Farewell September

A flock of Robins greeted me
this morning.

They were eating ripe Poke berries.

Chippy likes dried cherries
and his nuts.




September has been fun.

The North wind has begun to blow.
The smell of October is in the air.
I am ready to dance with the leaves.

Goodbye, September!
Farewell, so long!
Thanks so much for a fine time.
See you next year.

New Apple Moon

Today is the New Apple Moon.

Today I honour the Apple tree.
Today I celebrate the apple.

It is also Michaelmas.




Friend butterfly and friend Apple

basking in the Autumn sunshine.
Happy New Apple Moon.

Sunday Safari

I hunted all summer to see a Walkingstick.



Caterpillars are about.

Spiders are weaving webs all over the garden.

I am hanging up my safari hat for this year.
It has been very fun hunting for bugs this summer.

October is coming.
My Sundays will be filled with October activities.
It is almost pumpkin time.

Four September Suns

"Hello"

Last week
I heard a new bird's song.

Lisa from Greenbow was kind to identified my new arrival as a
Yellow-billed Cuckoo.

Thank you, Lisa.

My bird book says the male and the female look the same.

They are named after their lower bill (mandible).

I am so pleased Yellow-billed Cuckoo has stayed for a few days.

They are summer residents in our forests and winter in Argentina.

Perhaps now that this one has found my backyard habitat he will return next summer.

Maybe he will bring his mate.

My book says they are in decline.
I will learn about these remarkable birds so I can provide food and shelter.

I am so pleased he stopped for fueling and resting during his migration.

My new best bird friend

The Blue Jay waits for me each morning.
He waits with the Wrens and the Cardinals.
They get along just fine.

This morning, while I was taking pictures with my new macro lens,
he came to see what I was doing.

I turned when I heard him speak.
He was less than 6 inches from my camera.

He is amazing.

I am studying shadows.
I am studying polka dots and moonbeams.

Decorating

I am packing up the September decorations.
I am getting the house and gardens ready for October.

We still have Dragonflies about.
They are part of who I am.

Mums are taking center stage.

Shadow art takes the place of Summer chalk drawings.

The morning dew is heavy.
I have set aside the week to get ready.

October is almost here.

Autumn

Welcome to Autumn!



The dew was heavy on the mums
this morning as Autumn came in.

The colors are bright in the morning sun.

The Giant Swallowtail flew in

and showed me the palette
of the Season.

Happy Autumn.

Sunday Safari

I have a new macro lens.



I can take close up pictures of the bees.

I can step back a bit and photograph the
garden spider enjoying a grasshopper

or a seed just before it takes off in the breeze.

It might take me a few months to learn the new lens.
I am looking forward to the learning!

Today is International Day of Peace.

Perhaps if we looked closely we would see how similar we all are.

If we stepped back a bit maybe we could see the full picture.

If we gave ourselves time to learn about the different cultures in our world

we would not be afraid.

All it takes is a desire and decision.

May it begin with me.

Nuages

Caterpillar Days

I found this field guide at the used book store.

I found this caterpillar in the grass.




I cannot find the caterpillar in the field guide.

Maybe I need a field guide of caterpillars
of the moths in the Field and Garden.

Monarch Migration

The Monarchs are migrating.
Ten roosted in my gardens last night.

This morning they feed before traveling on.

I have seen them all day long,
flying high over the highways.

I am following their migration this year,
on Journey North's web site.

Monarch Watch is also a fun site.

9:16 on 9-16

9:16 on 9-16,
I knew you were a magical child.

9:16 on 9-16,
the first circus in space came to town.

9:16 0n 9-16,
Pegasus flies as the candles burn.

9:16 on 9-16,
Blessings to you!

33 is perfect.
33 is love.
Happy Birthday!

Full Harvest Moon

I watched the Harvest Moon rise.
I made my wishes.

Venus was my first star to see tonight.
I wish I may. I wish I might.
I have had a marvelous day and evening.
Time for a moon bath!

Harvest Moon

I was out on the deck at sunrise.



I did not want to miss a moment of this
Harvest Moon day.

I harvested my bittersweet.

As the vines dry the berries open.

I am planning my Harvest Moon soup and tomato sandwich supper.
I would like to watch the Harvest Moon rise and make my wish.
The Harvest Moon is my favorite full moon of the year.

Happy Harvest Moon.
May your wishes come true.

Sunday Safari

One evening last week
we saw a Praying Mantis
on the ceiling in the dining room.



She was beautiful!
I was honored she had come in.
She seemed to enjoy the Twisting Willow branches
that are over the windows.



I was concerned that she might get hungry.
I do not see many bugs in the house.
The days passed and she seemed content
to stay on the branches.
I was pleased to have her near.
Off and on during the day I would visit with her.
I thought if she was hungry she would go to the door
and I would just let her out.



After five days in the house I was really worried.
The right thing to do was to take her outside where
she could find food.

The rain stopped long enough for a few Skippers to come out.
Manti was able to grab one.
I watched as she ate her meal.
I was happy for her.