Friday, November 8, 2013

A Golden Day

A heavy frost last night, but a day of bright blue sky and golden light.
J. split and stacked the remainder of this week's wood haul.
It seems strange to have the carport ringed with stacks of wood.
I can only hope exploring cats don't topple a pile and end up underneath!

Sweeping sawdust, bark and blown-in leaves into the utility cart for disposal.

I got out the last of my tiny plastic bags to hold the seeds I have harvested and dried.
In the foreground are lids which had been holding cleome seeds mailed to me by my sister C.
She had taped a flower petal designating the color to each packet of seed pods she sent.
I kept the labeled bits of paper towel with the appropriate drying seeds.
I discovered that the paws of a naughty cat had stirred the labels hopelessly out of the lids, so--I now have a packet labeled 'Cleome--Mixed."

An hour later and I have neat packets of seeds to put away til spring--as you can see, I have plenty for sharing.

Drawn by the golden sunshine I went out to rake maple leaves on the side lawn.
I was greatly assisted by Nellie the cat.
He chased the rake, swished through the growing pile of leaves, ran dementedly up into the bare branches of the maple, turning to peer owlishly at me before swinging down the tree trunk.

Apparently tired out by his energetic display, Nellie rolled about on the sun-warmed 'big rock' where the cleome and signet marigolds lately flourished.

Wood smoke hung in the air--fragrant, spiced with the scent of the red cedar kindling used to stoke the fire.

Leaves are beginning to drift down from the sweet gum tree.
Such fleeting beauty before the cold of winter settles in.

18 comments:

  1. It was a beautiful day here too-golden sun, deep blue sky and autumn leaves!

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    1. Jan; It seems that where ever we live, the days are most beautiful just before the dark and chill of 'winter.'

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  2. I love crisp bright and sweet smelling autumn days and pussy cats enjoying themselves in the sunshine.xx

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    1. Jill; Autumn, when the days are bright and crisp [not raining!] is the loveliest season--the one that stands out in childhood memories.

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  3. Replies
    1. Kath; I've noticed before that bloggers on your side of 'the pond' refer to the firewood store as 'logs'--here we use that term to describe the whole trunk of a fallen tree. By whatever name, we are feeling quite proud of our winter wood supply!

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  4. What a beautiful, brisk, sunshiny day filled with fall things to do. I can almost smell the wood smoke.

    Have a lovely weekend ~ FlowerLady

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    1. Lorraine; The seasons are so different where you live--approaching the FL border I've always felt that I was entering another country.
      I wish this lovely season of autumn could continue for months!

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  5. That looks a good stockpile of wood. Ditto seeds!

    We have come home to a very cold house, so heating is on and a warm meal has been eaten. Not the plan - as we should have been in Shepton Mallet, but had car problems . . .

    Nellie is such a sweetheart.

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  6. Jennie; Car problems are never welcome--I'm so sorry as this was meant to be a special day out.
    Coming home to a cold house is not welcoming--when that happens here in winter we switch on the central heating for a few cycles while we get the fire roaring.

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  7. Oh my goodness your log stash is incredible! it would fill up my whole garden :-) Nellie is a bit handsome isnt he xx

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    1. Hetty; Its a goodly stash of firewood! Nellie is such a mellow cat--he has two brothers--all three have distinct personalities.

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  8. Wow, what an amazing pile of wood, and so neatly stacked! I can only guess that it gets pretty cold in your neck of the woods. Is it easy to get wood where you live? It can be very expensive here, but it's our main source of heat for the winter. Much colder here today as well, but no blue skies alas. The cats haven't stuck their noses outside all day!

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    1. Lorely; We are both native Vermonters, then spent 12 years in Wyoming. Both places have long, cold winters. Here in Kentucky winters are relatively mild, but one does need heat. We haven't paid for any of our wood since moving here--neighbors that have had loggers in are pleased to have the 'tops' and branches cut up and moved out before they rot. My husband enjoys the work of getting up firewood.

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  9. a splendid stack of logs there sharon! isnt it a nice feeling to know you are provided for!
    Leanne x

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    1. Leanne; I daresay we are feeling almost smug about our woodpile! We live in tune with the seasons.

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  10. I love your writing, how it flows with such grace, its a joy to read. I'm afraid mine is rather disjointed with punctuation all over the place but I'm sure you get the hang of what I have to say. lol
    It may surprise you to know that Tom was an Electrician working on large building sites until a back injury forced him to stop, and it was while recuperating that he came to needlework beginning with a tapestry footstool.
    I know it seems odd that such a large man could be sewing but he's such a gentle soul and has taken to it like a duck to water.
    I love the photo of the pile of leaves, so beautiful.
    Briony
    x

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    1. Briony; You may put your punctuation anywhere you please--as long as you continue to share the photos of the beautiful crafts that you and Tom create! I can see that as an electrician he would have developed habits of precision and carefulness that contribute to each project he undertakes.

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