This is my favorite time of year! But, remember . . that’s kinda like my favorite pie or my favorite cake or my favorite meat dish . . whatever we’re having is my favorite. I like all times of year except summer. So, this is my favorite time because we’re about as far as we can get from the scorching heat and drought of summer. We still have some 90 degree days but the nights are dropping into the low 60′s and even 90 degrees is a heck of a lot less than the 108 and 110 degree days we had for weeks on end.
Tonight as I went to put the chickens to bed, it was dusk, the grass was freshly cut, the wind was gently blowing and it’s 75º. Perfect! It truly is a perfect evening. Darkness falls so quickly though. These photos are posted in the order they were taken and I wasn’t outside more than 10 minutes.
This is the woods behind my house. See that little dot of a light? That’s my closest neighbor on this side of the house. Wish all my neighbors were so far away and had woods between us.
We had such a drought the last few months. It was not a good time to plant the fruit trees. We had to water them almost every day the last two months. The crabapple seems to be surviving ok.
Here’s my real reason for being outside. Time to secure the chickens for the night. See Ruby on the bottom roost? All the other chickens are on the top roost but every night Ruby waits right there by the door for me because she knows I’ll open the door and pet her. Then she hops up on the top roost with the rest of them. The other three are at the other end of the roost.
Ruby gets petted and she tells me all about her day. Another one has hopped down to get in the action but Ruby is always first in line waiting for me. Such a good chicken!
When I get to the apricot tress to check on them .. what? This one is blooming! I think it might be just a bit confused! Or, maybe that’s normal. I’ve never had an apricot tree before.
My darling of all the fruit trees – the two cherry trees do not look good at all. We’ll see what happens in the spring. They’re guaranteed but oh, how I wanted to get them in this year and get a jump on being able to pick cherries a year sooner.
Everywhere I’ve lived for at least the past 25 years, and that’s 7 or 8 houses, I’ve planted a magnolia tree. We planted one in the front and one in the back here last year. They’re both doing great. This is the one in the back.
Daylight is fading. Back to the house I go . . another day is drawing to an end. I’m thankful for my family, though I wish my parents and my niece and her family weren’t so far away. I’m glad to see Chad growing into a fantastic young man. Part of me is so happy to see the man he is becoming and part of me is so sad that I don’t have my little boy at home any more.
Sunday evenings when he leaves, winter is coming, darkness falls before I’m ready for the day to end . . it all adds up to being a potentially emotional evening! But, Monday morning is coming and Monday brings a new week — new expectations, new accomplishments, new goals and before I know it, Friday will be here and Chad will be home again and all will be well in Judy’s Magic Cave of Life!
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
We call my Sewing area in the Downstairs the “Woman Cave” here. I have taken over. It’s been 5 years since my last children flew the nest. It’s an emotional time I know, I’ve been through it 6 times now. I’m so glad I have my quilts to keep me busy and happy!
You don’t know how many times I’ve said to myself . . where would I be without quilting, the blog and my internet buddies. I don’t want to even think about life without them. I wonder if it would be any easier if I had more children than just the one but I guess if you’re feeling the same way with six, there’s not much difference, no matter how many little birds fly away from the next!
My sentiments exactly.
Judy, most of the time when evening’s come I think lots of people get those emotions. My husband use to say that time of the evening when he was driving the big rigs were the most lonesome time of the day. I miss him still after 11 years.So I just try to focus on other things. Just wanted you to know I truly enjoy your blogs they give me encouragement on the days I’m down and makes me wanted to get busy on my projects. I never miss a day without reading them. Thanks Dica
P. S Hope you have a good labor day tomorrow !
I don’t know anything about fruit trees either. We bought an apple tree early summer and well with lack of rain and me not being around much to water it – the leaves were pretty much gone and I was wondering if it would live. But with cooler temps and a little rain- it has all kinds of leaves coming out so my tree must be confused also!!
Although my cherry trees aren’t produce bearing, but ornamental; they always lose their leaves at the end of August, and they come back every spring. It just seems to be their cycle. Oh and when I was having coffee this morning I noticed my Rose of Sharon is blooming again……I think the super hot weather we had confused them!
I’m glad you posted new pics of Ruby. She looks like a happy chicken! Chad is lucky to have such a good Momma.
Thank you for sharing this post. Sometimes we get so caught up in our everyday we fail to take the time to appreciate what we are so fortunate to have. And for some reason around the time the seasons start to change, our situations become a little clearer for a day or two. Maybe the temp change has something to do with it. You are indeed a fortunate individual but I think you may have had something to do with that, lol.
Judy,
Your Magnolia looks WONDERFUL!! What are you doing to it to get it to look so good? Ruby is one smart girl! I have a cave too and I like it very much – LOL!!!
Thanks for sharing Judy!