Sunday was lovely. We took an impromptu drive, heading west over the Shawangunk Ridge. The ‘Gunks’ as the locals say.  They are a continuation of the Appalachian Mountains and we are blessed with a view of them from our property.

We stopped at a viewing point and took this photo. The mountains you can see in the distance are the Catskills. We drove through some lovely little towns, as we observed the leaves changing color in the autumn light. It was nice to take a drive together for no other reason than to have a little adventure. We miss our road trips. One of the things I love the most is a road adventure with my husband, like the time we drove back home from California. We’re due for another big adventure but that will have to wait until we can afford it. In the meantime, these little mini adventures help put everything in perspective and we return home happy and relaxed.

The last couple of autumns have seemed to start earlier than in the past. We’re not even done with September and there are a lot of leaves on the ground! It’s amazing how quickly the seasonal change has taken place. Climate change? I have no idea, but I do know this transformation used to start toward the very end of September. We’ve been in it for a couple of weeks now as we were last year at this time.

Our Great blue heron friend is in the river every day, in just about the same place. Endlessly patient, waiting for the right moment to find a fish. The other day he was in the midst of lots of Canada geese doing the same thing.

We had a beautiful sunrise this morning with the sky an intense blue with pink streaks. Just glorious.

Yesterday, we took the day off from walking but we’ll be back at it today. But not until I make our second cup of coffee.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

I took this so you could see the Virginia creeper turning a vivid red. I can see it off in the woods, as well.

In writing about all the birds we’ve seen, I forgot to mention the great blue heron that we’ve seen twice this week. He’s been standing in the river, patiently waiting for a fish. We saw him on Monday and on Wednesday. My goodness, he’s gorgeous.

Yesterday was a day where I was on a tear, doing all sorts of chores that I’d put off, both inside and outside. I go from being a slug to a dynamo and there seems to be no in between. And I still have a lot more to do. We took a day off from walking, but we’re back at it later this morning. I’ll also return the latest Kate Atkinson to the library. If you’re a Jackson Brodie fan, this one is excellent. Perfect plotting, lots of twists, lots of references to classic mysteries, and lots of word play. I loved it. Atkinson is one of my favorite writers.

Don was supposed to get a trim yesterday and he came back with far more than a trim. I was shocked. He had asked me if I wanted to go along with him but I was in the middle of all sorts of chores, so I said no.

Sigh. I should gone along with him.

There are so many leaves on the ground already. I think I said this last year as well, but they seem to be falling earlier than usual, especially from the maples. We mowed the front yard the other day and by the next day, portions of it were covered with leaves. No, no! Let us enjoy fall a bit longer, please!

The temperatures are still fairly warm but by next Monday, they will drop into the sixties. Don and I are counting the days until we can wear the cotton thermal shirts which are our winter wardrobe staple. This started when Don was on tour for Margaritaville and discovered them at an Old Navy in Chicago. When I visited him, he talked me into buying some.  The only choice we have to make is what color to wear. Easy!

Now, I’m worrying about my favorite gray thermals which are showing signs of wear.

These, of course, are quality problems.

I forgot to mention that our friend Margaret, who is married to Adrian – he had a heart transplant last year – is undergoing open heart surgery today in California. Please keep her in your prayers. They have been through so much.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

This coneflower has a little story. It’s in the big garden bed where there are lots of other coneflowers all of them now turning brown. For the longest time, I noted that the tiny petals were not opening fully. Eventually, I thought it just might be one of those flowers that never fully opens. But, about a week ago, I was surprised to see it like this, big and full and beautiful. It’s as if it decided to hold off a bit so I could have one fresh coneflower when all the rest of them are now fading.

It’s a beauty.

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Bird stories.

On Monday, late in the afternoon, I was watering the plants near the funky patio. I use a copper watering can which holds a modest amount of water. So I was going out, watering, coming back in, filling it up, etc. At one point, I walked in the kitchen making my way to the sink and there – right outside the window, no more than 5 feet away from me – was a Cooper’s Hawk. He was perched on the lowest branch of the tree, staring toward the secret garden. I gasped and quietly called out to Don. He couldn’t have been there more than 30 seconds before he took off. (Don didn’t get to see him.) I tracked him to a tree in the back forty and then, a tree in the woods.

I have never seen a hawk that close, nor have I seen one on a low branch. He was right at my eye level. Stunning. Such a gift!

Then, yesterday, Don and I mowed the front lawn. When we were done, we sat on the glider for a bit to catch our breath. I noticed some turkey vultures in the sky, riding the air currents. There must have been 15 of them, swooping and gliding, and it was beautiful. We noticed this a couple of weeks ago, as well, but this time they were closer to us. Sometimes, they’re circling an area where an animal has died, but that wasn’t the case yesterday. They were just enjoying the air currents. (Turkey vultures hang out in groups. Hawks are solitary.)

Suddenly, just underneath them, many, many starlings appeared, flying in a formation.

And then, as I stood there watching the starlings, a bald eagle appeared directly under them and flew in a straight line toward my neighbor’s property.

All that in about 5 minutes.

We felt so blessed that we’d been in the right place at the right time.

Another gift.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.