Autumn has brought scenes of wild lavender Asters to the yard...
...along with filtered sunrays through the trees.
There have been mornings of foggy mist to view with the sunrise.
One Sunday morning came with a glorious scene...
that drew me to the field.
There...I found a ceiling of white clouds...
below a sky of deep blue ...
I stood watching...as more clouds moved in...
and the sky graudually changed its hues.
Overcast days accent the gold in the large Oak tree out front.
The Maple along the drive had the same shade of red...
as the bench on the other side.
The Dogwoods in the side yard have dropped their leaves...but...
the small Beeches still hung with their gold on this day.
The back yard has Hickories, Beeches, Oaks, Dogwoods...and
Sassafras around the campfire...where an old log lays.
On my walks deeper in the woods this Autumn...
...scenes seem softer this year...than I remember from last.
The drought conditions have left the creek...far below...very dry.
Often...the woods seemed to lack creatures to photograph...
sometimes...I resorted to photos of vines...
...hanging from very tall trees!
But during the month of October...
I did find all these Box turtles in the Autumn leaves!
I was trying to capture the 5 squirrel nests in this
leafless tree...when I noticed at the base of it...
4 young boys! 2 of them grandsons! Coming to visit me?
No...in reality.....
...it was the craving of this pizza with cheese!
Here are a few other meals in the house...
only eaten by Herhusband and me!
Warm pound cake with cooked apples and ice cream
for after raking some, but not all, of those fallen leaves.
Just two days ago...we had tornado warnings!
High wind and heavy rain stripped...
most of the trees...of those beautiful leaves.
Bare branches though...where Bluebirds...
softly chatter...makes them easier to see!
For several years...at the end of October...
a large Buck comes to visit...
~ October 2007 ~
~ October 2009 ~
October 2010 finds the Buck faster than the camera and me!
~ October 2010 ~
While sweeping leaves from the patio...
~
something I never expected to see...
~
hopped very quickly over my toe...
~
and quite honestly...terribly startled me!
~
Mr. Toad
He may have just travelled across Indiana...
as he left Illinois and my friend Diana.
Yes...here he sits...in this Ohio town....
Winter is coming...but...no need to frown!
~ ~ ~
This will keep me from frowning all winter...
leaving "mail art" for Alivia to find...
and receiving all the ones that are mine!
~ Alivia 2nd Grade ~
♥ on an old Cedar tree!
♥...Wanda
77 comments:
All so beautiful Wanda. I especially loved those Asters, just gorgeous. Would you please send Mr. Toad back home? I really miss him. His home is filled with cobwebs. But I have not given up hope for next spring!
Alivia looks so pretty and grown quite a bit!
I don't blame the grandsons for coming for the pizza. It and all of your meals look so good!
Love Di ♥
I suggest anyone who needs a calming experience just visit your blog my friend....filled with soft music and nature. Diana is right all of it is beautiful. I especially like the second picture of the clouds, looks like cotton puffs but of course my favorite of all is Miss Alivia. She has grown so much since we started blogging. Love that the grandsons and friends were over for pizza, your meals look so good I am heading for the fridge. Big hugs to Alivia, love ya......:-) Hugs
These photos, as always, are very beautiful, Wanda. Such variety! I love the shots of the box turtles.
Love the photos of the misty forest, you take such gorgeous pictures! Love the toad!
I just love the sun through the trees, and the pretty clouds, which you captured perfectly.
Mr Toad looks like he is about to jump from my screen onto my desk!...and Mr Stag gave me goose bumps.
Thank you for taking me on your walk, now if I could just have some of that apple dessert..?
Still having problems with my blog, but have started a second one, which seems to be okay? Strange, I do wish I knew what was wrong.
hugs
xx
Wanda, it is so beautiful there, Now I can tell you Mr. Toad, did I say huge Mr. Toad would have made me have a Cataplexy spell just from being startled. I have only ever seen one as big, I was about six and there it was by an old well. We really thought we had found something...lol, you and Diana can share him. lol. love little Olivias letter she wrote you. hugs.
What great photos. I'm especially in love with the frog one LOL. What a great catch that is.
I'll leave you and Diana to work out the Mr. Toad things! He really gets around.
So, do you think it is the same buck? Too bad you were "camera slow"--it's quite an annual album you have of him!
The skies here have been amazing, too...the trees, too (most are either bare or nearly so now).
Cute note from Alivia. I guess she IS growing up and getting "busy" (sigh).
Have a wonderful finish to this month. How the year has flown!
I love your post...now please pass the pound cake!
Janet xox
Hi Wanda,
Autumn is such a beautiful time of year. I do so miss those beautiful leaves, so thank you for sharing your beautiful photos! Now, Mr. Toad is sure a big one! Never seen one so big!
I love looking at all the food you made. I must try the pound cake.
What is mail art?
Smiles to you.
I knew that it would be a treat to come visit you. I love Alivia's school picture and her sweet note! The food glorious food! Oh my goodness and in my mind you are a tiny, 90 pound woman bounding with energy. How do you ever stay so small. I love it all and yet the trees and clouds also make me feel a little sad. My apologies for posting so often recently. I am almost finished downloading my camera pictures. Life is good.
Once again a lovely walk with you, Wanda!Those clouds are so wonderful. The sky and the air in autumn give such clear colours. But I love the misty photos too.
I think the toad looks like Churchill! He's actually cute. But your granddaughter is of course much cuter! And thank you ever so much, Wanda, for making my mouth water because of your delicious cakes. I must not even think about a cake, and now I'll have go out into the kitchen and fetch me a modest biscuit !
I could tell you much more, for I love all your pictures, and the turtle and the trees and the deer and the flowers and all of it. Thank you for a lovely walk with you.
Grethe `)
I love how color lingers in the fall. I think my favorite photos are the ones with the sun shining through the trees. Very beautiful.
DEAR WANDA-
oh my goodness - such a lovely walk with so many beautiful sights and lovely sounds too. Alivia is a darling and growing so quickly.
And the food, all so yummy, - pizza being my favorite. mmm. I loved being with you about your nature-land today and enjoying some good food after. "thank you".
Love Gail
peace....
wonderful walk as usual. winter seems to be coming fast,we are still enjoying the loveliest spring in years.
Wanda, I do love the sun coming up in the mist and the turtles and your heavenly granchildren - the toad made ms smie - but the pound cake with apples made me obsessed!
I just love my visits here, I feel so serene and peaceful when I finally drag myself to click away :) I've got stroganoff cooking for dinner and its almost like smellavision... I see your lovely plated dish and breathe in and its wonderful :)
Thanks for sharing your slice of nature's paradise with us. Blessings to you!
Hi Wanda!
I love the sun's rays through the trees... just gorgeous.
& Alivia's letter... so cute! That's a big Toad!
Now, I have to go, because you have made me HUNGRY again with all your meals!! I just have leftovers... sigh...
:)
Beautiful stuff here - awesome!
Your photgraphy always amazes me...even the food and the frog!! So beautiful! Like going on a vacation with your eyes!!! Thankyou!!
Your photos and words are so wonderful. I have never seen a toad like your one, we don't even have toads here, nor deer nor those fantastic turtles or even the squirrels. I didn't even know that they built nests in the trees ...I guess I never thought of where/how they live!
Your autumn is a season of great beauty. Thank you for sharing it with me.
What a blessing this post is, filled with gentleness and beauty. Thank you for bringing me along with you on this lovely trip outside...
I enjoyed our walk through autumn, ending with the storm that turned the corner into the beginning of winter. Your toad would have had me jumping too. He looks like a grouchy old man and very disapproving of your photographic efforts. What a sweet letter Alivia sent you. Watching a little one grow is such joy, but there is always a tiny tug at the heart wanting them to stay small.
Mmm those meals look wonderful and, of course, all the wild life around you is goregous too. I love that toad. He has lots of character. Have a wonderful weekend.
More of those beautiful and delicious looking meals!
The sauce on the noodles! What is that????
Good morning Wanda!
I enjoy seeing your gentle photos, thinking how quickly time passes.
Your autumn is full of beautiful natures with the soft yellow and red leaves and bright sunrays. The lavender asters also add colors to your woods.
The letter from Alivia is cute....it is a treasure for you. She is adorable!
Have a good day.
Once again you've captured the beauty and wonders of Autumn around your place.
Alivia's letter is precious--one of those treasured keepsakes.
Thanks for sharing your world.
When I reach your link to click on, I do, then go get my last cup of coffee while it loads for I know I am in for a lovely walk and want all my comforts. NEVER do you disappoint.
I just adore your woods and am so glad you got the pictures before the winds blew the trees naked.
I can see why you had visitors that weren't all family. That pizza looked marvelous and I am not a big fan of pizza.
Thanks again Wanda. Ahhhhhhh.
you leave me practically speechless as always Wanda ... what stunning shots in this post! Your blog always provides such a grounded and calming influence on those of us lucky enough to know you!
What lovely autumn photos! That poor little toad looks cold; bet he was huddled up under the leaves. Most of them bury up in the soil this time of the year to stay warm. Have a wonderful weekend.
Hi Wanda,your post fantastic as always,it is such a joy to visit your blog..the photos (all of them) are amazing..we do live in a wonderful part of the world don't we?have a great day Wanda
Hi, Wanda, this is a wonderful walk feeling the changing seasons of mist, bright skies, and versatile autumn foliage. The woods seem to be full of breath of living creatures: Box turtles playing hide and seek, a large Buck with springy footsteps, chirping Bluebirds, and ... last but not least, Mr. Toad, photogenic with dignity and gentle etes.
If I were your neighbor, I'd help you rake "some of" fallen leaves for that warm pound cake! The rest of the fallen leaves will become good compost.
Alivia is so charming, and her "mail art", too. You must be proud of her.
BTW, Wanda, did you leave your heart behind on that old Cedar tree?
Beautiful October pictures Wanda, - it is such a lovely month with brilliant blue skies and colourful leaves and the spectacular events that the sun arranges in the morning and the evening light.
Thank you for sharing all these dear parts of your life and the wonderful place where you live.
Beautiful October pictures Wanda, - it is such a lovely month with brilliant blue skies and colourful leaves and the spectacular events that the sun arranges in the morning and the evening light.
Thank you for sharing all these dear parts of your life and the wonderful place where you live.
Wanda, there is NOT ONE picture that isn't like a post card! The sky is amazing and so beautiful and peaceful with a storm brewing on the horizon. WOW! That buck is beautiful. How he hasn't met his end is remarkable too! Year after year you would think he would be someones trophy on the wall, he must have a very good hiding place. Handsome buck! How can you NOT be enormous eating all that delicious food! So fun that your grand children live so close and that they come to visit so often. Those young bucks will eat you out of house and home! And I bet you love every minute of it..I know I would! hugs and smiles across the miles, have a wonderful weekend, stay dry and be safe!
Dear Wanda, I just returned home and checked to see if you had posted. What changes on your property this month! You went from colorful leaves to leafless in a matter of days. My favorite photos are of Mr Toad - what a character! Alivia is so adorable - I see she still has teeth missing. Hope you're feeling well.
Your photos are frameable...and I do hope that you are framing some of them and keeping them in your home....just beautiful!
I smiled at the vines...Those look like Tarzan vines, don't they...as big around as a small tree.
Mr. Toad...I do hope you are happy...and that you find your way back to Di. She misses you.
Lovely, Wanda...as always.
The toad and the box turtles stole my heart!!
But I see the heart in the tree. I wish I had a little one to share mail with. That would be so wonderful. Jack is too far away. I miss him so much.
Take care Wanda. It is supposed to frost here tonight. My toes are cold!
Joey
I love the toad most of all. You captured so much detail of that amazing creature.
I cannot imagine finding turtles in my woods :) There are none here!
I hope the buck survives another hunting season. I'm glad that he's fast!
Hello, dear Wanda...just wanted to stop by and say, "hello" to you, my dear friend!!! These photos are fabulous as usual...I especially like the two of the fog filtering through the trees!!! Just gorgeous!!! And you made me LOL with your pics of Mr. Toad...what a frown! But that food? It is all I can do to keep from drooling!!!! You are a spectacular chef!!!! Hope you have a fantastic weekend!!! Love you!!! Janine XO
...I bet you can lure in your grandsons with the dinners and treats you make any time! That cheesy pizza looks so good! such beautiful photos. I love the foggy, misty captures.
I can't believe we had a tornado this week! I hear the air raid sirens and turned on the weather. It's late in the season! Have a happy, happy Halloween!
Lovely! I like the look of that frowning toad and I wonder if I kissed him...
♥ Wanda, I love the toad and Alivia's letter to you...such a treasure to keep. All of your pictures make me feel like I am in them, seeing what you see and feeling what you feel...which means only one thing...you are a very talented blogger.♥
I feel as though I went on a journey with your post. I never knew that squirrels make nests in trees... and all those turtles amazing to see! Thank you for sharing the world through your lens and heart.
Hi Wanda...
Your photos are so glorious... The beams of light pouring through the trees are truly heavenly. I had to enlarge almost all of your photos to enjoy the pure beauty of them...
I think next year I'll try to attract some bluebirds here. I know they love fields, but maybe with a nice bluebird house and some mealy worms... they might come to nest ~
I'm glad you didn't have any terrible consequences from all the tornado warnings in that part of the US.
I can't believe how big Alivia is getting! She is so pretty ~
Your letters to each other is such a sweet idea ~ how lucky you both are to be so close.
Blessings to you always, Wanda
*Maria
Another wonderful, charming post Wanda...love the 2nd toad shot! One of the food pics reminds me of some squash soup I made recently for the 1st time, it's delicious, and healthy! I also love the group of 9 turtle shots. :o) That wind storm seems to have covered several states; we had heavy gusts for 3 days in a row nonstop.
Oh, Wanda, what beautiful images of another walk on your property. Your grandchildren are wonderful. And, the food! Yum! I am so glad Mr. Toad made it over to your place from Diana's. :))
Thank you for another wonderful post. I'm just catching up once again. I've been out where I couldn't load pages with many images because they would time out before loading.
Hugs,
Lois
Your place looks so familiar, much like mine, yet very different, too. It's always a pleasure to share a walk with you.
The Box Turtles are amazing! So many! And each with such individual patterns -- you could name them and easily recognize them from year to year!
Hola Wanda!, right here,
in the delight of your blog; the fresh air of your soul; your gold leafs of the autumn; the sunlight between the trees, talls, eternals; autumn is time of waiting;
my affection. :D
Romulo.
So much beauty here it makes me breathe all the way to my toes. Even though I have many of the same sights here, the way you capture them is magnificent.
Another gorgeous post, Wanda. The cake must taste heavenly! Have a wonderful start to the month of November! xxxx
As always, Wanda, a most peaceful visit. I loved the box turtles. The quiet paths. The joy you discover in the world.
Okay, my diet is making me think of the food right away, and your meal photos are mouth-watering!
I'll have to head to the fridge for some yogurt to curb my appetite now! The pizza looks wonderful, and is that soup in one of your photos (the one with the peas)? Is it pumpkin or butternut squash? Well, that's what it puts me in the mood for anyway!
Great photos of your woods and sky and animals too! I love them and I love your red bench too!
And Alivia is adorable! How sweet her note to you is! And I love her picture of you two!
And she's in second grade already?!
Thanks so much for sharing your corner of the world! It's always a wonderful treat to visit here.
Love to you,
Eileen
PS ~ Amazing little toad! Nice of him to stick around long enough for you to grab your camera.
This is a wonderful blog! I love your story-telling and the accompanying pictures. They are all so lovely!
Oh my goodness . . . what an inspiring and lovely blog. I am your 202 follower. Could not resist so much beauty . . . how blessed you are to live in such a beautiful place.
Blessings to you my new friend.
Bren
Incredible skies and I love those turtles. I've never seen them around here. Thanks for taking me on a visit.
your blog by far brings me the most joy Wanda! I can't tell you how much!
smiles,
-eera-
Have the loveliest of weekends, dear Wanda xxxx
So many delights on offer,it's impossible to choose a fvourite. How lucky you are to have so much beauty on your doorstep! :)
Going thought your post is like a walk with you through the serene and picturesque surroundings. Calms you down and tranquility prevails. I could keep looking endlessly at the sunlight streaming through the trees and the foggy morning.
You must get a few of these framed :)
Hoping you are doing well! Loads of love :)
I can always count on you to warm my heart with your lovely pictures and narration.
You have a wonderful eye for capturing the natural beauty of your surroundings.
☼ Sunny
Spectacular moments
thank you
Wanda, thanks for visiting my blog this morning. I feel like I know you already after seeing all the beautiful things you see at your home.
How wonderful to have grandchildren live close enough to be able to walk over and visit!
Just stopping by to say "hello!" to you, dear Wanda!! Wanted you to know that you've been in my thoughts! Love you! Janine XO
Dear Wanda, I hope your week is lovely so far. It's Wednesday evening here and I'm enjoying my evening with lots and lots of tea!
Happy hugs to you xoxoxo
OOOHHHH MY GOD, This is such a beautiful and calming post, I had this look on my face throughout.
Mmmhmm-that does indeed look like a well-traveled toad!
Loved your post so much! It made me smile!
Love, Debra
Again an absolutely beautiful post. I have never seen a bluebird and I want to see one before I die. I loved the picture of the sky after the clouds moved in and it was darker and so beautiful.
What a gift you have and how wonderful that you share it with us. Your camera work is outstanding as are your comments. I love your blog and every one of your posts.
I love how Mr Toad was willing to pose for you after he startled you! Oooh my, at eight thirty in the morning you made me crave pizza with lots of cheese on top!
Just stopping by to take another walk with you...you must still be in the woods. :)
Beautiful photography! Thanks for sharing.
Love,
Marie
Oh...sigh...
I needed this visit tonight.
Thank you for all the hard work you put into your posts...this is lovely...the pictures, the words, the Grands, the little note...
Just tender and sweet and lovely and warm and wonderful...exactly like you!
Thank you sweet friend!
You are a wonder.
Thanks for following my blog. I really enjoyed all your photos.
Wanda, I know I have commented before, but coming to your site is like taking a vacation! I find myself looking at extraordinary pictures and with the lovely music, I take a deep breath and relax!
It's fun to look at your delicious food too! Wow, I want to be invited to dinner at your house!!
The granchildren going off to play is a sweet photo but the note was just precious. Sweet memories! Thanks for your comment on my site too....D
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