In the Storm so Long

No doubt, I fell off a cliff in late July. Can't even say what all the triggers were, but several were pulled, and I fell. And so I once again find myself on the long slope, coming up from the abyss. As I've climbed, I've turned to my camera for solace, exploring old and new subjects. And, as always, I've held fast to living, breathing nature as sustenance for the journey. So I thought I would share a few glimpses of light from the long night that was the Dog Days:

 This little girl came to visit SO often in August and September!

 This happened! Quite a surprise to see Mom and the brood out back

 Of course this happened, too! Bug learning to walk again

 Beautiful mums from our dear cousins

 Lots of flutterbys this summer

 Heather and the Impatiens were a big hit!

 I am obsessed with her...

 Hey girl! She LOVED our morning glory vine.

 Flutterby

 Verbena Lantana is still blooming

 This pic has been a big hit on social media.

 Ms. Pinky getting loved up!

 Obsessed...

Convalescing Bug...

 Increasingly I have turned to the sky, seeking solace...

 My old flame Cassiopeia

 Pinky!

 Our hanging baskets have done very well: petunias

 Bougainvillea

 There...out in the darkness...

 Moon and oak leaves

 Baritone Moon

 Billions and billions...

The Northern Sky, filled with familiar constellations

 From right to left, Cassiopeia (modern form in blue, old form in red); Cephus, King of Aethiopia, husband to Cassiopeia, father to Andromeda; the Little Dipper, dipping toward the horizon.

 I think it might be time to mow again (we had a three-week dry spell)

 Our little Vinca has thrived!

 Blousy petunias...

 Ms Rita and her pet weed

And of course, Ms Pinky Two-tone Geranium...

We are moving toward my birth sign, Scorpio. I have described myself as forever autumn (a brilliant song from War of the Worlds, btw). Like autumn, I am filled with equal parts beauty and sadness and doubt and hope. Yes, I am a spendid season, but brace yourselves, winter is coming. With shortened days comes doubt and sadness, with the cold comes pain. But the winter sky, with my old friend Orion presiding, and the promise of rebirth in the spring, give me sustaining hope. May these images from my new home give you solace, wherever they may find you, in these troublesome times.

I leave you with a soulful video of autumns past, up in Ohio:
Autumn in Ohio, 2013

Birds and Squirrels and Bunnies, Oh My!!!

 Male House Finch.

Male Northern Cardinal with Mourning Dove lurking.

 Wascally Wild Wabbits!!!

SO cute!

 Not so cute, but handsome devil...

 White-breasted Nuthatch!

 Grackle.

 Downy Woodpecker!

 Cardinal with seed.

 Chipping Sparrow on tree, Tufted Titmice on suet feeder.

Bluejay!

Cardinal! Well, it is baseball season, after all...

 And adorable Eastern Phoebes...

Can't wait to see the little ones!

And the "pink" full moon...just past full, actually, but brilliant!

Life is challenging but good in the shadow of Hog Hill.

More Backyard Birding

I love our little Carolina Chickadees!

 Ms. Cardinal

 Mr. Cardinal

 We have Eastern Phoebes nesting in our carport!

 They hunt flying things from perches in our Oak trees.

 The Tufted Titmice are so cute and fun to watch.

 We have lots of Goldfinches in the 'hood!

Chipper Jones, our pet Chipping Sparrow.

And overhead, always, the masters of the winds. We not only have lots of Turkey Vultures, we have actual Wild Turkeys in abundance in nearby fields! Hope to get pics of them soon.

There is also an Occasional Squirrel...obviously she has the good Kung Fu!

And of course the same Moon...the Moonman abides...
We have returned to the land of our ancestors, so we like to go visit...these are a few snaps from our ride up to Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, in the shadow of the South Mountains, southern Burke County, NC.

 My Great-Great Grandparents

 Violets!

 Rackety Kildeer

And goats...staring at me...

Hope you have a good week!