Ornamental Cabbage

gets more colorful with each frost.

The Secret

Evergreens

Plant them in containers for winter greenery.

Gold Fantail

because of milder weather, is out and about today but as deep as possible without disappearing.

Swimming Pool to Goldfish Pond Conversion

The Shadow of Your Smile/Kenny G

Tiny Pond

with spitting frog is full of leaves.

Test Your Botanical Knowledge
This large shrub/small tree produces large, red, leathery-skinned, many celled, edible berries.
Answer

Michael Buble

is coming to our area in March of 2008 and I'll be there.

Dogwood flower buds formed in late summer endure all winter and bloom in the spring about Easter time.

Photographic Art

Frosty Morn

Light the fire.

Duck

was our Thanksgiving entree,


but I forgot to make his picture... and he was so pretty.

What A Wonderful World

Thanksgiving

The garden is transforming into soft winter gray. The cold has arrived but inside it's warm and I am blessed.


Come, little bird. Your feast awaits.

Come thou fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing thy grace
Streams of mercy never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount I'm fixed upon it
Mount of thy redeeming love

Here I raise my Ebenezer
Hither by thy help I come
And I hope by thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home
Prone to wander Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart, O take and seal it
Seal it for thy courts above

Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wandering from the fold of God
He, to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood
Prone to wander Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart, O take and seal it
Seal it for thy courts above

O to grace how great a debtor
daily I'm constrained to be
Let thy goodness like a fetter
bind my wandering heart to thee
Prone to wander Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart, O take and seal it
Seal it for thy courts above
Seal it for thy courts above

Architectural Elements

Attention is called to the step which is always a bit of a surprise, by decorative architectual elements.

L'AUTOMNE

Gratitude

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. ~Melody Beattie

Fall Tribute

Best Autumn Color

came in mid November instead of October this year. Stormy weather contributed to the ground being colorful also.

What do you get when you cross a bonsai artist and hosta?

Beauty

Scallops With Linguini

and shrimp sauce served with Parmesan toast was the results of Chef Roger's inspiration. He can make that again!

Test Your Botanical Knowledge
Two foot long, broad, glossy, evergreen leaves of this plant are hardy to zone 7 and is a favorite of flower arrangers. Used in the shade in mild areas and indoors as a carefree plant, otherwise.
Answer

Ordinary Miracle

White Oak

Seven to nine rounded lobed leaves

turn brown or brownish red in the fall. Helpful in identifying the trees are the unusual smooth patches on furrowed bark.

Veteran's Day

Last week, while traveling from Orlando on vacation, I noticed a Marine sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two together. After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who'd been invited to sit in First Class (across from me), and inquired if he was heading home. No, he responded. Heading out I asked? No. I'm escorting a soldier home. Going to pick him up? No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq. I'm taking him home to his family.

The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn't know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier's family and felt as if he knew them after many conversations in so few days. I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, Thank you. Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do.

Upon landing in Buffalo the pilot stopped short of the gate and made the following announcement over the intercom. 'Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the honor of having Sergeant Steeley of the United States Marine Corps join us on this flight. He is escorting a fallen comrade back home to his family. I ask that you please remain in your seats when we open the forward door to allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his fellow soldier. We will then turn off the seat belt sign.' Without a sound, all went as requested.

I noticed the sergeant saluting the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me realize that I am proud to be an American. So here's a public Thank You to our military men and women for what you do so we can live the way we do. author unknown

America

Beneath this hallowed ground lay those who suffered and died for freedom.
Names carved in stone of the sacrificed, mourners remember.
We honor them, those from the distant past to those who now serve to keep us free.

In Honor of Veteran's Day

Turkeys

take it easy in the shade for a moment and then move on into the woods. We spotted these turkeys on our way to White Bluff to pig out at

Take The Edge Off

hardscapes with ferns as Lydia has done in her beautiful garden.

After, with hubby's help, removing another dead shrub , I planted the bulbs I purchased in September. Cheers! Later is better than never.

Autmnal Emotion

Wild Turkeys

Once in a while wild turkeys stroll through the back yard. This tree is about a mile from our house. I think they roost in it.

Pelargoniums

have been moved to a sheltered position because of an expected freeze tonight. Hopefully, we may enjoy them a few more days.

Autumn Landscapes

Fall Colors

Dogwoods have formed next spring's flower buds and the leaves are turning more and more red each day.

Baking

Nothing is better in the fall than warming up the kitchen by baking a tasty treat.

Test Your Botanical Knowledge

This native small tree/large shrub has leafless gray branches covered in red berries during winter providing food for wildlife.
Answer

Are Deer Browsing

on your favorite plants?

Use