Saturday, October 31, 2015

Almost Over

It doesn't look like this anymore. The first two pictures were taken last Sunday before the Big Wind arrived.



















The Big Wind took 60% of the foliage. The remainder has been falling steadily since.





















It doesn't even look like this anymore. Barren is now the dominant feel of the forest.





















It was a good fall. I even got good color in plants I don't normally because hard freezes usually get them before they have a chance to turn.





















This may be the first year my itty bitty Japanese Maples had the chance to get the fall color they are so famous for. I am at the edge of their tolerance. They leaf out early in the spring and shed late in the fall. My average growing season is more constricted at both ends than they prefer.





















I got good color on my Fothergilla and Witch Hazels too. The Lush has had a chance to turn that it doesn't often get. Making it to Halloween without a killing frost is a first.





















Killing frost or not, the barren time is unstoppable. The freezing cold will come at some point. I have a box of bulbs that needs planting now though. I will just have to push my way through the still half green reminders of the time of vegetation.


Friday, October 30, 2015

2 Corinthians 4:17-18

17. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.





















18. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

In memory of Maureen Carrie Mendoza


Monday, October 26, 2015

A Last Look

I try to listen to my inner voice when it is not being negative, repetitive and annoying. I listen when it says go for it, do it now, try this. Yesterday it said get out there and get pictures while the color is still good, this won't last forever.





















I wandered up to the scenic byway to see what the passersby have been seeing. Quite a bit of traffic had been slowing to gawking speed.





















A little house on the mountain surrounded by bodacious fall color may have set some hearts a flutter.





















Uncle Ernie looks on.





















I looked closer at Uncle Ernie with a nice fall back ground.





















It is hard to take too many pictures of the chimney right now.





















That inner voice said do it now because this may not last until tomorrow.





















First the rain came. Now the wind is howling. I suspect when I wake up in the morning fall could be gone. It pays to listen. I captured the last day of peak colors in this particular place in the mountains.


Sunday, October 25, 2015

The View From The Front Porch

I wake up to this view in the morning, for now. It must be savored.





















Left to right from my front porch.





























































































When I leave and when I return, there is the view of the service entrance. Not bad.


Saturday, October 24, 2015

Peaking

Maximum color was achieved this week during the Sisters visit. I had suggested that was a possibility.





















It's all down hill now to the barren time. Rains began this evening. They left just in time. Hurricane remnants are in store for the rest of the week. The picture perfect week is over.





















If the remnants come with wind, it could be all over by the end of the week. But I saw fall, all kinds of fall. It is a bit different everywhere I go.


















It is peaking at my house this weekend.
























































The Objets de will start to make more of a show in the garden as the barren time takes hold.





















Fall is the best backdrop for the chimney.





















Before they all fall down.





















This may be the last morning tree glow I see from the front porch this year.







































It's peaking.





















And it was good.


Thursday, October 22, 2015

In Cataloochee

We made it over the mountain.





















Where there are elk.






















































What clear clean water looks like.

























































A dog trot.













































The Big Loser all alone by himself.


Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Close to Cataloochee

This is as close as we got to Cataloochee before the car over heated. The Ford dealer was down hill. That seemed like a cooler direction to go. Eight hundred dollars worth of computer parts later, there should be a repaired auto that keeps its cool.





















We have fall at home so all was not lost. No elk yet. And the water was back on after the well pump died on Sunday due to a corroded coupling. Twelve hundred dollars later, a new pump is producing water from the bottom of the well.





















We are having some very nice fall for the Sister's visit.





















The neurotic Miss Collar does not run as fast or as far away when strangers appear. She is making progress, but any disturbance in the equilibrium sets her on edge. Button sticks to his routine, no matter.





















Clear blue skies, cool temps and great fall colors make the expensive failures a bit more bearable. Tomorrow we will try for Cataloochee again.