sparkly diamonds

The light was lovely last evening, but I couldn't quite capture it until I changed the focus and saw the sparkle. Phillip said that it looks "like sparkly diamonds".

I'm just feeling content and inspired this week. What a pleasant state of affairs.

garden news

We planted several sunflowers this spring, but much like kale and carrots and a few other things, the seeds seem to have washed away in heavy rain before they had a chance to sprout and set some roots. We have a lone giant, beautiful droopy sunflower bobbing in the breeze, and I've been checking on the seed development regularly. It's fascinating, and one of the more beautiful patterns in nature. (There are so many!)

Speaking of seeds, I'm letting my cilantro go to seed and am hoping to save some for next summer's fresh salsas. Aren't the little flowers sweet?

 We have a couple of tomato plants that are heavy with very green tomatoes. I may need to make a batch of Shirley's Chow Chow to use some up.

We keep a patch of bee balm, which attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and (clearly) bees. Now that the petals have fallen and I've taken a closer look, I can see exactly why the hummingbirds love them - it appears as though they're perfectly designed little nectar cups for tiny hummingbird beaks. I think they're just as lovely as the flowers in bloom.

it's here

The first fire of the season is on tonight. I love this time of year. Fall is right up there with spring and summer, in my opinion. And winter has its moments, too. It's been cool enough lately to wear scarves to work in the morning, and then take them off as soon as the day starts to warm up. The air is cool and breezy, and wood smoke is in the air. I feel like listening to P.D. James books while driving for work (they're all great, I'm currently listening to this one, borrowed from the library) which is a sure sign of fall. And I bought mums (red's my favourite, and they match the door) for the back step.

I know I'm not the only one who loves this cooler weather and abundant harvesty season. (We've each been eating our weight in cucumbers in our house.) Amongst my other favourite things about fall - my chai concentrate in a cup of Red Rose tea.

One of the only unpleasant things about fall (along with dark morning wake-ups) is that germs seem to get passed around with astounding rapidity (can you tell I'm steeped in P.D. James?), and it seems as though the boys brought home some kind of ick after the first day back last week! I think P has fought it off, but Thomas is congested and his nose is running like a faucet today. I'm planning to pick up some lemons and ginger tomorrow and whip up some of the honey lemon concentrate we keep in the fridge through the winter. I didn't think we'd need it so soon!

What are your favourite things about fall that I've missed? (I'm also looking forward to campfires in cozy sweaters, the leaves falling in the woods, and cold, sunny weekend days at the beach.)

I hope you enjoy the season as much as I do!

better than i could have imagined

Folks, the first week back at work after the lovely summer break was infinitely better than I could have hoped or planned. All of the little things that could have gone awry just didn't. I am so thankful, and enjoying this first weekend of the school year, which started off with supper out at the camp on Friday.

I'm soaking in every minute of this end-of-summer season and looking forward to fall. The cooler temperatures and return to routine definitely agree with me. Ahhhhh.