Looking back over life this week . . . . . .

 

 It's been a mixed week of trying to get niggling chores done in order to

 move along with Christmas preparations.

For instance, in the garden, cutting down the delightful dahlias now in their

 death throes. This one still beautiful. Hoping they will return next year.

Raking the never ending falling leaves - thank goodness Bob can still 

do this job - but next year we will most likely hire younger able-bodied 

yard workers - it's really too much for us now!

Putting away the daily decor and making room for Christmas - 

although this year I will keep it simple.

Last thing to decorate is the dining room table - my favorite space after the mantel.

It will also be the last . . . . .after I've completed writing the Christmas cards over

the weekend. . . . . they are scattered everywhere across the smooth, gleaming

 pine table, along with sheets of pretty postage stamps, address labels, lists,

pens etc. 

Stopped at a garden center in town yesterday to pick up some cut greens

and was surprised at the prices this year - so much higher than I recall.

This now seems to apply to everything we are purchasing though, 

especially food!

My choice of greenery for the mantel - $15 for these few pieces tied in a bunch!

Fresh wreaths such as at the top of this photo were lovely but priced so high,

some close to $100!

I'll scrounge around in the back garden and see if I can find more

evergreens and red berries later.

We decorated outside this week, fewer strands of lights due to

 my physical issues. Currently Bob does everything requiring bending

 and lifting! I went to PT twice this week and am now taking a

break until I see the neurosurgeon just prior to Christmas.

Hung wreaths - our very nice faux ones - with new red and black check

 ribbon bows, many candles in lanterns, and set some floodlights across 

the lawn. The cottage looks pretty once dusk fades and the inky darkness

 of these December nights blots the sky. The moon hangs low, a perfect

 clear crescent, stars are glittering, and the nostalgic fragrance of 

burning firewood creeps into the nostrils when I step outside. 

Although still warm, we did light a fire on Thursday night when

granddaughter Jasmin came for supper.

The coming of Christmas is a lovely time. Just need to stop, breathe, and

take in the simple things nature provides - they are the most important.

Hoping your weekend will be filled with treasures of the holiday season.

Welcome rain. . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . brought much needed moisture to the garden, along with a 

 number of birds. They've returned to spend what hopefully will be a

mild and manageable winter here in the southeastern states.  

Of course most of our southern garden birds are non-migratory, however

 they often seem hidden from view in autumn. Now they are definitely hungry

 at the feeders, and looking for a warm place for the night.

Our garden has a lot of trees and shrubbery to hide in, and the hanging 

ferns are left up on the porch, perhaps not looking their best, but the

 Carolina wrens have always made them their 'bedrooms' in winter - and

 they are my favorite little birds so I like to know they are safe and warm.

"Our pair" of Northern flickers appeared in the garden at the feeder yesterday.

They've been 'on holiday' somewhere else for a while.

One of the larger woodpeckers, so beautifully feathered and welcomed always.

The Knockout roses are still blooming, not much else is now!

Though wet outside this morning, yesterday was sunny, bright blue skies, 

and calm. Bob raked more leaves, easier when they are dry and the wind, 

which was so blustery on Monday, had gone. Our pile at the street is

 now a mountain and the city won't return until January to vacuum them up. 

The pickup is no longer done three times, cut back now to two, which is

 not good. Raleigh, with so many trees and officially known as the

 City of Oaks, is now swamped with fallen leaves. . . . . .and there are

 still more to fall!

This morning I was up early, before sunrise and 'visited' some favorite

 blog friends back in jolly old England - as they were five hours ahead 

and already up and enjoying a busy day no doubt 

I really loved friend Pat's post - she's in the Yorkshire Dales at her always

 great blog Weaver of Grass.  

Her interesting discussion is on dealing with cold weather back in the

 early days when we now older British gals and guys were kids.

Following WWII, we were "deprived" of central heating, and other comforts 

today's kids have never known about, much less experienced.

Go read her post and the great comments - I left one too about my knickers! 

 Makes one so grateful for what we have today.

Pat's posts often bring back childhood memories and I love that.

Have a good one. I'm staying inside today, making lists, checking them 

twice, and trying to get organized.

Our own "overstory" - the life of our trees.

(ō′vər-stôr′ē)   1. The highest layer of vegetation in a forest, usually forming the canopy. 

2. The trees in a forest whose crowns constitute this layer.

This morning, sunrise at 7:14 am - spectacular!

This past Monday, our tree crew arrived to take down a small oak which 

had died, remove large branches from the oaks overhanging the roof, plus

 do a lot of pruning of smaller branches and tidying up of the now

 aging trees around the perimeter of the cottage.

The now bare fig tree on right of the photo was not touched.

The guys arrived as planned around 7:45 am. 

Fortunately the weather cooperated. Showers were forecast but never appeared, 

it was quite warm with only a slight breeze. We were grateful that a crane was not

 required. . . . .the bucket truck and some acrobatic climbing worked well.

Josh in the bucket.

Thanks Ian, Josh and Adam - you were all charming, polite and very nice to work 

with. We really appreciated all you did to make the garden look better. 

You have made me feel a lot safer with those large, dangerous branches 

gone from above my roof. . . . . . and my head when walking outside!

This great local company Leaf & Limb have trained arborists who work

 to save entire trees, not just chop them down and drag them away.

We do love our old trees and will save as many as possible.

Adam carrying large branches to the chipper.

Bob and Ian discussing the job prior to starting.

Hope you are all having a great start to this new year and decade.

I'll be back here soon to catch up with everyone.

Gardening for Christmas -

Other than raking, gathering and piling the leaves - and no sooner that's done

more fall - there's not much gardening going on around here!

Very different weather this morning.

Rain, steady but light, temperature a few degrees above freezing

 (could have been snow if colder), enough to dampen down the dust and

put a sheen on the gazebo now sporting the annual Christmas tree 

to brighten up the dark nights.

While working out there yesterday, our family of Eastern bluebirds returned

 to enjoy the birdbaths and suet feeders. I managed a few quick photos of this

 handsome male, so colorful at this time of year. . . . . . and they brought me 

much happiness.

Christmas preparations are in full swing here, although mine are much

 more simple than those of many younger bloggers I've noticed.  

Did I used to have that much energy?

Do I wish I still could do all that? 

Yes of course.