Fleurs, Fins, & Furries

This little romance is so comical we simply HAD to share it with everyone. Several years ago, we created a holiday tree out of broken pieces of mirror.

As we await another onslaught of cold and blustery weather, it seems all creatures and beings – feathered and green – are preparing and peeking, each in their own unique and perfect way. Our feathered folks are stocking up.

I have become so enamored with the feather folks recently I have had to make a commitment to save NO additional images of them – ha!

We are astounded about the new eating habits of the doves leaving the ground to frequent the feeder and lately they have been frequently joined by the cardinals and the rufus-sided towhees giving the jays a run for their money.

With the onset of colder weather, our feathered folks have returned en masse.

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!

The elusive Miss Jemima Pearl was caught at ‘her post.’ Our night blooming cereus gave us its ALL yet again and our family of skunks is just beyond belief. The little guy who has puffed himself up can’t be as long as a size 8 ladies’ shoe! He looks like a stuffed toy. . .

Take a look at who July has perfectly paired in the love arena outside.

Once again Joshua and I enjoyed the good fortune of an opportunity to hang the ‘gone fishin’ sign and trekked to Phoenix where we honed our koi-herding and transporting skills, returning with 8 glorious beauties!

The monsoons brought just a few minutes of hail which was just enough to pockmark our lily pads but look at the sweeties that waited to bloom until after that storm.

You may get weary of my child-like delight and surprise at what presents itself in the gardens and yard but I love these treats.

Look what the frenzied chaos of summer is bringing us.

Walk and peek with me . . .

As I was huffing my way up the Reunited Resurrection garden steps after my run, look at what opened my eyes! Randy the cactus has NEVER made so many blooms all at once and there is one more to come!

This week was a HUMONGOUS one on our Coconut Island in the Sky koi world as we travelled to two locations in Phoenix to collect new finned folks ranging in size from 3” – 16”.