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

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?

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 

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

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

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