Hello

I am writing this afternoon, reviewing the month. The wind harp has been playing. I heard a different chirp, Purple Finch was at the feeding station.
We said, "hello". I am warm in the sun; cold in the shade.

October has been very fun. The butterflies were beautiful.

We may have a few trick-or-treaters tonight. I shall light the candles along the walk. I shall light our Jack O'Lanterns.

Tomorrow I pack things up.
Good bye October!

Treats

The wind died down so I put my coat and hat on and visited the Swamp Oak.
I brought Sweet Annie and Rosemary.
Two leaves from our Grandson's memorial tree came home with me.
I use Ouija boards as placemats, trays and backdrops.
To chase the chill in the kitchen I baked another batch of raisin oatmeal cookies. Last week's cookies are all eaten up!
I cut my Holly branches and lit my candle. I watched for an hour as it burned ever so brightly in the noonday sun. A whiff of air blew it out. The olde year has passed. The new year has begun.
While shopping on line for Halloween e-cards I found one I fell in love with. It has a song that plays while the lyrics scroll. The song is "All Souls Night" by Loreena McKennitt. I am totally smitten. It is in the Samhain collection.
The web site also has a newsletter on living in balance with Mother Nature. I enjoy the recipes and spa treatments!

Happy Halloween

Blessings of health and wealth and much happiness! My friend in western Kansas is an artist. She made me this card!
I recently read that in the olde Celtic tradition holly was part of Samhain celebrations.
I have a holly bush the birds planted for me. This afternoon I shall trim a branch. This afternoon I will light a candle for the new year. As I celebrate this day I reach back to the ancient ways to understand why I do the things I do!

Chick-a-dee and Wren

Chick-a-dee went for sunflower seed
Wren went for the peanuts.
My bird friends.

Release the Leaves

I have been told each tree has a hormone that is released when it is time for the leaves to fall. The message has been sent. Today it is raining glorious leaves.
Quietly I drift with the leaves.
Very easy today to catch a falling leaf.
Hawk flew over while I was dancing and twirling in the southern wind.

Jack O'Lanterns

We carved our pumpkins!
My favorite October activity!

Autumn Seed Sowing

Mother Nature knows just the right time to sow her seeds. I too have some seed to sow now for spring sprouts.
I have seed to gather too.
Mother Nature does her work with incredible flair!

Fun with Leaves

I am playing, "Catch a Falling Leaf". The wind is winning.
A familiar scent; someone is burning leaves.
I was distracted by the Red Admirals.

Splashing

The recent rains filled my father's wheel barrow with just the right amount of water.
Sparrows played. They did not seem to mind me watching.

Fall Back

We turned our clocks back this morning one hour. No longer are we on Daylight Savings time. We are on sun time. We turned our mattress. The crescent moon is waxing.
I had not seen Downy Woodpecker for a couple of weeks. So glad he has returned.
The Blue Jays sound the warning when Hawk is about.
I love Indian Summer.

Red Admirals

A pair of Red Admirals spent over an hour in the red and yellow mums.
I really enjoy the butterflies.

Chasing Butterflies

Sulphurs are flying about today in the sunshine. An Eastern Comma was sunning on my car.
Sulphurs in the miniature snap dragons.
The sedium has begun to turn.
An Indian Summer day!

Hawk!

I was watching the clouds break apart and the sun begin to shine when hawk flew over. The leaves have been falling all day.

The alyssum called to me with it's sweet scent. Mockingbird found bugs for supper.
A swallowtail flew by. The northwest wind is blowing and it feels cold outside. The gardens came alive this afternoon.

Apple Brown Betty

The skies are grey. Another inch of rain fell over night. The birds have been quiet all morning. The Northwest wind kept even the doves from the feeder.
Instead of butterflies floating in the air I have lovely leaves.
Our friends are coming over this evening for a visit. I am not 100% well so instead of dinner we are having dessert together. I am up to fixing Apple Brown Betty.
I have been looking forward to baking this for our friends all month.
Apple Brown Betty is an old Colonial dish.

Apple Brown Betty
6 apples cored and thinly sliced
3/4 cup apple cider
1/2 cup raisins
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup and 3 tablespoons whole-wheat flour
1/3 cup quick cooking oats
3 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons melted butter

In a large bowl combine apples, cider, raisins, cinnamon and 3 tablespoons flour. Mix together. Spoon into an 11x7 inch baking dish. I prepare my dish with nonstick olive oil spray.

In a medium sized bowl combine oats, brown sugar, butter and 1/3 cup flour. Mix together until crumbly. Sprinkle over apple mixture.

Bake in 375 degree oven for one hour, or until bubbly and golden brown.
Serve warm.

I have pumpkin ice cream to go with.

Painting with Light

The Haunted Forest enchanted me today. I felt far away in a different time and a different place.
A dreamy day.

Watercolor Day

I poked my head out to smell the air. All day it has misted. The colors are so brilliant. A slight western breeze turned the gong but no sound.
The view from my desk of the front maple kept me entertained today. I watched the leaves fall.
My October hat and gloves have been worn many times this month. I am careful with my little orange shoes. I only wear them when the weather is dry. My beautiful scarf was made by my dear friend.
I am eating tomato soup and drinking lots of water and hot tea. I feel better, still my voice is not back and my chest is tight. My energy is low. I am nesting.