Welcome, Autumn!

Damn, did I miss this time of the year something fierce! I spent so much time being outside this weekend, reveling in the season, that despite setting up my altar I didn't touch it. I didn't perform my usual ritual, instead I spent time out in the sun, by firelight and with my fingers in the dirt.

And that was all the ritual I needed to connect with this part of the year. We spent Saturday evening at a friend's housewarming party where there was plenty of music, food and beer around a cozy campfire. The first of the season for us! The mosquitoes were even on their best behavior, I was only bitten twice - unusual for me.

Yesterday evening the perennial jungle of roses and rosemary in my gardens started being pruned back, the dead annuals have been pulled up and this year's baby mums have been planted. While I did that, hubby worked on tackling our very out of control hedgerows and butterfly bushes. We ate dinner and then took the recycling out. We don't have local pick-up, so we take it to a 24 hour bin drop-off site.

As you can see, even with all that pruning these bush roses are still massive

As we were driving home, where my camera/phone happened to be, I saw some bright shiny eyes and a slender form crossing the road ahead. I slowed down, thinking it was a deer and was beyond myself with excitement as the headlights illuminated a coyote! As he slunk back to the side of the road he was joined by another one. Now, I know for some of you this is no big deal... but I've never seen a coyote before. Ever! I just sat on the shoulder watching them for a bit as they wended through people's yards and out of my sight. I was completely enamored.

Making me rethink my plans for future backyard chickens - not in having them, but in housing them. We'll see what happens in the Spring.

I hope you all had a lovely Equinox and that so far, Fair Autumn is treating you very well!