Every autumn, after most of the wildflowers on the property have already bloomed, these pale lavender beauties come along. I’m not sure exactly what they are, but they look like an aster. I have to remind myself not to yank them before they bloom. The plant itself just looks like an unattractive weed. But from weeds, beauty often follows.
We had our first cup of coffee this morning and then headed out (I was still in my pajamas) to clean the gutters, as we’re due for rain. It’s a messy job, but it must be done. After we finished, I raked a bunch of leaves in piles. I’m going to put them on the tarp later today. Then we came in, treated ourselves to our second cup of coffee and looked at the weather forecast.
It had changed. No rain today.
Oh well, we got it done and won’t have to do it again for another week.
I can’t believe how fast the leaves are changing and how many have already fallen. It seems early this year, but maybe I’m wrong. Many of the trees surrounding the house have turned color and are dropping leaves constantly. The one holdout is the catalpa, but as soon as we get a frost, all the leaves will fall to the ground en masse.
I finished Birdman by Mo Hayder. Excellent. A real thriller, but gory, which I don’t mind. But if you do, you might want to pass. I’ve ordered the next two in that series from my local library system. I’m now reading Down to the Woods by M. J. Arlidge. I’ve read all of his books and this is the newest. The plots center around a police inspector in Southampton, England by the name of Helen Grace. I’m also reading Paris to the Moon at the same time. Fiction and nonfiction, which makes for a nice balance.
It was a gray day yesterday. Another gray day today. I’d like to see some sun, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.
Happy October.
Happy Tuesday.
i am impressed with your gardening skills/work/knowledge/photography and extensive (and seemingly-super-fast) reading! i am not in a place, literally or otherwise, to garden or do much reading right now so am jealous, too, but moreso happy for you. enjoy!
and yes, happy october … may it be a good month for everyone!
kathy in iowa
But I’m almost 67 and am semi-retired, so I have more free time!
Thanks, Kathy!
i’m not too far behind (i’m 61 so have about six years until retirement), but i’m still jealous. and still happy for you.
kathy in iowa
Thank you!
Happy October!! You’re right, those lavender flowers are Asters. Out here in Colorado, I’ve heard them called Mountain Asters. Maybe yours are a relative called the Hudson Valley Asters?? ;)
Because your book recommendations are almost always spot-on for me, I’ve gone ahead an ordered the first in the series by M.J. Arlidge. Can’t wait to read it.
We have all sorts of wild asters around here! There is one – not this one – that’s New England Aster. It’s a deeper purple.
Oh good! Enjoy M. J. Arlidge!
Happy October indeed! It is currently storming here…our gutters didn’t get cleaned yesterday, so we now have cascading water falling from the gutters.
Thanks for the name of another author…I’ll be putting M. J. Arlidge on my list. I haven’t been doing much reading as of late…we’ve been traveling the highways and byways of our state. Mostly local places…places we’ve never been to, or are revisiting. Have you ever been to House on the Rock? It’s quite the place, lots to see, including a dollhouse collection. They were displayed in such a way that you could see not only the front, but, most of the interior. You would’ve loved it!
Our leaves aren’t falling that much yet…..we only have some trees that are changing. But…I look forward to falling leaves at this point. My containers are looking sad…I think it’s about time to put them to bed. Hope the sun peeks out for you today! ;)
Is that the place near Spring Green? I never did get there. I kept hearing how musty it smelled and my allergies screamed NO!
We have SO many leaves on the ground! Thanks, Donnamae!
i’ve been to “house on the rock” a couple of times. i’d wonder how it would be for a person with allergies, too, (also, some parts would be risky or unreachable for people with mobility issues and others might be good to avoid for someone with claustrophobia) because there is so very, very, VERY much stuff in there and most of it is out of reach for dusting. maybe they have a great air circulation/purifier system there (or maybe not) …? tickets are not cheap, but i can’t imagine how they keep up financially and otherwise with maintenance, etc.; it is huge! still, it was cool to walk through and see one man’s dream realized.
maybe you can see images of “house on the rock” online?
kathy in iowa
I’ve seen images of it – I spent some time in Spring Green several years ago. Thanks, Kathy. Although I’m not sure I saw images of the dollhouses, so I’ll do some searching.
Hey Kathy…yes…there are areas that definitely smell musty, but those were only in the actual house on the Rock. None of us have allergies, but I could see where they would kick up. It was fun though. They have added heat and air conditioning however, which has been a problem in the past. ;)
Yes…it is near Spring Green. I had forgotten about your allergies quite frankly…but, those dollhouses were unbelievable. I’ll check my pics, and if any of them are good I will email them to you. ;)
I wonder if the dollhouses are online? Hmmm.
I don’t know. I did send you an email with about 6-7 pictures though…I think they all came through. ;)
I haven’t checked that email, but I will later today. Thank you, Donnamae!
I never received the email, Donnamae. I’ll check spam, but I don’t think it came.
I just resent the email…there are 3 emails so as to not overload something. If you don’t get them this time I give up. Lol. ;)
Leaves are falling like crazy here too, but the color change is late due to the excessive rain we’ve had this year. Yesterday and today are hot and humid – we have the AC going. Starting tomorrow it’s going to drop back into the 50’s and 60’s and what else…more rain! There is flooding everywhere and our sump pump has been going non-stop.
I’m still reading and scanning some non-fiction books…cookbooks (with stories), decorating, poetry, personality types and simple living.
We set records for rain here this year, but the color change is happening – and a bit early, as well. But again, we’re north of you.
Thanks, Melanie.
As Donnamae said, we have very little color this year and not many falling leaves yet. Seems late for us. Heavy rain this morning and supposed to last through tomorrow night. So hot yesterday! We had the air on, but only into the 70’s today. However, still humid and then into the 50’s and very low 40’s for night time for the remainder of the week. I can’t believe it is Oct 1 already!!
When we had our house resided several years ago we had gutters and those screen things put on them which has been great to not have gutters to clean out so often, especially as we are getting older. I hope you and Don have a nice remainder of your Tuesday!
We have the air on today as it was in the mid-eighties and humid!
Thanks, Chris.
Bonsoir Claudia,(Here in France it is 20:17pm)
Leaves are falling prematurely because of the drought that we had here in Ile-de-France. A very very dry and very very hot summer. I am afraid some trees suffered very badly and maybe dead. Nevertheless, I love this time of year probably because I was born in September. I love the colors of autumn and to take a walk in the woods to pick mushrooms (not this year, it was too dry) acorns, leaves, chestnusts. ..
I read in your comments above that you are almost 67. So we are of the same age (I’m 68 years old and retired). Have a good afternoon.
You are the same age as my husband, Helene.
I’m sorry you had a drought this year. I hate to see trees suffer. But I’m glad you can enjoy autumn!
You remind me of the gutters. I have got to get on that. And thanks for the tip on Helen Grace. Sounds like my kind of writer.
Helen Grace is the character, Jeanie. The writer is M. J. Aldridge. xo
Our gutters will need attention soon but gone are the days my husband hangs off the ladder to do them himself. He really misses doing all his own “stunts” but at 87 it’s just not safe. We did have rain early yesterday morning, heavy and for quite a while, but it cleared up into a beautiful day. I can’t believe it may get into the 80s today and then fall into the 50s for tomorrow. The autumns are not like they used to be for the first 20 or so years I lived in Rhode Island and Mass. But then so little is. I’m off to bring offerings of breakfast to my two cats. The older one, Savvy, did NOT like his tuna feast last night and kept me up half the night reminding me of that. Different flavors are in the bag in the car. It was a poor decision on my part not to go get them in the middle of the night. LOL. I’ll be napping this afternoon, I hope.
Same here: 82 today, 50 tomorrow. What a change in temperature!
Oh, those cats! I hope you get a nap today, Nora!
We have those! They bring lots of cheer every year :)
If you find out exactly what they are we’d love to know!
Keep cool today & warm after that!
I think they’re a kind of aster. But I’m not sure. I’ll keep researching that.
Thanks!