Weekend Thoughts

Well, our weekend did not unfold as we thought it would.  Hubbs came down with a virus that kept him home and quiet for the weekend... fever, chills, sore throat, headache, etc.  He's slowly feeling better each day - no worries.  

Reading the New York Times with Ivy

Nevertheless, it was the perfect weekend for staying home... sunny, cool, breezy - just perfect weather for this time of year.

Barn chores yielded their usual amount of smiles... like, Forrest asking Faith to play kick the can with him.

Of course Faith just stomped her feet in disapproval.  It's hard to get sheep to play.   They are very serious folk!

We lit a fire to warm the house - 

and I spent a good deal of time outside with the dogs - finishing up the vegetable garden clean-up and taking walks in the woods. 

 I did a little more sourdough baking - making another batch of English muffins (my third batch in two weeks - yes, they are that good!) and also my first try at bagels (sesame a few salt bagels).  They, too, were pretty good - a bit ugly, but tasted good.

  By Sunday afternoon, Hubbs was even up to joining us for a walk.

The woods are rather stark right now, but I love the look.  Compared to the woods in the summertime when dense ferns and undergrowth block visibility, the autumn woods are wide open.  You can see through the woods - perfect for spying deer as they retreat from our presence.  Every inch of ground is covered by a thick carpet of crunchy brown leaves.  The trees are bare, with the exception of the oak trees who hang on to their leaves until late winter.  

The only colorful foliage remaining are the russet black oak leaves.  

Eventually, they too will become brown and curled, and make their way to the forest floor.

The meadow in the center of the woods, our "field of dreams", just weeks ago was awash with the sunny hue of goldenrod. 

 Now, fluffy, beige seed heads rustle with the wind and fall onto the backs of the dogs who wander, following their noses, through these wild spaces. 

 Round, prickly burdock burrs stick to the dogs' legs and chests.  This necessitates a daily inspection to keep these tenacious hitchhikers from getting too deeply imbedded in fur.

I love this time of year - but then, honestly, I love every time of year - every day.  The peaceful, winding-down feeling of Autumn, the cold, quiet repose of Winter with its stark monochromatic scenes, the hope-filled resurgence of life that Spring brings, and the way Summer explodes, like fireworks, with offerings for every sense.  Naturally, there are those things that make life a little difficult along the way... like sweltering heat and humidity, or treacherous ice, but I try to accept that which I cannot change and find the beauty, in spite of the inconvenience.  I am grateful for warm gear and air-conditioning.  I dream of a world where all can enjoy these things. But then, I dream of a world without conflict, or hunger, or homelessness and the many myriad problems plaguing humanity.

As we head into Thanksgiving, I will share with you that my thoughts on that particular day have changed.  I no longer view it through the child-like lens of the Pilgrim stories we were told as children.  Instead, I approach the day with a heart filled with gratitude for life's gifts.  I give thanks that, although the news would have you believe otherwise, people are inherently good and kind.  And life, in spite of its hardships, is worth living.  Each day is a gift.

Thank you for sharing your own personal "pet" stories on Friday.  If you have the time, you might want to go back and read some of the stories that were shared in Friday's comment section.

PS:  We lost one of our Runner ducks this weekend.  I was heading to the woods with the dogs and came upon a juvenile eagle standing on top of one of the ducks.  I scared the eagle away and the duck went running off.  I had thought that I had gotten to it in time, but it died shortly thereafter - having been mortally wounded.  I hate these losses.  Nature can be so harsh.

Breakfast disrupters

The bribe

Feeling like the Pied Piper

I think this was their plan all along!

Finally, a little peace and some breakfast!