Not sure what it looks like in your part of the world, but this is the view from midway up the mountain.  Doesn't look much like fall yet.

 

Usually by the third week of October, we are seeing more fall color.  I'm not comparing years, because to do that I'd have to keep better records.  But I do know that the leaf-peepers usually show up for the third weekend of October.  

 

I'll keep you updated on Fall in our mountains.

 

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!!!

 

I love the forest, in all seasons.  It is peaceful, quiet, and calming.

 

I heard a cool phrase about the forest:  Forest Bathing.  It is the meditative practice of immersing oneself in the forest for no other reason than to be in the forest.  I love that!!!  I couldn't remember the proper spelling of the Japanese word, so I looked up forest bathing in Wikipedia.  The word is Shinrin-yoku.

 

Wikipedia has a pretty good page on forest bathing.  They describe it as an unscientific technique to improve health.  That's ok, it is still an interesting read.  Go to   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_therapy?wprov=sfti1   

 

Just reading about it is calming in itself;  better yet, take a walk in the woods for the real therapy.  We are so fortunate to be able to just step out the front door, and be in the woods.  Five Forks is such a great place to live.

 

HAPPY OCTOBER!!!

 

We were walking in the Park the other day, and I saw this familiar plant.  It looks quite different in the fall than in the spring.  

 

In the spring, it has a green spath-like flower.  And in the fall, that flower has turned into these red berries.  Do you know NOW what it is?

 

Yep.  Jack-in-the-pulpit.  They are a lot easier to spot in the woods with their red berries, than when they are all green.

 

I thought you'd like a little trip into the woods in the fall.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Do you recognize this fern?  It is Baker Fern, the kind that florists use in flower arrangements.  

 

Momma brought me a pot of this fern the first time she and Betsy came to visit, in 2004.  It came from her friend, Stacia's garden.  It hasn't gotten very big, but every year it gives me 10-15 leaves.  

 

I love it, and always remember planting it with Momma all those years ago.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

I love being in the garden this time of year!!!  We were cleaning up, and clearing out the tomato cages, and I saw this Common Sulphur dancing around in the Nasturtiums.  

 

Needless to say, I'm not ready to clear out the Nasturtium yet!!!  I have lots of those seeds too.  Happy to share.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

If there aren't already a thousand reasons to plant marigolds, here's one more:  Monarchs!!!! Apparently, they are passing through right now.  

 

I have plenty of marigold seeds, and I'm happy to share.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

As I started out for my walk on Sunday afternoon, I didn't get far before I saw this little lady crossing the road.  I was able to get her picture.  If you enlarge the photo just a little, you can see she is following her friend across the road.  Then a few steps later, I saw a third one.  Missed that shot.

 

I swear, they look like dinosaurs don't they?

 

HAPPY OCTOBER!!!

 

Remember a month or so ago I showed you our fig bushes?  Well, this is what the figs look like now.  Ready to pick.

 

On the two bushes, there are about 20 ripening figs.  We are so rich!!!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Remember Bizarro Comics?  Well, I saw this yesterday on FaceBook and got a tickle out of it.  Thought you would too.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

We have been having fun the last few rainy days.  We are using up the last of the apples, making tarts and pies.

 

These little pies aren't very pretty, yet, but this is only the third time we've made them.  We'll get the hang of it by next year.  In the meantime, we can practice on savory pies, like chicken and mushrooms, or chicken empanadas;  the possibilities are endless.  And Jon loves making his pie dough.

 

It's a wonder we don't weigh two thousand pounds.  But we do have fun in the kitchen.  

 

HAPPY COOKING!!!