The temperatures dropped and a little bit of rain fell. Mist-waith, or dragons-breath, as it’s known in the West of Ireland, (and probably other lands where dragons are known to frequent) tangled itself within the sides of our little mountain.

What cute little dragon arms you have
The last of the strawberries, having survived the smoke and heat, then the slug onslaught when the rain did finally start falling, tasted divine.

All by myself, don’t wanna be … wait a minute …
The strawberry plants are in the same bed as Hardcore Parsley and they weren’t going to be outdone by a mere parsley plant …

Hardcore Strawb says … “Autumn? What Autumn! … it ain’t over ‘til we tell you it’s over!”
And finally, the garden underneath the Summer Tree in the front yard managed to produce this little jewel…

Hanging with the bread … (a ring-in from the compost heap)
Unfortunately the Summer heat and smoke took it’s toll on both Mrs Widds and my health. Mrs Widds is still jousting with a nasty bout of bronchitis, and although I felt like I was coughing up my toes on occasions, the dreaded ‘Chitis’-Lurgy passed me by this year, substituting some form of Digestive-Lurgy instead, to remind me of my mortality.
We rescheduled and rescheduled our trip until common-sense prevailed and we cancelled it completely. Disappointing, but to paraphrase Miss Scarlett O’Hara, “2019 is another year.”
As a fitting end to this post I now present you with this little story …A week ago a spider took up residence inside the front window. Not long after, two … ahem … ‘gentlemen callers’ took up arms against each other to woo the fair damsel.
As is the way of things, ‘there can be only one’ … but Mother Nature, and Mdme Spider, was not done, and the failed suitor was recalled to active duty. Next time I looked, this had happened…

Trapped within her silken threads they nourish her immanent brood
So sorry you two had to cancel. Start planning for next year NOW, and be ready to go as soon as remotely possible. The coughing is something I’ve been through, and it wasn’t fun.
LikeLiked by 2 people
The plan is still in place, just a little later that we anticipated. 🙂
LikeLike
You’re going to find this hard to believe or even possibly relate to but down here in Australia the whole strawberry growing industry has been brought to its knees currently by a group of extortionists who have (for some, to date, unknown reason) randomly been inserting needles and pins into strawberries across all States of the country.
All the major supermarkets have ceased stocking the fruit for the time being with the resulting bottom completely falling out of the market and financial devastation for the farmers. Punnets of strawberries are being put on metal detector conveyor belts by the thousands to clear them for consumption. Strange and sad but true!
To see a strawberry like the one in the photo in a ‘pure’ state and read of someone (you) expressing positive feelings for it, normally wouldn’t raise a second thought but in the context of the tragedy unravelling over here at present, it makes the everyday seem extraordinary.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Yes, I’m in Oz too- can’t believe it’s happening- mass strawberry dumpings like graves- just cut your fruit up people, it’s not that hard!
LikeLiked by 3 people
The more monotheistic any industry grows the easier it is to disrupt it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I find it believable. Human beings have an endless capacity to be absolute assholes, and copycat assholes.
LikeLike
Gosh, this is horrible. Why would anyone do something like that? What is his goal? To discourage people to eat fruits? To spread terror of eating fruit? It is almost surreal in its menace towards everyone.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My bet is they didn’t even think that far ahead … just some basement-dweller with an axe to grind about some sort of perceived insult, and they just decided to ‘get even’ with everyone.
LikeLike
Sorry you had to cancel your holiday- I hope the ‘staycation’ is lovely anyway- better on the wallet- and how wonderful you have the time to observe small things like a spider going about her [ruthless] business… May the Autumn bring wellbeing all through the house 🙏🏼🌈❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
The money we budgeted for the trip now goes into the emergency-not-to-be-touched-for-any-other-reason fund. 🙂 … and we’re all set to enjoy a run of soft sunny days where the temperature is 22°, not 32°+ 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I suppose you know what you are letting yourself in for, once those little darlings hatch? I wouldn’t want that lot inside my house… (hope you both feel better soon?)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thankfully there’s another pane of glass between them and us, but I’m sure it’ll only be a matter of time before some of them find their way in. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe not all of them…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope you both get properly well soon
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mrs Widds is halfway through her antibiotics and is doing much better … and the path I wore in the carpet between the bedroom and the bathroom is slowly disappearing 🙂 … we are not yet fine, but we will be. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cyberspouse spent a week photographing a pretty spider on her web on the back bedroom window, but as we had visitors coming, one of who doesn’t like spiders, and I needed to dust, I moved it to our bedroom window with no harm done. I love the idea of wrapping up your suitors to feed off during the winter. The only reason I don’t do that is I need Cyberspouse to fix the computer!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Heh, heh, heh. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Grim. Mind you, celebrating patricide on a small level has turned me off my lunch…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hopefully they went out with a smile. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Poor failed suitor. Perhaps he found satisfaction in providing a useful purpose for his lady love. Our strawberries are blooming, too. Yeah. We ate one yesterday, full of flavor. Sorry to hear you and the Missus have been under the weather. Bummer on the cancelled trip. Like you say, there is always tomorrow. Feel stronger in health soon! Hugs to you and the Missus.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t think he failed, she just needed more than one ‘warm body’. 🙂 … thanks for the hugs 😀 one can never have too many hugs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry you had to cancel your trip. Perhaps the next year would be better.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’re hoping so. 🙂
LikeLike
I’m sure the summer’s smoke didn’t help with the bronchitis. Too bad about the plans, but the attitude sounds about right and I’m glad your enjoying the last gifts of summer. Enjoy your brood of spider babies (or not!). 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
So long as they stay on their side of the pane I’ll celebrate their tiny little lives with joy and abandon. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sorry your vacation plans got spoiled. I’m pretty impressed with your resilient little strawberries though!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Found another one today! The just won’t quit! 😀
LikeLike