Yesterday I posted about the gourds and pumpkins that showed up early. I didn’t include a picture of the pumpkins. These are “Lazy Gardner” pumpkins.
The actual pumpkins looked a little rough this week when I got them…but they’ll be fine outside tucked in with mums.
Here’s the pumpkin that rotted and seeded. It was a “Turk’s Turban” and is in the upper part of the cabinet in this picture from last year.
A bit early but still a nice surprise!
I mentioned in a post a few weeks ago that I was reading “Flight Behavior” by Barbara Kingsolver. The author enjoys pulling readers into the relationships in the book…to allow us (the readers) to see things from other folks’ perspectives. However, the final pages are the ones that have lingered with me. In this book, which I hope I don’t spoil for anyone, the monarch butterflies…the King Billies...are wintering in East Tennessee vs. Mexico. There are many factors as to why…the changing climate, availability of milkweed, etc., but it’s not a good thing. It seems to be an impossible situation.
However, there is an inkling of hope as a few of the monarchs survive the winter in spite of all of the perils. We don’t know their final outcome, but we are given hope that they may be evolving and adapting to the new “now.”
And even though it’s not “time” to put out fall decor if you’re a person who follows that type of thing (I am), these guys are tired of lying around on the ground. They are “done” and I’m adapting.
Not just one…but a bunch! A “gang” or a “gaggle”!
If you follow Pinterest, Southern Living and all the other places that feature pretty autumn pictures NEXT month, you know that I’m early in placing these pretty gourds in my foyer. What else is there to do???
This continues to be a year of change for us…our family is changing, my transition to not working is occurring, and our “dear girls” Gracie and Luckie are getting so old that they will not be with us much longer. Not all these changes are welcome or wanted, but we’re like the King Billies, we’ll adapt.
Thank you for reading RiverCliff Cottage. I hope all your changes are good ones!!
Hi! If I have misspelled words in this post, it’s my stupid laptop. The keyboard is not working right. It is under warranty but what a lot of trouble!
Mike and I are going to be working on our house again during the next 6-9 months. We’re getting the hardwood redone, redoing the kitchen counters, and fixing up this and that. I’m still working part-time for a few more weeks but I’ve already started one of the projects. Our “powder room” is dated, and we are starting there. By the way, when did “half bath” become “powder room?”
Here’s the room tonight…
I’m changing the light, the mirror, the spigot and the paint…maybe some of the cabinet hardware. I still enjoy Lisa Snead’s painting…but I can’t keep it and change the paint. Here’s a glimpse of her work…
Here ‘s the brassy spigot…I had wondered about painting it, but I just went ahead and bought new.
Tomorrow we’re removing the mirror which is glued to the wall. Guess who gave me instructions on this? My True Love…
http://www.lowes.com/creative-ideas/bed-and-bath/remove-a-bathroom-mirror/project
I hope this works!
Polecats — that’s what my daddy called them. I call them skunks, or something that rhymes with “Bittle Ones of Itches.”
So these Bittle Ones of Itches used to treat me with respect. Of course, that is when I had young dogs that didn’t mind getting stinky. Now, since Luckie and Gracie’s retirement, and their hunting is more aligned with eating fried worms on the driveway (see picture below), the Bittle Ones of Itches are taking over.
My beehives are behind fencing because of them. Carefully constructed so a skunk cannot dig under the fence, the Bittle Ones of Itches are climbing over or squeezing through the fencing. They sit out in front of the hives and when the bees fly out to protect their hive, the skunks eat them. They can destroy a hive.
It’s war. I was thinking of shooting them. I can shoot a 22; it’s easy — however, everyone says there is still a bad stinking problem. Someone suggested trapping them as a more humane resolution but who wants to check the trap? Not me. John Rhoton of Poor Valley Bees came up with the fix!
A welcome mat of sorts…
But it’s a special welcome mat…look closer.
Aha! Some Bittle Ones of Itches are not going to have happy paws when they try to get my bees! It’s a great resolution. They’ll leave unharmed except for an “ouchy” on their feet, and my bees will live another day.