Thursday, November 16, 2006

Veterans and Red Berries

Since we were traveling to our son and daughter-in-law's house on Veteran's Day, I didn't get a post done.
I'm a bit late, but I think any time is the right time to say thank you to Veterans all over the world and to our servicemen and women who are doing such a wonderful job serving their country.
My husband (pictured above in 1970) served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War and my father served in the Australian Army in World War 2.
I want to thank them both for their courage and commitment to their countries. Freedom isn't free and sometimes we must fight for it. I'm very proud of them and all the men and women who are willing to do that for the rest of us....to keep us safe and free.
Thanks to all of you from the bottom of my heart.



On the second last day in October I walked up behind the barn to see what I could see. The trees were almost bare and the woods had lost most of their color.



But I spotted this bush with bright red berries among the somber browns and olive greens. I badly wanted to take some back to the house to make a nice arrangement, but no matter how hard I tried to get closer to it, my efforts were thwarted by either blackberry bushes or water. I finally gave up, but that afternoon I mentioned it to my hubby. He gallantly took his little tractor up there and managed to get close enough to cut some branches for me. What a guy :)



They made a pretty fall arrangement paired with some of the gourds my hubby grew in the vegetable garden.Posted by Picasa



Such a vibrant red. Lovely!

I'm very impressed with these last petunias that are still blooming in the window box outside our bathroom window. Talk about survivors! Normally I'd have all the window boxes and containers emptied out and put away by now, but due to the extraordinary amount of wet weather we've had, that job still waits to be done.

I hardly dare mention that it's absolutely pouring rain outside again tonight. Apple, who lives not too far away from us, suggested that we may have to get out the life rafts for Thanksgiving! Perhaps we need to start building an ark! How I wish we could funnel this rain over to Australia, where it's needed!

18 comments:

Sissy said...[Reply]

Such stunning berries! We have something like that in the tree line on the edge of our new property, but I left it, hoping the birds will come! Please come, birds!!

Anonymous said...[Reply]

I love you pictures of behind the barn. The berry are really neat. They look really nice on your table.

Dianne said...[Reply]

My mom still has begonias and impatiens blooming in the ground! It's a little warmer than out here, but I guess I planted them well for her. I lost my petunias months ago and I love them, but they get leggy and die off. Do a post in the spring about how you plant yours, etc. : )
Thanks for visiting my blog Kerri, I appreciate your comments.

TJ said...[Reply]

very pretty arrangement with the red berries, and loved the petunia's, they must be somewhat protected from the frost?
:-D

Susie said...[Reply]

Your berries look so colorful next to the gourds! I can't get over how much your grandson's look like Ross, but then I can see you in their little faces too!
Your petunias are survivors. I may post a picture about what's hanging on in our garden. Have a great weekend!
xoxo

Charley "Apple" Grabowski said...[Reply]

I've seen bushes with the bright red berries along the roadsides and wished I paid attention to what they looked like over the summer. I need shrubs and they look so pretty now.

I'd love to send this weather to someone that needs it!

Motherkitty said...[Reply]

What would we do without our loving husbands jumping on their little tractors and retrieving a bunch of branches with red berries. They are lovely and look so beautiful on your fall-decorated table.

We are also having quite a bit of rain and have lots standing in our yard. Can't walk out there without hip waders on. Hope you have a lovely week. Are you getting ready for Thanksgiving? We are all getting excited and look forward to being with family and friends.

Linda said...[Reply]

If you're going to start funnelling rain, we could use some here in South Texas too!!! We are so far behind in rainfall this year.
That really is a gorgeous centerpiece. Your husband did good!!
Tell your veterans thank you from us. We owe each one a huge debt of gratitude.

LindaD said...[Reply]

Isn't it wonderful the seemingly insignificant ways our husbands show their love. If only they knew how monumental those things are.. The berries are so beautiful and will probably last a long time.. Nice reminder for this season of 'Love'.

Anonymous said...[Reply]

I love your pictures and the beautiful colors. You must have a green thumb.

I have a wonderful 9 mth. old grandson and another grandchild due in March. We don't know the sex yet. Thanks for the comment and the tip about Melatonin, I'll give it a try.

HORIZON said...[Reply]

Your husband looks so young in that photo Kerri- a scary time for him and you no doubt. Brave husband and father who did what they had to do- you should be proud. :)
Love your home and stairs in that photo with the berries. What a man you have to go and get them for you :)
Bests xx

Carole Burant said...[Reply]

I'm catching up with the posts I've missed the last few days...blame it on being busy preparing for the holidays!! I join you in thanking our vets for all the sacrifies they did for us!! Thank God your hubby came home safe and sound from VIetnam:-) Oh Kerri, I just love what you did with the branches full of berries...just goes to show how such a simple arrangement can be so stunning!! Take care...how's the building of the Ark coming along??? hehe xoxo

Kathy said...[Reply]

Hmm. I wonder what those berries are? I really don't know berry patterns too well. (You know, how they arrange themselves on the branch.) My guess would be winterberry or tartarian honeysuckle. Winterberry is a native that likes wet spots. Tartarian honeysuckle is not native and is becoming quite invasive around our place. It isn't very fussy as to where it grows, so if it's not wet where that shrub was growing, the honeysuckle would be my first guess. The invasive multiflora rose also makes red berries, but they are smaller and the branches have wicked thorns.

Sandy Hatcher-Wallace said...[Reply]

Any day is a good day to say Thank You to our troops for their service and to thank those vets who have served in the past also.

Ross is a great guy to go get those berries for you...but of course, you already know that!

I'm going to send you a picture of some really hardy petunias and today I passed this little bunch again, and they're doing just fine. They sure are hardy little survivors.

kylieps said...[Reply]

Awww, Dad is such a great guy. Either that or he really just needs an excuse to get on a tractor! Those berries look beautiful.

Marlene Depler said...[Reply]

Love the vibrant berries! Your husband is quite the trooper to fetch them for you. Happy Thanksgiving!

Diana LaMarre said...[Reply]

Those berries make a simple, yet stunning arrangement. What a wonderful guy your hubby was to go get them for you.

Anonymous said...[Reply]

ahi Snip you are amazing you always did love writing how I love reading your blogs. they are awesome. i love you so much
happy new year to you, dirt ball,
& all your loved ones from all of ours Bazza & me Scrappie xxx