Has it really been over a week since I last blogged? *checks calendar*, yup. Well, my only excuse is that I’ve been ears-deep in drafting Heart’s Chalice, tweaking Patchwork Stained Glass, and getting in hikes here and there. Time is speeding by too quickly for me to catch up with it. I apologize, blog buddies, for not visiting as often as I should.
The weather here in East TN has been unseasonably warm, though things are starting to cool down, albeit gradually. Here’s a picture of which I’m particularly proud, from a recent hike:
On another hike, I made the acquaintance of one of the prettiest spiders I’ve ever seen. Online research determined that it’s a Marbled Orbweaver.
And check this out: a freshly tilled garden. It’ll be ready for planting come April. Looking forward, again, to watching our garden grow!
19 Comments
I love your pics, as always. That cloudy sky through the dark trees is stunning, and the spider is pretty impressive!
So how did your late-season corn turn out? Is the field pictured the same one or a different one?
Thanks, Bunnygirl! That picture was taken as dusk was nearing, and I love the interplay of the shadow from the setting sun contrasted with the bright area of the more distant mountain.
And I’m glad you reminded me about the late-season corn (the garden pictured is the same field as before, just freshly tilled after having gone to seed). I forgot to report on the corn. Sadly, we got an early hard frost, and the corn bit the dust. It was an interesting experiment, but we’ll know to plant our second crop corn a bit earlier next time!
Oh, that tree shot is magnificent. I could look at it all day.
That first picture IS amazing. But the spider? How big was that sucker???
So long as you’re doing a lot of writing, I’ll forgive your absence (although Trevor took over this morning. Do check it out. He’s so bad!). Holler when you need a fresh set of eyes!
Thanks so much, Leah!
lol, Susan — the spider looks bigger in the picture than it actually was. It was about the size of a half-dollar. Not teeny, but not ginormous. Thank you for the beta-read offer, my friend — I would love for you to check out HC when it’s ready. And Trevor? Cool beans! I’m headed right over. He’s a fabulously bad boy.
Busy, busy, busy spider, farmer, writer.
*grin*, Squirrel! Yup, spinning webs, planning zucchini, building a story. Always good to see you.
That first shot is great – bring out the contrast with a the right coloured frame (maybe ruby red) and bingo! The spider is awesome and something not to be messes with I feel.
Thanks, Gabrielle! And that spider… I wonder if it’s a juvenile. From what I could tell doing online research, the abdomens of most members of its species are pretty big!
The forest picture with the clouds and sky, it’s gorgeous. You did a good job. Love your lovebug spider. You didn’t name it yet. And yep, your garden looks smooth and ready to plant.
Yes, time is moving too fast out here, too. Day after day, rain, wind, darkness. The new year will be here long before I’m ready for it. But I’m getting a lot of writing done in the meantime.
Kudos on your writing accomplishments. You’re sparkin’.
((((((((((gobs and gobs of hugs, KS)))))))))))))
Hi, Dorothy! Thanks — hmmmm, I think maybe Sabrina would be a good name for such a pretty, bright orange spider, don’t you?
And congratulations to you on getting so much done with your writing — breaking 50K on DR, YIPPEE YAHOO!!!!!!!!! Spark on, dear KS!
((((((((((((((((((ginormous gobs of hugs)))))))))))))))))
Can’t believe you’ve written so much already! Wow- Keep up the good work! Not long to go now- At least you’re getting in hikes.
Beautiful place to be in that first shot! Very serene.
Cool spider colors, n very good close-up (or is huge)!
Did you get corn from that second planting, n was it way shorter-eared, as I suspect?
Woops nevermind the corn question, you already answered above i see now-
My turnip doesn’t like the containers n is very small- (tiny) still in the pots-
I thought all spiders are ugly, but the one you caught by picture is beautiful. You’re very observant.
Thanks, Snaggle! We would very likely have had second crop corn were in not for a brief but early cold snap. Then irony — it went away, and we had several weeks of unseasonably warm weather. Isn’t that a purty spider?
And yup, I used my zoom lens. It’s about as big around as a silver dollar. I’m so pleased with how the writing is going — flowing like a waterfall!
Hi, Walter! Thanks for visiting and commenting. Yes, I thought that was the prettiest spider I’ve ever seen.
Thank you in advance for the nightmares that spider pic is sure to inspire
And WOW you on NaNo!!!!
Chortle, Wylie! And thanks — I’m thrilled with how HC is coming together.
That spider looks like it could eat me for breakfast.
I like the picture from your hike … it’s got ambiance.
Hi, J.D.! Thanks for commenting.
I used the zoom lens on the spider; it’s actually on the smallish side, lol.