It’s here, so might as well embrace it. It’s coming on time for boots and sweaters and reading by the fire. Time to cook up weekend soups and stews, and admire the show my surrounding woods will put on.
My garden’s getting ready to go to sleep, though I still have plenty of bright spots. The nasturtiums, after struggling all summer, are finally spilling and blooming. I have a whiskey barrel of impatiens that continue glorious. While my basil pretty much failed—some critter enjoyed most of it—the rosemary, thyme and oregano are champs. I’ll be harvesting soon.
BW and I added a couple more solar lights and wind spinners by the water feature. Gives the whole area a nice glow at night.
Milo continues to be a big, energetic puppy. Except when he and Atticus play each other into a coma.
We had family dinner last weekend, always fun. Then I had a quiet, work-focused week to follow. I should have another couple of those work-focused weeks coming up. Then a big chunk of the family heads to New York for a week.
That means plenty of shopping time, and my goal there is to finish a bunch of Christmas and fall birthday shopping. Also time to hang with my pals—and editor and agent—see a show, visit the big toy store with Griffin, maybe a trip to the Central Park Zoo. Gotta fit a foundation meeting in there.
I’m hoping for pretty fall weather while we visit, but we’ll take what we get.
Meanwhile, in my work-focused weeks, I’m visiting New York in my head, a few decades in the future. It’s always fun to toss a dead body at Eve and the gang and see how they ferret out the how, why and who.
I hope you enjoy the change of seasons—the fall color and crisp air, or for those in the Southern Hemisphere, the bloom of spring.
Nora
PS. But wait!
After I embraced fall and switched out my summer clothes for cooler weather stuff, I took a walk around outside. And saw this!
A friend divided her toad lilies and gave me this a couple months ago. She’s a fall bloomer, and she’s got her first flower of the season. Plus more buds. I’m so delighted! One more thing to embrace.
A quick note from Laura:
I’m still holding on to summer but will be in NY with Nora for all the fun fall stuff.
Humming Hello Darkness My Old Friend…but looking forward to the leaves turning, the smell of slow simmering soup, and the crisp air of Autumn!
Your garden looks amazing…lots of hours of hard work there!! My Toad Lilies have spread over the years…hope yours do the same! And discovered feverfew and papyrus were spread around by critters! Now if only those enterprising souls would move into the house and do some cleaning!
Happy Fall…cannot wait to hear about NYC! Hopefully there is also a carousel ride in Central Park as well as the Zoo.
I just love reading your posts – and I thank Nora for writing them and Laura for making sure they get to us fans!
Fall in South Florida doesn’t differ much from Summer and Spring in South Florida -with the minor exception of the scent pumpkin spice coffee – both hot and cold – in the air!
We recently saw “Six” and enjoyed it. About the six wives of Henry VIII. Download the sound track before seeing.
My husband and I saw Six in 2022. Nora and family last year. We all loved it! -Laura
Hope you all get to see SUFFS. SO good!
Always love to see your garden. Have PASSION IN D.EATH and finally a quiet week to read. Was dog sitting last week but now am ready. Enjoy your New York trip. Family always the best times. Memories 🥰
I love the fall colors. Just getting a glimpse here in southwest MI.
I don’t have a garden, but get to enjoy my sister’s and my daughter’s. Enjoy your family , and safe travels Nora and Laura.
I’m not a gardener, but love to enjoy the fruits of those who labor there with love!
Wishing you great fun in your travels! You work so hard that its time for you to enjoy some of the simple pleasures you’ve earned!
I always forget that I actually love autumn until I am in the middle of it.
I’m spending the start of fall in Ireland and greatly enjoyed a night at Ashford Castle! It was truly amazing! Our falcon walk is in a few minutes. Our visit is in no small part due to your Dark Witch trilogy (and The Quiet Man)!
Already the nights are chilly here in Flagstaff, AZ – but hot coffee and a cozy hoodie make it perfect. Such a treat to wake up to a message from Nora this perfect fall morning. Thanks Laura!!
Fall is not quite the same in Florida. I sometimes miss the fall colors and cooler sweater weather, but I do enjoy having flowers and greenery all year long. It is still warm here, but there is a different feel to the air.
I enjoy reading about your garden and trips. Thank you for sharing.
Lovely garden 🪴 enjoy your trip to New York
Hi Nora, thanks for your message ☺️ Happy travels to NY (in real-time, and -with Eve n Roarke:) Beautiful sunset photograph~ thank you, i love sunsets & sunrises – i love your wooden floor too….. it looks so very nice and cosy – a great place to lay down for the doggies 🤎 Safe travels & Happy days 🍁🍃🍂🌦
Thank you for sharing the photos of your lovely garden. Milo and Atticus look totally wiped out – always nice to have a bit of quiet. Looking forward to more Eve, Roarke and friends adventures – always an enjoyable treat. I wish you perfect autumn weather for your trip to NYC.
Love the glimpses of your garden. We had a late start to summer here on the west coast of Canada which meant a late start in the garden. My tomatoes are still going strong. Sat in awe yesterday watching a hummingbird enjoy the blooms that I haven’t had the heart to prune back yet. That will definitely be waiting a little while longer now!
Fall is definitely here though as the rain is returning. Lots of canning and those fragrant aromas brighten the day!
In Dallas our highs have come down to the 80s. I don’t believe we every really get more than a few weeks of Fall before we shove into Winter. I’ve always lived in Texas so don’t know what I’ve missed but perhaps in retirement I can visit some places that have Autumn. Thanks Nora & Laura for the blogs and posts on Facebook. I finished the latest J D Robb novel the other day. Then picked up the novella Possession in Death which was spooky but fun.
Just spent hours hustling tender house plants back indoors. The forecast calls for more warm weather here in Upstate NY but my farmer instincts say otherwise. Your gardens are glorious!
Love the garden, love the magical fairies and your Dragon🌈🍀🤗 my garden in Sussex UK is my sanctuary. Happy fall to you and all your family.
Here in Texas summer is hanging on tight. At least the 100 degree days seemed to have wandered away for another year. Hope Nora’s safe with the stuff from Helene.
Living in dry southern Colorado, I had to find some pictures of Toad Lilies – they’re beautiful! Hope they thrive for you and that the deer don’t like them. My thyme and oregano did well this year, but the rosemary wasn’t happy with the lack of rain. Thank you for sharing your beautiful garden. Looking forward to autumn and it’s colorful display.
My basils didn’t do well either this year. Normally by summer’s end, they’re as big as shrubs, but all were pretty anemic this season. It was disappointing, but the rest of the garden made up for it, and my hibiscus is still blooming despite some frosty nights in the last week.