FALLing Fast for Autumn!

November!  Can you believe it?  I have been enjoying every minute of Autumn in Central NY and yesterday was no exception.  Head in curlers (yes, I do that occasionally-ha) and a kerchief to cover them, I took my little Lilly Chihuahua to Hoopes Park in Auburn, NY.

 I have been walking in this park since I was a teen and this day I was remembering when I skated with my Bill on the pond when frozen so long ago when dating...

 The fountain now silent for the winter...

 The beautiful Gazebo with the wonderful colors of Fall all around...

 The little stone bridge over a small stream...

 And of course the many Mallard ducks that reside here year round were basking in the Autumn sun.

I love the stones that line the pond and all the beautiful leaves on the many species of trees!  I pick some up, some Oak leaves as I have always done when walking with my little children so many years ago....

Oddly, I do not remember the twisted trunk of this tree.



 And I take home my treasures to draw later on and photogragh them on my lace tablecloth.  I am at peace.
 I passed an older couple more than once going around the Pond and I observed them perching on different benches as they walked hugging and holding hands... I asked were they "still in love?" or "new" in love?" And the woman answered, "still in love." And the man added, "isn't that wonderful?"  They were like my Bill and me and though Bill is gone from the earth now, I am still in love...♥♥♥

My wild heart to yours...

 

  Kerrie

Swan Visitor

 The beautiful lone Swan was here all day.  I am not sure if it is a male or female but it has an injured wing and always comes alone.

 I think it is a she so I will refer to her that way-ha!  She is so beautiful except for her left wing feathers that stick out near the back as though they were bent forward.
I love that she wants to drink from the pond when the whole lake is behind her-ha!

 Fall is here and the some of the fowl will be flying North as the Canadian Geese seem to be gathered in one big unit and practice flying in form and landing on the lake.  Teaching their young no doubt.

I love watching all this cycle of life each season right here in my own back yard.  I am very blessed.

 And the gracious Egrets are year round dwellers here in SC and I love them visiting several times a day.  Almost all of my photos are taken from my den window where my computer resides...

Beautiful reflection.  This was in the morning.  The last rays of sunlight are caressing the horizon with a  last burst of glory in the center in crimson....

Night all, come again soon.

My Wild Heart to Yours...

Sunday, Sunday...

October is upon us!!  The chill of Autumn is in the air-hurray!  I love the fall so much!  We had a particularly hot and humid summer here in SC and we were really looking forward to cooler weather so we could enjoy the out of doors.  My morning visitor, the Egret was chilled too, with temp at 52 degrees-ha!  He is hunkered down into his soft warm feathers while watching the lake for fish.



He lifts his head for a moment and then hunkers back down.

   It rained a lot last week and the lake is full once again.  It is a beautiful morning.  The Begonia pot that we had bought for the little patio by the lake was knocked over one day and it rolled into the lake where the turtles were attacking it with a vengeance!  By the time I rescued it, they had eaten a good amount of it's leaves so after convalescing on the back porch for a week or so, I hung it in the tree near the chairs and it is beautiful again.

It's Fall, Ya'll!  Enjoy your Sunday and come back soon!

Raking at my childhood home in Auburn, NY.  Age 7 or 8

It's a Mallard kind of Day!

Nippiness is in the air today but the sun is shining just beautifully!  The Mallards have come for their hand out and then went to the little lake and dunked and bathed.  They are so much fun to watch! 

This one is kind of blurry as she was moving but observe the beautiful feather detail!

Here is the male, so proud.

Now they find it necessary to bathe...

He is literally on a roll now-ha!

After the roll, he lifted up and fluttered his wings...

I love this picture of the two of them and the reflection of sky and tree branches...

What a blessing to see.  We are so privileged to be able to see them.  Thanking God for all his beauty and creatues!

♥Kerrie♥

My heart to yours...

SEPTEMBER SUNDAYS

Oh, dear friends!!  I am so much enjoying this blog!! Your comments are priceless and I am so glad you are sharing my sense of humor!  Things just strike both Bill and I funny and sometimes not everyone can catch the humor!  So it is so much fun to hear from you all.  I have published all of your comments but they are not showing as yet and you know I am not a patient person!  If I could wish something for every one of you, it would be a good marriage and partner in life.  Even with Bill's cancer hovering over us 24/7, he has never lost his sense of humor and we laugh about something every day.  Bill was 6 foot tall before the cancer.  The bone collapse in his spine has him now measuring 5'7"--on a good day.  One morning he came out as I was making coffee, kissed me and noticed how I do not have to tip toe to return the kiss.  He said, "Someday, I will wake up and be this tall" and he raised his hand from the floor about 2 1/2 feet, "and I will be saying 'me-me--me,me,me!"  I marvel at his finding humor in all situations. 

                                           "Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile

                                                but sometimes your Smile can be the source of your joy."

                                                                                                   ~~Anon.
September Sundays....
                        

Among the fallen leaves

Summer's remnants succumb too soon.

as shortened days and Harvest Moon

Light the Autumn nights.

A crispness starts to fill the air

As summer's warmth gives way

To branches bare

And snow is waiting in the wings

To take the center stage.

Bill put a little pile of maple leaves

Into the outdoor chimanea pot

And lighted them so I could enjoy

The aroma on the spot.

Ah, sweet Autumn

Just when all seems serene

A restlessness is spilled......

In the color of your leaves.

© Kerrie O'Hearn Marquart

                  

SUNDAY THOUGHTS

Consider the Lilies of the Field...
     How they grow; they toil not,
        Neither do they spin;
       And yet I say unto you,
        That even Solomon in all his glory
          was not arrayed like one of these...

_Matthew 6:28

Fall is in the air, the nights are blessedly cooler and everything in the garden is adorned with brilliant colors.  This Bradford Pear tree leaf is such a beautiful shade of Autumn!  Fall has always been my favorite time of year.  My Aunt Babe used to burn leaves she had raked near the curb in front of her house.  The aroma that filled the air was delicious to the senses.  She would be standing there in her bib apron tending the fire until it was out.  Open burning  was allowed in the forties.  Raking leaves was and still is one of my favorite activities.  It's good exercise, it smells good and it brings back memories.  Memories like my brother and I making paths through the leaves in our yard, sectioning off rooms or just jumping in the piles. Our hair would be full of their dust and bits of leaves covering our clothing, but oh what fun!

What more could I ask?