Spooky or Not?
autumn
Cute Critter of the Month
Lovely Autumn
We are starting to see more colors around here; we are at the border between Virginia and North Carolina, rural at its best, in my opinion. For nature lovers, the area is bliss, not so much for city lovers or lovers of entertainment; everything is far away. But there is magic in this season, in the air, and in the beauty of the natural surroundings. I have decorated the outdoors with nature’s offerings to receive the season.
Gourds, hydrangea cuts, and mums.
Hope you enjoy the pics.
Love and Light.
Welcoming the Season
There is a crisp in the air, the birds are leaving, squirrels are starting to look busier, and leaves are changing. All of this speaks, Welcome Autumn! Inspired by all of this, I decided to welcome the season in a simple way.
The pine trees are starting to give their presents, and I collected a wheelbarrow of these. I decided to spread the pinecones all over the front garden. Another bunch fell after that, possibly one or two more wheelbarrows full. We will put them to good use. Unfortunately, this year deer ate many plants, but I love to see them around, especially, the baby deer jumping and chasing crows. The crows are not afraid, they seem to play as well. A lovely sight.
Hope you enjoyed the photos, and that it inspired you to welcome the season as well.
“Then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil.” Deuteronomy 11:14
Love and Light
‘Tis the Season
It is the season to look up, down, and all around. No matter where we look, there is something to be seen. From meteor showers to leaves on the ground, critters looking for shelter, or the bright moon, to planets that look like bright stars; all of it is beautiful. There is also the unusual, the unexpected, like a spring flower coming up in the garden in the cold weather, or the late red rose that doesn’t wither after a frost. All of it, although simple, is wondrous.
Nature is ready to take a rest, but it is still whispering its wonders, and displaying its magic.
Monstrosities
October is finally here, and with it, a few cooler days. We will have our first frost by Sunday, according to the local meteorologist. Those little birds were right once more. Nature knows best. If we would listen to it, we would know best too. I will be collecting what’s left on the veggie garden before Sunday, green or not. The Halloween vibes are louder this year in the stores. There are a few monstrosities on the shelves as well as on the food isles, pricing continues to go up. This weekend we will be cleaning up tons of leaves and branches left by the remnants of Ian. Thank God that is the only thing we have to clean up, because my heart truly goes out after the victims of its devastation in Florida.
Once October arrives, one tends to think of frightful things and pumpkins; it has been engrained in our culture for long. One of my favorite movies, if not my favorite, is Silver Bullet (Stephen King). When we bought this farmhouse, I found an old wooden baseball bat amongst the tall weeds. I cleaned it up and kept it, but I immediately thought of “the peacemaker” in that movie and named it so.
We got another dose of October fright when we went to pick up the pellet fuel. The increase in pricing will translate to $100 more per month ($2 more per bag) on a ton (50 bags/2,000 lbs.). We use about a ton per month. Is this type of heating worth it anymore at that increase? The electric companies are saying that the average customer will see the electric bill go up by $40-$60 a month, depending on who you listen to in the news. Will pellet stove fans revert to electric heating as a primary source? I think a wood stove or fireplace is the best choice, that is, if you chop your own wood. A cord of wood used to be around $250 on the cheap side of things, not anymore.
There are lovely monstrosities as well. A week or so ago, I found the biggest mushroom I have ever seen. It was bigger than my hand, so I had to take a picture and send it to my sister.
All this accelerated increase on the cost of living, a monstrosity, has me thinking and evaluating the way we do things around here, and looking for better alternatives. It looks like the whole nation is about to wake up and reevaluate its path, its core values, and at the home level, the paths we have taken so far, and the need to ponder and redirect our lifestyle.
Autumn Vibes
At the time of this writing, it is nine days until the first day of Autumn. I am already welcoming the season and enjoying many of its sights. Soon I will enjoy its colors. We had our first temperature change in the upper 50s last night, and today there is a crisp in the air. The only thing I am not looking forward is the soon to arrive in waves, clouds of ladybug-look-alike Asian beetles that will cover the area. It is one thing that I truly dislike about living here. The process should take about 1-2 weeks depending on the weather. In the meantime, I will enjoy the weather transition and all the blessings that a new season brings – the ongoing song of excited crows, oranges, reds, yellows, all kinds of crimson … unexpected critters, autumn candy, hearty meals, darker nights, and the magic of another season.
November Favorites
A Few Culprits
There have been a few rainy days, two good soakers, and cool weather seems to be settling down. It seems that the veggie garden is done, not a good year; most plants died or did not produce. While collecting the last of the veggies, I spotted a few caterpillars that have made the garden their home. We cut the stems and relocated them to another part of the property, not wanting to harm them.
And as one season ends another starts, and for me, the end of a dry spell. The other day, while sitting, I had an urge to write, almost as an urgent call, so I grabbed pen and paper and was able to write an entire chapter; it has been quite a long time, but the dry spell is broken.
Of Mice and Bats – A Halloween Poem
A Halloween poem.
Of Mice and Bats
False hero has fallen
entwined in lies
pricked by the spikes of his creation.
Have a Happy Fall!
Inkspeare 