Where did summer go.......when butterflies danced.......
and the bees came to join them.
I think of dear Polly running across the lawn........
and Poppi picking apples for the first time.....I smile......
Autumn bought mists and spiders to the garden........leaving amazing artwork.
I look at the seed heads as I stroll the garden.........
and think how charming they are.........
Camomile has reseeded in a crack in the pavement and is sheltered by the house....she has been blooming for weeks.......
A solitary bloom defies the cold.........
this little bloom does not.....and wears her new hat and scarf, that a dear friend so kindly made..........
Your days are numbered Ratty....there is a fox hunting in the garden.....he has taken two rabbits this week. Ratty is living in the copse along with the rabbits. He comes out when I take the seed in for the birds.........hasn't he got beautiful eyes........
this little bloom does not.....and wears her new hat and scarf, that a dear friend so kindly made..........Your days are numbered Ratty....there is a fox hunting in the garden.....he has taken two rabbits this week. Ratty is living in the copse along with the rabbits. He comes out when I take the seed in for the birds.........hasn't he got beautiful eyes........A treecreeper teased me.......staying at the top of the mature oak........you can just see her image........blurry but she made a visit.........I am honoured that she did......
It is wet and cold today.......the sort of cold that reaches your bones. The garden is boggy........the ditches are full of water and wildlife ponds are full. Winter is just around the corner...........
It is wet and cold today.......the sort of cold that reaches your bones. The garden is boggy........the ditches are full of water and wildlife ponds are full. Winter is just around the corner...........
38 comments:
I also marvel that winter is definitely knocking at the door. Lovely pictures. What a great hat Poppi has. She is so sweet.
Hi ncmountaingirl....she is a sweet child.....and loves her pink hat and scarf.......
Dear Cheryl,
When the cold, damp air reaches under my slacks and nibbles on my knees I become chilled! I stay that way until Spring too!
Your new header is nice. Your squirrel is so cut and yes, Ratty's eyes are charming.
Poppi ~IS~ the bloom that continues to delight. She is so very cute!
How incredible that you have chamomile in bloom. Always a spring bloomer for me. I love the smell and the tea. I love little chamomile nosegays for my desk and nightstand.
Nice to see your photographs of the butterflies. I miss them.
I did have a black caterpiller in the house the other day. I found a warm spot in some leaf mold for him. I guess I could have let him stay inside but I think it is healthierfor him to be outside.
Have restful weekend.
I am packing up the November things. December is knocking too.
Sherry
even though it is cold, it still looks like a place i would like to visit and just drink it in. ratty is too cute. and that poppi is so adorable. hopefully winter will be kind.
Dear Sherry.......I have been so cold today....the constant rain and low temperatures are not pleasant.
The camomile has surprised me.....most unusual for it to stay this time of year. It must be very comfortable so close to the house. I love camomile to and drink it with honey.
I miss the bees and butterflies to....it seems so long they joined me in the garden....I also miss all the bugs creeping among the plants.....
Do you know what the black caterpillar will be.....I seem to remember rose doing a post about them......
Poppi is delightful.....
Hope you have a fun and happy weekend......
Hi Marmee....after a bad summer and changeable autumn, I hope that winter will be kind....I have a feeling it will not be that.....but we shall see....
Hope you and yours are well......
Winter is here in NJ.
Trying to make the best of it :)
Here's a meme that you may want to participate in. The title is "Summer 2008 Inspiration". If you want just visit me or Shady for details.
Thanks,
Patsi
Winter is on its way here too Cheryl. The weather people are beginning to throw around the "S" word. Possibly Sunday for our first snow.
I love seeing Poppi but Ratty, I am not so fond of seeing it.
Cheryl, your images and thoughts are so profound this time of year. I, too, have been watching and listening to winter knocking...standing on my deck and relying on memory to see what was so beautiful for so many months. Remember my sweet hummingbirds?
We'll get through the upcoming months. And Cheryl, you WILL find comfort in the middle of winter. Some beauty, too!
Poor rattie...doesn't know his days are numbered :o)
Mary
Cheryl, Your new header picture is really cute! It's fun to look back at the summer's butterflies and bees. Hopefully they are all snug for the winter. As you say, winter is knocking-cold everyday here now. Poppi looks ready for winter in her new hat. Such a sweet gift! Your pictures of the creeper and ratty are amazing.
We had a great Thanksgiving-a day late as I had to work yesterday and the kids went to other family gatherings. But all were here today and we enjoyed every minute!
Cheryl, What a lovely post and a tribute to the past season. We have had some very nice weather the last few days--sunny days and reasonably warm, but the forecast is for snow this weekend. I'm not ready for winter, but we don't have much choice, do we:) Love the little squirrel in your header. Have a great weekend.
Thank you Patsi...for your comments...thank you also for letting me know about the meme....I will be honest, I am a bit of a lazy blogger.....but I will pop over at some point and take a look......
Have a fun weekend......
Hi Lisa....we had a flurry last weekend....only light snow but pretty....
I know that your weather is more severe than outs.....wrap up warm....
I knew that you would like to see Poppi.....I know there are a lot of bloggers who do not like the rat.....but that is life here.....in the countryside we get a bit of everything. He is just a field rat going about his business....I have been reading in one of my books that they have so many predators they rarely last beyone six months.......the copse is also a long way from the house, so that is fine......
Do I remember your hummingbirds Mary, how could I forget.....I particularly remember the one that was such a good photograph you could almost count his feathers. I used to look forward to visiting just to see the pics you had taken of your beautiful friends.....
Winter does hold much magic......but when the rain is prolonged here the water lays on the heavy clay for long periods, I can't work the garden. I am by nature an outdoor girl.....I need to feel the wind in my hair......but you are right, these times pass.....and as I am getting older, I realise we must cherish the moment........I always try to remember that.....
The squirrel has taken the garden as her space.....she has one drey in the oak tree.....and has another residence in the owl box, she visits there when the rain is heavy......clever eh?
Poppi is a pink girl......she loves it......her own choice, my daughter and I do not wear much pink at all.......I know you like pink so you have something in common.....
I am glad that you had a wonderful thanksgiving.....I thought of you all......
Dear Rose.....I was walking the garden and I could see the summer images in my mind.....that is what made me think about the post.....
The squirrel is becoming quite friendly......the only problem is he is damaging the bird feeders....he now has a pot of nuts of his own, it is easier than replacing feeders.....
Have a great weekend......
I love going on strolls with you in your lovely garden. The chamomile must like it. It is rather late for it at your latitude. Poppi is adorable as always!
I have to agree with everyone...a charming post and I love strolling with you in the garden! I miss the activity of bees and butterflies. It's a joy to see and hear the birds.
Winter in Nashville is often wet and gray but we haven't seen much of either yet.
Poppy is adorable...my garden needs a little person to admire the plants and help me see with new eyes.
Poor Ratty...he looks a pleasant enough creature, but he is a rat!
Have a lovely weekend....keep warm.
Gail
Hi Mimi the camomile is way beyond her blooming period.....I don't know how it is surviving.....
Hi Gail.....the weather is here is dull, wet and cold...horrible combination.....water levels are high....I walked Nella today and the ditches are overflowing onto the roads........and the fields have huge areas covered with water.......
Poppi is so in touch with the outside world.....she is a pleasure to watch.....we are connected.....
Strange rats are not my thing BUT this one rat is ok....he stays out of my way.....but we do have a fox and there is strong evidence that he is hunting here.....ratty will make a tasty snack......
Such lovely summer memories. I can hardly wait to see what your winter is really like.
ps
meant to tell you i love the new header. that squirrel is so cute and in the right spot for your photograph.
With winter around the corner, your garden continues to look great. I have several Ratty in my garden, unfortunate I don’t any foxes.
Where does the time go? It does seem like just yesterday I was watching the Lady Banks Rose put on her early spring show--and now it is nearly Christmas! Little Ratty looks very charming. Have you ever been able to get pictures of the foxes?
Hi Ruth....In the UK we never know what the winter will be like.....we can have changes during the day....
Oh dear Rusty.....have you any cats locally.....or are they frightened of your dog??
Hi morningglories.....the foxes hunt at night.....I would love to get a photograph and I will try but they are difficult subjects......we have seen the fox run in front of the car as we drive home......they are beautiful creatures and one of my favourites.......
There was a fox hunt yesterday in the fields near to where I live. I am totally opposed to blood sports.......I just hope they did not kill our fox.......
Even in winter you have a beautiful garden!
Hi Cheryl,
I love the foxes too and I hope they didn't kill the one in your area. I absolutely abhor blood sports too. Poor innocent animals. How can that be fun for anybody??
Your camomile looks like a daisy. Lucky that it's still blooming. And dear little Poppi looks so sweet in her white hat.
I wear long underwear under my slacks or jeans. Went out for a walk the other day without it and the wind blew up my pant legs. After that, I decided I'd better be smart and put on my longjohns when out walking.
Your little butterfly at the beginning looks so colourful. I was just reading an issure of Birds and Blooms tonight where there was a pic of an American copper butterfly. So pretty - yours reminded me of it.
Hugs
Poppi is perfect in her pink tufted bonnet! Adorable. Cold that reaches your bones doesn't sound so good but all your photos appeal to the autumn lover in me. Winter must come in order to see spring again right? Which means spring is ever closer with each day.
Your lawn is mighty green for the approaching winter in that last photo!
Hi Wendy....the butterfly is our small copper....quite rare here....I hope they are breeding in my garden......
I don't know if the fox is still around.....another few days and I will......I hope he is fine......
Good idea wearing long johns.....they do keep you nice and warm........
Hi Meems.....our lawn stays green all year unless we have a really hot summer......at the moment it is waterlogged....high water table here........
Of course, you are so right.....winter leads to spring......and I suppose in the cold light of day, it will soon pass....
Tku for dropping by.........
It all looks so magical.. I love the look back
and ratty needs to go!!
I see the creeper..how neat..
smiles to you..Deena
It's cold here too Cheryl, we call it water cold, meaning that it chills you to the bone. Brrr
Lovely post, my dear, of happy summer memories, little Poppi, cute Ratty (hope he has a guardian angel)and dreaming of all the good things to come in the garden next year.
The dancing butterflies are gone, as are the autumn spider webs. It is time for snow on the seed heads which will also be beautiful.
When I lived up north, back when I was young, I always found it difficult to believe that, in the heart of summer, that it could ever possibly get cold again. And vice versa during the dead of winter. It's funny how the seasons completely emerge us into a new world, ... all in the same spot.
Hi Cheryl, thought you'd like to know that we've just had a visit from a large bumble to the flowers outside the cattery. Lovely to see her but also, a tribute to you, I'm not sure I'd have registered her if you hadn't increased my awareness - thank you!
Dear Polly is just too cute!
cielo
Post a Comment