Look at our new mama and her late-season babes.

These not-so-youngsters-anymore raccoons and skunks have virtually grown up together and it is heart-warming to see that their ease and cooperation continue.

We have experienced the absolute delight of seeing Mama raccoon bring her FIVE HEALTHY BABES to our feeding station for the last 3 months or so. When they first showed themselves they were about the size of an average lady’s shoe and could not climb the tree.

As the weather portends the coming of winter, many of our friends are moving into a warmer space just as we respond to that going within and hunkering down instinct. A praying mantis prepares to dine on a wasp in the atrium door, and I scurry around looking for those last couple of zinnias and the roses that blush (just the slightest) from the cold nights . . .

With the autumn equinox upon us things are shifting and changing in our outside world. Spider Lady preps her dindin and the night-blooming cereus gives us her last show of the season.

September seems to have everyone making nice with everyone else and who would guess that zinnias need a local spider as guardian?

It seems our conifers have hung out the ‘Vacancy’ sign and look who has moved in – the weeping blue atlas cedar is now home to a morning glory and the blue spruce has given a leg up to the rose bush at its base.

We continue to be blessed by the extraordinary monsoons that allow Mother Earth to help everything to thrive. And everyone is getting along which as it should be.

Our little raccoon family returned just days after their first visit and look at what quick and precocious learners the kids are. Just days ago, mom was helping everybody and now they are VERY BIG kiddos.

If you have an aversion to saying “ooooh” and “aaaaah” I suggest that you stop reading this post right this minute! We were just commenting that it must have been an unfortunate year for any raccoon family as we hadn’t seen babies yet and lo and behold, look who visited us last evening. . .mama and FIVE babes!