Pumpkins and Spiders

Sweet potato fries and chipotle catsup. Margaritas. Those are good things. Watching the doctor put a big needle in John's knee and draw off 3 vials of fluid. That is hard to watch. So the treat above was a small reward. Now he is resting. Somewhat.

My favorite winter squash, drying in the sun. He had to get those harvested since the temperatures turned frosty last night.

My mood is decidedly autumnal today. Saying good-bye to so many beautiful things growing in the garden that will leave us soon with the first killing frost.

There is so much that is beautiful in the world.

Good-bye little tree frog. I won't be seeing you guys again for many months.

Good-bye Fairy Roses. I'll miss your sweet, uplifting vision of summer. Your clusters on my table top.

Good-bye, yellow hollyhocks. I'll miss your sunny faces outlined against a cold, blue sky.

I'll miss the blue salvia, offering her sustenance to honeybees and other winged things.

And the echinacae. That elegant form, that medicinal gift of nature.

Farewell, rag tag sunflowers. You have fed the birds and given us much beauty to enjoy.

And this boy. I sat outside in the sunshine with him for an hour today. On Monday we will say good-bye to our dear Hermanito when an angel of mercy comes to our house with an injection that will deliver him to his final rest. It is a heavy day here. And filled with so much love for our friend who has given us so much comfort and companionship for so many years. This good-bye is the hardest of all.

Please take a moment and swing over to Allegra's site and leave a comment on her latest blog entry. She is donating $1 to KIVA for every comment; it will only take you a moment. Bless you for helping others, for caring, and thank you, Allegra. If we each do a little bit we can effect enormous change.