Enjoying October

 

Hello, friends! Almost mid-October on  day with wispy fog and hints of H. Delta shading the blue blue skies of October. But despite today's doldrums we have actually had a few cool crisp days, what a joy. Mo perks up immensely as the weather cools; he actually took me on a long lovely walk to the other day. The difference is amazing, I can really see how a flat faced, densely furred, chubby doggy suffers in hot humid weather.

Come with us! Time for some garden peeping, what is happening since we last were out?

On a happy day, Mo heads heads right for the beach lane.The shadows can be long and blinding but it's still lovely.

October is morning glory season here:

We made it all the way to the koi pond, must be 5 months maybe since we went that far.[partly hot weather, partly staying very close to home due to Covid issues earlier in the year].

Look how beautifully it has been planted! Even waterlilies, a favorite of mine.

And all the koi seemed present again. I was so sad when we went by in May and only three were present. Normally the koi village numbers about 14. You can see the orange ones glowing underwater, above.

Coming back we went past a sea wall and tried to get some pics through the barrier's gaps. This beach club/ wedding venue with its gazebos is abandoned, closed due to the pandemic's cancellation of weddings and reunions and festivals. How sad.

When Mo and I had our morning walk, we saw flocks of tiny birds in the sky and in the shrubbery. Some of the little birds were quite frantic; I think maybe their journey south is disrupted by the strong westerly winds of the hurricane down south. I saw a wren! Never have seen one here, and hummingbirds around some sunflowers. Later I found a tiny bird lying on the  sidewalk near my house. It seemed to not be breathing but also didn't look dead or injured. Maybe exhausted or stunned, so I left it there, untouched. A tiny black and white bird with a coral throat. Not much bigger than my pointer finger! A nuthatch? No. A bay breasted warbler? [some warblers are very tiny?]

Today we sat on the deck to sew bindings, despite the light fog. I told Mo it was the last ice cream of the summer as I served him his tiny scoop in his special green  bowl. Don't ever let anyone tell you dogs are colorblind! Mo knows that bowl has his ice cream. The day was lovely and relaxing; possible rain and wind to come though. I admit I always love a rain day, if only now and then.

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Back home the house was filled with the aroma of baking Carnival squash. I forgot to take its picture,

like a large acorn squash but mine was deep green with red and cream stripes. I quartered it and added chopped apples, as QB mentioned. She drizzles hers with maple syrup which I don't keep on hand, so I used olive oil, cinnamon, garlic, Chinese Five Spices powder, 

and a pat of butter on the top. 

Bake 400* for at least one hour, my squash was large so needed an extra fifteen minutes, 75 minutes total. The Carnival squash is densely textured, not stringy; rather like the''honeynut'' butternut squash. Loved it.

Look for this delicious squash this Fall, at the farmers market, grocery,, or even at the pumpkin patch.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...

the view from the bridges yesterday...still green on the marshes; golden shades won't come til November's end.