October Hollyhocks...

October Hollyhocks and Bumblebees

I took a walk outside after I got home from work yesterday. I needed some "nature" to decompress. I've noticed that one lone hollyhock plant has blossomed right next to the porch staircase, and it has about three flowers on it. It's so unexpected and pretty.

As I finished my walkabout and approached the porch to go back inside, I stopped to admire it and noticed it was inhabited. Two sweet bumble bees had climbed into the topmost flower and settled in for the night. I found myself wondering whether or not they're resting, or if they're preparing for the end of their lives.

I'm reminded that everything will soon be preparing for our Wisconsin winters and their long rests ahead. I need to be pulling weeds from my garden beds, and tidying up the kitchen garden to prepare those spaces, too. 

We'll be taking our porch furniture back to the barn and bringing the decorative plants indoors until spring. I reminisce about Octobers past, and how there were even surprise snowstorms not too long ago. I remember Halloweens as a kid, when we wore warm slacks (or even snowpants) under our costumes. I admit, I'm not ready for snow yet this year, but we'll prepare for the inevitable just the same.

We're so glad that Hurricane Milton downgraded as it made landfall last night. Our friends came through the storm with no water incursion, a few damaged roof tiles and downspouts, and electrical outages. In the main, they did really well, and for that we're very grateful.

Like the little bumble bees, it's time for all of us to rest easy now. Hugs to all our Florida friends. We're so glad you're safe.

Fulfilling Friday...

#shotoniphone6plus

 

When I first got up yesterday, the temperature outside was hovering around 59º. (Great sleeping weather!) I went out to check on the garden, and found this fuzzy bumblebee snoozing in one of my hollyhock blooms. There it remained until the sun came around to warm the garden, and then I imagine the bumblebee flew off to go about its daily chores.

I mowed the yard today, as Handsome has been under the weather this week. There are a lot of blossoms in the yard (clover, Queen Anne's Lace, chickory, bird's foot trefoil, and others) so I left our high yard (on the hill above the house) mostly unmowed. It was full of bees and butterflies, so I decided they can enjoy the flowers until the buds are spent.

We've also been short on rain for more weeks than the grass likes, so we've been holding off on mowing to help the grass. The wildflowers can thrive in drought conditions, but the grass needed a break from the weekly mowing. The yard looks much better now, and the colorful flowers are welcome, plus the colors provided by the butterflies they are feeding.

Orange Juice Applesauce From Our Farm

 

In the process of mowing the yard, I picked up all the windfall apples under our very old apple tree. Many of the apples had already been chewed on by bugs, but there were also a basket full of unblemished fruits.

I brought them into the house, cleaned them, cut them up, and tossed them in the slow cooker. I added a fruit preservative so they wouldn't brown, and let them cook for a couple of hours. When they were soft, I put everything through Handsome's mom's - now my - antique chinoise. 

After milling out the fruit, which separates the skin, seeds, etc., I heated the mixture, added a small amount of sugar and Ceylon cinnamon. In the end, the mixture yielded one quart and one pint of tasty applesauce.

Handsome and I finished the day by trying a new-to-us restaurant in our own town. From the first to last person working there, we were treated to friendly, Midwest hospitality and fine food. We'll definitely return. On our way out, we ran into old friends who go there every Friday! I'm sure we'll see them again, too.

Today, my BFF, Lee and I are going to the farmer's market in West Bend, WI to see what they're offering this week. I'm looking for more garlic scapes and raspberries (for jam). I'm looking forward to our outing!

I'm going to be stitching on my silk butterfly, too. Now that I'm silk thread instead of cotton floss, it's going slower (one strand, as opposed to two when I was working on the practice piece). I'm not in a hurry, but I would like to move right along on this. I'm looking forward to seeing it completed. (Patience, Donna. Patience. sigh)