It is undoubtedly, unquestionably, autumn in Southern Arizona.
The autumn light is here, the air has shifted.
The scent, the coolness.
Warm days, chilly nights.
A second spring emerges like clock work...
Hello tallest marigolds.
It gets so hot here during summer, that flowers pull back a little.
Only to reawaken as October sets in.
But that sun, that dusty amber sun says it all, doesn't it?
I took waaaay too many photos.
I was just so amused at the shift, how it's nice to be outside now.
How the heat has lifted and you don't explode into fireworks like a vampire in the Arizona heat anymore. Until next summer that is ;)
How just like that, the weather became that glorious weather that we are known for in autumn and winter.
Little petals know it.
Zinnias...
And, dinner-plate dahlias below.
So many pumpkins crushing the enclosed garden.
I stopped counting at 40.
Most of them little guys with long stems, love em.
Just when I thought the big fairy tale pumpkins were done, a whole new wave of them are growing.
Green and young.
The two toned marigolds turn up just as they always do.
And bees come back in droves, enjoying all the new blooms.
Especially the flowering basil.
Wonder what their honey tastes like?
The vegetable garden is embarrassingly overgrown.
Mister Lovee got rid of a bunch of garden brush for me.
We added it to our too big heap.
We have a brush trailer in our yard being filled up.
We have a stellar helper, and are on load 5 or 6.
Eeek!
The colors are exquisite.
The cosmos grew huge all summer and are finally flowering.
Worth the wait for sure, such a fuchsia.
The setting sun, in its golden glow, highlights everything.
Flowers grew in the vegetable garden this year.
Self seeded gobs of them.
The pumpkin vines begin to dry out.
Autumn leads the way.
I stroll about.
Watching the change.
Always amazed, another year, another season...
Just in time for spookiness, Mister Lovee brings home a desert find.
Bones.
Huge bones.
I watch the sun set, colors on flowers in the front garden hovering, swaying.
Flowers turning up in the cool.
Smart, aren't they?
The setting sun dances through leaves like orbs.
I love autumn.
We wait and wait and wait for autumn.
And then we try to capture as much of it as we can.
But always, feeling like sand is pouring through our fingers.
Enchanted by autumnal goodness.
Bewitched by its gifts.
And its light.
Its crispness, the memories it ignites.
Yes, it is autumn.
For sure, and for real.
In Southern Arizona, leaves are very slowly thinking about turning.
But the light tells us, fall is here.
The scent of fragrant wood burning last night.
We made a small fire (two nights in a row), mesquite wood smelled like floral incense to me.
I sat and watched Mister Lovee fill the brush trailer full.
Stomping to make room.
The dogs ran around playing, coming over to me and putting their little chins on my lap.
Me, feeling grateful.
Learning so much about life, how we fear too much.
And believe too little.
The journey more important that the destination they say?
More true everyday.
We put on sweatshirts, and grab dinner.
Dust in car headlights.
Life in deep breaths.
Autumn in all its goodness.
What does your autumn feel like?
Smell like?
Fresh breaths of early morning air?
Crackling fire?
Love, V
ps: Putting finishing touches on your Halloween invite, to be posted in a day or so.
The most last minute party ever ever ever.
I just got carried away going on ever so many thriftventures this week.
Sitting in great big chairs in Cost Plus World Market, contemplating a table runner with birds.
Buying more toasted seaweed.
Watching Pier 1 explode with Halloween meets Christmas.
(it was like Disneyland in there, I had not been inside in so many years it's not funny)
Buying a rug.
Seat Cushions.
Tidying things up in the living room.
Catching up with a life that got away from me for almost 2 years.
And yet, I pushed through it all, all that time.
Darn, that's crazy cakes.
So much time to feel less than good with chronic pain.
I feel like I have been freed from some curse.
It's good.
It's so good.
I am going here and there, and everywhere.
Out to wonderful dinners with Mister, and shopping, and seeing friends.
I even went on client appointments with him.
I met the plumpest most gorgeous cavalier king charles spaniel, his name is Cuz.
Then I met the most beautiful faced dog I have ever met, ever.
He was a pomeranian named Mickey Mouth :)
Adopted after being rescued from the desert by a couple who swore they would never get another dog again after having to say good-bye to the last one.
After such broken hearts, there they were smiling big with their little furry son Mickey, melting hearts all over Petco. Renewed joy. Gotta love it. Amazing how furs can mend you up just like that.
I looked at snakes and mice and turtles.
I spoke to a kitty that turned on its back and looked at me upside down.
I put on lots of mascara whilst humming.
I drove to see a dear friend who always is an angel.
I visited a little church I love so.
And, I watched the vast desert landscape turn to sunset as I sped past the Biosphere.
So you see, I got a tinge carried away having quite a time of it.
But still...
Life is goooood.
Ain't it?
