November 23, 2009.  The stars aligned this weekend  - the combination of good weather, diminishing cold symptoms, and no other plans meant I had time to rake up, clean up, dig in, fence out, and generally prep for winter.  I had pots to empty and store, compost to turn, leaves to tend, and deer fencing to secure.  But my wanders uncovered a few surprises.  Irving watched as I discovered scabiosa, gazania, and salvia still blooming. 

Raspberries ripening and Alpine strawberries pushing out blooms and fruit.

We saw winterberry and blueberry contrasts in red;

and ornamental kale in purple and green, plus santolina shining grey.

Cutting celery beckoned to be used in Thanksgiving stuffing, and the warm fall temperatures kept sage still ready to harvest.

Thyme looked as healthy now as in the spring when I planted it in a pot with purple string bush beans.  Its  green carpet covered the pot's dirt, yet offset the vibrant dark purple of the beans stems and pods.  Now, a month after the beans caught frost's wrath, thyme continued to draw the eye until it's otherwise occupied tender snipped it's green stems and dropped them in a bag.  Here thyme will pass time, and once dry, will share tasteful pleasures by flavoring winter's meals.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.  Like many other fortunate folks I'll be busy stuffing a turkey and making pies, relishing cranberry and baking bread, mashing potatoes and casseroling beans, focusing on family and friends, counting my many, many blessings … and hoping the cold weather fencing again protects my rhododendron and azalea bushes from browsing deer.