31derful days

Ah, October. Thirty-one glorious days that pass too fast.

…a blur of last-chance outdoor projects and garden rearranging

fencetostain
A new fence section to stain and the gate still to install
An exhausting move of two giant "dwarf" weigela who outgrew their old home and will now anchor a new bed-to-be in the front yard (assuming they live, which Mike will kill me if they don't)

An exhausting move of two giant "dwarf" weigela who outgrew their old home and will now anchor a new bed-to-be in the front yard (assuming they live, which Mike will kill me if they don't)

The endless fire pit rebuild, with the newly moved and now spindly Mighty Big Pink hibiscus in the background.
The endless fire pit rebuild, with the newly moved and now spindly Mighty Big Pink hibiscus in the background

…long walks taking in the leaves and sky, the mums and pumpkins, a monkey ball or two

outthewindow

Mums're the word of the month

Jack

monkeyballs

…a Saturday day trip (instead of working)

OK, so it wasn't the Macy's parade, but the 50th annual Ft. Ligonier Days parade was a real slice of America.

OK, so it wasn't the Macy's parade, but the 50th annual Ft. Ligonier Days parade was 2 hours of pure Americana -- and packed

…8 birthdays of friends and family (plus my own), and our wedding anniversary

One of life's happiest inventions: cards!

…rediscovering the harvest and Halloween decorations tucked away since last year

tableau

Boo

buddies

…gifts from generous neighbors to see to

apeckofpeppers

A lot going on, and all of it good. The annual deep breath before the holidays (Christmas again? already?), and the glowing finale before weather worries, bleakness, and hibernation set in.

Ah, October.

Even the azalea is cheering it on this year.

azalea in October

Bittersweet October.
The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause
between the opposing miseries of summer and winter.
~ Carol Bishop Hipps