Lovely autumn

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It was a long, slow, golden fall.

I mentioned in the previous post the unusual density of apple blossom last spring. Sure enough, we ate apples until we couldn't stand them any more, and explored many variations on crumbles and pies. But it was an unusually fecund summer all round.

photo by dmg

The English oak was no exception. It produced millions of acorns, like nothing we had ever seen before.  Or heard - all through August and September these things were coming down, hitting the ladders leaned up against the woodshed ping ping thwack all night long.

The phenomenon drew lots of visitors. The squirrels gave jaw-dropping displays of aerobatics. The raccoons were clumsier but no less determined. Mama deer began to spend more and more time simply hanging out.

And we have a new neighbour.

Long time no post...Happy Birthday Harriet

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I guess I've been busy. I've certainly been taking photos, I just haven't found the time to actually put together a post. We have just come through yet another glorious spring, though, so I thought I should at least show you the apple blossom and the clematis from a month ago.

The apple was absolutely loaded this year, and now I can see a ton of little apples, so as long as we get no horrific windstorms, there may be a lot of crumble happening come September. Here's a particularly spring-sky-in-Victoria shot:

And here's the clematis doing its thing:

I put the birdhouse up there because a house wren was trying to nest in our little tool cupboard next to the deck.  It seemed like a dangerous proposition, given the traffic in the tool cupboard, and I was still haunted by the disastrous outcome of the hummingbird nesting down low in the cotoneaster last year. (Pretty sure the raccoon got it, but my setting up the sprinkler right next to it did not help, I am sure.) I left the tool cupboard door open for a few days, which seemed to send the right message.  I don't think the wren decided to use the birdhouse, though - haven't seen any activity.

Good news on the hummingbird front this year:  I just discovered the nest, much higher up in the viburnum at the back corner of the yard.  Look at the cute little teacup!  And it's got ugly little beaks in it too!

Yesterday was bright and sunny enough that Miss H joined me outside for a little sunning on the warm stone.

 It's tough being almost 18 when you're a cat.  H's back legs are starting to let her down.  But breakfast and dinner still taste good! And the personality shines through - she loves me even though she looks grumpy.

I let her relax while I admired the roses:

And then she got bored, and headed toward the door...

to get to her preferred lounge chair.

Aahhh.

Happy birthday, princess.