Category Archives: Country Living

Just taking a walk

I have always loved the cadence and the imagry of George Cooper’s October’s Party.

“October gave a party;

The leaves by hundred’s came…

Then, in a rustic hollow,

At hide and seek they played,

The party closed at sundown,

And everybody stayed.

Professor Wind played louder;

They flew along the ground;

And then the party ended

In jolly “hands around.””

After a night of wind, I walk about crunching leaves underfoot; finding the treasures of the day. The herb and vegetable gardens are ready for their winter resting but I’ve work to do yet in the flower beds. But I dawdle, winding down from summer as if I too had been to some grand party and I want only to re-live the joy and conversation of it.

September dances through

Storms turned the skies to September blue, hostas turned gold, the burning bush flamed, cleomes burst seed and the last of the blue hydrangeas changed to rosey attire.

Some seasons of life I’ve enjoyed the life of a night owl, but I’ve come back to treasuring early time. So I search and photograph and go back into the cozy warmth of kitchen only to be drawn out again knowing the wonder of early light is happening. Moving my chair to face the east where cloud play is illuminated in the rising sun, I huddle into an old quilt with my mug of coffee. And watch. I hear the traffic hum of those on the go and I begin to hear hammering and saws nearby. Work calls but I stay listening to quiet bird calls beginning to sound through the yards.

I lower my eyes to write and suddenly feel like there is a disco ball in the yard! The aspen leaves wave their quivering morning excitement filtering and shattering the light into sparkling pieces as the sun rises through them and the birds sing applause now. The coffee chills but I still sit and wonder why I am not here every morning when dawn calls hope and promise for the day.

With hot coffee, I return to find my quilt like stained glass. A breeze stirs now and the sound of leaves dancing close fills my ears and I huddle again into the quilt and move my chair into the expanding warmth of the ever rising sun. All too soon these days pass and the exuberance of October is upon us!

Like a dance…

And August goes by in a quick, quick, slow…

Slow, quick, quick!

And it is gone and September busy-ness arrives. After such a summer, I feel the earnestness of autumn setting in and I feel a kinship with homemakers of old to clean up and clear out summer and move into quilts and sweaters. I’m not quite ready to give up the wonderful iced coffees of summer so I’m easing into that part.

Hubby went hunting and gathering yesterday to bring home some sweet corn unwilling to part with August and was told by the grocer that corn season was over. Fortunately, the local farmer is still harvesting from his fields and we feasted on August in spite of the calendar.

Like a great wonderful golden treasure, we found late season peaches for one last pie!

But September continues the dance of the seasons, a slow step and quickly on! And all the wonderful things of harvest wait before us, calling us, get ready!

August beauty begins with volunteers!

I am so grateful for the unplanned beauty that springs up in the summer garden.

My carefully chosen petunias from the garden center failed to thrive. But these impatiens have sprung up in their varied shades reminding me of gardens past and pulling color into my days. I’ve learned to look for the little seedlings and move some from harm’s way but most are just where they planted themselves.

My mother grew these in her gardens and I remember how the grandchildren loved the fun of the seed pods. A little push on a ripening one and it would burst open, seeds scattering!

Some years I have planted them in my own garden and while they will seed themselves, I can never resist popping a pod or two. Then I forget them until another summer comes and flowers surprise me with lovely color tucked into places I would not plant.

I love that my life can be like that too. My carefully chosen plans can fail to thrive, but then…the wonderful color and life that can spring up in unexpected places. Sometimes I just need eyes to see the seedlings, patience to see the blooms, and trust in the scattering of seeds.

The lilies of my field

I consider how they grow…”they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” Matt. 6:28-29

So true, for such a small investment of my time and effort, they bloom glory. For one day.

I consider that a bloom could be an analogy for each life. In the view of millennia, we each are a bloom to open in magnificent splendor for our day. Be luminous where you are planted; the world needs the color and wonder of you!

Hummers

Sometimes, they are still. I needed to use the photo program to bring them in this close for you. Such tiny birds! They truly hum with their wings.

We can recognize several different birds this year. One is never still and hovers the whole feeding time; another bird lights nearby and after looking all around, comes and sits still to drink. She almost always chirps a bit after feeding as if to say how much she enjoyed the treat. And another we call “Dip and Sip” for her constant in and out motion – so amazing to watch them fly backward! Only the mature male has the ruby throat. He will usually sit still and drink.

We were blessed to have rain yesterday and this morning the whole yard was alive with song to enjoy as I waited to photograph these little marvels.

Ruby Fruit

I could see them from the swing, first pale, then growing red as the days went by. When I saw the tree quivering in late afternoon I knew it was time to make our move. Early the next day we maneuvered the pick-up into position. My place had feet firmly planted on the ground gathering every ripe cherry I could reach or holding the bowl for harvest. Hubby climbed into the bed of the truck, regaled me with stories of youthful cherry picking at his grandmother’s house and picked from as many branches as he could pull down. I can’t be sure, but I think he was taste sampling for ripeness along the way!

In the nearby trees squirrels ran back and forth scolding us for taking what they thought was theirs. And then robins came and boldly stole the fruit above our heads. It was a good first picking with jelly and cobbler rewards and we are grateful for our abundant crop.

It is hard to know if there will be a second picking, the tree quivers and branches bow under the weight of other fruit loving creatures determined to share our bounty!

Strawberry Season

This warm spring brought the strawberries weeks early and we nearly missed them!

Since we don’t grow our own strawberries anymore, it was easy to miss the season of harvest. We had a rush to get the last of the crop for feasting and preserving!

I love making jams. Winter treats and gifts await!

Sleeping in on Sunday

No, not me, but this one…

It is amazing to me how bees just seem to hang out on a flower for bed. Perhaps he is dreaming of foxgloves. Then, four minutes later, at eight o’clock, he is busy working through the bed of them before moving on.

I miss our maple tree downed in last year’s storms and the branches stripped from the survivors. The early morning swing is not so inviting this year. But the sun moves swiftly in its course and soon I will enjoy some afternoon reading against it’s cushions.

May you enjoy some rest this Sunday.

Hello again!

It seems to happen. The ‘perfect’ posts, saved, go missing. Changes will need to be made on this end!

Today, I start to make up for some lost musings and offer garden updates. The hummingbirds have returned; I had forgotten how very tiny they are. The yard has been alive with bluebirds, cardinals, catbirds and wrens nesting about. And, I suppose the nuthatches, finches and tufted titmice that come to the feeders are nesting as well. Most stay hidden in the growing canopy, out of reach of the resident hawks.

With rain last week and again last night everything is lush, including the weeds! I enjoyed my early walk around.

I am making some progress in rearranging gardens. Last week a friend gifted me with new to me plants and Monday my sister brought daylilies and new perennial begonias. The begonias thrive for her and barely hang on by a leaf here. Perhaps these offerings will be happy here.

Mr. Toad seems to have safely migrated across the yard to forage under the hydrangeas. This time I was quiet.

This was first harvest and the garden is coming along. It was a bit hot so the spinach is beginning to run to seed but we are enjoying it along with the first peas and lettuces too.