Last week, baby chicks arrived in the mail.  The first time we ordered chickens, I was surprised at the process.  You place your order (which is a bit overwhelming because of all the choices) and then, not unlike bulbs, you select a shipping date.   At the hatchery, once your chicks are hatched, they are inoculated against disease (if you pay extra), but don't worry, no needles are involved.  Then, your peeps are sent in a small box to your local post office. They don't need extra food for the journey because, by absorbing the yolk just before hatching, they have enough sustenance for 48 to 72 hours.  Isn't that a marvelous design?  It's why they can be shipped across the United States. My post office always calls early.  Imagine 30 or 40 little peeps constantly chirping away, and you'll understand why.  This time, it was at 5:57.  After a quick...

Busy this week with maternal duties and, later, writing projects, I nearly failed to glance outside my window.  Thank goodness I did. Beneath a cloudy haze, a golden landscape beckoned.  I grabbed my camera and let the screen door slap shut behind me.  Beneath the soles of my Keds, recycled, river rock crunched, and the wind blew me toward trees and shrubs ablaze with color.  Who needs flowers when your eyes can feast upon this? Crapemyrtles turning shades of ochre and bronze. Grasses singing their sweet, soft melody while their heads whip in the wind. Majestic oaks tower above it all, holding their bronzed arms aloft against the sky. Still, a few flowers hang on, and their colors are true in this subtle October light. Some find fall sad, but I don't.  Two years ago, I wrote about the phenom of fall color, and last year, I went in search...

Bloom Day dawned with more rain and fog.  We are covered in a misty, gray morning for the second week in a row, and it's starting to effect people's moods.  My suggestion for this is a full spectrum light bulb found at most hardware stores.  Sit beneath it for thirty minutes each day to chase away the blues.  Also, be sure to incorporate some exercise into your day.  You will feel better, and you want to stay strong for spring. Unlike the humans, the garden, excepting the two new agaves, is loving all the rain.  Even in October, it remains  beautiful, but now needs a closer view to appreciate its loveliness. In an effort to speed my post, I only used common names in the movie.  I hope you don't mind.  Let's all thank Carol from May Dreams Gardens for dreaming up and hosting bloom day every month.  She created...

However, three people won prizes in my blogiversary drawing.  Offer your best congratulations to: Kclily from Empty Nest Gardens and Quilts, who won the Easy Bloom Cindy from My Corner of Katy, who won the pruners. Carolyn Gail of Sweet Home and Garden Chicago, who won the book Thanks to everyone who won.  Send me your addresses, and I'll forward your gifts.  Also, thank you all who read and comment on RDR.  I read every comment, and try to answer each when time permits.  I'm grateful for your insight and friendship.