When I was collecting a bountiful heartvest, I also pulled some of the overwhelming weeds.
They fought back by scratching up my arms and making me itchy!
But poor Grace got it even worse. She had a run in with what I think was a nettle plant, and had some pretty impressive swelling! Poor girl. Avia took us to the ice cream shop not long after, and between the cool treat and substantial layer of hydrocortisone, she was feeling better on our walk back.
I had an exciting morning when I saw what I thought was a common yellow throat out my kitchen window, but when I went outside with my bird book, I found that there were two of them, improving an existing nest! Or possibly just using it as a launching point for their southward journey, because they were not here long.
I was able to get a poor picture of one of the couple, and based on the tail shape and coloring, I now think I actually think I saw a pair of Great Crested Flycatchers. I'm by no means an ornithologist, but I am enjoying seeing an assortment of birds these days!
This leaf reminded me of the show The Mentalist. Poor tree.
We had a particularly windy and wet storm blow through last week, which knocked out power for all four girls (at two separate campuses!) Here, the storm passed through in under ten minutes, but must have picked up some speed as it moved toward their schools.
The leaves on a welcome mat looked disappointed to be there.
The leaf colors this time of year are so vibrant, the colors really look "unnatural!"
The toad managed to blend into the wet fallen leaves seamlessly. Billy only spotted it because it hopped away!
A pair of ducks braving the rain and cold out on the river.
Maybe because it was dark, wet, and grey when Billy and I went out for a walk, but the colors were striking!
I spotted a wooly bear on our driveway, and loved how the rain drops stayed droplets at the end of its spines. I did use a leaf to relocate it into the grass, so that it wouldn't be run over by our vehicles.
Back when the morning were warm enough to walk the kids down to the bus stop, the skies were clear and the stars bright. I was able to pick out Orion's Belt! This was really exciting for me, because I feel like my previous star gazing success has always been the Big Dipper & North Star!
One more tomato heartvest, from my lovely, neglected garden.
It's been a fairly warm autumn up to this point, though temperatures are trending down, and we are looking at a cold and possibly rainy Halloween, according to the extended forecast. I guess we'll find out Friday!
later days
