A teddy bear lies motionless on the living room floor.....................

such horror!!..........who could have done such a thing??

Sophie................why will you not look at me when I ask this question??

sigh

After a heavy rain passed..........

I decided that I needed to take Sophie for a walk .......to relieve her of her........."killer mood"

and on the walk way was this wonderful colorful creature........a salamander. I have seen them only a few times here........always after a heavy rain.

I scooped it up and rushed it inside for a "photo shoot"

and then returned it to it's soggy happiness outside.

The next late afternoon........on another walk with Sophie.........

this very large bobcat crossed our path just a bit beyond us.

We all stopped......to stare at each other.......the cat and us........

just long enough for me to snap ......not a very good picture........

and then it quickly went on it's way. 

How lucky I feel to have seen both unique creatures in the space of just a few hours!

Sophie has since re- made friends with her worn out teddy bear and 

has it in her bed.........where she is sleeping.

So tell me...........does your dog get overly rough with it's toys?

What creatures are popping up in your back yard?

The goal of life:

simple but not empty. 

Terri Guillemets

Here.........in October.............the fields lie in thick, white

cotton

looking at the whole area from a distance makes one think that it is snow

the woods is a mixture of dry, green , and blooming native plants

One particular flowering plant is so pretty. It is almost like baby's breath that is used in bouquets..........but in a cheery yellow.

It makes a beautiful accompaniment with the sunflowers that are also in bloom.

Also during this time of year.....the fog settles and envelopes the house.......

the grounds........

and lingers even after the sun has risen in the morning.

October is also the time that I search for new dishes and desserts to serve on my holiday table.

This is a wonderful pie recipe

Cranberry Cheese Crumb Pie

You can get the recipe on my cooking blog

My Country Kitchen

The cat " Hobo" has still called our place " home" and I have changed his name to 

"Homer"

The nights are getting chilly and the coyotes are getting closer in their search for food.

I have been worried about this tough old cat's safety. 

There is a large  hatching/brooding crate in my chicken house, full of fresh hay...

and unoccupied. During the cold winter days, the chicken house also has heating lamps to keep the chickens warm

 I decided that I would put Homer out in the crate over night for his protection.

I was amazed at how easily he has accepted this " night time jail"

As long as he has a big bowl of food......he is quite content and is glad to see me each morning when I open the door and let him out.

So what has October brought your way?

I would love to hear.

It's butterfly time here on the grounds

every year the Monarch butterflies flutter their way from South Dakota on their way to southern Mexico. 

They land here and hang around in the trees for only a few days and then the glide away to their destination.

It is a delight to walk underneath the mesquite trees with hundreds of these winged beauties fluttering above and all around.

How about you?  Are they fluttering around you as well?

What other creatures are migrating your way?