Have fun this Halloween................but

try not to watch too many scary movies...............

Don't drink and fly................

and get home before the moon sets...........

most of all

have a Happy Halloween!!

The past week, I have had some visitors.........

one visitor I have missed for such a long time since he flew from our nest..........came home on leave

our youngest son.............. it was such a sweet time and the days flew by too quickly, and now he has gone back to his busy life

one day a group of lovely ladies..........all sisters, one from Texas, two from Indiana, and one from Arkansas came to visit..........one has been my friend for years, now the others, her sisters ,are now my new friends...........I feel very blessed!

and one visitor, I thought I would love to visit, has played such havoc on the peacefulness here on the grounds...........actually the pond.

Every year , at this time, I look forward to hearing the call and the arrival of the hundreds of  Sand Hill Cranes as they  fly over and into the surrounding fields. They have never been a problem, until this week. For some reason, this crane is all by itself and has discovered my pond of goldfish.

I had 16 large fish, one was a beautiful pale yellow.........it was eaten by the crane along with 3 others. Now I only have 12 fish. I have screamed, yelled, did a dance to scare it off........it came back. We have tied things to the trees, and have done everything else we have read to do.............Now our pond looks like this. Full of  PVC pipe for the fish to hide in, and lots of fencing and wire on top of the pond to keep the crane out.  Right when I think I have a hand on one kind of predator..........another pops up........sigh

How about you?

Any wonderful visitors coming your way??

Any unwelcome vistors destroying your peace??

I would love to hear!

The autumn days have grown cooler and more pleasant

and the woods are slowly changing their color. There are still many hues of green amongst the crooked mesquite trees...........

and various wilflowers still bloom in abundance and what seems to be perfect bouquets ...............

the cactus are starting to show their red thorny pods.............

 

This shrub has clusters of small leaves, that turn from green to the yellow and brown.

Some of the bushes are full of red berries.

 

The yucca pods are brown  and full of seeds........

the throny cactus looks almost as if it has a spiked hairdo..........

don't you think?

 

the floor of the woods is filled with clumps of this beautiful flowering brush.

In shady spots, wild mushrooms break free from the ground. ...................

No happy toad or little elf underneath..............

I checked!

Even way out here...........where there are no neighbors.............we still have a neighborhood watch going on.

And along with the plant life........the wild life is forever making it's rounds................

Sophie and Salem found a most unusual visitor..........they can't seem to figure it out...........

No matter how hard Salem tried to get it to come out and to introduce itself, it remained tucked inside of it's shell.

How about you?

Are you seeing the fall colors of yellow, red, and gold?

Do you still have blossoms and blooms?

I would love to hear!

As I told you earlier, I planted my Zinnia gardens late...........

hoping to have blossoms in the fall................

The gardens looked like this a few weeks ago...................

and now they are tall and in full bloom..............

in vibrant and cheery colors!

 

I have different gardens scattered throughout the grounds..............

I also planted white Zinnia this year...................

my favorite is the pink..............

Well, I love all Zinnias.

The Mexican Petunia is also blooming..............

On my embroidery blog..............thistles are blooming............

hop over to visit when you can!

Just click onto

Yesteryear Embroideries

We have gotten much rain this past week and the temps have dropped under 50 degrees............

yet the flowers are enjoying the break from the heat.

How about you?

Has it gotten extremely cold in your area?

Do you have any blossoms blooming still?

I would love to hear!



Nature is an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we only will tune in.

George Washington Carver

I thought about these words over the past week as Sophie and I were out and about on one of our long walks.........

It seems that "nature" was calling out to me everywhere I turned.

Look at the detail in those fragile wings!

Sometimes, I find a surprise............when I really don't want to.

I spend a great deal of time..........chasing the elusive butterfly...........

this one looks as if it came right out of the pages of a vintage nature print book.........

doesn't it?

My zinnias are now coming into bloom....( a post for later)

 

and the butterflies find out very quickly.

This beautiful creature was flitting in and out, in front of Sophie and I and it suddenly came to rest and allowed me to get very close for it's photo...........

then it slowly opened up it's wings as if to say........
"now look!"

Aren't those colors beautiful?

I think it's white edged wings look as if they were crocheted.........

don't you think?

Out in the muddy cotton field, came these two , hopping along.......

they are under 1/2 inch!

No one likes the lonely stink bug.........

but they are wonderful models for a photo!

I am always amazed at how shiny it stays in the Texas dirt and dust..........

black cars are shiny, but they don't stay that way!

And this tiny little dragon........

the horned toad........

still so small.

No matter what species............

all babies are cute.............

don't you think?

How about you?

What has nature been broadcasting and what has God been speaking to you?

I would love to hear!

 



The sight of a field, that looks like it has been snowed on......

in the middle of summer, is not at all surprising...............

if you live in Texas.

 

because that "snow" is actually a field full of cotton..........which is a wonderful site, especially if you are a cotton farmer...........

Not many get to see the real beauty that lies in the field. It starts off with beautiful blossoms..........

some in pink............

some in yellow.............

( I can feel an embroidery design coming on!)

then hard green balls form..........

They have the prettiest color, as well as the leaves...........

The ball then gets dry and opens up to expose the cotton inside.

It is soft and fluffy, just like a cotton ball.................

but with lots of seed inside.

a good cotton harvest is not only important to the farmers.......

it very important for all of us.

If you like to wear jeans..............

if you like cotton sheets and linens on the bed..........

if you like a good drying towel for your bath or kitchen...........

and for me...........I love cotton embroidery floss..........

this all comes from a good year of cotton growing.

How about you?

Do you have cotton fields in your area.............or perhaps wheat?

What grows in the fields of your home?

I would love to hear!