With Fall Fortnight beginning in just two days, let’s have a chat today. Autumn is slowly arriving, with some varieties of trees already turning, but most have not begun yet. Late October is generally our peak for fall color, so it is a bit early yet. Plus the weather needs to get a lot cooler for the trees to be turning.
Stepping out on the veranda one morning, I found a spider had been very busy. This web was beautifully done, lovely in its symmetry. It is really difficult to photograph a web as the camera just refuses to see it to focus. But I did manage to get one.
The two squirrels that come for sandwiches regularly were here last week. Quite frankly, they have so much food right now they do not need to beg. Acorns are everywhere! But they love peanut butter.
The turkeys were here for the acorn bounty last week too.
There were seven bachelor males in this flock. This is the only photo I got with all of them.
A couple of them have been here before and came closer to get a bit of the whole wheat bread nibbles I was throwing out to them. The others hung back and watched.
Naturally as I was feeding the turkeys, another beggar came running up for a handout. He came all the way up to the sidewalk, and sat looking cute, paws folded. I stepped back inside to get him a sandwich.
In the meantime, one of the turkeys decided to fly to a perch to get a better view of the goings on.
Two went back to the meadow for more acorns.
Four stayed around, taking advantage of the free goodies.
A second squirrel came running up, wanting a share. She stayed near the driveway with her meal.
On Sunday morning early, this small group of four deer came by for breakfast. They love acorns as much as everyone else.
There was a mature adult female with three fawns. They stayed pretty close to the adult, but as they spread out a little, I could see that one is still spotted, meaning it is younger than the other two. While triplets among deer are rare, they do happen.
However, it appears these are weaned, and they are likely of different ages due to the spots on one. It is more likely that at least one is from another doe and has just joined the others as a small herd. It is deer hunting season now, and there are more accidents with deer vs motor vehicles in the fall.
In the sewing room, I am making the last items for the Fiber Fair coming on October 25th at Beginnings in Hendersonville. I found a brand new Godiva chocolate mug, and am making a mug rug to go with it. This sentiment seemed perfect.
Last Sunday, we had a gathering of a group of our car club pals, a dinner group we call the Posse. It was a basic pot luck style meal, with our hosts providing the main course of grilled burgers, brats and chicken. I did this appetizer tray with my Perfect Deviled Eggs. I made 24 of them, and not one was left! I parboiled the broccoli for just one minute to moisten it up. It is such a simple thing yet makes all the difference. The color changes almost instantly to an appetizing deep green, and the flavor is enhanced (so much more appealing than just throwing on dry, raw broccoli). The carrots were raw and add nice color to the platter. That’s ranch salad dressing in the middle. I love this platter, it is a beautiful piece from a local potter that I received as a housewarming gift over 20 years ago.
I’ve been listening to a lot of Moody Blues this week, with the news of the death of John Lodge. I often say that the band wrote the soundtrack for my life in high school and college. We saw Moody Blues in concert in 2010. We were seated on the top row of the lower balcony near the stage at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium in Asheville, and at one point in the show I was the only one standing and waving my hand over my head to the beat of the music. John Lodge saw me, and waved his hand in the same way back at me, smiling at me. It was one of the thrills of my life and I will never forget it. He had this unique ability to connect with the audience, and show his joy in performing. John Lodge wrote one of my favorite all time songs, Candle of Life, and this video shows him performing it. Rest in Peace, John Lodge, your music will live forever.
…