A few from today............a sunny day

Today we took Tristen out for the day as it was so nice. Here are a few pretty pictures of the leaves and sunshine. A pity the view was hazy but you can see how pretty it was.

I really must get more Asters, this year they have done so well. I love this colour. These were in Bud's garden











These trees are in Laura's back yard



These are out where Gerry is working. Isn't this just beautiful?




Beautiful Oak leaves.

The High Rollaways..........

This is where we were planning on going this weekend. It has rained both days, and I mean non stop pelting rain. So I am taking the liberty of sharing some other peoples pictures. I looked up free pictures so I do not think I am treading on any toes here
The High Rollaways are in Buckley Michigan and overlook the Manistee River. Back in the lumber days, in Northern Michigans heyday this overlook was used to roll the logs down into the river below. It's a horseshoe bend and I suppose ideal for that drop off place. I am sure there are many places like this in Northern Michigan. I do know of one other that is called Dead Mans Hill and overlooks the Jordan River.
The fences have been put up in recent years. When I was first shown this place there were no fences or look outs it was just woods and a drop off. Last time we were there the trails were being used by horses and riders. Would not want my horse to spook along there but then I was always a nervous rider at best. This was a picture we took that day.

The leaves had not changed on those days but this is the view down/up river.


This one is someone else's picture of it at the end of Fall. I want a picture at the peek of colour but these are the best I can do for now.


The banks are about 200 feet above the river so it was a great place to roll the logs down to take the trip to the saw mill. The woodlands and river were also extensively used by local Native Americans before the loggers came in. An area of natural beauty, it had to have meant a lot to them but as always they lost out and the area extensively logged. Thankfully it is now preserved.

October 12th.......

The Blue Jays were here in a family today. They were all over the place. I could not believe that the "babies" were still expecting to get fed. They were out of luck because mum did not give in. I think there are 4 or 5 in this family. They don't sit still long enough to count them. I am happy to say that they all seem to have grown their new feathers and don't look sick and bedraggled any more. In fact they were looking very smart.

The Jay family really enjoy the corn and peanuts. They seem like they swallow the corn whole.
Ithink these are two of the babies, at least they sure acted like siblings the way they were chasing each other around.


My other visitor today was Mrs Cardinal. She too is looking very well and has grown in her new feathers.

She tried the seeds in the boxes and feeders but she really wanted that one stuck between the boards. She had an eye on me and on the peanut or whatever it was. I saw Mr Cardinal the other day so they are both around. He is looking much better too but still does not have his pure crimson coat yet. He stayed at the back of the garden in a bush so I didn't get a shot at him today. I have a window in the bathroom that looks out on the feeders. I have taken the screen out and although there is a net curtain it does not get in my way. The birds seem to accept my presence there and stay because they have good stuff in their boxes. I even put in some dried cranberries.
So I go out to replenish their stash and just about got hit in the head by a Chickadee.......it knew I had been in the window taking pictures but didn't see me come outside. It was really pissed off, all I saw was its feet coming in for a landing and a thump squawk and a flurry of feathers as it took off again. It soon came back with its friends and the feasting began.



Well, not much else around today and it was raining all morning and cold. Tomorrow is clean up time in the garden. If not raining maybe I will get some better pictures, at least the sun came out long enough to get these few.

A few more nice days..............then?

The Bee's are still busy. It has been raining on and off the last couple of days. I have left my house plants outside to get a last good water from real rain water. I think the house water is not so good for them. They are destined to come inside on this coming weekend.
Meanwhile there is not really a whole lot going on in the garden that we can see. Bit by bit it's making itself ready for winter. That's not far off for us now. The snow is falling in the Upper Peninsula, but so far we have only had some thick rain. The Asters are still looking good.






The birds are eating as much as they can, I hope they get fat and sassy for winter. There will always be food for them here. The little house finches are coming back. I have not seen them all summer


The squirrels are double checking their hiding places.

Chickadee's raise their family here and so do the Bluejays and Cardinals. They stick around all year. Another frequent visitor is the Mourning Dove. This Chickadee kept it's back to me so would not pose.



These yellow beauties I found down the alley when Tristen and me went for a walk. I will have to get some if they do this well for so long.

Another thing in our alley left over from another time



This shed, being used as a garage is left over from the days when they had horses in town. there are still quite a few around. I should take some time and go out and picture them while they are still here.

Maple Leaves




Mother Nature dipped her paintbrush
In a paint pot yesterday
And fell in love with red and green
And gold and brown and grey

And she said ' I'll paint me something
For these colors are so nice'
And she picked out a maple tree
And it's leaves were her first choice

So the leaves are dying in beauty
Before us here today
And the autumn wind sings softly
As they bob and dip and sway

For she painted each leaf carefully
As it floated round and round
In a glorious swirl of color
They pay homage to the ground

Yes the lovely maids of Summer
With their green frocks bright and gay
Have changed their dancing costumes
For the last waltz of the day

In a lovely panorama
They grace the stage with ease
In honor of the mother
Whom they were born to please

And the wind it plays September's song
And kisses them with cold
And our hearts become enamored
Such beauty to behold

And when the dance is finished
To their earthly bed they'll go
And their loving mother, nature
Will cover them with snow.
Ruby D Dodd

More Falling leaves.............

It's been very windy, but sunny. Actually very nice for Fall.Well I should say for October. Many years we have seen snow by now. Outside of town had frost last night but we did not. My home is in town and Traverse City is on the Bay. Grand Traverse Bay that is............so it helps our weather somewhat. It can be calm here but as soon as one tops the crest of the hill going out of town you may find yourself in a blizzard. There is a snow belt that crosses just above the town.
Yesterday I sat outside for a time and took in the sunshine while I could. Its supposed to rain tonight.
Here are some of the pictures I took that day.





The Pansies were wet from the rain the day before



I had to get some more pictures of the beautiful leaves around my garden.







I had really hoped to get out an about and get some pictures but so far it's not been possible. So these are all around my garden





Just as pretty but as individuals rather than landscape shots.............maybe this weekend if it's not raining. This one is the seeds off of the Japanese Maple next door.





Some flowers are still blooming.Pansies do well this time of year.


The Nightshade berries



Some leaves are brilliant and some are pastels, some are still green. All together they make such a pretty picture


All for now, I do hope I can get out and show some beautiful places before the snow flys

Maple Leaves,,,,,,,,,,,,

I live in Michigan where we have a lot of Maple trees. There are a lot of deciduous trees in our area, the Northern part of Michigan. We also have conifers and when they blend together it makes a tapestry that is hard to better anywhere else. The Maples have such brilliant colour.



Maple Leaf

I watched a maple leaf’s descent to ground.
It’s downward swaying motion, every now
And then a pirouette without a sound
Until it came to rest so gently down.
I asked myself: A life so brief and yet
So beautiful, is life to be defined
By lasting time and taken for granted?
To go around in circles disinclined
To find profundity-Sad existence!
Ah! But the leaf, its purpose foreordained:
To live a measured life, a subsistence
Profound in many ways and unrestrained.
To waste a lengthy life, so incomplete
I’d sooner live my life a maple leaf.
Albert Ahearn





There are many other things that make our Fall so beautiful many other trees that have vivid colour that contrast with them.



All so beautiful


The colours so bright they look as though they have lights on them and when the sun is out it's spectacular.

Ancient Trees..........

This ancient oak at Cadley, on the A346, not only rivals the nearby Big Belly Oak in age but with a waistline of 11m 57cm actually boasts a bigger belly...


So what is it about old and ancient trees?. To me they seem to have a life of their own, well, they do. we know they are living but are they also feeling? The ancient Celts believed they had a spirit. When in the presence of an old tree, even if not this ancient, it has an aura about it.
These Spanish Chestnuts maybe not ancient but well over 400 to 500 years old


This ancient Yew was said to have sheltered King John as he signed the Magna Carter, at Runnymeade in 1215. Imagin sitting up in those branches and witnessing those proceedings



Can you just imagine what these trees have seen in their long lives? There are not really too many living things that have such a long life. Have you ever run your hands over the bark of a large tree? Felt the life inside it? OK so I have a vivid imagination but really, place your arms around a tree and feel the spirit there. I can't describe what I mean. You either feel it or do not know what I mean. It's not something I could convince you of. In any case I suppose my whole point is this, never cut down a tree without a good reason. In fact never kill any living thing without good reason.
The Celts saw wisdom in ancient trees and I don't think they were far wrong,







In the small Dorset village of Tolpuddle there is a sycamore tree on a patch of green, just a short stroll from a local pub. It is here that a group of agricultural labourers met to discuss demands for better pay, in effect creating the first trade union. Already more than 150 years old then this gnarled old tree was a key player in thier story. They gathered there labourers under that tree in the 1830s. It's still going strong today with a lot of help.


King Charles hid in an Oak tree while on the run from Cromwell following the Battle of Worcester in 1651. I am sure Charles was not the only one to have their life saved by a tree. Think about it...............Britain was full of woodlands and forests all over Great Britain in the early days. When William came and took the throne a lot of it was set aside for his own personal use depriving many citizens of a livelihood.
If you have any interest in this subject a good place to begin is with
"The Woodland Trust"



"It is not so much for its beauty
that the forest makes a claim
upon men's hearts, as for that
subtle something, that quality of
air that emanates from old trees,
that so wonderfully changes and
renews a weary spirit.
- Robert Louis Stevenson

Frosty mornings.............

Frosty mornings will soon be here. Right now it's dampness clinging to the windows of the van, but very soon it will be frozen. I just love frosty mornings. Its a bit early yet but I had to look for some pictures to share. (thanks to the web)
I can smell that fresh feel of the cold in my nostrils and remember some mornings in England when the nose would almost close on the first breath. That crisp feeling of clean air. The frozen webs of spiders and my dad's hedges covered in white with all the webs frozen on top and sparkling in the watery sun..........loved those days, more in November than October. Here in Michigan it comes a bit earlier some years and by October we could expect snow. So far its still warm and sunny but this morning was cool and its coming I can feel it in the air.




Some flowers are caught by surprise and are awoken to freezing petals..........the sun will warm them for now but soon there will be no going back.



A wonderland out there, where old familiar things look different now. My bedroom windows took on a magical quality. I would have to scrape off the frost from inside to see out. Had it snowed? No, just Jack Frost painting the window pains at night while I slept



No heat in the bedrooms back then, huddle back down in the down filled matress if you were lucky or into the horsehair if (like me) you were not. Still a thick Eiderdown on the top and a hot water bottle kept the bed moderately warm, with my poodle pal Poppett snuggled in with me and sometimes my hat and gloves on, we did OK. Some times we would shiver under the pile of blankets and could never get warm, it was good then to get up and sit by the fire downstairs and wait as long as possible before going outside to the Loo. Brrrrrrrr.

Autumn decorations.............

We do not do Halloween. However I do love the Autumn decorations. I have found some cute ones. The front porch has been changed, that gives me a chance to clean up and freshen the look. The next change will be Christmas. Wow, not yet I hope.




We have a bench and an old cupboard that I use for mail. A rocking chair too and odds and ends to fill the space. A small table is beside the bench. Next year it will have to all be painted. I am thinking of a nice turquoise, pale turquoise. Till then this is what we have to deal with. Red........

A long view of the porch.


Next year we hope to redo it. Close it off and gate it. This little visitor fitted in with the decor.



Meanwhile inside, in the kitchen. I brought in a few pretty leaves.



and set them in with some other decorations




With my leaves added. Doesn't it look nice? It reminds me of when I was a child and we were sent to look for leaves to stick on a page and then name them. We also did a few other crafts with them, rather like bronze rubbing. Its quite effective.





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