week, they open. On Monday, I have the tightly-furled buds...

...but on Friday, some color is seen...

...and by Monday, the petals open to reveal their creamy yellow centers. Mums are great for fall color and, of course, they're perennials, so you'll get a bigger and more colorful display every year!


The sap is starting to flow from some trees. Trees sap in the fall and spring through a complicated process involving internal pressures reacting to the external environment.

Fall berries are ripening, much to the delight of the local birds...

And, of course, the leaves are beginning to turn.

I have great memories of raking up - and then jumping into - great piles of fall leaves. I love the way they look, I love the way they smell, and I love the way they crunch when you walk on them.

These oak leaves are just beginning to turn...

...and so is this maple tree.

However, some trees have completely changed color, like this maple, which is a lovely shade of gold.
This maple tree's leaves have all turned to a brilliant orange color.

In the spirit of the season, I knit a quick owl for my new nephew's Christmas.

And, fall baking has begun as well. I decided to make a pie, which I almost never make. The flavor? A rather unfall-like lemon meringue.

My KitchenAid mixer whipped the egg whites into meringue in no time, and they waited patiently for me to finish cooking the rich, custard-like lemon to sweet perfection. I poured the mixture into my pie shell and spooned the meringue on top.

I had just enough to make a nice, thick covering. It's important to bring your meringue all the way out to the edges of your pie, covering the fluted edges of your pie shell, or you might get a thin, watery layer between your meringue and your pie.

It was perfect!

Now that the weather is cooler, we'll be curling up in our flannels, bent over board games with steaming cups of cocoa at our sides. It's no wonder that fall is my favorite season.

Enjoy your fall days!

Star Wars Chores

Home at last! We've just returned from a "working vacation" in Orlando, Florida. Emphasis should be placed on "working," because, although we had fun, there was very little "vacation" involved!

First, we brought up our boxes from the basement. Items in these boxes had to be individually bagged and priced.


Bosewichte was happy to help in any way that he could, either by staying as well-rested as possible...


...or by utilizing his supervisory skills as we packed.


We filled this cargo van to the brim!


We grabbed snacks and drink, and only 18 hours later...


...we arrived at the main event!


That's right! We made the trek to Florida to set up a booth at Celebration V. We have an eBay business, selling vintage toys and collectibles, so this event was right up our alley. There were celebrity appearances by Darth Vader...


...and even George Lucas, referred to by those in the collecting field, jokingly, as "The Maker."


Our little 10 x 10 space was absolutely crammed full of merchandise! I was really proud. Several people stopped to tell us that our booth was their favorite. Visitors exclaimed over vintage items they hadn't seen since childhood, and pointed out various examples to their children. It was a good feeling, helping them relive those happy times.


It was good to go, but even better to get home again. I never feel quite comfortable, being away.
Who would make sure that the garden was truly being watered enough?




Who would notice all the unusual happenings, like this caterpillar pulling a small pebble from his back...


...or these aphids, devouring a vine?


What about catching those moments of beauty, like this cosmos, its petals illuminated by the sun?


Or this butterfly, gracefully perched atop a zinnia blossom?


Who'd bring in our daily tomato harvest?


So you can understand how glad I felt to pull into our driveway!

Once home, it was business as usual. The garden is full of butterflies and hummingbirds. A delightful new addition is the goldfinch, a tiny yellow bird with black-tipped wings that loves to sit on the swaying zinnia stalks and delicately pluck seeds from the drying flowers.


Goldfinches are songbirds and a bit of a rarity in the city. I love being able to provide a habitat for them!

We caught another raccoon. The little devils continue to climb onto our roof and cause thousands of dollars worth of damage, despite our deterrents. This little fellow was quickly relocated to a more rural location!


I was thrilled to see this black swallowtail caterpillar in the bronze fennel. I watched him carefully, and was lucky enough to catch his next stage...


The molt!


When I checked the dill, I was stunned to see not one, not two, but at least TWENTY black swallowtail caterpillars at work!

Some people kill caterpillars, because they're destructive, but I never would. I love black swallowtail butterflies, and I greatly enjoy watching these fellows at work. I read a book as a child called "Rabbit Hill" by Robert Lawson. It was about the perils of a rural community of animals, who greatly benefited from the arrival of a new family at the local farm. The family believed in living in harmony with the animals and not fighting against them, and it really influenced me. There's enough dill for everyone here, and I certainly don't begrudge them a few stalks.

Caterpillars really are interesting creatures. When roused, two orange antennae emerge from their forehead in hopes of frightening and intimidating an enemy. The antennae are quickly retracted when the alarm ceases.


They really are eating machines. This caterpillar gnaws at the base of the dill umbel.


This one prefers the sweet yellow flowers.


Their stubby "feet" are uniquely suited to their needs.


I stumbled across a chrysalis. I don't know if it holds a butterfly or a moth, or what it will look like when it emerges. It's pretty amazing, just the way it is. I can see the curve of the wing on the shell...or is that a coincidence? I also see small, spiny knobs that remind me of a caterpillar's back.

The curves are very precise and the coloring is remarkable. A chrysalis doesn't need to be hanging to "hatch" properly, so I carefully slid it between two old bird nests on my potting bench outside. I will be keeping an eye on it!


I may be keeping an eye on it, but how many pairs of eyes are on me as I work in the garden? There's Clarence, who's never far.

And, of course, there's mantis...


...after mantis...


...after mantis!


September is nearly here and I'm looking forward to the changes the cooler weather will bring.

I've finished a little knitted toy recently. I used Cascade 220 wool, which is one of my favorites. It's a great quality wool that has a delightful "sticky" quality when knitted. Toys are great instant gratification projects for when you're too busy for - or too weary of - a more detailed project. Just a pair of arms and legs, knitted in the round..


...a small head, joined to the neck...


Two flapping ears and a handful of stuffing complete the project. This little elephant will go to my new nephew.

No special cooking this week...I've just finished yet another peanut butter and jelly sandwich! Our lives have been really busy and I don't expect things to slow down any time soon. We've been praying for guidance and are making some important decisions about our future. We'll see what the future holds!