happy halloween

bell

staal fixed up papa's bell and got it mounted out at the front gate.  so next time you're in the neighborhood give us a ring.

skunked

why does it always happen just before bed?  grover once got skunked just as i was getting ready for bed one night.  zane got it tonight.  fortunately not a direct hit.  
here's the little stinker getting comfy on the bed after a having a bath...

sunday

a lovely day.  sunny and warm and quiet.

tree frog in the garden

staal recently replaced the single glazing in the front windows with dual glazing.  today he did some repairs to the trim and siding and gave it all a coat of primer.

i got onion transplants in the ground today...

 

and started prepping garlic for planting.

metechi garlic

lahontan white garlic

pretty chickies

we're looking after the neighbors' hens for a week while they're away.

treasure

i found a treasure in isleton yesterday---a photograph of staal and nick at the friedland ranch in catheys valley taken on the day staal and i first met (about a year-and-a-half and 50lbs ago). i still don't understand how it all happened but it's a day i'm grateful for---that day i met the man i adore.

staal and nick in catheys valley, sunday, april 15th, 2012

fall colors

there's a small chinese pistache near the section of the house that we're going to convert into a  greenhouse---most of the year it's a somewhat unremarkable tree but it sure puts on a show for fall...

flea market

staal and i went to the hornitos flea market today.  it was our 1st flea market anniversary (we went together last year when we were just getting to know each other).  dad met us there and we had a good visit and a nice time.  we did bring home some goodies...

i found this neat succulent.  the lady selling it was very friendly and said she found it in arizona but wasn't sure what it is.

staal got this cool, artist's cabinet.

and this cute mug.

we got out of there at about $14.50 total---pretty good.

deer

there is something decidedly deliberate and final in the sound of a gun shot
sometimes startling
alarming
this morning strangely soothing
calming
quieting
someone hit a deer on the road below the house
injured but unkilled
a chp officer fired two slow shots
one...
...two
zane didn't bark
none of the neighboring dogs made a sound
later zane and i walk the property
he makes his morning rounds
investigating all the new smells
barefoot
coffee in hand
inhaling the cool morning air
i stop at the line of oleanders near the road and look across
a young deer in the grass at the edge of the road
so still
the soft morning light blanketing the quiet body
this is tranquility's hushed voice
i stand in its silence for a moment
a bird flits by
zane's tag a sprightly jangle close behind