October holiday

At my front entryway
there is 
no pumpkins to be carved

Carving a face pumpkin was
so enjoyed by my
late husband.
Since his passing there 
are only decorative pumpkins. 

A friend recently visited and brought me three miniature pumpkins she grew in her garden. She shared that the seeds came from a pumpkins she was given. Perhaps I will save seeds to plant in my garden next year. With some searching the name of this miniature pumpkin is Jack Be Little*.

*Each flattened, deeply ribbed 

fruit measures only 5cm (2") tall

and about 13cm (5") across the top. 

If cured fully on the vine, 

the fruits will last as ornaments 

for as long as twelve months! 

Jack Be Little makes perfect 

little bright orange pumpkins 

for fall decorations, 

and each plant produces 

up to eight fruits.

One of my long time local friends celebrates her birthday on this holiday. She has had Halloween parties in the past where she encourages everyone to wear costumes. I recall Dwight often attended while I stayed home. Since I am naturally a very early riser I go to sleep quite a few hours before my late husband did.

When we as youngsters of course we use to canvas our neighborhood for candy and other offered treats. My mother use to make candied apples to hand out or sometimes popcorn balls. Either were deliciously tasty! When we lived in two different Iowa towns all the kids flocked to our house early for their Halloween "trick or treat". They did not want to miss out on whatever my mom made that year.

For all of you birders out there, I have recently read a fabulous book. The title is Better Living Through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World by Christian Cooper. which I highly recommend reading. I must confess that I kept National Audubon Society The SIBLEY Guide to Birds (written and illustrated by David Allen Sibley) within easy reach to look up the birds he mentioned as he often traveled about our planet, Mother Earth.

Asarum caudate
(Western wild ginger)
along the North side of my house

While hanging clothes out on my retractable clothesline earlier this month I looked at the plantings along the North side of my house. There in all it subtle glory was a flower on the Western wild ginger that my friend in Pt. Reyes Station invited me to dig up. Not wanting to have only one I dug up two clumps. One of the clumps is quite challenged where it is planted. Hopefully next year it will have settled in more and also have a flower blossom.  

As this October holiday arrives may we each enjoy a belly

Aaaaaaaaah Awesome

The above picture was taken from Auntie T's lovely
Pt. Reyes Station home's outside sitting area.  
Since the tide is out the area is pretty much dry.
When we first visited many years ago, 
this area was grasslands filled with cattle grazing.  
We watched the returning of the water to this area
during the Giacomini Wetland Restoration Project.
When the last levee was breached,
the water previously held back returned.
It was a pretty impressive event which we felt fortunate to view.
Now when the tide is "in" the area is filled with
all kinds of birds, large and small, feeding.

The dead tree has been purposely left for the herons,
both kinds of egrets, and Bald Eagles to roost in. 
While sitting in the sunshine turkey vultures like to spred out their wings to dry.

The very first time Shasta visited she walked onto the pond.
She was surprised when she fell into water.
Needless to say, she, BEing the very smart dog she is,
has not repeated her experience. She presently is walking
about the pond sniffing all the delicious smells left
by the myriad of critters who visit.

A stunning white flowering area

Another impressive flowering area. 
This one in shades of pink to lavender.

Pink flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum)

The tiny blue flowering plants are Bluebells. 

Tanis is not a native plant fanatic as I am.

She use to be a "professional" gardener using plants

of all variation, choosing the right plant for the right spot

in each and every garden she planted and cared for. 

In her own garden she has followed that path.

So I do not know the names of all the plants 

in her garden nor of the ones photographed for this post.

The bottom of this walkway leads
to the brick area featured in the very first picture above.

Beyond the gate sits Tanis' new hybrid Camry. 

One of the many different California Wild Lilacs (Ceanothus).
This particular one was chosen for this spot because of its vibrant purple color.

 Both buildings of this home have a sod roof.  
There is a bedroom and bathroom in one building
and in the other is a kitchen, living room,
meditation room, computer space
and TV room with a Murphy bed
+ another bathroom with a sauna adjoined.
Many of the kittie cats that have lived here
love to sleep on the luxurious roofs for their naps.

The hot tub is on left in this picture 

with table and chairs for eating outside slightly to its right. 

Apple trees have been planted below the bricked area.

Looking beyond the apple trees is the tidal area towards the West.

Behind the far ridge covered with trees is the Pacific Ocean. 

The area is known as the Point Reyes National Seashore.

The entire time we were all together in this Aaaaaaaaah Awesome setting, we shared many a