The Cozy Book Nook and Enchanted Garden of October…

Whilst the magic of October unfolds towards decorating and candy corn, the garden reawakens. It is a sort of autumnal spring and flowers turn up for the party in baskets full. With the changing weather the book nook entices the reader to bring a mug of tea in and curl up on the giant cozy chair.

Why, don’t mind if I do.

Which book to choose, which book to choose.

A wonderful sort of dilemma to have.

Some findings from my early morning garden stroll make their way inside.

Roses and zinnias are everywhere.

I put my hands on my cheeks and gasp.

So many zinnias have popped up overnight.

And how I truly truly truly love a zinnia.

The garden is filled with inspiration.

Pumpkins are ready to be picked as the morning light begins to make its way over the great big mountains.

The light illuminates the petals, and the colors are gasp worthy.

I will never get over mother nature’s magic.

Delicious, delightful, delectable shades of orange, pink and lavender.

The morning light is curative.

The bees know this and begin to awaken.

The morning sounds slowly come to life.

Quail, doves…

Oh garden, how you fill my soul.

I took up gardening a lifetime ago, when I was 19 years old.

It has been the best companion ever since.

A place of hope and wonder.

There are so many key limes.

I grab a basket and collect one after another.

Winter’s grapefruits dangle from the trees.

It’s such a gift, that citrus becomes ripe in winter.

My mom always told me a story about how she’d find an orange in her stocking every year on Christmas morning. She looked forward to it, and enjoyed it so much so, that she always recounted the tale and I always loved hearing it.

The dappled light through the trees makes its own natural bokeh.

Zinnias reach up for it.

We all do the same thing in the morning sunshine.

I am unable to choose what I should photograph, so many colors.

I take endless photos.

The one danger of being a picture-taker.

That you will have hours of photos to sift through, and I do.

But I love every minute of it.

Teddy basks in the morning warmth as well.

Or maybe he looks for shade.

Yes that’s it, he looks for shade whilst Poppy suns herself.

We stand in a living bouquet…

Just trying to absorb the moment.

Teddy is quiet, still.

He is making a big decision.

Zinnias.

He cannot resist nibbling on the zinnias.

They are safe to eat and he knows it.

He has been eating them his whole life.

His mother says, Teddy, for goodness’ sake.

Please stop eating the zinnias.

But she doesn’t shoo him away.

She lets him do what he loves.

There are plenty of zinnias anways.

No need for the garden girl to be greedy.

The pups wrestle like mad.

Poppy instigates the wrestling match.

Then she follows her brother around to do everything he does.

She eats the zinnias too.

They giggle amongst themselves.

I know it.

Ants crawl into zinnias and gobble up the smaller bugs.

I take photos as a small an ant bites me.

Something that becomes so familiar when you are a garden keeper.

Pinch pinch from the little ants.

I do not mind as long as it is not a fire ant.

But why do they want to bite me anyways, haha.

The wild ramble of cherry tomatoes across from the zinnias is out of control.

Luckily, they live in a garden where the woman loves a wild garden.

A little unkempt and free.

Teddy is busy with a stick and will not be bothered for a photo.

He cannot hear me at all when he is busy.

He sits right below one of the blue arbors I painted many years ago now.

How time has flown by.

My heart feels strong and fragile all at once about the passing of time.

About the things that happen in that passing of time.

Just when you think the best times have gone with the passing of your old pups, you find a Poppy in the garden.

She reminds you that, these are the best times too.

Oh yes, they are.

Another season, young dogs again.

Poppy sleeps tucked in tight to my left side all night long.

I always wanted a dog to cuddle a lot with.

Teddy cuddles with me by day and likes to sleep in the coolest room all night.

Poppy cuddles with me all night and likes to be covered and warm.

You can love again, when you lose your beloved fur child.

Oh, how you can love again.

If you give yourself the chance, you will be amazed.

And so, here is where we are on these October days that are flying by way too quickly.

Please stop rushing October, I love you too much!

Perhaps that’s why it rushes by.

Teddy and Poppy look so innocent after some major wrestling with ugly squinched up faces and everything.

It’s time to go inside.

I collect my findings.

October’s gifts.

Everyone wants a morning nap after all the excitement in the garden.

Poppy has a spot she hides in for a nap in the conservatory.

She has done this since the first week I brought her home in early spring of 2024.

I place my flower collection in the book nook…

A lovely morning had by all.

An overstuffed happy place of book pages and flower petals.

Goodness how I love October.

Do you love October?

I wish it lasted longer, but since that is impossible, I find that doing little things like pruning in the garden with only the sounds of the birds and dogs is a wonderful act of mindfulness.

Being present is key.

I think we are all longing for that more and more, aren’t we?

To actually be present in a moment in time.

No telephone, no social media, no noise.

Just peace.

We long for the good ole days.

Recently we organized all of Mister Lovee’s vinyl records and music.

I sat on the floor and he on a chair.

I went through almost every album, pulling out the artwork inside.

We chatted about the music and he told me so many stories.

He has millions of cassettes and cd’s and old records.

We listened to an old recording of him playing in his band.

We worked on our puzzle as an apple crisp baked in the oven.

I make so many crisps at this time of year.

I walked around the garden paths at the country house, and I felt so deeply content.

It’s the most beautiful version (feeling) of home for me.

On Thursday morning I was out walking and saw a community yard sale gathering in the distance in one of my most favorite old neighborhoods in the country.

I went and had the loveliest time.

I did not take my phone, I had cash in my wallet.

Sellers counted out coins and dollars in change.

I bought some wonderful little things.

It felt like a moment in time from 25 years ago.

It is so wonderful to get to have little experiences like that.

Things that feel so simple and down to earth.

It’s like getting a chance to revisit the time you long for from the past.

That is what I have been feeling this October, and it has really filled my heart.

Dogs, gardens, yard sales, books, flowers, records, music, stories.

Couldn’t ask for anything better from one of my favorite months.

I hope you are doing well in your neck of the woods.

Thank you for meeting me here, it means so much to me.

I will see you very soon.

Love,

Vanessa