Tuesday, October 25, 2011


So much family stuff going on
the garden has been neglected these past days
But I have a new visitor coming to the door
I thought at first it was Handsome, but alas, it was not to be
Oh how my heart breaks to speak of that old cat
and how I miss him
Truly I miss his grumpy face at the door every morning
insisting on a certain menu
His royal highness, feral cat supreme
I wish to think of him like my cat, Buster,who 16 years ago got out and never returned
I like to think of Handsome with him now, in an old lady's house...keeping her company
giving her hope, and joy and companionship
...say it is so dear Lord...that there is a place as this for lost pets
Now I am the old lady....feeding this rascal
He is very frightened....so by time I get my camera..he is gone
so excuse the bad photo
The hawk was in the yard this morning..I shooed him away
 My granddaughter wanting to know why
He eats my birdies...I tell her
Maybe he's hungry, Grandma
hhhhhhmmmmm.....she's a bit like her grandfather, I see

As we were eating our pancakes ,two cardinals 
arrived on the deck, sitting on little Handsome's bowls
boy and girl
My granddaughter, Reagan, liked this
...so did I




Wednesday, October 19, 2011

25 pounds of sunflower seeds
5 pounds of unsalted peanuts
apple bits and strawberry tops
and it is not enough
... that damn squirrel
He has violated my pumpkins
or was it the possum?
Maybe he'll carve two eyes and a scarry mouth
by Halloween
you think?

Monday, October 10, 2011

My husband looked out of the window and snickered,
Its always the frogs, he said.
What?
Your lineup out there on the deck.
I looked out and saw what he saw.....the fall lineup...a garden stop
yeah, it does look like the frog is guilty....get your hands above your head
Oh ..so much work putting things away, cleaning up....I welcome a good laugh
But you know....that Stafford 

Friday, October 7, 2011

I have been busy gathering things
to wash and to put away 
until next season of growth
ha...growth..this I have done a lot of this season
It must be the added year that turned a decade for me
Things are in some ways simpler...
I don't worry about this or that anymore
not even in the garden
I have let myself become completely wild
falling in love at every turn of my foot in the garden
Why just this morning I spotted this little cosmos
peeking its head out of the asters
I SEE YOU...I whispered
Oh, it heard me
can't you see its smile?
The geese honked overhead just as I whispered this
to the little flower so brave and true to itself
I looked up and waved
wished them a happy journey
soon I will travel to another place
may I find my voice yet again
maybe even honk a little

Monday, October 3, 2011

So much to do this week
but I must tend to the garden first
It is quickly coming to an end
and all the ladies in this chorus line are doing their thing
It is almost a wild party in the garden
every flower and plant throwing out its last hurrah
before standing naked in leaves
feet frozen to the ground
waiting for a blanket of white
to cover them 
I heard that we are going to have a repeat of last winter
urgh!
..better stock up on birdeseed
I told you I have lots to do...now one more thing just added to my list


wild party in garden
flinging leaves and last flowers
I partner in dance

Saturday, October 1, 2011

walking around the garden this morning
the ground covered in wet leaves
I heard an unfamiliar, for here anyway,
the call of a Blue Jay
Do you think it had anything to do with the peanuts
I put out this morning before walking?
How did that rascal spot them so soon?
I followed the sound
and yes, it was a Blue Jay
flying away with his beak full of peanuts
JOY