Tucked in for the Winter

The final vegetable harvest is in - gorgeous HUGE sweet potatoes! We're not sure what kind of winter we will be having this year since last year we had our first snow on October 10th and it has been very dry and warm this October so far. The garlic is coming up and the winter onions look fabulous. The last tomatoes are picked and the green tomatoes are wrapped in paper waiting to ripen. All the beds are rototilled. The garden and I are ready for a rest. We're tucked in for the winter.

The last of the tomatoes

The iris are in the ground, thanks to Connie B for sharing; just waiting for the tulip bulbs to arrive by mail and then the flower beds will be covered with chicken wire and ready for spring. For those who asked about plants coming through the wire, we'll just cut the wire and enlarge the hole if needed when perennials begin to poke through in the spring and I'll cut a small hole into the wire to plant the annuals. It's a good theory anyway, we'll see how it works next spring.
 Some vignettes around the house...

The geraniums are in for the winter



The fuse box in the laundry room is

an odd size so it has become the

picture board instead of the refrigerator.

More geraniums & other houseplants

enjoy the sunny room.



Dove guarding the french doors

Dove partner

A little table on dividing wall

You can see all the natural light we get in our
cottage!  This is the view from the entry.

One of the living room end tables

 SOMEONE ELSE LOVES THE DOTS...

My 14 month old friend, Lucas, whom I have the

privilege to look after occasionally. He LOVES

the Dots - his face shows it! He just arrived with

his Mommy and once out of the carseat headed

straight for the Dot House.



It was a cold windy day but he could have stayed

right here all day. We visited the Dots a couple more

times this day only with coats & hats on.

GUINEA KEET - A FACE ONLY A MOTHER (& DELORES) COULD LOVE; The answer to the function of the 'bump' on the top of the guinea fowls head


These are our young guinea fowl patrolling the yard around the house.  They are

around 15 weeks old and the 'bump' or (official term) helmet on their heads is beginning

to show. The helmet controls the internal temperature for the birds.




This picture is from The Guinea Fowl Blog. Strange looking creatures,

especially this close, but they are beneficial birds including great watchdogs, er,
watchbirds, since they make a racket when someone enters the yard. And, they are
master bug catchers.



Now, this is the adult guinea fowl showing the helmet! Don't they look prehistoric? As

the guinea ages the helmet begins to look more bony - like a horn. The Creator certainly

had a sense of humor with some creations including these birds. These are the birds that love to look at themselves in a mirror! Go figure.


BEAUTIFUL NEBRASKA SKY....



A sunset that resembles a fire on the prairie





Last nights sunset - as pretty as any over the ocean