by the sea

Low tide and the timing of the predicted rain worked in my favor today. I headed to the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, arriving a bit over an hour before the 10:30am low tide and several hours before rain was forecast to arrive.

I found that I had the beach almost to myself; I shared it with some sea gulls, no other humans. The sand, smoothed by the ocean, was a wonderful walking surface. The ocean provided a song to walk by, and other than some sprinkles I managed to stay dry.

late day light

Late day light can be magic.

As the sun dropped lower in the sky it highlighted a fallen oak leaf.

a recipe search

Earlier this week I went searching for a (new to me) recipe for red lentil carrot soup. I found several, settling on a recipe from The Herbeevore, Red Lentil Soup with Coconut Milk Recipe (Vegetarian, High Fiber).

I almost followed the recipe. I didn't use the specified coconut oil, doubled the carrots, skipped the parsley, and added a can of chick peas. The coconut milk is added at the very end. I tasted the soup before and after the addition. It was good without the coconut milk but so much better with it.

I'm so glad I found this recipe!

photo courtesy of The Herbeevore

If you'd like to try it, click to the recipe.

skim ice

Cold temperatures are feeding the growth of skim ice on the surface of ponds.

across the river

A brisk wind made the air feel colder as I walked along the Merrimack River this afternoon.

spoon bloom

It was amazing to see so many different types of chrysanthemums at the fall mum show at Smith College.

This one is a spoon bloom. Its petals have little curls that open up to look like a spoon.

bittersweet

I'm loving that search engines support searches based on photos. I've always seen these bright red berries surrounded by an orange-yellow cover but I never knew the name.

This plant wears the name bittersweet.

first frost

When I woke up this morning the temperature was in the mid-20s, with the ground decorated by the first frost of the season.

While most leaves are now wearing shades of brown I found a lone leaf in red as I walked in the woods this afternoon.

photos! fall mum show at Smith College

I always enjoy visiting the greenhouses at Smith College. This time I was enchanted by the chrysanthemums that were displayed in the 2022 Fall Mum Show.

Many of the flowers wear bright summer colors while others show the muted color of autumn.

Click to view photos in the gallery chrysanthemums at Smith College :: 2022.

chrysanthemum in pink

A wander through the fall mum show at Smith College yesterday allowed me to enjoy a sea of flowers. It's amazing how many different flowers wear the same name.