A Welcome Birthday Gift!

Thanks to my friend Susan, I now have another 2 additions for my wooden cat collection. One even comes with a parachute.

We had a lovely birthday dinner at Bob and Susan's: BBQ tenderloin cooked to rare perfection, roasted sliced pepperoni-potatoes and sauted fresh chanterelle mushrooms. Chris made the caesar salad you see below which was also awesome.

The Last of Fall 2013

These are the last days of colour in the garden.

Another wind and all the leaves will surely be on the ground.

The last of the late bloomers, the Monks Hood, are still putting on a good show, but they too will fade and fall in another week. Typically they would be done by now but our stretch of good weather in October prolonged their life cycle.

Winter comes next. 4 months of it.

Another Interesting Visitor

This country living and sharing your space with the wildlife has its blessing and pains.  Just when we think we have the herons under control and away from our pond.. .. along comes a new predator.  It is a kingfisher!  I love these little birds, but they are not the kind you expect to see in your back property in the forest. above your pond!

 We have seen it 3 times now, usually because we  have heard its loud rattling call (kind of like a delicate teacup shaking on a saucer) announcing an arrival. Then we see it and it always lands on the same branch of a tree overlooking our pond;  from a distance, a white spot on a tree!    The little monster is a beautiful belted kingfisher.     At this time of year, the pond plants and water lilies have died down and the pond is crystal clear with little vegetation - the perfect hunting place for a hungry kingfisher.