For today, we are still adding more to the garden as we go.
Finally, the flower garden is starting to pop. The thirty or so tulip bulbs planted last autumn somehow survived and all have come up in a rainbow colors. My bird feeders are also scattered amongst the flower beds, and we now have experienced an annoying new problem regarding them. Weeks ago, the squirrels that frequent the yard started eating most of the tulip flower tops. I have never seen such behavior. It began with my finding a few stems snapped in half. Then one afternoon I witnessed a squirrel scamper up to a tulip and neatly pull the petals off and eat them. This is new to me. No flowers were spared but a handful. To thwart the behavior, I had to remove all but one bird feeder which also attracts the furry bandits.
My husband, an avid gardener, was not pleased with the whole scenario. As of today, the squirrels have subsided but so have my wonderful garden birds with most of the feeding stations removed. Not having pets indoors anymore I have been filling the void catering to the yard birds. We now have lilies beginning to bloom, once they go by I will put the feeders back. Hopefully my little feathered treasures will return. For today, we are still adding more to the garden as we go.
It’s been the mildest winter thus far, though we just had one last odd rain and snow event. Not once in our tiny town bubble in south New Hampshire was I required to shovel snow, nor did we need plowing. The number of storms that affected us were less than five, and the results melted away quickly. Former me would be disappointed, but I was instead relieved. I’ve officially arrived at the age that I want warmer and less aches. The good of the mild weather is we spent less on winter bills, namely heat. We are also learning to spend much less on food, and pinching our pennies as many are forced to in an economy gone mad. Less is more in the savings and its where we are concentrating our efforts. The search for a home to retire to drags on. We have been biding our time watching the market and homes of all sorts on offer carefully. The photograph below of the derelict home is an actual well known photographic subject here in New Hampshire. Oddly, the family to whom it belongs refuses to sell and leaves it as is, uninhabited. It’s become a bit famous amongst locals and yes, it is photographed by thousands year-round. Most chatter in wonder as to when it will finally collapse.
On the home front life has since my last post been pleasingly quiet and our health good. As I stated before I do not venture into public much since that bout of catching a nasty bug that lasted a month. I’m learning fast health is your wealth or at least mine and my husbands. My adult children are all well fighting the daily fight keeping up with life and expenses. They all live simply and within their means but in the adjacent state of Maine. It pains me to see anyone struggle just to afford the basics but it’s a reality for not just our children and their children, the same is happening with our extended family abroad. Maine has not had such a mild winter as we have, to be expected. The weather there remains as I remember it as a child when I grew up there, winters are cold and the snow deep. I was excited two weeks ago when our first spring flowers popped above ground and made their appearance. My husband had planted a large number of tulip bulbs last autumn, in hopes the squirrels would leave us a few success stories! Each year they seem to find them and remove them. One season we planted twenty and only one survived, amusingly it had been moved, buried by the critters, and popped up out in the dirt by the roadside. As of today, I counted a good thirty, it seems all survived.
When I began this blog, I was at a more productive level in my life. I was busy with work, busy doing many things and it felt as if I had more purpose. I had much to think and to write about. The last twelve months have been an unexpected game changer, causing me to give more thought to things I didn’t before and often things I do not want to think of. Suddenly my husband and I are conversing regarding late life decisions. In March he turned 67 and though he accepted it with his usual silly humor it left him shook. At one point not long ago, we were the live-in-the-moment pair who did most days off on the fly, just jumping in the car and going. As of late we now plan and put much thought into what our next outing will entail. It might have something to do with the fact while food shopping I bent at the knees to reach for an item on a lower shelf, only to discover I would have to remain that way until my husband came and found me. My knees just decided they wanted to remain bent and there I waited until rescued. Life and age creeps up on us fast, doesn’t it?
Funny the little things in daily life we don’t notice until they are no longer there.
It seemed so long of a winter. December to present day was certainly a trying time in our family. It still continues, yet spring lifts the dark cloud just a bit with the longer days. Now that I have no pets, I have started to reclaim my space and fill it with greenery. I have not had live plants in the house since 2011. After a mishap of a cat chewing a leaf, and a large parrot running around in-home the last decade I opted out for their safety. I do miss having a pet, yes. I have had pets since I was a small child. For now my plants are filling the void.
Not having a pet has afforded me new opportunities I never knew. I can sleep in or take a nap if I want to, whereas before if I attempted such my 30-year-old parrot would yell wondering where I was. If I laid on our couch feeling unwell, kitty would climb all over me demanding attention, followed by the parrot. There are now no sunrise feedings, no animal to greet me at the door should I leave and return. Funny the little things in daily life we don’t notice until they are no longer there. It’s been an adjustment. My husband has not been much of an animal guy, he loves animals from afar. He did have a small bird aviary in both England and later in Florida when we lived there. We both are enjoying not having to worry about another being’s health, and the freedom to come and go is a big change. I feel a bit guilty, but life has a beginning and an end not with just us, but also with our beloved pets.
In January I caught a virus that lasted the whole month. Never had I had such a hard time breathing until then. It cost us many emergency room visits where I was finally diagnosed with influenza A and a bronchitis complication. I had no idea I had been carrying the flu until my chest became inflamed. At 61 the last 12 months have been challenging health wise for both my husband and myself. I hope this isn’t a new pattern. I learned with a respiratory infection there is very little a doctor or hospital can do as far as helping you breathe, and it was very unnerving. I fully recovered but it was long and complicated, I lost 10 pounds. The whole experience has left me a bit of a germophobic, wanting less to go out in public, but very grateful to be here.
I’ll spend the majority of winter behind my camera, it’s my go-to for comfort.
The holidays are upon us the time goes by so fast. As a younger version of myself time dragged. The last two months have been spent winterizing our home in preparation for the subzero weather. Our exterior porch was encased in sheet plastic, and we purchased insulated drapes for the windows to help keep heating costs reasonable if there is such a thing! This year my spouse decided he would begin wearing man pajamas nights instead of shorts and a top. I find bedclothes cumbersome but necessary. Last year I purchased him some button up pajamas he rarely used them. Days ago he tried them on and they were a bit snug which made me giggle. This is a guy who’s always been thin no matter what he ate, it seems that has shifted! We did manage to go out and find him sleepwear and having not priced them in a while the prices astounded me.
Other than that, I have mainly kept busy working online part time from home and playing housewife. I do like the colder weather, but I do not like the holidays especially Christmas. Christmas and Thanksgiving for me are painful and bring up many sad feelings which I do well at keeping locked up most of the year. As a rule I am a happy optimistic type, but the short winter days and holidays I find can be suffocating. Regardless, this time of year is my husband’s happiest. I enjoy the cheer he exudes, almost childlike. Our holiday will be here at home spent quietly together, our grown children are busy with their lives elsewhere and none live close by. I’ll spend the majority of winter behind my camera, it’s my go-to for comfort. How will you be spending the season; do you have special plans?
Remember when Sunday was a work weekday of rest? When I was a child in Maine nothing was open on a Sunday, tradition is a precious memory. Now early weekend mornings the village street cafe is crowded by 8am serving coffee and internet. We are always in such a rush to live and yet wonder where the time has gone. I have been in my own self-imposed digital rebellion for some time now. At one point I had closed my social accounts completely. Months ago, when I obtained a new job it carried with it the necessity to reopen those communications. I still refuse to work on Sundays. I might be the last of that old school thinking, but rest is necessary for good health.
It’s late October, the leaves have peaked and are dropping, yet it is hot out. My body is so confused. I don’t remember the weather doing this in decades yet here we are. I am a cold weather gal at heart. I thought I would pop on here and offer up some recent Autumn images. I have been down with the virus weeks but am slowly improving. The usual area spectacular foliage this year was dull and muted, and only lasted briefly.
I spent yesterday out in the garden cleaning up and transferring my outdoor potted plants indoors for winter. They did so well in all of the summer rain I couldn’t see letting them succumb to the fall and winter climate. I usually just let them go and replace them in spring. This season I have moved everyone inside and am happy to report everything is still flowering. What has fall been like where you are?
As I navigate through this October, I am filled with a renewed sense of gratitude for the little things.
My goodness the time has gone by fast. October has always held a special place in my heart – the crisp air, vibrant colors, and the anticipation of the approaching festive season. It’s a time when nature puts on its grandest show, reminding us of the beauty and impermanence of life. As I sit here, sipping my cup of tea, I can’t help but think about how much has changed since my last blog post. The world seemed to have hit pause, and we were thrown into a whirlwind of uncertainty and challenges. We still face a global pandemic, economic instability, and social unrest, all of which left us feeling overwhelmed and searching for answers.
But amidst the chaos, there were moments of resilience and hope that emerged. Communities came together, supporting one another in ways we never could have imagined. We discovered the power of technology, allowing us to stay connected when physical distance was required. And we witnessed acts of kindness and compassion that restored our faith in humanity. October brings with it a sense of renewal and transformation. It reminds us that change is inevitable, and even in the darkest times, there is always a glimmer of light. The leaves, once vibrant green, now display a breathtaking array of red, orange, and gold. They gracefully fall, creating a vibrant carpet beneath our feet, symbolizing the shedding of the old and making way for new beginnings.
In this season of change, I find myself reflecting on my own personal growth. The past months have taught me the importance of slowing down, appreciating the simple joys, and finding solace in solitude. I’ve come to realize that life doesn’t always go according to plan, and that’s okay. It’s in the unexpected twists and turns that we discover our true strength and resilience. As I navigate through this October, I am filled with a renewed sense of gratitude for the little things. The laughter shared with loved ones, the soothing sound of raindrops on my window, and the comforting aroma of freshly baked pumpkin pie. These seemingly ordinary moments have become the pillars that hold me steady in the midst of uncertainty. So, as we embrace the beauty of October, let us also embrace the lessons it brings. Let us cherish the connections we have, appreciate the fleeting moments of tranquility, and hold onto hope for a brighter future.
I’ve weathered the storms of brain-drain before and emerged stronger on the other side.
Alot has been going on behind the scenes in my life. When I get stressed and overwhelmed, my mind responds by going blank. I’ve been dealing with a hard-core case of writers block the last few weeks, and it’s not fun. I sit at my desk, staring at the blank page in front of me. The cursor blinks mockingly, a constant reminder of my creative paralysis. It’s as if my thoughts have been locked away, inaccessible, leaving me stranded in a sea of white. Every time I try to conjure up a story or craft a meaningful sentence, my mind falls into a void. Frustration sets in, increasing my anxiety and making the task at hand even more daunting. The other thing not helping is the WordPress blogging format seems to have changed, my images and writing are no longer lining up correctly in a draft preview. Is anyone else go through this?
The pressure to produce something, anything, weighs heavily on my mind. Deadlines loom ominously, reminding me that time is slipping through my fingers. It’s not just blogging but also with my work. Each passing day without progress adds fuel to the fire of my frustration, intensifying the ridiculous mental block. But amidst the chaos in my mind, a glimmer of hope emerges. I remind myself that this is not the first time I’ve encountered this creative abyss. I’ve weathered the storms of brain-drain before and emerged stronger on the other side. It is just a temporary setback, a hurdle that I am determined to overcome. In such situations I need to remember to take a deep breath, closing my eyes and allowing the tension to dissipate. Slowly, I begin to accept that pushing myself too hard will only exacerbate the block.
In these moments of respite, I give myself permission to let go of the self-imposed pressure. I remind myself that creativity cannot be forced, but instead, it flourishes when nurtured with patience and self-compassion. Writer’s block may have clouded my mind for weeks, but with perseverance and a newfound belief in my abilities, I know that I will emerge from this struggle stronger than ever. And when I do, (maybe) the words will flow freely once again, breathing life into stories that have been patiently waiting to be told.
Many years ago we left Florida to escape not so much the heat but the humidity. It certainly feels like Florida in the northeast the last two months. First the monsoon rains and then the high temperatures. Gardening has been a challenge; it’s been a challenge more to the wildlife it seems. We have been keeping water sources for them filled, I even put a dish of water on the ground for the non-birdbath creatures. Amazingly we have seen rabbits, birds, a bobcat, chipmunks, squirrels, and more take advantage of a drink. I am a polar bear by nature, autumn is my season while summer is my husbands. He scowls at me coming home to the air conditioner on blast! How is your summer going? Between a new job, home repairs, and life in general I have been online very little to update, but it’s always in the back of my mind that it needs doing. For now in this heat, I’ll just return to looking at former photos of fall here as needed to cool my mind and body off.
I had many in local groups online ask about the DIY garden mixture, so decided to post it here, a bit of a continuance to my prior post.
The lily garden managed to overcome the aphid onslaught thankfully. We had planted the bulbs two or so years ago, which squirrels discovered in autumn and decided to move around for their winter cache of food. Last year we had lilies popping up not just in the garden but scattered around in odd locations. I’m no expert at anything, but I was surprised they grew last year without blooming. With the rain we have been getting the last two months this year the flowers are not only blooming, but the colors are brilliant. The experts in this region also predict the autumn leaves will be brilliant this season, for any of you leaf peepers.
I had many in local groups online ask about the DIY garden mixture, so decided to post it here, a bit of a continuance to my prior post. How I was able to rid the stems of the black bean aphids was by using a homemade mixture of dish detergent, vegetable oil, and water in a spray bottle. In all my years of gardening I have heard of many a home remedy, but few helped, this one worked and I have posted it below. I don’t measure but can give estimates. Not only did it work on the aphids but also other insects and the mold / rot from all of the moisture.
In a full size spray water bottle mix:
1/8c vegetable oil
1/8c liquid dish soap detergent
Add half the water to the bottle first then add ingredients , this prevents the dish soap from foaming up. Once the oil and soap are in you can top up the water. Screw the spray top on and gently swirl to mix. Spray liberally on the affected stems and leaves of your flowering plants. I did not spray the flowers themselves. I treated the plants twice a day during the worst of the bugs, once in morning and at sunset. Since then I have just been spot treating as needed, I also removed the rotted leaves as I went.
As we battled against the insect invasion that threatened to decimate our flower gardens, Mother Nature had another trick up her sleeve. The relentless rains poured down upon us, transforming the once plentiful vegetable garden areas into a waterlogged landscape. The rest of our yard, where we once enjoyed tranquil evenings, has become an unintended lake, with water stretching the entire space. Funny to see there are a few resilient squash plants, their leaves defiantly poking above the water’s surface. Safe to say this year’s garden “veggies” will more than likely be a no-go. We often mistakenly think as humans we are in control of the environment around us, but we never are.
My Ten Toes 