October | 2024 | wordsfromanneli

October 31, 2024
by wordsfromanneli 48 Comments

And so it Begins

Robbie Robin thinks of spring,

And the bounty it can bring,

In the lower elevation,

Life was like a long vacation.

Summer berries in the hills,

How delicious were these frills,

In the forests by the streams,

Food enough to fill his dreams.

Ah, but what’s that ridge of white?

Yes, it is a pretty sight,

But it means the days are chill,

And he must come off the hill.

Food is scarce, the bugs are gone,

Must be time for moving on,

Back to lower, warmer climes,

And a few more happy times.

See my friends around my table,

Eating much as we are able,

Mountain ash is loaded full,

Grab the berries and just pull.

Oh, my heavens, see the snow,

I knew I was right to go,

One more feast on berries here,

Then I’ll say, “Goodbye, my dear.”

October 23, 2024
by wordsfromanneli 56 Comments

The Lost Dress

My lovely dress of golden leaves

Is tattered now, and worn,

The wind has warned – no more reprieves,

This time the leaves get shorn.

I hold on tight with all my might,

While gusts and gales rip past,

They tear my dress, and though I fight,

I’m nearly bare at last.

I shiver and the last leaves quiver,

Hanging by a thread,

Until they loosen, blowing whither

They know not, and spread.

My golden dress is on the ground,

For all to trod upon,

And scuffing feet will swish it ’round,

While gusts blow ’til it’s gone.

October 21, 2024
by wordsfromanneli 40 Comments

It’s a changing season and the squirrels are feeling the need to make a warm, cozy nest to curl up in for those chilly winter nights. They have spent weeks harvesting hazelnuts for food and stashing them away. Now they are working on their next priority – shelter.

The rope you see the squirrel chewing on is holding up a float used in fishing to mark where a crab pot or a prawn trap is located under the water. Or it could be used as a bumper between boats that are tied up next to each other.

I don’t think the squirrel cares what the float was used for. It is only interested in the fuzziness of the rope, that makes it perfect for adding an insulating factor to the nest of dry leaves it has stashed away somewhere in the middle of the woodshed.

But how to get the rope away from the float? The squirrel has been working on it for days and days and days. It is almost ready to let go; only a few strands are left holding the fuzzy ball of rope to the rest of the line. Watch how he keeps rolling up the fuzzy fibers and pulling to try to get it to let go of the rope.

So far, it hasn’t worked. Just a few strands left to rip off. He’s pulling with all his might. It might be just a matter of more muscle.

He must be so frustrated. Watch his new trick where he approaches the problem from another angle. He’s quite the acrobat, holding on with his back feet.

Now you must be wondering if he ever got that piece of rope. Well, this morning when I went out to look, the fuzzy part he had chewed on was gone. The line holding up the float is getting thinner. One day both the squirrels and I will be surprised to see the float on the ground.

October 14, 2024
by wordsfromanneli 40 Comments

A Lady of Leisure

My sister-in-law’s dog, a Coton de Tulear, would like to introduce herself to you.

Hi! My mom calls me Eleanor Rigby when she wants me to pay attention to her, but usually I’m just plain – well, not so plain, really – Ellie.

It’s been a trying day today,

No postman going by,

No other dogs came by to play,

And I will tell you why.

Today has been a holiday,

The businesses closed,

Most folks won’t go to work today,

And so for you I’ve posed.

I’m lying here on my day off,

Don’t need to do my job,

Of barking at each passing toff,

Or anyone who’d rob.

I take it easy on my couch,

That has my doggie throw,

My mistress surely is no slouch,

“A pillow? There you go!”

Oh, what a life this is for me,

There’s nothing that I lack,

I close my eyes and nap ’til three,

And then I’ll have a snack.

October 12, 2024
by wordsfromanneli 33 Comments

Polly the Bore

This fungus is called phaeolus schweinitzii, or more commonly, Dyer’s polybore. It is also called velvet-top fungus, or pine dye polybore, or Polly, as I call it.

In my yard, it seems to come back every year in this same location, near the roots of a large fir tree that was felled several decades ago, and usually Polly has a “baby” nearby. It’s not a good fungus to have near your trees, as it will rot the roots and do a lot of damage to the tree.

The redeeming quality about Polly is that this fungus was used for making a dye to colour wool or other materials, hence the name Dyer’s polybore.

But definitely, do not try to eat it. Polly will make you very sick.

You can see the size of the fungus by comparing it to the fir cones nearby.

The photo above was taken a few days ago, but the ones below were taken last year in the same location. I thought it was interesting that it grew around blades of grass – or maybe the grass grew through the fungus. I’m not sure what the process was.