Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Friday, November 15, 2013

From Fall to Winter ----QUICKLY!!!

Here I am ---doing an unscheduled blog on a Friday night!!!!!  This will mess up your minds for sure!!!!! ha....   BUT--I just had to give you a 'before' and 'after' shot  of our yard --in the course of only TWELVE DAYS...  Just check out these two photos!!!  Click on them for enlargements!!!

The BEFORE:
Our Yard----Photo taken on NOVEMBER 3rd






The AFTER:
Our Yard---Photo taken today, NOVEMBER 15

Can you believe that we can go from Fall to Winter that quickly and that drastically????  George and I have been busy working in the yard for the past couple of weeks gradually getting rid of all of those leaves.... We have a good system... I rake the leaves away from the edges  and blow the leaves from the flowerbeds to the middle of the yard.  George mows up all of the leaves in his mower bag and disposes of them on our compost pile... HUGE JOB for both of us ---but today we finished the entire yard (except for the pesky leaves still hanging onto some of the trees)...   SO---we'll be doing it next week --at least part of the time.   BUT--most of our leaves are DOWN....

As I've said several times,  since we own a home with over 50 shade trees (which we love),  those trees do drop tons of leaves... It's a busy time for us --but as I say frequently,  it's GREAT exercise!!!! 

There's still alot to do ---such as cleaning out flowerbeds and putting the Roses to bed for the winter... BUT--one big job is ALMOST over!!!!!  YEAH!!!!!

NOW---please check out my Bird Blog from this morning if you haven't seen it.  Click HERE.   I don't want you to miss that blog post!!!!!  My "Pileated with Attitude" is pictured there!!!!!

Have a fantastic weekend.... It's rainy and chilly here... More rain is coming on Sunday!!!!

Hugs,

57 comments:

Ruth Hiebert said...

That is a drastic change. I made the comment today,to a friend,I wish it would snow to cover up all that drab brown.

Nellie said...

Did you have a lot of wind this week? That would really take care of all those beautiful leaves. We had wind, but we still seem to have some leaves on the trees.

Have a good night!

Hugs,
Nellie

Glenda said...

Fortunately, we are not responsible for the leaves that fall, since the landlord takes care of the grounds. Of course, we COULD get out and do some raking, but the leaves continue to fall, so it would be a forever kind of task! I love the look of your yard in both pictures, especially that wonderful flag! :-)

Annie Jeffries said...

Holy cow. That's impressive.

Joe Todd said...

Mowed my grass for last time this year. Had to wait til after the snow melted LOL

carolina nana said...

The same thing happened here with all the leaves falling off the trees just since we had that extra cold weather.
We've had rain here today also which we really needed to dampen the dry leaves. I just hope it is raining on the big fire at Table Rock.
Enjoy your weekend
Blessings
Marilyn

Ms. A said...

Dramatic difference! Be glad you don't have a pool!

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

Your fall was a little late arriving this year, but winter didn't wait, did it? We're expecting rain and strong winds this weekend. That should bring down the last of the leaves. Like Ruth, I almost wish for a little of the white stuff to cover the drabness. Have a great weekend, Betsy!

The Furry Gnome said...

Looks like your season has caught up to us - except you don't have any of the white stuff yet!

David said...

Betsy, Our home is surrounded by trees so we have leaves and more leaves in the fall! The good news is that our yard isn't very big and since there are no houses right next to us, behind us or across the street, we just blow all the leaves into the woods. It takes a while but its not really hard work. We did hire it done this last time and we had our roof and gutters blown off too. It was worth the money! Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

Our photos said...

Beautiful are the photos, Betsy!
Greetings from Holland, RW & SK

Small Kucing said...

Time flies, Betsy. If am not mistaken, the first time I visited your blog was a year ago. :)

Unknown said...

Wow that's a drastic change, seems like you have had winds too. Some trees here still have their leaves but I reckon they will soon be on the ground. The protection around our yard is almost gone to arrive again at springtime. Isn't Nature interesting?
Enjoy your weekend

Anonymous said...

Our yard looks much the same. When it turned cold, it did so in a hurry!!! Wishing you both a very nice, cozy weekend.

Out on the prairie said...

Still have lots of leaves here if you want to do more.

Fun60 said...

Quite a dramatic change. We still have a number of leaves on the trees but snow has been forecast for this week. I just hope they have got it wrong.

Peaches McGinty said...

Hi Betsy!
Wow! it's as if the leaves have disappeared! you both must have worked super hard! x x x have a restful weekend!! x x x

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

What a difference a few days makes, and the drop in temperature too. From glorious fall colors to bareness.

Have a lovely weekend ~ FlowerLady

Neal said...

It doesn't take long for everything to change. Patti's mom has two trees in her yard that still haven't lost their leaves. I'll probably be out in the snow cleaning them up. :-(

eileeninmd said...

Your winter scene is still very pretty. Living next to the woods we have plenty of leaves here. Happy Weekend to you!

Big Dude said...

The trees sure dumped their leaves quickly. I still have that task awaiting me.

Lynda said...

We are going through the same thing as you. My husband went out to the yard this morning, looked up, and then said, "Well, it looks like the leaves are eighty percent gone." You have had the same thing going on as us with the winds and rain, I am sure.
Interesting how the light changes the color of your house. Both are beautiful shots though. I am sooooo glad I have half a minute to catch up with people. Maybe I can get something posted within 10 days?

Jim and Sandie said...

Amazing that all those leaves are gone in so short a time. And I also mean from the yard. You guys did have a massive job of getting rid of leaves.

Terry and Linda said...

Very cold here, bitter cold, no wind right now, but the air is sharp and damp...not a nice day at all.

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

It was fast...winter seems too fast for me here in GA also

imac said...

Sure is a difference there Betsy, love the colour too.

Dr. Kathy McCoy said...

Snow can't be far away! But your home and yard are beautiful in ANY season!

Dr. Kathy McCoy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
MadSnapper said...

i am waiting for the next shot of your house with all that white stuff you get so excited over. it is an amazing difference in just a few days

Catherine said...

We are in the middle of a heavy snow fall warning here in Southwest Saskatchewan. Winter is for sure here. :(
xo Catherine

diane b said...

A good example of seasons in action.

Rose ~ from Oz said...

My goodness Betsy - in 12 days?! What a before and after contrast!!

So winter is sneaking in.........

Stay rugged up!
x

Sharon said...

Those winds can howl up there on the Cumberland Plateau. No surprise from here as to the drastic change! So glad you & George still enjoy the process of preparing the yard for winter. We did for the first few years, but that's one of the reasons we moved. The joy had gone and we'd ended up paying someone to do the leaves for the last few years. And of course, they could never do them well enough to suit Bill. LOL!

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

hi Betsy. Well all I can say is I am glad you got those shot on 3 Nov. Such a difference on the 15 nov. Well I guess winter is on you. embrace it.

Connie said...

It's such a drastic change and fall always goes by so quickly while winter seems to drag on forever! Hope you are having a good weekend, Betsy!

Tabor said...

Wowie. Great photos. We still have leaves, but not far behind you.

happyone said...

I know I've said it before but I love your house.

Beatriz said...

Wow, what a difference unsubtle!
I agree that the fall in the US is wonderfully unforgettable, with its trees and leaves of all colors. But we will also give a chance to the winter that, here among us, has its unique beauty!!!

A lovely week to you Betsy!

Bia

Gardener on Sherlock Street said...

What a contrast. Looks like a day for hot chocolate and cozy sweaters.

DeniseinVA said...

A job well done and more fun because you and George make a great team :)

Betty Manousos said...

oh, betsy, it is an amazing, drastic difference in just a few days!
i love your house, betsy!

have a great weekend!
big hugs!

Arkansas Patti said...

Even with naked trees, you property still looks amazing. My leaves are down also but the howling wind outside is nicely blowing them out of the yard. Nature sure has a great leaf blower.

Elizabeth Edwards said...

i do all the leaf work myself here at our home ... so i totally understand what the two of you go through. amazing how weather can change a home & surroundings so quickly. fast times in our lives. blink & it goes by... gone. ( :

Ann said...

it sure doesn't take long for the seasons to make their change. We've already had snow here but thankfully it didn't last too long. You would have loved it, me not so much :)

I Am Woody said...

Amazing how fast they came down this year!

Rose said...

That was a quick change! I bet you are relieved when it is done.

Unknown said...

This is so amazing!! Honestly, a picture is worth a thousand words! Please drop by my new blog, MelanieKaris.blogspot.com. I'd love to see you there!
Melanie Ann :)

Linda G. said...

It is Sunday now, and the rain is here. Yesterday was a beautiful day. I cleaned our living room windows, inside and out.

Joy said...

Wow! I admire you both. I do all the raking in spring time; )

Cheryl @ TFD said...

If our leaves weren't already gone, they'd have fallen today. Oh my, the wind! Thank goodness we didn't have any seriously bad weather like some did.

Great shots of the yard! I love those golden leaves in the first shot. Hope your weekend was a nice one. Our son came in for deer hunting, but with the warmer weather, rain and wind, didn't have any luck. He did find a neat skull with antlers still attached down in the woods. Some folks bleach them and have them mounted to hang on the wall. Ugh. That's not for me! He didn't want it either. Maybe I can sell it on Ebay. Ha!

Have a great week!

Grandma Bonnie said...

Yard work is very hard in the fall but well worth the effort. We also have been doing yard work all week and doing some touch up painting. Hope you have a great weekend.

Anonymous said...

Autumn always leaves far too quickly, doesn't it?

Love your leaves - good luck with all that raking though.

Anonymous said...

What a tremendous change of nature based on the climate.

You both have done a great job to make things look good.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Our weather has been quite nice but a few blustery days and almost all our leaves are also gone. I wish autumn would last loner! Your blog header makes me smile every time I visit, Betsy--I love all the fall color of the trees

Twilight Man said...

You just performed a magic stunt with 2 photos! In just 12 days and all the trees went bald to greet winter. I am waiting for your snowy photos! Keep warm Betsy!!

Linda P said...

Great before and after photos and I'm sure you and George are happy to have got the clearing of the leaves done as it sounds as if you're in for a wet period. Hope it lets up so you can tidy up the flower beds.

Chatty Crone said...

For a minute I thought you were going to say SNOW!! But you are right - it went from 'fall' to 'winter' extremely quickly! lol