Extreme high winds and heavy rain blew it's way over the prairie

and onto the grounds last night..........

yet, through it all, Gertrude, managed to hang onto her new fall wardrobe.............

even the flowers in her hat...........remain.  At this time of year, she is guarding  gardens that are starting to show their weariness of a long growing season.

The large very old Lantana, that began it's life from a cutting from my grandmothers bushes...........so many years ago........and adapted to being moved from the busy town bed......to the country bed I 

transplanted it in when we first moved here.........also many years ago.

It is still in full pink and yellow blossom.

The Ocotillo , although it's leaves are fading ,is still giving just a few more blooms before it takes it's winter sleep.

Meanwhile, the large Pyracantha is full of orange berries

and the Yaupon Holly is full of red berries. 

Adding color to the front porch.

Because of all of the rain and the warm temperature that we have been having, the Larkspur seed has already sprouted and have almost filled one of my flower beds. 

 The seeds usually lie  quietly in late fall and do not sprout until spring........now I worry that these young plants might die when the ice and snow come. I might lay plastic over them to help them survive the winter.

The Mexican Petunia is also still in bloom and look so pretty this time of year

and the Morning Glory in front of my shop entrance delights everyone that stops in to visit. 

While I am out visiting my gardens.........I am never in need of company.

Homer has made the farm "home" and follows me endlessly. 

He has turned out to be such a sweet cat.

Sophie.........who will be 9 in just a few short weeks......still joins me on my walks.........but when the wind is cold and blowing......

she prefers to take a nap. 

Taboo..........who has grown from kitten

to cat in such a short amount of time

waits for me at the back door.......eager to smell........."the outside" 

on my jacket. I have not let Taboo outside ............

he wants to fight the other cat............

and the  rattlesnakes have been so plentiful......

I don't want him to be injured.

He is such a good indoor companion to both Sophie and I.

So ...............tell me

What is the weather like in your area?

Do you still have things blooming?

Are you under a blanket of snow yet?

I would love to hear!

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?

A bird does not sing because it has an answer. 

It sings because it has a song.  

Chinese Proverb

Not so far away............is a get away of sorts.........

a lake........that I often visited with my parents when I was young......... and now do not live too far away from. I am not into fishing.........but I love the winding road and pretty countryside drive to get there. When I get there...........I love to just walk and enjoy .

This lake...........being in Texas........like many of the lakes........has been extremely low........

but with the unusual amount of rain that we got in this area earlier this year, 

it  filled so much at once that it flooded a lot of areas. It has now gone down a little but is still so very pretty and full of water.

What I love the most about this place is the old lake cabins that are on one side of the lake

Many have broken windows.......no doors.........and are swaying with age..........

left behind and forgotten

once the dream of a perfect summer day

sitting.......in rust..........but as if waiting for the owner to return

I am really fond of this little cottage looking cabin with the large windows in front.......

all broken out.......with no door

I found myself wishing I was 30 years younger.......and had the energy and know how of  Nicole Curtis of  Rehab Addict .......

and I would be brave enough to rescue this place and

"make it beautiful again"!

It still had some of the pretty paint on the outside

the inside was in need of work........but still in pretty good shape

considering how long it has been abandoned.

One side of the lake has a residential area that  is landscaped, mowed, and controlled.

But I love the side that has a natural wildness still to it

where the wet soggy bank has sunken prints from early morning deer and other wild creatures that have come for a drink.

the moss covered , red clay rocks

that have such a striking beauty at the waters edge

and to be able to sit in the stillness and watch a graceful large blue herring glide quietly over the water

to catch it's dinner for the day.

Such a serene and peaceful place to visit............

I often feel this way about my own home.............until..........

this crawled from underneath the water cabinet onto my kitchen floor the other night.

Out of all of the years we have lived here.........we have never had a snake in our home.

The snakes are certainly on the crawl at this time of  year.........but I have no idea how this tiny bull snake got into our house. Thankfully.........it was small enough to scoop up and it is not poisonous. 

Still...........I am now very jumpy when I see an electric cord lying on the floor.

So tell me...........have you visited a favorite or new get away this summer?

What kind of snakes do you have in your area?