Attention: We interrupt the profusion and plethora of fall decorating posts to say, “Flowers are still blooming in Claudia’s garden.” Yes, there are wet leaves on the ground and the leaves on the trees are changing to gold and red. Yes, the weekends up here in apple country are full of weekenders picking apples and buying cider and pumpkins. Yes, we’ve got a lot of raking to do. A lot.
But, we’ve managed to avoid turning up the thermostat. We’ve managed to avoid raking. There is not one pumpkin or gourd anywhere on the property. I looked at some in the grocery store yesterday and had no trouble resisting them. So for now, I’m going to focus on the never-ending beauty of the garden, which is still performing, still enthralling.
It may be October 7th here in the Hudson Valley, but flowers are still blooming. There will be plenty of time for fall, believe me. I’m not going there; at least for a few more days – a week if I can stretch it.
In other news, I finally managed to copy and paste the one hundred 90th Birthday wishes you so generously left for my dad. Obviously, I wanted to do it on my dad’s birthday, but I came home from Hartford on that day, Scout was ill and you know the rest. So I sent them to dad in 3 separate emails, along with the post itself. He said he had tears in his eyes as he read them and he wanted me to give you all this message:
To all the readers of Claudia’s blog: Thank you for all the Happy Birthday wishes. God bless you. (And I’m not as good a person as you think I am.) From Gordon Hill.
And I thank you as well. They really made my dad’s day and he felt the warmth of your greetings as he read each and every one of them. You are all such wonderful, generous friends. Thank you.
And in other-other news, my favorite poet, Mary Oliver, has a new book of poetry out. It’s called Dog Songs and it’s all about the many dogs that have been a part of her life. If you want to know more, this article was in the New York Times this morning. I love Mary Oliver. I will be putting this book on my wish list.
Scout improves each day. Yesterday, for the first time, she loped back down the hill after doing her business in the dog corral. And she pounced!
Happy Monday.
Good morning Claudia,
Such great news about Scout!
So happy she’s able to enjoy the warm and sunny weather with you.
It’s amazing how beautiful your garden looks. I believe your flowers waited for your return from Hartford, to put on their show :)
Enjoy the lovely weather!
Lori
I think you’re right, Lori. They waited!
What a great Monday morning post. Your dad was excited and touched by the birthday notes. Scout is improving, bringing relief to your worries. And you garden continues to bloom. Cold, rainy day here but after reading this, I feel lighter and hopeful today!
We’re under a tornado watch at the moment, Chy. More rain today and tonight. But it should be sunny tomorrow.
I loved your dad’s comment. What a sweet guy. When I read “God bless you” I truly felt blessed. Your beautiful flowers are a sight to behold! I never think of flowers blooming this time of year. I am doing my part by listening to music this morning instead of the news. I have heard enough of that lately! I will keep your flowers in my head and do some stitching today.
Tana
I try to stay away from the news! I check out the headlines in the morning and read what I need to in the NY Times, but after that, I enter a no news zone!
I’m so glad your Dad enjoyed his birthday messages! I knew things got rough for you when you got home! So happy that Scout is doing well. :) Now for your garden, you are so blessed to have this late ‘summer’ garden still blooming!! Gorgeous photos!! Your blog post made my day brighter!
hugs,
Linda
I’m so glad, Linda!
You go girl!. Don’t let summer go til you have to. I have not put my outdoor furniture away, I haven’t planted my tulips or dug up the vegetable garden. No pumpkins or fall displays here yet (and it isn’t just laziness ;). J
I refuse to go there yet! I’m digging in my heels.
It’s all so confusing. isn’t it. The flowers are still summery and the trees are changing. This is the first cool day we have had so it is making me feel a bit more like giving into the season. Great news about Scout and I am so glad that we made your dad happy. I bet he is a lot more wonderful than he thinks. xo Laura
He’s a good guy, Laura.
Great way to start off the day…with a good news post! Shhh…I haven’t bought any pumpkins either…and yes, I’m still enjoying some blooming flowers in my pots! The grass is still growing, the leaves are still accumulating, only my beloved hummingbirds have left! Enjoy this chilly, but beautiful day! ;)
Oh, sorry to hear that the hummingbirds have departed, Donna! I keep hearing the honking of Canadian Geese flying overhead – a sure sign of fall.
Blessings to your father. I know life can be tough at times.
I love all of your blooms, Claudia – especially the zinnias. We still have some blooms, too.
I hope you will visit my blog post today. I think you will enjoy it, but beware because I do have a few pumpkins.
Yes, and unfortunately, Dad had a bad head cold the day of his birthday and couldn’t even celebrate!
To a dog lover, those three words “And she pounced.” brought tears. We know what that means. Even when they are healthy and doing well, a pounce is always laugh-worthy. So happy to hear that! Equally happy to hear you are still enjoying your flowers. Still no sign of frosts or freezes here in Wisconsin, either, at least through the next week. It is quite an amazing fall. The changing leaves are always beautiful, but the trees putting on their show this year seem to be exceptional. Each day is truly a diamond!! chris
No sign of frost here, either, although it is going to get colder after this front moves through today.
I’m glad the birthday messages brightened his day. I’m putting that book of poetry on my wish list, too!
Good!
Woo Hoo..Scout pounced..that is wonderful news Claudia!..What a wonderful mix of colors your flowers are..And to Gordon..If your daughter thinks you are a good person..that is enough for me as her opinion of you is the most important..
Pouncing is the best thing ever!
Love seeing your blooming flowers. So glad Scout has energy returning. Loved hearing about your Dad and how he liked all his birthday messages. Have a great week.
Joy
You too, Joy! Have a wonderful week.
How lovely to come home to a garden of flowers. There are a few things still blooming here, and I will enjoy them for as long as possible. So glad Scout is doing better.
It is great to come home to these flowers. I had been fearful that nothing would be blooming when I returned!
Loved your dad’s response. Will definitely look for that book and double hoorays for Scout!
Hip Hip Hooray!
I don’t think I have as many varieties of things blooming right now, but I did spot a couple of New Dawn roses today, the daring things! Your photos are beautiful, Claudia.
-Karen
I had a sneaky New Dawn rose last week! Oh I love those roses, Karen!
If I had a garden like yours I would enjoy it as long as I could too. I’m just starting on a few fall touches since I like keeping things simple. So nice to hear that Scout is being active again!
Simple is a good thing, Diane! Scout is more active but I have to remember that she has to stay fairly un-active for a few more days.
GORGEOUS flowers. THANKS for sharing.
Flowers here are all dead and only leaves falling.
Have a great day.
I am leaving a link to my Mailbox Monday post if you care to stop by.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My It’s Monday, What Are You Reading
Thanks for stopping by, Elizabeth!
Claudia would you do me a favor and check the comments that were made late in the day yesterday. I would really appreciate your opinion on a subject that is close to my heart…thanks.
Just visited your comment, Janice, and left a reply. Thank you for sharing your feelings on that. Let me just say, before you even read my reply, that I absolutely agree with you.
Gorgeous photos Claudia! So glad your Dad enjoyed all of the greetings.
So glad Scout’s getting back to normal!
Judy
She is. She wants to be a bit too active and there’s no way I can totally stop her. I just have to keep it to a minimum.
Yay for Scout! I’m so glad she’s doing better so you and Don can breathe easier. Isn’t it wonderful that despite all the time you were away from home you got back in time to still enjoy those beautiful blooms. What a blessing! I put my Fall decor out last week just because I was ready for a change. It’s been many years since we were able to go see the leaves change in person so we make do with lots of silks I bought for 90 percent off at a fabric store a long time ago. But I’m enjoying pumpkin spice creamer in my coffee these days.
Ummmm. Pumpkin spice creamer! Sounds good, Janie!
Beautiful photos, Claudia…I’ll take any opportunity to look at zinnias! HAPPY belated birthday to your dad and I’m glad Scout is on the mend!
Claudia, we haven’t turned our heat on yet either but if weather stays like it has been it wont be long. Glad to see your garden is still producing. I have held off getting pumpkin so far too. When I get them to early they just rot and that’s not the look Im going for.
Oh, I’ll bet your Dad is as good as we think he is! Glad he enjoyed the birthday wishes!
I finally put some faux pumpkins out and a cute sign I painted a few years ago on display, but pass up buying the real thing! That was so COOL that your dad got 100 birthday wishes! How awesome for him!
I’ll take flowers over pumpkins any day Claudia. Your’s are gorgeous!!!!
hugs from here…
So happy Scout is improving! Gorgeous flowers Claudia!
So glad the Scout is doing so well. Truly a blessing. I am touched by your Dad’s note. We readers of blogs ( I am not a blogger, just a reader) are so pleased to be allowed to see into your lives and be made a part of your joys and sorrows. There is great stength in numbers and when we all agree, it is wonderous to behold. Love to you, your Dad, Don and Scout.
She pounced! Good news indeed! And your dad’s sweet reply is so special, what a wonderful father you have. And he uses the computer at 90! That’s impressive! Love all the flowers Claudia – please keep rebelling against going “all Autmun” yet. Ann
Flowers still blooming over here in Michigan too! Love your Zinnia’s . Haven’t tried those yet. Glad to hear that your dad appreciated all the birthday wishes! He’s got your wicked sense of humor! Pouncing is very good news! Scout is on the mend. I’m not rushing into outside fall decor. I’m kind of overwhelmed with it all after seeing it everywhere. Thousands of ways to do pumpkins and all the DIY tutorials. I did some fall decor inside a couple of weeks ago. Fall is beautiful but I’m still grieving how fast summer went by.
I can’t believe all the flowers you still have blooming – how awesome! The only flowers left blooming here are my geraniums. I still have the pots lined up in a happy row on a bench on the side of my house. No pumpkins on my front porch this year; just a pot of mums and a scarecrow. So glad your dad enjoyed all the messages. Mary Oliver…I’ve mentioned to you before that she’s my favorite poet, too. I’ve been hearing about her new book for awhile now from her FB page. I have most of all her previous works…not sure if I’m going to buy this new one or not since I’m more of a cat person. I’ll probably glance through it when I’m hanging out at B&N some day, just because I simply love her poetry.
Glad to hear that Scout is doing so well.
I commented to The Husband tonight how lucky we are that our backyard flower garden (new this year) is still so, so pretty! Happy to hear your garden is still producing beautiful flowers.
It’s been a long day with lots of writing and editing to meet a deadline. However, I had to stop by and check on Scout. I’m glad to hear that she continues to improve. With trepidation, we took our sometimes wheezing, unstable and increasingly lethargic older golden retriever to the vet last week only to learn that . . . he’s getting older. His heart and lungs are strong. His weight is stable. And the lethargy? He spent the entire visit on the floor beside the vet, upside down on his back, his legs pedaling wildly as he wiggled with delight. She wasn’t impressed with our concerns about his increasing lethargy!
Yay! Pouncing is good! I’m glad Scout continues to improve.
And I’m happy to hear that your dad had a good birthday.
Yay Scout….Love your pictures..Glad you still have flowers..Me too..
Claudia, your flowers are still beautiful! Enjoy those as long as you can!!! Mine are starting to look a bit raggedy and leggy, but I will love them ’til that first frost turns everything to mush.