Gosh, it was a beautiful day yesterday. The sun came out, it was warm, but not too warm, and we found ourselves outdoors for a big chunk of the day. I’m feeling much better, so we did some raking. We also took a nice long trail walk.
As to the raking, we have far too many trees that are close to the house, which means we have to rake. We leave the back forty as is. I don’t rake the garden beds because the leaves serve as mulch during the winter, protecting the plants. But the area around the house? Has to be raked. There are large and very old trees surrounding the house that drop tons of leaves. If I don’t rake them, many of them will not decompose, and I’ll just have to rake them in the Spring. We’re not anal about it, but we do keep up with it as best we can.
The view out my office/studio window.
I found two more Nancy Drews with covers illustrated by Russell Tandy on eBay. They arrived yesterday. I can’t get enough of these period illustrations – the colors are so vivid, the hairstyles fabulous, the fonts swoon-worthy. I now have five in my collection and I’m going to keep looking for them. They make me happy!
Someone appeared on the shed ramp the other day:
I happened to see him from the living room window, so I ran for my camera.
Dear, sweet Henry looks rather elegant, doesn’t he?
He deserves a closeup. I’d love nothing more than to walk up to him and pet him, but he’s far too shy. It will never happen. I just keep telling him that I love him. And if I’m about to go outside and I see him, I’ll stay inside until he’s gone. Same with the birds in the birdbath. I don’t like to disturb them, and I want them to get a drink of water, or a bath, or some food, in peace.
Don can tell you how many times I have given him the ‘Halt’ hand gesture when we’ve been just about to go out the door. After years of living with me, he calmly accepts it and waits.
On a sad note: I’ve recently learned of the death of a fellow blogger, Pat Freymuth of Back Porch Musings. I’ve known Pat since the very beginning of my blogging days. She was gracious and talented. She had a gift for making a house a home and was an excellent photographer. Always kind and simply lovely, she had been battling illness. My sympathies to all who knew her, especially to her dearly loved family. She will be missed. Rest in Peace, Pat.
Happy Tuesday.
Nice to see Henri again! Our Steve has been around occasionally, but the deer are more frequent visitors coming to our apple tree to dine. Chickadees and Tufted Titmice are more and more frequent visitors along with more woodpeckers.
It’s such a pleasure keeping track of our animal and bird friends, isn’t it?
Sweet! My birds have disappeared but I hope they will come back. Love those Nancy Drew books, what years were they published? The illustrations are wonderful!!
hugs,
Linda
They were published and republished for years, but Russell Tandy did the illustrations between 1930 and 1949.
Wow. Henry looks well fed! Love your Nancy Drew books! I never read them when I was a kid. Don’t know if I would be interested in reading it now, but you never know.
I loved them when I was young and, as you know, I like to collect books – especially childhood favorites.
So good to see Henry again! I am off to the consignment store, and the thrift store…not to shop….but to see what I can sell…and donate. I’ve decided that things I have not been using or displaying, need to find a better home. And today seems like a good day to do that. I envy you your sunshine….it is cool and cloudy here. I was saddened to hear the news of Pat’s passing…I have been following her for a few years. Hopefully…there will be another Henry sighting in your future! ;)
I’m doing that as well. Time to donate to our Salvation Army store.
Yes, very sad news about Pat. She was such a lovely woman.
I wouldn’t know a groundhog if I met him face to face, so I love these photos! You captured some really good ones of him; he looks big!
Lovely to see your autumn leaves, at least for this SoCalif girl! I have a better idea now about raking/leaving some, etc. Gosh, I know you probably at times curse them, but they’re so beautiful in your pastoral landscape; what a place, where you live! It’s SO nice.
What’s the ‘no -uturn’ sign about in the wide shot? Somebody’s deadend drive…yours?
That’s from my friend’s shop parking lot. She gave it to us when we closed. I usually have it elsewhere, but I put it at the end of the garden to keep the little bunnies out!
I was so sorry to hear about our sweet Pat, too. We sure will miss her. I stopped by to see your beautiful Nancy Drew books. I collect them too and love these covers! Enjoy your day and nice Fall weather! Hugs, Diane
Thank you so much for stopping by, Diane.
A fellow Nancy Drew collector! Yay!
Henry looks like he’s getting ready for winter…chubby with a nice thick coat. I’m forever raking too…pine needles don’t decompose easily, especially with little rain, and they are not good for my plants. Glad you’re feeling better, Claudia.
We lived in a rental house when we first moved out here with two big pines in front of the house. I well remember raking up pine needles!
Gorgeous view out of your studio/office window. Vintage Nancy Drew books make me happy, too. I love the Russell Tandy illustrations! The hairstyles and fashions make me smile. Love them.
Love that vintage look, Dottie!
Pat’s blog was the very first one I ever read – back in 2007. She was traveling to the city I live close to and mentioned that she and J would be having breakfast on Saturday morning at a special cafe that my husband and I went to often. I suggested we go out for breakfast and who was sitting at the next table but Pat and J!! I made a fool of myself, doing everything but asking for her autograph! They were both very friendly. I honestly felt a little like a stalker! I reminded her of this in later years and she said she remembered me. Such a dear, sweet person. I have missed her and feel so bad for her lovely family.
I do, too. She was one in a million, Myra. I’m so glad you got to meet her in person.
Oh, what fun to see Henry! He is looking very healthy :-)
I just found out about Pat, yesterday. She was a ray of sunshine in the blogging world!
She surely was, Susan. She will be missed.
Henry DOES look elegant. He also looks HUGE, and completely ready for a long Winter. Has he grown? He wasn’t a baby earlier THIS year, was he? Oh dear, the years are starting to blur together. Seems like I read some Henry/Henri posts last year too. Maybe he was a baby LAST year? Am I losing it? LOL.
PS – so sorry to hear about your blogger friend. Sounds like I missed a really good thing there. May the Force be with her, and her family… 🌟
Henry has been around for several years. I’m not sure exactly, how many, but he’s a grand old man.
Sweet picture of Henry!! Wonder if he is leading a life as a bachelor these days…. maybe that is why the weight gain. More likely just because Winter is coming. Do they hibernate? I don’t recall snowy pictures w/ Henry.
We aren’t losing too many leaves yet, and so far just a few seem to be turning colors. We are having 70+ temps for a few days, and then I think on Friday over-night it is supposed to go down to 39*, so it is, of course, inevitable!
Hope you are enjoying your Tuesday!!
Yes, they hibernate. (Right under our shed, I think!)
I am saddened by the death of Pat. She was a very special lady, and she lived her love of her family and life. I started blogging in March 2006, and I have “met” so many wonderful people. I think we all have a way of touching the lives of each other.♥
I think so, too, Beverly. It’s a sad loss for all of us.
Thank you for your blog which I enjoy reading every day on all topics which come across as very honest and genuine. Loved the Michaelmas daisies on your Instagram today….such an appropriate name for this Autumn flower. Ann
Thank you for stopping by, Ann! The michaelmas daisies are so beautiful, aren’t they? They are abundant down by the road – in purple and white.
Thank you so much for sharing the news of Pat’s death. I have enjoyed her blog for many years and admired her decorating skills for making a house a home, too. I assumed she was ill, but had no idea of the seriousness of her illness.
I had no idea, either, Sharon. I think most bloggers were taken by surprise. She was such a lovely, lovely person.