happy halloween

Today

Waking to a red sky is a good indicator of a tumultuous weather day ahead. The clouds flew by like time-lapsed footage. The wind was crazy strong - maybe 40 miles an hour at times. Little wind devils kicked up the golden carpet of pine needles and spun them into columns. Anxious to return to my granite outcropping on the mountain to experience the weather, I left in the shirt I slept in and yesterday's jeans. 

Trout trotted ahead and then disappeared for a time. She returns from an unexpected direction before leaving me again and I know this will be one of many reconnections throughout our separate but together journey.  I startled an owl and marveled at how silently he flew away. So big to move gracefully through a thick stand of trees and then disappear altogether. Yesterday, the big bird sighting was a pair of pileated woodpeckers hacking away high on a dying virginia pine.

A red tree caught my eye and directed me to the tiny nest it cradled.

The wind thundered like a waterfall with layers of sound from whispery evergreens and the brittle rattle of dying leaves clinging to the tips of hardwoods. ( 33 second video)

I did not expect to find this turtle way up here but later it made sense considering how much water is stored in the depressions and holes in the granite. There is also an amazing diversity of tiny plant life there too:

Back home after the hike I arranged last year's scarecrow in the trees by my driveway. It is

very halloween appropriate - the fabric is rotting off of its stick form and his stuffing is falling out.

I went back out in the late afternoon for a short walk and stood at the top of the driveway to just listen.

I could hear 3 layers of insects: one a constant hum, another a rhythmic pulse of crickets and finally the occasional chirp of yet another species. I could hear a branch rubbing against another in the wind making a mournful sound and a barking dog far away. What seems really quiet when I am not paying attention is actually very alive with sound.

When I returned it was magic hour and some of the locals decided to take advantage of the open door...

Peggy Jean!

Halloween Tricks

*****UPDATE: THE HOUNDS TAKE THE PRIZE FOR "MOST ORIGINAL"*************************



God bless the innocent victims of glue gun abuse.



For there are none so sad in the land than those who cleave to a crafty woman.



Shell-shocked and parade ready *have you ever seen a more woebegone face?*



contemplating their sad lot



oh fer cri-yi. enough!

** No animals were harmed (physically) in the making of this post. Animals in photos have given consent in exchange for lamb and rice, long days of sunny fields, creeks and mountain climbs; mole diggings and belly rubs. Pet Parade tomorrow to benefit the Blue Ridge Humane Society. 10-2; City Park.

In the Forest

Koby and I headed out around 8 am to hike up in Big Sky.


Dew made the asters sparkle like gems against the soft southern light


Sourwoods are the first to go red


Oaks are turning golden


Koby and I survey the climb ahead


This time, we shag a trail up a dry creek bed


We found a rare bed of chestnut seed pods. Most american chestnuts died in a massive blight around 1905 -thanks to infected trees imported from China.


Reindeer moss grows liberally on the edges of the canopy


This is our reward for the climb. In a few more days, the mountains will be aflame with color


A blazing tree shades our rest at the summit


On the way home, we stop at the pond


The reflection on the still water is like a painting


Tiny white asters decorate the shore line


A trout swims under the leafy confetti and joins us as we walk around the pond. Tomorrow i will take him a treat


We walked back through the cathedral of trees on a well developed path


Upon our return home, we walk the creek and look forward to another perfect day

Chicken and Pasta (1:17)

Oh. You weren't looking for a recipe were you?

Happy Birthday Dani

Oh no! My love for Mad Men has infected my illustration work! This mid-century christmas scene is a recent assignment illustration. Im sure they werent expecting this, but they accepted it. For Dani, in memory of her Ollie.

Golden

Golden sunflowers and bright lights cosmos have given way to fall asters and goldenrod. My flower bouquets for the farmers market turned from bold candy colored blooms to airy displays of delicate pastel forms. The sun has dipped south and now 3 pm has a fainter light than 7:30 pm had in early august. I could smell fall on the wind near the end of July and now, in October, the earth is bathed in diffused warm light complimented by a crisp blue ceiling. The hummingbirds left but there are plenty of nuthatches, finches, chickadees, titmice, downy woodpeckers and the large pileateds, jays, doves and owls. If you are not deeply in love with the world in fall, then you are truly hopeless and you have my sincere pity.

I had a delightful weekend blog summit with cyber and material friends who share this creative process of filling a blogger compose box. With my guests safely ensconced in the little cabin, I took to the freshly completed studio for my bedroom. My bathroom breaks were under a milky way as clearly defined as the deer path through hemlocks just a few feet away. An owl called from the woodlot to another on the edge of field and the waning moon was bright enough to make shadow. The early morning stars are the best of all as it truly is darkest before dawn.



Trout, and one of the chickens, watched over my guests as they (i hoped) slept peacefully to the sounds of flowing water and whirring night insects. Trout took advantage of having a house full of dog lovers but managed to be tolerable and possibly even charming in spite of her mercurial nature. She shined on the prey trail and flunked out totally at dinnertime as she silently moved in on unsuspecting guests, her snout inches from their plates. I had to correct her often which highlighted the fact that she is more of an independent contractor than a pet and that i am a lame and inconsistent pack leader.



The chickens were great of course. They free-ranged as always and greeted my guests when they arrived. They are just the most companionable little creatures, happily scratching out a living while us bloggers lounged about in lawn chairs discussing other bloggers over gimlets and a tequila shot. Easter always charms as she thinks she should be afforded the same privileges the dogs have, and inserts herself into the cabin often. On Saturday night, I actually allowed her to stay in for the night so she could hang out with the girls.



I managed to get some watermelons all the way to ripe this year by fencing them off from whatever critter ate them last year. I left one to harvest during the summit, and then forgot. We looked at the baby watermelons and felt sorry for their lack of light and the forecast of 40 lows to come that eve. These cute little late bloomers wont get any bigger so i will pick them and at least add them to some sort of gourdy pumpkin fall arrangement. I cant bear to just chuck them into the hedgerow like i did with all the extra too big cucumbers, which i never felt any tenderness towards. I don't really care about them so next year i'll do something else. There just isnt that much summer food I like. It's spring that has all the good stuff.



There wasn't a lot going on in the garden. We did eat some of the romaine, read leaf lettuce and spinach. Tomatoes were scarce but there were still peppers. Nasturtiums were loving the new cool air but the zinnia had grown leggy and the foliage had silvered with age and a light dusting of powdery mildew. The next few weeks i will prep the garden for winter and try a few experiments with my makeshift garden cloche and peruse the seed catalogs looking toward the new year which with each birthday, comes so much sooner than the year before.

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About a million years ago, Buzz won a contest correctly guessing what art i was making with the leftover triangles that were the by-product of my studio stairs. Buzz, here are a few of the available designs:







Of course, i can make any color combo or chicken breed you want so just say the word and i will send you your prize. You could use them as a door stop or as a handy weapon, or even as a folk art decoration. ;-)


And finally, some jewelweed. Hanging on to summer.