We had frost last night. And, if you remember, we had frost a few days ago. My moonflower and morning glory vines are toast.
Sob.
I had a good run with the morning glories, but the moonflower and I were just getting into a rhythm of beautiful blooms.
Last night, I covered the geraniums, brought some of the porch plants in and covered the others with sheets. Fingers crossed. This is so frustrating given the fact that the weather is getting warm again in the coming week with – get this – a high in the 80’s on Thursday.
October frosts: I really, really dislike you.
The limelights are turning pink. In anticipation of the frost, I clipped several of them and brought them in the house to dry. They may or may not be in the vintage ice cream maker that sits on the café table. Perhaps I’ll take a picture or two for you today.
The sedum Autumn Joy is looking particularly beautiful.
I took this picture yesterday and posted it on Instagram. The colors of the autumn leaves are particularly vivid this year. Those reds! Is it because it was so dry this year? I have no idea.
We went on a trail walk yesterday and brought along some carrots for the horses, who now eat out of our hands. We love that.
Ashley (the mom).
Pliers (the son).
This little ritual of stopping by to say hello and give them a treat makes us happy.
I just finished Missing Presumed this morning. How lovely to read and read and read, sipping coffee made for me by my husband, with a shawl around my shoulders. For those of you who missed it, I have a book giveaway going on (see yesterday’s post) and I also asked the readers of Just Let Me Finish This Page to share what they are reading. Stop by and share your current reads with us. We all love these posts because we can compare notes and learn about authors who may be new to us.
Happy Saturday.
Love the horses. Are they on a working farm? Enjoy your day.
No, not on a working farm. Just owned by an elderly guy who has always loved and worked with horses, Doris.
Actually, frost sounds pretty good to me. I’m sitting here with an iced coffee, fans going at full blast, doors and windows open…schvitzing (is that how you spell it?) profusely!
Love your sweet horsey neighbors and your spectacular fallen leaves. Will the hydrangeas keep their color when dried, I wonder? One can see where the “Autumn Joy” sedum gets its name.
They should. I’ve dried them before and the pink stayed.
Oh, good. It’s a beautiful color.
xo
It’s nice the horses can roam free!
It is!
I hope to get out and about today. Still recovering from jet lag but it’s better. I need some hugs from my grands and to check in with them!! Enjoy your day. Hugs.
Those grands will do the trick, Linda!
It’s always good to make new friends! Although we’ve been under frost warnings…we have yet to be hit. Although the mosquito population seems to have diminished…thankfully. Sounds like you are going to have a bit of Indian Summer next week? I haven’t commented on your other blog…I haven’t picked up a book in weeks. There’s been lots of purging going on here. But, I’m making progress on that front. So I’ll get back to reading regularly after my son moves back home at the end of the month…and I have some much needed down time! Enjoy your day! ;)
You too, Donnamae. I hate these early frosts!
First significant rains of the season started yesterday. I had to run out and put my cactus cuttings under the patio table so they wouldn’t drown. Now the sun is out, but another big rain tomorrow. The vagaries of weather. So sad your moonflowers and morning glories succumbed. Frost won’t start here for another couple of months. I love horses, but being a city girl, don’t often see many. San Francisco has a very popular police horse patrol … popular with the citizens, and also with the police. A policeperson waits years on a waiting list to become part of the horse patrol.
I am in mourning for those vines, Wendy. Thankfully, the sheets I put on the barrels full of geraniums and the porch plants did the trick.
The most gorgeous and unusual hydrangeas!!! I love them!!! Living in southwest Florida, I’m missing all of this beauty from my Tennessee years. So nolstagic, but the supermarket green and white pumpkins and mums will have to do.
Thanks for a lovely Saturday morning post!
You’re welcome. They’re called Limelight Hydrangeas, Rhonda. They’re white during the summer, then they start to turn pink and green.
Pink and green! My favorite colors! Sure wish I could grow them in Florida! I’ll just enjoy yours! :) (I pinned them!)
xo
Such pretty pictures! We have had 2 “soft frosts” I am calling them, because not everything in all areas of the yard seemed to have been touched. Back into the 70’s this week. Crazy time of year. Still no real color on the trees, though. A few are starting to turn, but I would say less than 20% have any color as of yet. My Hydrangeas look exactly as yours do right now. The ones I saved last year look as good as the day I brought them inside. The Pampas grass is also beautiful right now. I need to bring some of that inside, too.
Isn’t it interesting how quickly animals can get into a habit in just one or two encounters. Such fun. And on those days you don’t walk, I bet they are a bit bewildered. Hope you have a great Saturday!
We have a lot of color on the trees. Like your yard, not everything was hit by the frost – but I think the vines are just too tender, so they bit the dust.
I love seeing the horse photos. I know you said they need grooming; do those dear beasts have any shelter for upcoming cold weather? I only see rickety ‘out buildings’. I don’t know why I obsess about such things…
Well, I asked a horsewoman about that. They don’t have a barn, but they do have a ‘rickety’ shelter. It worries me, too, but the woman I spoke to said they’re fine in the cold and snow – they really don’t need a blanket, as the blanket can keep their own coat from warming their body adequately.
Great photos! Sorry about the early frost; here we are hunkering down for a predicted windstorm that’s promised to be like the one in 2006 where people lost power for days. I am reading The Secret Chord in preparation for a lecture by the author and also Medicus for bookclub.
I so hope you don’t lose power, Judy! Stay safe!
Pliers. Oy, there has GOT to be a story there. Maybe not Shakespeare or even Steinbeck of course, but a story nonetheless. LOL.
PS – the only reason I don’t COMPLETELY mind October frosts myself is because the automatic lawn sprinkling system where I live is shut off “for the duration” after the first frost and my car finally gets to enjoy a nice clean car wash look for longer than 24 hours after that point. My parking spot is right next to a set of the embedded sprinklers and nearly every night around midnight, from May through the first frost, in the interest of nice green lawns, my car gets well-and-truly showered, resulting in a spotted smudgy car by morning. No matter how many trips made to the car wash! 🍂
Well you now will have a break from those sprinklers, Janet!
Well, I will miss your Morning Glories and Moon Flowers…I will look forward to them next year Claudia…My wonderful big brother was a big time horse lover and often took me with him to visit his friends who owned a stable when I was a little girl…I often wondered how they could stay warm in the Fall and Winter seasons…I guess they are made for the adjustment just like cows, sheep, and other farm animals…I suspect it is because I feel cold most of the time so I want all of the other animals to be warm..lol…Wishing you and Don a peaceful Sunday tomorrow…
I know! I worry about all the animals in the cold. But I guess the deer show us that they can handle it, so why not horses?
I’ve been feasting on your anniversary photos, the love you two share, the interests and art and life you enjoy together thru the years. I love that the couple in the restaurant thought you two were on a date–a nearly 30-year date! What a beautiful way to describe a marriage. Thank you for sharing your daily love stories with us, and good wishes for many more dates!!
Oh, thank you, Nora. Your words make me smile.
We also cover plants or put them inside for those couple of light frosts we always get in mid to late October. There is usually (hopefully) a few more weeks to enjoy them before heading into our long, dark and frigid Minnesota winter. Sob…
Yes, we try to prolong the season as long as we can! Thanks, Valerie!