Early December

The perennial strips, frost sparkling in early morning sun.

December has crept in with a mildness that causes us to look at the calendar page in disbellief.

There are mornings with frost or mist at dawn, but as the sun rises low in the sky and climbs above Big Creek, the air warms.

We allow the wood fire to ebb into gentle embers.

The back door stands open during mid-day.

Such weather can't be expected to continue, so I have indulged in a good deal of outdoor time, inventing excuses to leave housework and wander, usually with a train of kittens following.

Bird's nest in the branches of the old apple tree.

I wish I knew who resided here during the summer.

This tree was favored by robins and mockingbirds.

I scattered seeds from the lavender poppies in the small perennial strip I created in the spring.

A few have popped up among the seemingly endless weeds which encroach.

The lower perennial strip near the drive is covered in fallen leaves.

There should be poppy seeds germinating there where poppies have bloomed for two seasons.

Self seeded morning glory climbed the trunk of this elderberry and has left seedpods to asure that we never go short of these determined invaders.

Morning--just as the sun breaks through.

Several of the nandina shrubs have a branch or two of scarlet leaves among the usual green.

A zoom shot from the porch--there were two bluejays in the goat willow.

Willlis--lolling in the sun.

J. called me to the window to identify these birds perched on the wire near the goat willow.

While the zoom shot is a bit fuzzy, it is clear that they are eastern meadowlarks--a species I didn't expect to see at this time of year.

Sun doesn't strike the herb garden til later in the day.

Sage is rimmed with frost.

J. took advantage of good weather to move his sawmill nearer the barn.

He has been sawing out boards for a neighbor.

In spite of the mild days, night comes early.

With the setting sun a chill creeps in

and the house with its fireplace beckons.