Just like avalus, I have no clue whatsoever what flower this is. And I also agree that it is beautiful, both with the ice crystals as well when covered with tiny water droplets after they melt.
© avalus, all rights reserved. Click for full size.
© avalus, all rights reserved. Click for full size.
© avalus, all rights reserved. Click for full size.
Today, our reader VBFF has sent in one of her favourite trees as seen in two seasons. The tree got its name because at one point it held an impressive eagle’s nest.
Eagle Tree in Summer, ©VBFF, all rights reserved.
Eagle Tree in Autumn, ©VBFF, all rights reserved.
©voyager, all rights reserved
Our weather has been fabulous for the past few days, with lots of sunshine and temps hovering around 18ºc. It feels more like September than November, and Jack and I have been spending our days outside. Jack is still having trouble with an arthritic left shoulder, so we haven’t been going very far, but Bubba is content to lie on his bed, basking in the sun while I do yard work. We have the flower beds cut back and tucked in for winter, we’ve gotten rid of most of the carpet of leaves that fall from our 2 red maples ( I like to keep a light protective leaf cover), the hoses are put away, the patio furniture is covered, the annuals have been uprooted and tossed, and I’ve harvested the last of the tomatoes. There really isn’t much left to do outside, but it’s too darn nice to stay inside, so I might just take the day off and find a good book to read in the back garden. Housework can wait. I have a long winter of Covid confinement ahead of me to get caught up on indoor chores. Summer in November is a gift not to be wasted.
The good news is that Jack’s shoulder is improving, and he should be able to resume normal activity soon. He’s been getting bored with just short walks down the street and back, and he’s more than ready for a bit of adventure. Honestly, I am, too. I’ve hardly used my camera since Jack went lame, and short walks around the block are boring for me, too. I have a backlog of photos from the earlier part of autumn, though, and I thought I’d share them over the next few weeks. Both photos today were taken along the Thames River in mid-October.
©voyager, all rights reserved
Today, I have a breathtaking autumn tree sent in by VBFF.
©VBFF, all rights reserved
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One of PZ’s readers, gddiver (who also seent us a spooky underwater corpse), has sent us this picture, noting that,
PZ stated that he had no pumpkin this year, so I’m sending him a virtual one carved by my daughter.
©gddiver, all rights reserved
It’s a perfect way to end the photo festival. Thanks.
I’ve saved a few spooky photos to celebrate that it’s finally Halloween! Be sure to check out all the things happening at the Freethought Blogs Halloween Fundraiser today. There are readings, a story chain and a quiz show that’s planned for later today that I’m going to be a part of. Most of the photos are below the fold – beware there are spiders there.
The First is this skeleton leaf from Giliell.
©Giliell, all rights reserved
A bit of a mess.©voyager, all rights reserved
I had agreed to read The Masque of The Red Death for Hallowe’en, but I’ve never worked with audio or video files and got myself in over my head. By the time I realized I needed better equipment, and way more knowledge (way, way more knowledge) it was too late. I simply can’t get it done for tomorrow.
I’m not giving up, though. I believe I can do it. I have a better mic on order (not much is getting through the border right now) and I’ve downloaded editing software. I tried using it today, but everything still sounded raw and echoey, and it was terrible. Rather than limp along with bad audio and then adding to it bad video or a photo still, I’m ceding defeat.
There are other bloggers here, though, who are better at these things than me and they will be reading stories, so please tune in to hear them. PZ at Pharyngula, The Bolingbrook Babbler and Abbey from Impossible Me will all be reading for you. Plus there’s the story chain and the quiz show scheduled for tomorrow evening. Why do all these things? Because we love you. And we need money. Nasty ass lawsuits are expensive and we want to get out from under the Richard Carrier nonsense. We really do love you though, and if you’re able, you can help us by donating to our Paypal account.
I’ve been wanting to try a small video before this, in order to share a bit of Jack and I singing for you. I’ll make you a deal. Jack and I will sing for you in November and if that isn’t a total disaster, I may try reading you a fairy story for Christmas. Or, I could still read the Masque of The Red Death. I’ll leave it up to you. Let me know in the comments. And if you’re able, even a small donation to our Paypal is helpful.
Thanks. For everything.
Today’s lovely autumn photos come from our very own, very talented Giliell.
©Giliell, all rights reserved
©Giliell, all rights reserved
Today’s beautiful fall photos come from Freethought Blog’s very own Iris Vander Pluym, whose blog Death to Squirrels is much beloved by all. The photos were taken last weekend during Iris’ outing to her local market.
(FYI – There is an alternate version of the first photo that I’ll be posting on Halloween Day. You’ll want to check in for that. I promise it will be worth it.)
Halloween Greetings! Abingdon Square Park, New York City, October 2020. © Iris Vander Pluym 2020. All rights reserved
Today’s photo is a teaser. It’s a plant bedecked with webs and I’m not putting it below the fold because you have to search to see the spider. It was sent in by Avalus and it’s the teaser because he also sent 2 close-ups of the spider that I’m saving to put up on Hallowe’en day. Those are the truly terrifying photos – so arachnophobes beware! The spiders are coming soon.
©Avalus, all rights reserved
This magnificent autumn tree was sent in by Avalus, who notes,
… there is this beautiful tree in front of a physics building. I love the colour gradient from green to red.
I love it, too, Avalus. I don’t often see trees wearing all the colours, all together like this.
©Avalus, all rights reserved
Thanks to Avalus, we have a taste of the fungi of fall.
Fall would not be fall without all the tiny mushrooms. Here is one, growing between pine needles.
©Avalus, all rights reserved
Nevermind ghosts or spiders, our photo today is the scariest one I’ve seen yet. It’s from chigau, who tells us this is the view from their window, and then notes,
I guess it’s winter.
©chigau, all rights reserved