September has brought such moist days.
Drizzles and quiet early morning strolls.
We wake up, pups cuddled round, yawning.
Thinking of all the things we have yet to do around the house.
And then, we go out to explore.
Even before we are fully awake, we stumble out the door.
It's whisper worthy, and overgrown.
Bunnies scamper off when they see us coming.
A big light brown plump rat that's been eating little pumpkins tries to squeeze out of the garden.
With much effort he does, and jumps into the brush pile.
I laugh, and smile.
Dozens of volunteer tomatillos grow.
Seemingly endlessly.
Packaged beautiful in their little green lanterns.
Unwrap, and you have a perfectly round sticky little green tomatillo.
The pumpkin madness continues.
Unexpected huge guys grow leaps and bounds every single day.
Here is a giant fairy tale punkincake...
Pumpkin vines start to look tired, and yet they surprise us with more blossoms everyday.
See all the little pumpkins hiding under the leaves?
I count oranges.
Those winter treats, so sweet.
26, 27, 28...
The most we have ever had on that little dwarf orange tree we love.
Morning glories love the sunless days.
Any sun and they fade away.
But on drippy dark days, there they sway all day.
Pinwheels of blue on blue.
Reminding me of my Greek china that I had forgotten about.
Under this storybook tree you might expect Mister Snail to come on by, pulling a tiny sleigh with books that he may or may not have stolen (I mean borrowed) from the doll house.
Hollering, G'day Madame, I mean Miss.
In his bright and happy British accent.
As leaves droop and part, we see more punkin love than we could have imagined.
Thank goodness Mombie is bringing an extra freezer, because pumpkin eatin' is going to go on for a long good while. And, we will need to freeze so much up, even more than we already have.
I spy more of those awesome guys everyday.
It's like, a major pumpkin bonanza.
And knock on wood, the last couple years no pumpkin disease has found us at all.
Things are looking crispy in the best breath of autumn way.
Matty likes to go in the side garden gate for some reason.
I think our plump rat lives just inside and to the right.
3 beds are filled to overflowing with basil.
I made pesto this weekend and didn't even make a tinge of a dent.
Most of the basil is volunteer, and all of it has a bit of a different flavor.
Some more mild, other more licorice like in the best way.
Some, going to flower.
I pinch the tops off all summer, so the basil plants get huge and don't go to flower too soon, but there comes a time when you know it's okay to let them flower and seed, and see them next year...
The bees love the basil flowers.
I squat down, pulling weeds...
And then, eat beautiful ripe cherry tomatoes.
Before 7 a.m.
Then I pick baby arugula, rinsing it with the hose, and munch.
The flavor is incredible.
It's buttery and spicy, making all my senses come to life.
I can't stop eating it.
It's a jungle.
Out of control.
Hopefully next year I will be better at keeping the explosion down.
I find pumpkins in the red bell peppers...
Then more on the west side of the garden.
Our fake plastic rat hangs out, trying to scare off critters.
But mostly, he scares me everyday.
For some reason, every single day I forget he is there :)
I haven't shown Mister Lovee the giant fairy tale pumpkin growing on top of the enclosed/domed garden space.
Eek, I'll repair it later.
It's worth it for a punkin' babe.
Such sights to see on early little strolls.
Clouds hug the mountains beautifully...
As the bright pink morning glories beg for the sun to stay away.
Handfuls of roses pop back up on cooler days.
As quince begin to ripen.
Quince jam, yumm.
Gourds hang every every where.
And rose explosions get out of control.
I need to prune, I know I know.
Aren't birdhouse gourds nature art?
Fascinating growing creatures.
Pass the faux outhouse, whipping back around the storybook tree...
Zinnia's great us with their layered colorful brilliance...
As I search for my kids.
Of the fur variety.
Of course, watching t.v.
Miley has shows, ya know ;)
A couple extra ruffled hollyhocks bloom, even though their huge wave was months ago.
As we all just look on happily.
Crunchy brown leaves more and more, no matter.
I collect goodies for meals every single day.
Scallions and leeks are in abundance.
I hide out here and there.
Taking deep breaths in this crazy little life.
Feeling a good cozy calm.
I stare at vines wrapping around roses.
And then I spot them.
My favorite weed flowers.
The ones that only turn up at the beginning of autumn.
Morning air so cool, and there is the truth.
Seasons are dancing hand in hand.
Having a lovely last tinge of summer together, before one voyages off to far away places.
And the other stays for a good long visit.
What's to come, is known and unknown.
Every day fragile and beautiful.
No time to take our days for granted.
No time at all.
I discover a new ticking striped fluffy couch in Mister's guitar room.
Covered by a zarape, unused.
Well, I knew it was there, but never thought much of it.
Only, now it's in the office nook.
Which is much more like just a happy sitting room.
And dare I say, I am hooked.
It's perfect and cozy, and where I want to be when it comes time in the day to relax.
With a shawl made by my grandma.
A cozy place to be whilst thinking always about what is going on out there...
In our garden.
We take breaks to visit it throughout the day.
Breaking out of the house, running into the jungle.
Peace and goodness, in that place.
How are you?
Cooler days??
Early candy corn nibbling yet?
I saw bags and bags at the store.
Fresh stuff too.
I had to pry Mister Lovee away from the candy section like a teenager.
Love, V
ps: If you are a huge Tori Amos fan, you must hear her feature with The Bullitts.
My fave fave part begins at the 3:50 mark to the end.
It's incredible at that mark, evoking much of those early Tori memories.
(a tinge of Choirgirl and To Venus and Back feelings sneak out)
pss: Although, for this post, I should probably lean towards a garden inspired song like Datura, a fave.
