Witch Hazel

I love these delicate flowers.  And love that they bloom in the fall.

End of the Season

Every year I get a little sad around this time. Just for a day or so.  Now is the time to say goodbye to my tomato and pepper plants.  The collards, I hope, will over-winter, but the others never make it. Good producers all of them, but more importantly, faithrul companions whom I visited every day for more than a season.  There they were - growing, waving in the breeze, tirelessly giving their all. 

I try to wait until the first frost takes them before I pull them up.  This year, some hung around until mid-November and I've even got one plant in Arlington with tomatoes still on it.  We've had such a warm fall.

Today, I put a big pile of leaves on my garden at Dad's house and said goodbye to all of them.  And wished Dad were there to visit with. Looking at his benches and just wishing he was there, sitting with his ball cap on and of course his Michigan or Ohio State sweatshirt and windbreaker, even on a 70-degree day.  These are the times I miss him most. 

A Friday Haiku

Red, green and brown trees
Greet me on the drive to work,
Only one more day.

Hodge Podge Lodge

That used to be one of my favorite shows as a kid. I couldn't tell you what it was about any more, but the name has stuck with me all of these years. And I'm thinking of it now because I live in a hodge podge lodge right now. No, my house isn't messy, but my life sure is. Which is why I am loving sitting quietly on the couch right now with a sleeping cat to my right and a very tired, sleeping dog at my feet.

The dog is particularly tired and had a rough day. He woke up at 5 a.m. throwing up part of the garbage he ate two days ago. And given that some of the items were questionable, we found ourselves at the vet for emergency x-rays and some barium. The poor doggie stayed there all day. I say poor, but I think he secretly liked having a harem of people around all day. The vet said he was really good and didn't fuss the whole day. If only I'd known all this time that for $600 a day, I could have a calm and happy Shadow.

The cat on the other hand did not have such a restful day. We've had big winds and rains and very cool temps for the last two days. So much so that he didn't want to leave the house last night when I went to dinner and he barely left this morning when we left for the vet. Not much of an outdoor cat, but I don't blame him. He's twitching now. Probably chasing a mouse. (The photo was from a few weeks ago when it was a wee bit warmer out.)

Me? Well, I'm exhausted and would have traded places with either of them today. That's just how much fun work is these days. I'm focused on the future, though. Eye on the prize. And now, it's eyes closed. Up tomorrow morning again at 5 a.m. This time it will be planned, though.