Before the Winter comes.............

It's been raining all week, almost all day every day. Today is Friday and Tristen wanted to go outside so bad. This will have to be our clean up weekend before the snow flys. I have to put away all the garden ornaments and move plants and things. Gerry will have to rake leaves onto the road so they will get picked up. Saturday is supposed to be rainy in the morning, and that's OK it will take us most of the morning to get motivated. Then its outside for us............. One leaf does not seem so bad but when you see the big piles beside the road you wonder where they put them all. Well we do know where they put them, there is a dump outside of town and they turn it all to mulch. If we get done in time we will go out for a drive on Sunday. Maybe out to the dunes. There has been a worrisome incident out there though. For some reason 300 dead Loons and other birds have washed up on the beaches. Some thing in the water. It supposedly happens now and then but it troubles me that its that many Loons. We will stay away from the beach. I want to get some pictures of the colours. If any leaves are still on the trees. Look at these cute berries I found in our Alley They look like baby Pumpkins. ' We shall see what the weekend brings because not much going on today that's for sure. This is Tristen walking home from school on Thursday He was wearing his shoes instead of his tennis shoes. He liked that they had laces. He said they were bunny ears, naturally they came undone Gabby did them up for him He is showing off his back pack and being able to walk without holding our hands. He is practicing road manners and looking both ways ETC Tristen is still a little untrustworthy so we keep a good eye on him.

Suns Last Kiss............

The Last walks of Autumn............................

Autumn walks

I see Autumn leaves all swirling down
In shades of olive, scarlet, amber and brown.
I take deep breaths of cold crisp air
and catch a stray leaf in tendrils of hair.
I raise my face towards the sun
It's weaker now that summer is done.
My last eager walks in woodlands deep
before all is done, and put to sleep
under blankets of snow and freezing ice
everything now is so special, so nice
The sky is so blue, so pristine and bright
soon it will be leaden and looking like night
I don't want to miss out on these heavenly days
I want to soak up these last gentle rays
JKS 2011 Nov

Fall Is In The Air..............

Summer is not yet done...... but I see subtle changes in the air. I see it in the way my garden looks. It looks tired. It's about to get a second wind as the Asters and Mums begin to bud. The morning light is different now. The sun is hot but in the shade I feel a difference, a nip. I see the geese beginning to practice their formations. Soon they will be gathering for their annual migration and soon the birds who leave to go south will begin to gather on the wires. Masses of them. Not as many as in years past when the sky would be black with them. Things have changed here in the 40 odd years we have lived in Traverse City. The wildlife has had to move further out although.....for some reason, we have had bears in town this past year. Funny that. We travel to The Upper Peninsula in the hope of seeing bears or moose or anything wild for that matter but here we have it now in our own back yard. Actually two blocks away but you get the drift.


Its time for the children to go back to school, or in the case of my granddaughter Reina it will be first day of Kindergarten. Watch out folks here she comes. Her mother says she will not have her phone on that first week and will give the teachers fair warning. Reina is ready for school. She is smart but her nose has been out of joint since Tristen has been the center of it all. It has been showing in her behavior and we are hoping that school will help. The first few days will be a trial I am sure, or maybe she will surprise us. Tristen will miss her coming over all the time. He will have new interests though because I take care of a couple of children now and then. Besides that Laura and me will be able to take him places during the day. I do so wish children came with an instruction manual. At my age 65, I am no longer sure what I am doing.I love this little guy so much. He has his mothers attitude, we see Alexandra in him so often now. (do read older blogs to find out about Alex, she died in Feb) I see the young Alex, I see her curiosity and her intelligence in him. I want to nurture him as well as discipline him and love him. I don't do Halloween so that will be difficult for us all. His second birthday is coming up soon and none of us can but think of his first birthday with his mother. I am hoping there is so much more we can do before winter comes. I want to get to the beach again, so much to show him, so much to do. Fall is one of the prettiest times of year here in Northern Michigan. If we get a good season, the colours here are just awesome. I would like to get back to the U.P again before the snow fly's but doubt we can afford to do it again. Money is always an issue for us but the Lord provides and we are lucky to live where we do. Fall is a spectacular time of year as far as colour goes. When the pumpkins are laying in the fields and the leaves are red and orange and lime and with the evergreens staying the dark green its really really worth coming here for the colour tours and the orchard tours. The apples and the pears and our local wines and cheeses. Its all worth the trip. Personally I prefer it when all the tourists go home and I get to stay and walk the empty beaches in a nice cool wind. Sometimes a brisk wind .....it doesn't matter just take in the deep breaths of clean pure air. The woods are lovely too and all the little critters are busy getting ready for what must come. Its even better walking when it's cooler and I just can't wait.