So Many Leaves

This is a photo of the end of my late afternoon walk on Saturday (yesterday). I had a wonderful time crunching through the leaves. When we get some wind they will blow away. I woke up early this morning and the extra hour of sleep was nice. The sun was already up and that was nice. So far, so good with Daylight Savings Time. Have a great Sunday and you might want to rethink raking the leaves.

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/to-rake-or-not-to-rake-expert-tips-for-eco-friendly-autumnal-lawn-care

I absolutely love seeing the sun shining through my geranium leaves in the morning. All of my indoor plants are thriving because I brought them in early. They actually didn't love being out on my balcony all summer. It was just too hot out there so next year I am going to relocate them to the front where they will just get the late afternoon sun. xo

November Already?

Raindrops on clover leaves.

Watering cans being drained before being stored for the winter.

Looking up. This is a color photo.

Interesting color in the wetlands on a cloudy day.

The green is especially vibrant today.

So many vines to photograph.

Some trees are already bare but this one is holding on.

The red really pops on an overcast day.

So many leaves. I think they are beautiful♡🍁

UPDATE: Here is an end of the day (5:15pm) photo showing deer in the back. I used the most powerful zoom lens and this is as close as I could get while standing on my balcony. They were closer to the house but ran away when I opened the door to go outside. It cleared up after an overcast couple of days and it's good to see some blue sky again.

Walk over and I'm still enjoying photographing all the stages of fall. Can't quite believe it's November already but the calendar doesn't lie. There has been a lot of fog but mild temperatures requiring just a sweater. I know I will wake up one day soon to a hard frost but we've been spared one so far. All of today's photos are right out of the camera with no further editing. I am pleased and this is saving me a lot of time. Let me know when you've had enough and I will try to find another theme. 

xo

Sunday Ramblings

A real scallop shell on a boxtop with shell engravings.

A scallop shell coat of arms photographed from my 

Royal Book of Crests.

This is the huge rock Lisa D. asked about next to the mushroom on the right that is now broken halfway up the stem. The rock was once sticking out of my driveway just enough to be a problem for a snow plow. My mason dug it up never thinking it could possibly be this big. It was very heavy too but he did it.

Such a beautiful dark blue sky today.💙

A remnant from the days when I had a clothesline.

Pine tree, needles, and a colorful leaf.

Puffball (mushroom) is looking rather like leather.

Puffball looking toward my house. 

Giant sycamore leaf. It's so much fun to walk through these leaves because they have such a satisfying crunch underfoot. 

UPDATE: I posted a video (my first story on Instagram) of me walking toward my house thru another patch of very large crunchy leaves with sound. If you want to watch, click HERE and then click VIEW STORY. 

Be sure to turn on the sound.

https://www.instagram.com/stories/contentinacottagerosemarybeck/2961198633422189598/

Are you bored yet? Please let me know.

xo

Random Views Around My Cottage Today

A geranium in front of one of my living room's newly washed windows looking out across the street at my neighbor's red garage/barn and some lovely fall foliage.

A bloom on a Limelight hydrange in the front.

My newly painted picket fence that houses my gas and electric meters and my air conditioning unit. I love the artichoke finial on the corner post.

Big long pinecones gathered from one of my Norway Spruce Trees.

This photo is right out of my camera phone and the sky really was this exact color. The deer in silhouette looks as if he's leaping over my kitchen wing's roof. I am so enjoying looking out on him.

Enjoy your evening or your Friday morning dependending when you open my blog. xo

 

Blowing Leaves

It's happening, slowly but surely. Some trees turn loose early and some wait as long as they can. I slept so soundly last night under two blankets. Will repeat the process tonight. Have a great rest of the weekend. via

xo

Beautiful Cat in The Fall

Such a beautiful pose for this lovely cat.

Found here.

xo

Beautiful White Clapboard House in Fall

The carpet of fallen leaves enhances the beauty of this New England colonial home. I love the stark simplicity of the windows with no shutters. via

Fountains Cottage - Yorkshire UK

 Photo by Daniel Casson. Don't you love the fall colors?

Found on Instagram @dpc_photography_

Leaves to Rake and Late Dog Dinners

I spent the last three days working for hours on end outside and it felt so good. My listing sold on Monday and I can stop looking at my phone, at last! It was a very difficult two months with a happy ending so I really can't complain.

Dogs tell time by their stomachs and you can't fool them by turning the hour hand back an hour. This made me laugh and I have no idea where I found it. 

Hoar Frost with Sheep

It's coming says Jack Frost. I do love a good hoar frost and a winding path full of sheep. The autumn leaves on these massive old trees have yet to lose their leaves so warm days are still possible. Found on Instagram @wolfypic  He photographs in Scotland and England's Lake District. This is probably the Lake District where Beatrix Potter raised sheep. xo

Fall in The Country

I adore this photo. The old 1909 barn on the edge of the woods is painted a deep maroon red that is set off by the evergreen tree and the overgrown straw colored grasses in the foreground. Fall is such a great time to be outside with a camera. via

Pumpkins Galore

What a beautiful site. I love anything pumpkin and this time of year is the best. This photo is gorgeous, isn't it? via

Freshly Picked Dahlia Bouquet

I picked these lovely dahlias by invitation just before dark on Sunday night. They made getting up on a Monday morning so delightful. They drank a lot of water overnight and I had to top them off after taking this photo. They are the best summer into fall flowers of all.

Hello October

This photo just about sums up October, doesn't it? My driveway is filled with the spiky outer shells of my yearly chestnut crop, and the leaves are changing color. I love the red of the Virginia creeper that is the first vivid color to appear. So far I haven't had to turn on my heat but that time is coming soon. I love the crisp days of autumn while he leaves are still on the trees. via

My Friend's Beautiful Dahlias

I took these photos at a friend's house late this afternoon and once again fell in love with dahlias. I have never tried growing them and every year I admire them and wish I had them too. Next year for sure! I know you have to dig up the tubers and store them somehow to be replanted the next spring. I love that they are so tall and straight proudly flaunting their beauty. I love that they are late bloomers providing such beauty in the fall. xo

Nice Resting Spot and A Mowing

This actually looks quite comfortable and the bottom board makes a perfect Corgi chin rest. via

I had a much needed field mowing yesterday. My friend brought his big blue tractor dragging a brush hog and chopped down a three year growth of those woody weeds called Mugwort. I am on his list for regular mowings next year to keep them under control. I love having my far view back again. It rained almost all night and all morning and started back again in the early evening. 

Roger Rabbit Wearing A Sweater

It's jumper weather at my house too only we call them sweaters in America. via

OCTOBER, already?

I should have posted this yesterday but I hit the ground running and never stopped. I had my furnace checked out and serviced for the upcoming winter and my generator too. The service man came at 7:30 and I was shocked that my furnace came on when I set the thermostat to the heat setting. I still have my windows open and don't plan to have my radiators cranking for some time.

I am so enjoying my garden claw and the ease it has given me in pulling my tall weeds. It's rather like wrapping spaghetti around a fork. If you ever see one at a garage sale, grab it. It does take a bit of upper body strength, but I have plenty of that so it's not a problem. Men would probably like this tool too.

F. Scott Fitzgerald FALL QUOTE

"Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall." F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Fall Garden Crops

I love every single food on this chart. Fall is so exciting on so many levels. via