while the mockingbird sings

 

I put on my little wellies and sloshed outside to throw more cardboard into the raised bed. It rained all day yesterday with a lighter rain today - but still rain. I walked onto the bridge to take a look at the roaring brook, but it seems fine. It has more water than usual, but nothing crazy. But it's very dreary out, and I'm sure never got up to sixty degrees yesterday.

But, up to the seventies next week! Meanwhile, I get out my fall clothes, a little at a time, and put some things away, a little at a time. And that's how it goes in New England; we have way more than two or four clothing seasons. 

But in the background the mockingbird is singing, which is a welcome accompaniment to fall.

Daisy and the daisies, among other things

 I've read that is one has lots of debt in several places, it's best to pay off the smallest, then the next, and so on. Well, I've been on so many book tangents this summer, I told myself to just go back and finish something that's been dangling for too long. So, I'm trying to finish up with From Laurel Hill to Siler's Bog, which is after all very well written, but I just kept drifting away from it. I am also poking in and out of Gladys Taber for the appropriate month, since her books almost always are chaptered for each month. And then there's the H. G. Wells, where our two "heroes" are now on the moon and running into difficulties. I wonder how that will end.

I ordered a raised bed, and after the rainy weather, today the sun came out and I really had to set it up. 

I told you it was a mess out there, but I'll bet you thought I was exaggerating.

I haven't touched anything for two months or more. Anyway, I don't want to try and pull up the weeds: too much work, and if I just cover them over, they'll decompose and add nutrients to the soil. I am so glad to have raised beds now; do you see the standing water there? Such a wet summer.

I first laid out some paper of various kinds and set up the bed on top of it very easily. I've been saving cardboard and I put some of it in, but will continue another day. Now that I know it's a nice design I can order another bed. Did I say it smells heavenly? Spruce wood.

I enjoyed the warm sun, and there were goldenrod and asters everywhere.

I cut some asters, remembering that tomorrow is Michaelmas. I arranged them and really wanted to set up a little vignette on the table, but - we know that's impossible.

 She was all over it the minute I put it there. And, she was starting to chew. I whisked it away to a safer spot.

"For me, September is a nostalgic month. I always think back to the football games and the late picnics when I was growing up. In the little college town, the ivy on the gray stone buildings was tinged with red, the sun shone on the campus, woodsmoke drifted in the air. The professors hurried along the crosswalk with their lecture notes under their arms and dreamy smiles on their academic faces."

                                                             -  Gladys Taber

chilly morning

 

It was cold this morning.

an overdue visit

 Hurricane Ophelia has been passing by at a distance, and so there's been a couple of rainy days here. I spent some time today switching out some paintings and other knick-knacky things for the season. I can finish another day.

We drove out a way for lunch at some friends' house - my brother was their best man, years ago. They have a lovely home, and I forgot to take my camera along. The closet space in these newer homes is astounding! - but a very nice visit in an old-fashioned and picturesque part of their town. They prayed such a nice grace before the meal, with Bob saying the prayer, but Darlene frequently mm-hmming in agreement; it was so heartfelt.

They have a collection of colored glass bottles here and there - some of them older but not worth much, some in the dark brownish-green, and from around the Revolutionary War period. I've always liked colored glass. We knew an elderly woman when I was a child; she owned a Victorian-era house and had knick knacks on every end table. I loved going there. It wasn't until much later that I began to appreciate having fewer things to deal with when dusting. But Bob and Darlene didn't have too much, but a good balance.

"The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."

                                                 - Galatians 5:22-23

sweeter than honey

 "Come to me, all you that yearn for me, and be filled with my fruits; you will remember me as sweeter than honey, better to have than the honeycomb. He who obeys me will not be put to shame, he who serves me will never fail."

                               -  Sirach 24:18-19,21

a real September day

 A true September day - the stillness of it. I can hear insects repeating themselves in the way they do, but otherwise, it's quiet. No breeze, bright sun. It's beginning to feel like fall. There were asters growing inside the hydrangea and I left them too long; now, instead of rooting them out, all I could do was cut, but at least I was outside for a while.

The online book group is going to discuss H.G. Wells' The First Men in the Moon, and a strange story it is. At this early stage, it seems like a cautionary tale: don't let an over-excited person suck you into their schemes. But I'll reserve judgment in case it takes a turn in another direction.

I made the honey spice cake today for my Jewish friend, and was looking for a container to put the cut-up pieces in, when I remembered these -

Debra gave me a set of six of these foil pans with the beautiful hare design.

Speaking of haired creatures, there's someone who always wants to run in and watch me clean the bathroom sink, tail either hanging over the edge or curled neatly around her.

I know I've mentioned it before. What she has started doing is to chew on any tissues which stick out of the box. That means stuffing it all back inside after pulling one out. What next?

chocolate avocado pudding

I first posted about this nine years ago! Well, it's still excellent. I'm talking about the chocolate avocado pudding:

Heat up 1/2 cup of dark chocolate pieces along with 1/2 cup of coconut milk, until the chocolate is melted. Meanwhile, into your food processor, put four ripe avocadoes, 1/2 cup honey, 1/2 cup cocoa powder, 1 tablespoon of vanilla, 1 tablespoon of raw sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, a pinch of salt and the melted mixture. Mix thoroughly. 

This is a very delicious recipe. Alternatively, Giada de Laurentiis has a version which uses agave nectar instead of honey, no coconut milk and semisweet chips for the chocolate. No pepper. So you see that it's flexible, but really a nice treat.

the chicks

 The stay under this thing which generates warmth for them. 

I picked this one up today - so cute!

a kitchen day

 I couldn't get the chick photos off my tablet for some reason, so I'll have to take some more tomorrow. They grow fast.

I made the pear sauce in the crockpot today, with some ginger and vanilla; it's in the freezer now, for Thanksgiving, maybe. It might be nice over ice cream or gingerbread, too. And four of the avocados got turned into chocolate mousse pudding. I was glad to discover the recipe in my box, because the link on my Pinterest board goes nowhere - the original site is gone. 

I rarely see rabbits anymore, but my brother seems to see them after dark, in the front yard. It rained today, a gentle on-and-off rain and before it got too dark I saw one, almost camouflaged against the hedge. They seem to like it when it's wet out. 

He wasn't moving, just resting, I suppose. I really wanted to wash this north window in my room, but the kitchen detail kept me busy. When you buy almost ripe or overripe produce, you have to put other things aside. Although I'm sure I could be more efficient with my time. But I have pear sauce in the freezer and some nice healthy-ish chocolate pudding for snacks, if I need one. And dirty windows and bathroom wallpaper I want to finish removing. 

peaceful benefits

 "I will cleanse them of all the guilt they incurred by sinning against me; all their offenses by which they sinned and rebelled against me, I will forgive. Then Jerusalem shall be my joy, my praise, my glory, before all the nations of the earth, as they hear of all the good I will do among them. They shall be in fear and trembling over all the peaceful benefits I will give her."

                                                                     -   Jeremiah 33: 8-9

pears, parsley and other things

We're having some nice weather, but it still feels like summer, just late summer. I can hear the katydids outside now. 

A customer gave my brother three beautiful eggplants the other day, but they are hard. It threw me to feel them; they never feel hard from the supermarket. I asked somebody who's grown them and who loves eggplant. She said they're not ripe if they're hard, and they may not soften up. But I'll give them a little time and see if anything happens. I hope we can use them! She said maybe I could slice them up, salt 'em and roast. If they aren't too bitter. 

 I saw a license plate today that said AWSUM. 

They had bags of pears on sale at Stop & Shop. I think I'll make some pear sauce in the crockpot when they get softer. And there was a bag of six avocadoes on the reduced produce shelf for two dollars. I am not crazy about them, but maybe I can make a batch of chocolate avocado pudding. 

My Panasonic iron finally gave up the ghost after fourteen years of ironing two or three times a week. I bought an Electrolux from Amazon - terrible. It doesn't glide! How can you iron with something that doesn't glide well? And the dial is underneath the handle and hard to move. It's just a terrible design, and I need a good iron! Back to the reviews. 

I like the way people hang up their fresh herbs to dry from hooks in the kitchen. I bought a bunch of parsley and ties up some small bunches, hanging them in four places above the sink. You-know-who was watching me; she may jump on the counter overnight and try to reach them. She was even chewing on some of it that fell out. Annie, on the other hand, seemed repelled by it. She's the sensitive one. I remember the time she gagged after sniffing a banana. (sorry, Annie, but I thought that was funny)

foggy mornings, garden dreamings, plans for jam

 Today was dry and beautiful. Which is saying something, because it's been so humid and un-September-like. But at the beginning of the month, we had some of those foggy mornings of mystery.

At the library, four of the chicks hatched; the photos are on my tablet - I'll have to get them off. Two never developed, the other one just wasn't strong enough to complete the hatching process. So sad.

I finally ordered a raised bed and have been saving up cardboard and papers. It's a mess out there but I want to set it up as soon as I can. I've recently discovered Huw Richards on youtube, and what a marvelous gardener that young fellow is! I bought two of his books already and also one by Liz Zorab.

Hers is not only advice, but her story of ill health and how she came to permaculture - very interesting. She and Huw are both Welsh and in a milder climate, but that isn't going to be a problem.

I finished reading The Man Who Was Thursday, and Gretchen wanted me to say a bit more about it. I liked it very well, it's quite a short book, it was unexpected at every turn, and I'm not sure I understood it completely. Basically, it's about anarchy. I'm not good at book reviewing, and it had me surprised all along the way. It was good! Read it, it won't take you long. :)

I bought a bag of clementines really cheap at the supermarket, and would like to try a freezer jam; but I've got to figure it out first. 

whoever has an ear...

 I have encountered, tonight, video after video on youtube, the same message.

These prayerful people, Protestants I think  GOD SPOKE TO MY WIFE ABOUT A GREAT SHAKING THAT IS COMING - YouTube

Then, I saw another, same message   God gave my wife a vision. Theres a great shaking coming, a shift happening in the spirit. Take heed - YouTube

I know this may seem disturbing; this whole world is disturbing, and becoming more so. I have no problem believing any of this. But I really am not intending to comment about it, just to pass it along.

Prophetic Vision: GOD Will Shake The Heavens And The Earth - YouTube

waiting for autumn

 There's a rumbling in the distance; this goes on every day, with rain of course, and high humidity. I think Thursday will bring dry air. 

The eyes of the Lord are upon those who love him; he is their mighty shield and strong support, a shelter from the heat, a shade from the noonday sun, a guard against stumbling, a help against falling.

                                                                                               -  Sirach 34:16

"Autumn insects sing a sleepy verse now. It sounds old, worn thin and comfortable, like the knees of old overalls.  Along the side roads the bright gold of thin-leafed wild sunflowers gleams from its dust covering and attracts the eye as quickly as mention of easy money. Purple ironweed is diminishing in the pastures; thistles are down to their last silken tassels; goldenrod pours its heap of raw gold into the general fund."

                                                - Rachel Peden

the song of the cricket

 A fellow from the phone company came on Friday when my brother was home for lunch - that was nice! I was getting a little more reading done while the internet was out, though. :)

We're starting to hear crickets in the library - this occurs every September. I like the sound, but I guess they like to eat fibers. But it's hard to catch them; I'd rather just enjoy their singing. 

"The common cricket is small, dark-brown and numerous - also noisy. 'Ye-up, ye-up', he sings harshly. His voice sounds like a burlap sack filled with corn being dragged bumpily over a stone road. His ambition is to get into the house and hide, there to sing until winter overtakes him or her gets stepped on.

The voice of the cricket is a theme of reassurance carried from an ancient civilization into our modern one. If I ever have to dive for survival into an underground shelter, I hope there will be a cricket familiarly 'ye-up, ye-up, ye-upping' there."

                                        - Rachel Peden

in limbo

 I'm at work right now, and posting this because we lost our internet at home yesterday; the phone company is coming Monday morning to fix things. It's weird that my brother's phone is out (and the internet connection is on his line), and mine is fine. I'll be interested to know what happened.

the waiting game

 

I took this photo at the library, and it's a little incubator with seven eggs within. There is a program that equips your school, library, homeschool, etc., with everything you need to hatch these chicks and keep them for two or three weeks after. 

We did it last year, so now feel like experts.

two favorites

 I noticed that the cats were vying for the north window in the spare bedroom; my room has the same exposure, so I looked out. I have no idea what caught their attention, but a mockingbird was quietly on a post in the garden.

I rarely see them - I don't think we have much in our yard to attract mockingbirds; they like berries and sweet things, not seeds so much.

And then there was a catbird nearby, at the hedge where they spend their summers -

I was hoping from these photos that the similarity between them would be obvious, but I don't know if it is. They are very much related. I don't know when the catbirds leave because they get so quiet towards the end of summer. I should call Audubon and ask. 

Small enjoyments. 

night harmony in late summer

 It's Labor Day here in the U.S. I just found out it originated as a "Monday holiday", the first Monday in September, starting in 1882. I so dislike the idea of Monday holidays, and thought they were a twentieth century thing.

We are embarking on a three or four-day spell of really hot temperatures, but it is comfortable at night. Such a blessing. 

"This week the diminishing moon is a golden watermelon cut into thirds. On the golden flesh you can the shadowy golden seed pockets, and the golden seeds, too; and the moon's burning light poured down on the ground is a golden juice.

Nights are marked by a steady humming spread on the air like a thick blanket. Only by listening acutely can you detect separate voices in the humming. There is the challenge and rebuttal of katydids in ceaseless debate; the short, quick shrillness of a cricket; the shaken vibrato of cicadas, jarfly, and other insects that hum in the night. All these blend into a chorus from which occasionally you may hear the quaver of the gray screech owl, the rare cello of a big bullfrog at the pond back of the barn, or the dramatic interception of some dark bird's sudden outcry. The whole orchestration is not loud enough to waken a sleeper, but if you happen to be already awake and listening, you are aware that a great amount of sound is harmoniously blended to make 'the quiet of the country'."

            
                                                                -  Rachel Peden,  A Farmwife's Almanac of Country Living