NOVEMBER FROST

It was the perfect day. Today I awoke to a beautiful foggy, frost laden morning. I love a foggy morning, but when they occur in the autumn, they are especially pretty and peaceful.

And looks like my last rose and cassia have been numbered.

HIGH AUTUMN

As you can see, a section of the back garden is getting the typical fall treatment as we enter what I call high autumn. I just did a huge clean-up of the garden yesterday, but with some very strong gales today, that effort was made futile. You can't even tell I did it today. The trees are all but just about bare now, the grass is browning, and the garden has almost come to a standstill with blooming. The calendar says fall, but the weather here has remained quite warm for it being mid-November. I have never still had salvias still with blooms on it. While most of the garden flowers and roses have gone, a few stalwarts still continue to muddle through. The herbs, asters, the cassia is barely hanging on, a coneflower or two, pansies and the nasturtiums. The dear, Agnes sent me a hug bag of mini white daffs as a thinking of you, that I added into my planting of bulbs yesterday too. I look forward to seeing how they will do. The top picture is looking toward the potting shed. Enoy the pictures and the strange invader. 

These are not snow peas, but seed pods from the cassia.Even they smell like popcorn.

A huge fugus plateau was found under the nasturtiums growing off the old stump from the eastern white pine cut down last year.

My last two zinnias.

A view to the side of the house looking across to the neighbors.

What's left of the wildflower garden. The big burning bush to the top of the photo has been removed recently. This will make for an expanded wildflower garden next year!!! Think of all I can add in with that space.

EEEEEEK! Look at this strange invader on the windowsill yesterday!!! And small white eyes. Has the invasion begun???

I also came across these almost translucent mushrooms. 

How pretty are they?

My last rose left blooming.

 

I also did a few thanksgiving touches inside. I got out my Lefton turkeys and my grandmothers pheasant vase and had the Dame do a small arrangement it. The first photo are some cassia and berries from the firethorn bush in the garden.

I love this time of year, and Thanksgiving generally gets looked over. We go from Hallowe'en right to Christmas. With no peace between. Thanksgiving time for me is always peaceful. And we got treated to not one, but two nights of Northern Lights last week, so there was that.

ANOTHER GLAMPING SEASON

Well, another glamping season came to an end. As a regular reader will tell you, I spend usually between 3-7 weekends up in the Pocono's at the Woods Campground from late spring till late summer. Its a lovely time spigot of land and a very good time, where all are welcome, and a good time is generally had by all. This year found me with 5 weekends booked, including this year, the closing drag show. I never got around to sharing much of the glamp ground in posts with what being away a lot. The Woods actually closed the week before Halloween, but my very good friend Wayne asked if I wanted to come up last weekend for the site owners to get the sites closed up and packed for the winter. Since my camper sits on his site, and to get my mind off of Buster's passing I took him up on it, and it was just what I needed to clear my mind and set me correct again. The foliage was absolutely stunning, but I can't lie, it was cold as hell up there. Needless to say, the place was mostly quiet as it's now closed to the public, but it was just what I needed. Nature comes through again. A few snaps from this summer...

This was a baby bird that was on the side of my camper window. But then...

Yes, jumped to my plate and took a shit on it!

The guys on this site, built these lit "totems" made entirely of Skyy vodka bottles. It looks so cool at night.

This is the site of Garrett and Frank who own the B&B I stay in at Rehoboth Beach.

Good drag friends and sisters Adendra and Hedi Ho at the White Party 

Now THAT is a disco stick!

Say hi to Joia

Just a drag queen playing her violin in the woods. Adendra

The rainbow bridge in the Memorial Garden

Preston....sigh......

Some friendly queen who enjoyed a photo opt.

This weekend though, the Lad accompanied me to get the camper closed up, and help Wayne close up other part s of the site too. Looks so odd to see everything all empty. And we enjoyed one last bonfire the first night. Before heading back, the three of us hit up the charming town of Jim Thrope which is about 20 minutes from camp. It's also been coined the Switzerland of Pennsylvania. If you have never been and find yourself in the Pocono s area, you have got to check this town out. When we hit the bend of the road, it takes your breath away for 1, just how high up you are, 2- the vistas and foliage are astounding, and 3-and then this quaint town comes out of nowhere.

Jim Thorpe is a charming small town re- named after the famed sports legend and is celebrated for its welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. It's known for being a friendly tolerant destination where all visitors- feel comfortable and at home. The town's historic streets, beautiful mountain scenery and the vibrant community spirit and offering of shopping and eateries make it popular for a fun getaway. And be sure to check out the Asa Packer and Harry Packer mansions while there. Asa Packer was a railroad tycoon and found of Leigh University. His mansion served as inspiration for the Haunted Mansion at the Disney parks. His son Harry carried on the tradition and built his own mansion there worth a look see.

A sign at the Molly Maguire Pub. She apparently didn't take shit.

The Asa Packer Mansion

As you can see, we took a nice pew and rest after the packing up was done. We just about fell asleep on the dock. Peaceful.

A GRAVE SITUATION

Nothing like a good walk or run through a graveyard to make one feel alive! Since I was in Philly anyway for the weekend, I have been longing to take a walk in Laurel Hill. It's been a while, and one of my favorite places. Visting Laurel Hill evokes a bygone era when cemeteries were built intentionally in scenic areas, and vistas, where loved ones or visitors would come to walk the grounds, not in mourning but to see the wondrous architecture and peaceful landscapes and visiting passed on family. I love cemeteries. You may recall when I lived in Bucks County, the original Casa du Borghese was next door to a very old one. I never minded them. Philadelphia's Laurel Hill though is one of America's most notable burial grounds founded back in 1836 and was established as a bucolic alternative where the living could bury their dearly departed. The place sits high above the Schuylkill River and has been designated a "National Landmark" the first graveyard in the country to receive such a title. Every season is quite beautiful there, and the cemetery in parts reads like a who's who of notable figures from Thomas McKean, a signer of the Declaration of Independance, to Sarah Josephs Hale, credited with making Thanksgiving a national holiday and the author of Mary Had a Little Lamb, to Matthais Baldwin, the locomotive magnate, General George Meade and other Civil War generals, a handful of Titanic passengers, many artist and architects, and many families of the socialite scene. It was a beautiful weekend for a visit. Is it any wonder this was a perfect spot for some quiet and peace after a busy weekend? The people there are always so quiet.

I love being a taphophile.