New Pumpkin Moon

On the first hour and the first minute,
eastern daylight time
the Moon was new.

It is the New Pumpkin Moon.
I dedicate this New Moon to my friends.



Today I celebrate my friends
from the past,
in the present,
and of the future.

My candle will burn today and the circles of melted wax will merge.

Thank you for walking with me
when the road was rocky.
I remember dancing in the meadows,
rejoicing in the dawn.
If the winds of change blow us apart
we are always near
in our hearts.


It is exciting to get to know you,
I celebrate who you are.
Thank you for smiles and laughter,
for your willingness to teach an easier,
softer way.


With an open heart I look forward to tomorrow.
I know you are coming into my life.
With mutual care and respect we will
embrace each other.

Friendship is the glow in life.
Thank you for your friendship.
Happy New Pumpkin Moon.

Shadow art

In October I do shadow art.

I put an art glass basket out
for the birds and for my art.

I noticed the Viceroy
and the Monarch

feeding together.

It is bright this afternoon.
An excellent day to do art.

Shadows

I gather shadows in October.

I put them in my box.
On Halloween I release them.

Bittersweet

I put my apron on after my morning walk.
I had work to do.
It is time to harvest the bittersweet.

I paused to watch the Painted Ladies in the front zinnias.
Three were feeding with the Skippers and the Monarchs.
I looked closely at their colors of brown and orange.

I could smell the basil as I approached the bittersweet.
I had planted seven different types this year in the basil garden.
I have been harvesting for two weeks now.
Some will go to seed for next year.

The bittersweet was nipped in April's freeze.
I was not sure I would have many berries.
Tucked under new vine growth I saw plenty for my candle holder.
I wanted fresh vines so I could twist them through the wrought iron.
The berries will open over night.
I will wrap the arrangement carefully for next year.

Last year's bittersweet door swag went to the mantle.
It is very dry now. I will let it go after Halloween.
Next year I will make a new one.

Wondering

Today I am wondering,
"what will I do when the butterflies leave?"



I wonder this every October.
I have journals filled with my musings.

While I was wondering
Chick-a-dee came to the deck rail.

Chick-a-dee stayed for awhile.
Such a sweet little call.
Perhaps I will spend my afternoons with the birds
when the butterflies leave.

Monarch Days

I feel a little melancholy
mixed in with the joy.

Each time I see the Monarchs
I know they soon will be gone.

I will miss them too.

In the American Indian spirituality
this is known as, "Butterfly Medicine".

Butterflies speak to me.

Columbus Day

My husband and I gave
"The Log of Christopher Columbus"
to my father in October of 1988.
My father wrote the date in the front of his book.
I am glad he did. I am reading this log today.

It has always seemed strange to me
to celebrate the arrival of Christopher Columbus.
I think there must be many who do not.
The date has changed too.
Now it is the second Monday in October.
A more convenient day for shopping and a bank holiday.

In 2001, my husband and I took a road trip. We were viewing fall foliage.
We drove the Great River Road, beginning outside of St. Louis, Missouri, and on up into Wisconsin. The road is adjacent to the Mississippi River. A lovely trip.
Our return route home took us through a small town, Dickeyville, Wisconsin.

Here we saw Holy Ghost Park. An amazing church yard that was filled with grottoes. One shrine was to Christopher Columbus.
The photo album of this trip is on my coffee table in October.

I have small metal sculptures of Columbus's fleet, the Pinta, the Nina and the Santa Maria.
A friend gave them to me years ago. We once went shopping together on Wednesdays.
There came a time when it was no longer convenient to do so.

I think of her when I set out the little ships.

It rained all morning.
A pleasant gentle shower.
The wild violets are blooming again.
Early Autumn is like late Spring.

The rains stopped around noon.
I laid my book down and took off my shoes.
I wanted to walk in the wet grass.

New Motif

Each morning I am looking
for toadstools and mushrooms.

I had asked for a new motif.

Mother Nature provided.

The colors are perfect for October.

The bio-diversity in the yard
is pretty.

I also check the traps.

This is our third Raccoon.
My husband relocates them.
Raccoons are new this year to our backyard.

Afternoon Shower

Magical moments

Overnight Mother Nature
added a magical touch.

She showed me how orange
goes well with gray.

I am in nature's design class.
I am learning about color.

Katydid

The Katydid was laying in a zinnia.


I thought perhaps she was sleeping.

I was able to get very close before
Katydid moved.

I do not know very much about the Katydids.

I like the way they sing.

A'mumming

After my pedicure today
I went looking for mums.


These were for me.
Butterflies do not seem
to go for them.

They seem to like the Butterfly bush.

I only found two mums today that would work in my pots.
I will go a'mumming again tomorrow.
The owl planter on the deck needs a mum and the pumpkin basket on the hearth is empty. I will not plant these mums out in the gardens. They do not grow well in my area. They are not good for the butterflies.
These mums are just for October.
These mums are just for me.

Happy Hunting

I went thrift store shopping.
I have a list of needs.

The French Lilac bed needed decoration.
It needed a couple of candle holders.

The pond could always have another piece.
While waiting in line another shopper talked about the joys of thrift stores.
As I was leaving she said, "Happy hunting."

"Thank you, happy hunting to you too!"

I am having the best of times decorating the house and gardens.

October's Lighting Ceremony

Spider webs,

sunset with a breeze,

Mother Nature's lights are spectacular.
I am using flicker bulbs.

Orange and Black

I am studying orange and black.

I watched the Large Milkweed Bug

and the nymphs.

I am looking at the patterns of nature
and the different shades of orange.

Today I am wearing orange and black.
It is my activity for October first.

October

October is known as
the Season of the Ancients.

It is the season of reflection.

I gaze about my yard.
I am remembering.

It is October.
I am decorating.

I am co-creating with Nature.

I am celebrating.
I am connected.

~Happy October~