Happy Samhain

Home Again.

I'd made a reservation on the bus to St. John's the day before my trip. I was told to be on the highway at the designated spot between 1:00 and 1:30 pm. Sunday we drove up to the highway and waited. We were about a half an hour too early but that was okay. An hour later the bus still hadn't shown up, it was now 1:30. Fifteen more minutes went by and himself was saying that maybe he had broken down and I should phone to find out. I did and a recording came on saying "If there's no answer, I'm on the road." Okay, then I said that we would wait a few minutes more but after that we were going to head back home. A few minutes went by when we saw the bus coming up the highway pulling a boat behind it. It was one of those "Only in Newfoundland" moments. So, he pulls up to where we were, stops the bus and jumps out to get my luggage to store. When I get up to him he says "Do you want to sit in the boat or in the bus" hahahahahaha! The ride in was uneventful.

The night before coming home there were very high winds and the rain was coming down in torrents. This continued on through the next day but I arrived home safely. The inner archway in the garden had blown down and was flat on the ground. The first time anything like this has happened. This morning both of us managed to get it up again and stabilized.

So, then we decided to go to Glovertown to get a few things that were needed. We dropped into the Goodwill as himself had some clothes to donate. When we were leaving I passed a large toy box. A small voice was coming from way down on the bottom saying "Help me, get me out of here." Well, what could I do??? So, I went back and started digging down through all the toys. There I found this brave little bear who seemed relieved that someone had heard him. I ask him if he's like to come home with me and he said that was the best offer he's had in a long, long, time.
So, he hauled on his little knapsack and came home with me.

Scenes of Autumn

Autumn is in full force here now. Lovely colours and lots of leaves on the ground. The weather has been quite nice so I've gotten a lot done outside. Garden ornaments put away along with planters. I've cut back about two thirds of the perennials (a massive job really). It saves me work in the spring but unfortunately I couldn't finish the job as I hurt my hip badly and had to quit for this year.

I was disappointed in the amount of bees, butterflies and dragonflies along with other insects in the garden this year. We did have a dreadful summer (if one can call it summer at all) and I suspect this had an effect on these creatures.

I'll be going into the city for a few days tomorrow. I'll spend some time with my parents and also my daughter. Probably do some shopping as well. Our friends from Nova Scotia have been here and gone. I expect that will be the last of the visitors for this year with the exception of family of course.

So, on to a few pictures.

I love the look of these berries on the bitter sweet this time of year.


We've had an unfixed male cat hanging around off and on lately. Little Freya, who has been fixed, was staying outside a lot longer than normal. At one point, checking on her, there she was sitting pretty, staring at this handsome male. I think she's smitten.

The male.


Malachi looking quite fierce. He's really a sweetie.


On our way to do some shopping this morning, I took these pictures.

A few ducks.

Mabon Blessings

It's the day of the second harvest, Mabon. I did a little decorating outside.


I like fall a lot especially the colours and the scents that autumn brings. For me it's a time to put the garden to bed for the winter and plan what I'll do during the long winter days. I love the smells that seem overwhelming after the leaves start falling when they give off that sweet smell of decay. I see that some of the leaves are changing colour already.

I've started to cut back some of the plants and clear out the greenhouse. Yesterday there was a lovely fat spider in a web just inside the greenhouse door.


A number of years ago I grew some teasel from seed. I'd never seen them before but heard about them so decided to try. They grew well and the bees loved them but I found them just a bit prickly. I never bothered with them again, but this year to my surprise, one grew in front of one of the living room windows. I haven't a clue how it ever got there. When I grew them before it was in a different part of the garden altogether. And, where would it come from after all those years. Could one of the seeds landed there somehow and lay in hiding until this year?

The bees are really enjoying this plant but it scares himself. Yep, he's afraid of it. When he's sitting on the chesterfield and turns his head to the left, it's staring in at him. Says it reminds him of the movie The Day of the Triffids. I of course refused to cut it down as I'm hoping to get some seeds and plant just a few for the bees once again.

This is the beauty. It has more flower heads than I've captured in this picture.


We haven't had another bear visit since early this past week. I now have the camera at the ready just in case.

Another Bear

Yesterday another bear appeared. We're thinking it's a different one than the big one that came a few days ago as he appeared smaller. I just happened to look out the window and there he was. Once again the camera wasn't at hand and by the time I got back and managed to shove himself out of the way, he had gone around the back of the house. I then ran to the storage room window and just saw the back of him going around the other corner. Rushed to the bathroom window when I heard himself say that the bear had gone on up the back and was heading into the woods. Just got a glimpse of him before he disappeared among the trees.

I got these two terrible pictures but am putting them here anyway. The garbage bag you see in the photo doesn't contain garbage, just wood chips we had been raking up.


What else have I been doing? Well, had company stay last weekend and now I have another couple of friends coming in early October for four days. I've been trying to get the garden put to bed for the winter but I haven't been getting very far with that.

Lots of bees around enjoying the Sedum.


Lots of Jays as well.


This one looks like a grumpy Gus.


Frankie and Freya enjoying a sunny day.

There are Bears around.

Last night around seven o'clock we heard a bit of a thump outside. Thinking it was one of the cats I went to the back door. Nothing there so then went to patio doors to have a look. There, no more than five feet from me, standing up tall on his back legs with one front paw on the deck railing, was the biggest Black Bear I've ever seen in the garden. He was HUGE! A gorgeous creature. I ran for my camera and himself ran for his toy cap gun, bless him. By the time I got back the bear was heading off towards the woods so no picture. Himself was yelling, "Put the cake and cookies away somewhere." and "Are you nuts going out on the deck to get a picture." lol

So, this morning no sign of the beautiful beastie. Himself says "I don't understand you, you were sleeping like a log all night with no worries and I was listening for noises all night."

I expect the bears are trying to fatten up now for their hibernation. I was going to continue working in the garden today but am having second thoughts about it now.

Some bears that were here before.

Well now, what's been going on?  Actually, I've been fairly busy.  The weekend before last friends came for overnight bringing with them fruits, homemade jams, cheese and other treats.   It was a lovely visit.  The weather continued to be nice and so we ate dinner outside and continued to sit out until almost dark.  The next morning was another beautiful day and everyone was in agreement to eat brunch on the deck.   They brought me a book called "Fairies and Magical Beings" which I'm looking forward to reading. 

This past weekend my next door neighbour who had moved to Ontario about three years ago, came with her daughter for a visit.   It was wonderful to see her again.  They stayed for dinner on Friday then as they had made reservations to rent one of the local cabins, off they went.  I'm hoping to see them again within the next couple of days.  I'm thinking maybe for lunch tomorrow. 

This coming weekend a friend of himselfs is coming Friday, leaving Sunday.  So, more meal planning.

I'm so lucky in that through a friend I got a good home for our one remaining chicken.  I could tell she was lonely and was concerned about how she'd fair by herself over the winter.   So, we spent part of last week hauling down the old hen house and the attached greenhouse area.  Actually, we got it all down but for part of the hen house itself so we hired a couple of young fellows to demolish the rest and cart all the wood up to the pile we have stacked up to burn in a bonfire in November.   Unfortunately they've piled it too close to the shed and I don't know how we're going to manage to move it further off.   We have only ourselves to blame as we should have been watching what they were doing.  There is a massive amount of wood there, not only from the chicken house, etc. but also from the old part of the house that was torn down to build the new extension.

So, that's been my life this past while.  You can certainly feel fall in the air now.  The night before last the temperatures went down to zero.   Lots of birds around especially Blue Jays.  

Little bird.

Nuthatch.

Woodpecker.

The garden.

I am NOT happy with the changes that Blogger has made.  Why can't they leave well enough alone.

This and That.

First....the weather....it's been marvelous. We did get a bit of wind from the hurricane that went up north of us. We sat on the deck, it was warm, tropical, humid and the wind was making the big trees surrounding us dance and twirl. It was energizing!

Last weekend we had a bit of a party outside as the summer was so bad weather wise we didn't really get a chance to do much. Had a great time with about ten of us. Lots of food and drink. It was a perfect day, sunny and warm. Sunday we just lazed around.

Monday I tried to do some outside work but was feeling drained, couldn't figure out the problem but did notice that one side of the roof of my mouth felt like I had eaten something too hot and burned it. Tuesday morning I woke up with a bad infection going right down to the neck glands. Managed to get a doctor appointment for after lunch and am now on medication. Still feeling not quite myself. On top of that, himself came down with a bad cold. Something he never gets. He's a bit feverish and just plain miserable. Only time will fix that up. I have a dentist appointment in Gander on Friday and company coming for over night on Saturday, (three people). I'm just hoping that I don't come down with the cold himself has. So, that's what kind of week it's been.

There are more Crane flies in the garden this year than I've seen since I was a child. It must be due to the kind of summer we had. They are all over the place and eating everything.

I've managed to take a few pictures this past while. I haven't gotten out around again but plan to soon.

Stanley and chicken enjoying the shade.




Early morning.

Sea Holly, now with it's blue colour.

I do like thistles even though they are very prickly.


And this lovely spider.


And, last but not least, it's the eyes on this creature that fascinates me.