Wordless Wednesday...Ye old sunflower

sunny bees...

After what seemed to be the start of fall, we've been blessed with some last minute,

hot summer weather. Even the nights are warm.

I had replaced my summer blanket with the down comforter and now I 

find myself waking in the night much too hot!

The sunflowers are providing some of the last bit of food for

the bees and, well, I just couldn't help myself but go out

and take pictures of these giants and the busy sunny bees.

 Look how each one has it's own preference of which way to turn it's head!

Some are droopy...

Some look as if they're facing a might wind...

Some decided to have 2 heads...

But most of all, they're all so bold and beautiful!

 Bees are dusted and drunk with the late summer pollen...

What would you do if you were a bee with allergies?!

Took advantage of the sun and heat and made some Linden flower, lemon sun tea...

I must admit though, I'm looking forward to some rain.

The well is very low and I'm ready for some wet weather.

But for now, you take what you are offered in these last heat filled days...drink it all in.

Brave new world...

 It seemed that our summer had only just begun.
After a long wet spring, we dove into a long wet and cold summer. 

Plants were slow to start, bare legs, barely came out into the light of day.

And then in August the sun and the heat really came on.

Our faces turned a bit browner as they turned toward the sun.

Lakes and rivers became places to swim, not just a place to walk along.

The veggies began to plump and the bees buzzed a little louder.

All was right and beautiful in the world.

 But life is ever changing.

Now the school bus rumbles down our road  again.

Twice a day like clockwork.

Autumn is wrapping her arms about us.

Blackberry pickers pop up on the sides of the road.

Trying to contain the last of summers flavour.

She is cool and foggy in the mornings.

Like me, her moods can change.

Clear and warm and then shrouded and hiding.

When I go out to the garden, I take my cue from the sunflowers.

 Standing ever so tall and brave, turning their heads to follow the final countdown of warm days.

They are proud of their stance and show it.

 Knowing that soon their heads will droop and later feed the winter birds.

But BRAVE!
I am gathering creative 'nuts', so to speak.
Anticipating new projects that will take me into the studio.

 It sits vacant more than not during the summer months.

 Waiting for that first cool day when I come in with mug of tea in hand,
turning on the CBC, firing up the stove, watching the birds get ready for winter
through rain streaked windows.
On another note, I am feeling so grateful for all who have been thinking
of my family and I right now.
Social Networking can have some negative feedback but
I feel that through posting and reading others blogs, we have found
kindred spirits amongst us.
Sharing bits of our daily lives is a personal thing and I thank you all
for allowing me into your world.
I feel that's what life's all about.
Connecting with humankind.
Finding those common threads and discovering new and different ones as well,
giving strength and faith in these crazy times.
Hope your autumn is bringing you promise as each season should.

In the garden...

I was out wandering around the garden yesterday and took some shots of what's going on...

Have you ever seen a bug like this on your plants?

 Never fear!

It's just a baby lady bug...they are especially fond of hops.

Yup, the stuff you put in beer.

You can see them in all different stages of development...

 Already working hard at keeping the bad bugs away...

And working on growing some spots too...

There's still a little cluster of bees leftover from the big swarm we had on this post in the garden.

I'm working on 'adopting' them and getting them into a hive of my own for the winter.

Sunflowers always make me smile.

They have such individual characters...

There's a reason they call it a butterfly bush...

 Even though we just had a week of extremely hot weather, today there is a coolness about the air...

the season is definitely changing.

I absolutely  love autumn.

Pulling on my Aran sweater, crunching through piles of leaves, canning and thinking of projects for those rainy days in the studio...

Sometimes change feels good.