Welcome to an 'almost' Fall/Spring Fiesta!

Altaira

Altaira

Super User
Staff member
Greetings, everyone!

In a few days the Autumnal Equinox will be upon us! The honey locust trees in our front yard are always the first to turn color in the Fall (and first to start budding in the Spring), and have already been hinting at Fall for a few days now with bits of yellow starting to show. Soon they'll look like the fine fellow below, though ours aren't as big yet.

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Another sign of Fall in these part is Starbucks bringing back their pumpkin spice lattes! I always have to have at least one before they disappear.

Any signs of Fall/Spring where you live? Take a pass at the fully-stocked bar and buffet and let us know!

*puts quarters on juke box* any songs remind you of this time of year? Play us one!

Happy, fun weekend, everyone!

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Greetings, Altaira! I love the smell of the pumpkin spice drinks, and the pumpkin muffins and donuts have started to appear! But my brain has been frazzling since mid-week, I'm in desperate need of the pick-me-up today.

We do have a bit of tinge on the trees - so nice to return to cool nights. That honey locust really does look like a light honey when it turns color!

What's the latest on the house? Did the roof finally get put on, and all the inspections done? Do you sometimes just stand back and gaze at it, appreciating all the renovations and work you've put in?

*puts quarter in juke box* Here's Ella Fitzgerald's "September Song": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZK-N_Pz7r0
 
we're supposed to get some today and tomorrow, which we desperately need to dampen our extreme wildfires and get rid of some of this horrible smoke! We've barely gone outside for over a week. And we're the lucky ones whose towns haven't burned to the ground.

I tried a pumpkin spice latte once. Bleagh. A little odd as I love all the flavors separately, and I'm a big fan of mochas with spices in, but my mouth said "NO. WRONG. DO NOT TAKE ANOTHER SIP!"

I do see some leaves turning, and things in the garden are dying but that might be the weird summer we had . . . too cold for two months and then too dry and then the smoke . . . I harvested very little this year.

This weekend I will finish tidying up post-bathroom remodel and then I really must read the thesis of a student I'm supervising . . .

I'll take an Angel Mist . . . that shot of Bailey's ought to soothe the smoke-inflamed tissues, right?
 
The trees here in mid-Michigan are just beginning to tinge colours with a few going all-out. My Japanese Maple is the first to show any noticeable change, followed by my Sugar Maple that was struck by lightning about 25 years ago. But this year I notice my Sugar Maple that split in half in the big June wind storm is already showing some hints of colour. It seems the more distressed the tree has been, the sooner it changes with the rest about 2 weeks behind.

When the colours are full, there's an old steam-engine train that pulls some old carriage cars for a colour tour from just south of me to up north then back again. I wanna do that ride so much!

I've also got the strong signs of Fall that are (happening now) when the Canadian geese start flying in formation flying south, hummingbirds have left, and voles/moles get active ripping up the yard. In a couple of weeks to a month, the herons begin to gather an start flying in a circle straight above my house trumpeting and waiting for more to join them. I've taken pics in the past and counted over 50 accumulating before they suddenly peel off and head south.

About that same time, all the black walnuts will suddenly drop from my massive tree. It's like in Harry Potter when the whomping willow shudders and drops all its leaves! I was working under the tree when the walnuts began to fall like a hail storm! They're about the size of a golf ball with the same weight... so you notice when you get hit by one ;)

*grabs warm cider* This is the other sign of Fall... my fav Cider Mill's cider and caramel apples. Had the cider last night ;)

Have a great weekend everyone... and thanks for taking such great care of us Altaira! STAY SAFE!
 
No latte for you then. Here's a pumpkin spice double-espresso! [laugh]

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Any reason for the frazzling? Still busy-busy at school?


Roof and sewer line repair are this week. We're closing 'remotely' separately from the buyer, so we won't get to meet them which is a little disappointing. This weekend I'm going to put together a little closing gift for them: a binder with information like trash pick-up and recycling days, what all the different kinds of trees and shrubs are, paint colors, and some pictures of the house when it was first built with nothing to the west of it except a few farms until you reached the mountains. I already put together a binder with all the users manuals and warranty information. Since most everything is brand new that was a relatively easy task.

Great song! Thanks, and have a wonderful weekend!
 
"NO. WRONG. DO NOT TAKE ANOTHER SIP!
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I can see that it might be an acquired taste. It probably didn't help warn you that they smell SO good.

Oh! The remodel is done already? What all did you do?

One Angel Mist with a generous dollop of Bailiey's, coming up! Hope you have a wonderful weekend and find some motivation for that thesis!

 
I think I'll have one with my pumpkin spice latte. [laugh]

You mentions such delightful signs of fall! I've also noticed some Canadian geese starting to appear in the sky, and the turkey vultures have almost all cycled through on their journey south. Seeing all those herons must have been amazing! And, the steam engine ride sounds like so much fun. Ar the cars open?

Have and amazing weekend, gramma, and watch out for walnuts!
 
although the weather has been very warm and sunny for a while, so some leaves are crisping up and falling before they've changed colour properly. Weather's going downhill middle of next week so that will blow a lot more off, I daresay. I think we need sunny days and cold nights for good autumn colour, and the nights are still mild. I'm enjoying raspberries and apples from the garden, but the tomatoes haven't performed very well this year for some reason. I haven't done anything differently, so it might be down to the weather. Sedum and asters are keeping the bees busy. My grandsons have settled back into school life well, and my daughter is adjusting to not having to home school them, and having some time to herself during the day.
I've started family Christmas shopping, too! (Eek...) I've ordered a jigsaw of a family group photo from our recent camping trip, and a book from yappy.com along the lines of 'Where's Wally?' but you choose the dog most like the one you want, so this one's called 'Where's Morris?' It's not exactly like Morris, but the face isn't too dissimilar - it was the nearest I could choose. The boys will find it hilarious, anyway.
I'm going to settle down in front of that English TV stalwart and Friday night soother, 'Gardener's World' now. Stay safe, everyone, whatever challenges are facing you this weekend. Cheers!
 
The smoke has given me an awful sore throat and runny nose [:(]

I second Annael- we're supposed to get our rain in north Idaho late tonight and overnight, and I'm looking forward to it SO BADLY you wouldn't believe it.

On fire news- the fire 12 miles away from me continues to spread, but the super steep terrain has slowed it down. The smoke has at least improved from the way hazardous 450 ppm to the unhealthy 165 ppm thank heavens, because it means the fire planes have a little more visibility. Steep terrain like that makes ground fighting difficult. I think it's up to about a thousand acres or so, not sure. Since it's away from populated areas (for the most part- the town of Bayview, Idaho is pretty close, but the terrain divides them from it pretty well) they haven't bothered with as frequent updates since there isn't really any houses over there.

My kids and I have been largely trapped in our 26'/about 8 meter long travel trailer for a week, and they're going stir-crazy and making ME stir-crazy! One is spending the night at a friend's house tonight and I'm so thankful because she's very extroverted and I'm an extreme introvert, and she's been driving me nuts lamenting about not being able to play with friends (she's 11 so add anxiety diagnoses and hormonal pre-teen moodiness into the bunch, and an 8 year old sister also with anxiety who isn't afraid to verbally spar with her, and you can imagine what my week has been like).

I second your latte sentiment- or any coffee really. Coffee is GROSS. I think a pumpkin spice milkshake might be pretty tasty though [tongue] A brake place here in town loves to poke fun at the pumpkin spice hipster trend and posts a sign every year saying, "Pumpkin spice brake pads available here" [laugh] I love it!

Pray that the rain clears the smoke, because my husband took four and a half days off this weekend so we can finish siding our house, and we NEED it to clear because I can't wear masks long- I tend to overheat and pass out (not to get political, but I had to take a Covid mask mandate medical exemption because of this, as it nearly happened in Home Depot and I was very lucky I was able to sit on the concrete floor before falling on it), so just mind my sanitizer and distance. Thankfully, most people are decent about that here in Idaho). I have smoke masks at need, but I'd rather not be super lightheaded while trying to work with 4x8 foot sheets of panel siding.

I hope you get the rain you need to Annael! I'm ready for the smoke to be done (and so is my nose and throat and my kids!).
 
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I probably shouldn't risk it though. I have good reason to believe that I've developed an allergy to strawberries and I can do without a bad case of hives.
 
Strawberries and huckleberries are my favorite fruits, so an allergy with those would be wretchedly awful to me [:(]

Maybe a vanilla milkshake for you then?
 
So strange to read those words! Topped out at 88 degrees today (though warmer inland), but a nice cold front is coming through this weekend that will get us some 70's. Not bad for what's usually our warmest month! The skies are quite blue again (better air too), which is a welcome sight.

Before I forget, I'll also jump on the milkshake train and take an Oreo one, pretty please. [cool]

Yesterday I applied for a couple of jobs, one of which I was actually excited by. It's a nonprofit that provides everything from diapers to clothes to kids in poverty. For all I know they'd already hired someone by the time I applied, but I can at least say that was one of the better cover letters I've written! [laugh]

I didn't end up going on a hike last weekend due to my friend's (understandable) concerns with the air quality. I'm not sure it'll happen this weekend either, but I will be roaming the hills in my daydreams while walking around the neighborhood.

Wishing everyone a safe weekend!
 
It's been non-stop getting problems solved and making sure the kids have the right software. We're all exhausted, but managing!

I had the option of closing "remotely" back three years ago when I sold my parents' house, apparently that's typical nowadays! I opted to meet them and personally hand them the binder with all the instructions etc. in it. GMTA - Great Minds Think Alike! I'm glad you included the types of plantings, I had no idea what most of my parents' were, my dad loved to putter around outside and had put in a lot of stuff.

I hope they enjoy the pictures of the early days of the house, those are very special!

Enjoy your weekend too, Altaira!
 
look to be heading your way - finally! Are things starting to clear up?

You've done the remodel already? Was it you who needed to have the tub re-finished? And how's the loft looking, have you unpacked many boxes yet?
 
It's amazing how well it's been able to survive so much!

I love the old steam engine trains. We've ridden the local one twice - it gets heavily booked in the Fall. I do hope you can get the chance!

"When the geese in chevron flight..." remember the Joni Mitchell song? You must be right in their flight path! That must be quite an exciting sound with the herons - I've never seen so many in flight!

Oh, the fresh-pressed cider, so crisp - I should see if the local farmer's stand has any available yet! Have a great weekend, gramma!
 
Christmas isn't all that far away, is it! I missed not being able to shop at the craft fairs this past summer.

What fun, a family pic jigsaw! How large is it going to be, and how many pieces?

So what plans do you have for the berries and apples - is pie or sauce in the future?
 
And the air quality better!

That's an interesting job choice, so different from your last job! What kind of work would it entail?

I hope you can get out for little while at least, this weekend, and enjoy the better weather!
 
I could have gone for 1000 but there's quite a bit of grass on it and I'm not cruel! This way the boys can have meaningful input without becoming bored with it and parents can do the fiddly bits. It's a bit of a novelty really.

Raspberries, more often than not, go straight onto the breakfast cereal. Sometimes they're mixed wth apples from my daughter's tree to make a very PINK apple crumble. My apple tree has eating apples which are not particularly good keepers, so I just keep munching.
 
ripped out the old tired linoleum and the hand-built vanity (from 60 years ago, wall-hung, very small so a lot of stuff lived in boxes under it), put in new waterproof linoleum that looks like white oak flooring and a new freestanding vanity. Also replaced the lights and towel rods (none of which matched) and painted the whole thing (this was "the pink bathroom" - the girls' bathroom back when we were kids) a pale sea-green. Got a new shower curtain with a scene of trees in the mist on it. Still have to get a new mirror.

It's not my thesis! I'm her supervisor, so I have to read it this weekend and critique it. She picked me (her college let her) because her work is based on one of my books.

UPDATE: I can see Seattle today! We got a lot of rain yesterday & more is coming.
 
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What clever puzzle gifts you thought of. Are jigsaw puzzles a tradition or just something you thought would be fun this year? We have a jigsaw puzzle of ice skaters at Rockefeller Center with a big Christmas tree in the center that's a tradition to lay out and complete during the holidays.

Hope you enjoyed the gardening show. Sounds like a perfect way to unwind for the weekend. [:)]
 
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