Oh October...
Why must you slip through my fingers so quickly?
I feel as though it's just breezing past me, if only it would last a bit longer.
The glorious golden light that illuminates the shorter evenings...
Takes me away to places in my imagination that I can only dream about.
The marigolds are unfurling with perfect timing, as they do.
Cosmos dance in the cool air.
We are in that space of hot days and cool morning and evenings.
The shift between summer and autumn in the high desert is slow and dramatic.
I pick some of my pumpkins with Miles by my side.
The garden has a reawakening like sleeping beauty at this time.
Slowly opening her eyes.
And the flowers emerge once again.
Octobers and Novembers are very floriferous here, like another spring.
The hummingbirds are swift and quick and meet up with many butterflies.
(can you spot the hummer amongst the Queen Red Lime zinnias?)
I can not miss a golden hour.
It is the most spectacular gift of every day.
There are teeny tiny jack-be-littles on the vine...
About the size of gumballs right now.
The zinnias are so happy, I do love a zinnia, do you?
They are such a strong flower, resilient in this weather.
The yellow bellied finches love to tear them up for a daily zinnia salad, leaves and all.
Meanwhile, my true guardian makes sure I am safe.
Sitting like a statue by the apple tree, just on the other side of the pumpkin patch.
Ears up, listening for anything that may come to harm his girl.
His main goals, be with her at all times and eat good treats.
If I am out of his line of sight for a second, he goes nuts.
I have my own body guard, and he means business :-)
Matisse (better know as Matty) just turned 11 years old.
I adopted him when he was 6 weeks old from a very iffy situation and he was terrified.
So much so that it took him 15 days to make a sound, he shook constantly and would bite your head off if you got too near.
He was untrusting and mean, all the things I was looking for in a puppy, haha.
I called a dusty rural road sign that said puppies, and he cost me 20 bucks.
He was kept in a covered bath tub before I rescued him, and he had zero faith in humans.
I said to myself, I will never take him back there, he is mine forever no matter how difficult the journey.
And so, we went on it together.
Mister Lovee said, you can't get this dog, there is something wrong with him.
It was actually a sort of a catatonic state of fear he was in really.
(his fear and shyness make him mean, but he really is brave & loving, although still despises strangers)
The first day home he found the bathroom and immediately crawled behind the toilet.
It was very difficult at first, there would be no hugs or sitting together or even petting him much in the beginning.
He actually always trusted ML though, he gave him space and made him a hidden house under his table on the porch where he sits every day.
The way things began to shift will always be a great memory.
One day, early on (a couple months after adopting him) , we were outside and I was trying to find something in my shed -
All of a sudden some coyotes came right up to our fence and were howling up a storm.
Matty took off like a bullet to find me, he was afraid, and he ran into the shed and started jumping up on two legs, clawing at me, asking for me to pick him up.
I picked him up and hugged him tight.
I will never forget that moment.
That's when we truly became us.
And, when "he feels like it" he still comes up to me for a hug in the same way, on two legs.
He is smart, can open doors and can find me, plotting ways to get to me if we are apart for a second.
He is strong, and will stand up and push his way into any place he wants to be.
Doors fling open and there he is.
In 2013 or 14 he almost died.
He got valley fever, and we had to rush him to the emergency dog hospital.
We had to build him back up for a year.
And slowly after that he bounced back.
Less aggressive towards us and more loveable.
Still as fierce.
He's sleeping right at my feet with Miles to my right.
And so, that's my unintended tale for the day.
Matty my warrior, protector and love.
Enjoying autumn in his 11th year.
Sitting in golden hour sun rays, eyes closed, ears on alert.
I pick every color of zinnia as hummingbirds buzz past my hair at the speed of light.
There are butterflies everywhere.
Matty and Miles in the garden, watching it all happen, drunk in the delicious sun.
It is mid October and I would like time to slow down, even just a little for the next 16 days.
I am on my way to do my afternoon garden tending, the afternoons are just scrumptious.
Lots of love to you my friends,
Vanessa <3
ps: I am definitely going to be posting a Halloween party of some sort, it is something I do not want to miss doing.
I am trying to find a way to come here more often.
Perhaps shorter posts, but more often, would you enjoy that?
I'm not sure why my days are so fast and full, I remember days feeling longer before, how about you?
Well, I am off to see what the hummingbirds are up to, arrivederci for now <3
