Views From the Pond: August, September, and October 2025

Well, I was on a great streak in 2025 of doing two months per Pond Post- but I somehow fell behind! So, I am doing three months today so that I can end the year with two. 

August felt like it went by fast, as I was spending time getting ready to go back to school. I tried to soak up the pond and all its critters before I had to go back. It was a hot August, and we didn't get as much rain as we needed. September was busy, and there was some rain. Then came October which had stunning colors. I was away midmonth for a conference but managed to be home for most of the peak fall foliage. Yay! 

Lots of pictures today, so sit back and enjoy the views!

August 2025

                                                    

August 1st in the early evening.

A deer visiting by the pond, while I waited for a friend. 

One of the heron's many visits. Always makes me smile.

A beaver staying out of the sun. 

A snapping turtle by the shore.

He's moving pretty fast!

Morning on the first day of school. Pretty light- but sad to have vacation come to an end.

I am not sure- maybe a baby heron in the junipers.

The last afternoon in August. 

September 2025

The heron hanging out. 

Colors of fall are beginning! 

The heron bathes in light!

Another day and the heron is soaking in the rays!

Leaves are turning!

So pretty, but the pond is definitely getting low around the edges. Rain is needed!

Love the blue in the reflection. 

Too low! But still love the reflection!

Wow! I feel so lucky to have seen all these beautiful colors in the sky and water. 

October 2025

Water is getting lower!

And lower!

And even lower!

Absolutely love the colors!

The heron taking flight when I startled him (I didn't see him at first).

Lots of pine needles!

Love the way the clouds look here!

Such fun shadows!

The red bush in the back is one of my favorites. I love the hue!

Fall in all its glory!

The brook is dry and overgrown with weeds. We have plans to weed it before winter! 

Such fun shadows!

The colors kept changing by the second!

The heron huddled looking for snacks!

Halloween morning! 

A Halloween visitor as I arrived home from work!

I told you- lots of photos! Thanks for stopping by the pond for a visit. 

Answer to Fairday's Riddle: Alchemizing Matters

"Sorceress Purpura's Spell" acrylic painting by Jess Haight

Excellent guessing, Riddlers! Of course, the craft of alchemy is to insight change. Faster or slower the spin, transformative powers set in. Symbolic lines become this or that, take them or leave them, that's when it's at. Change is inevitable, knowing this is eternal. ~F

I am a catalyst for change; rotate, splice, rearrange; boil, freeze, snuff it out; churn, burn, satisfy doubt. This is that, now that is this; sometimes hit, sometimes miss. Ions bond, gaseous vapors, metals melt, you'll formulate papers. Transformation is the key; matters not what it be. Inner outer particle waves gain or lose elementary raves. 

What am I? Alchemy 

"Gold" Microscopic Modern Art

Fairday's Riddle: Time To Change...

Hello, Riddlers! The Philosopher's Stone comes in handy for this craft. Can you guess the answer?

I am a catalyst for change; rotate, splice, rearrange; boil, freeze, snuff it out; churn, burn, satisfy doubt. This is that, now that is this; sometimes hit, sometimes miss. Ions bond, gaseous vapors, metals melt, you'll formulate papers. Transformation is the key; matters not what it be. Inner outer particle waves gain or lose elementary raves. 

What am I? Stop by Friday for the answer!

I gave you a clue!

Microscopic Modern Art 

Halloween Spooktacular!

 Conjuring Lines

Conjuring lines casting colors in the prism of our mind. 

Stories here, stories there, but none that you shall find. 

To break the spell that binds you, open up your eyes. 

Patterns found in nature show truth behind all lies. 

Wind and rain, sun and fog;

waves slip over shore

Blood and bone, fire burns;

eyes desire more

In your heart, you'll feel it push;

a knowing kind of pull 

Back and forth, up and down;

guts will feel full

Time tick-tocks in circles;

spiraling within  

Night and day rise and fall; 

feeling flesh begin 

Hello, Readers! Welcome to another Halloween Spooktacular. Eleanor Skeleton here to rattle your bones and scare up a fright. Hold your tongue and keep your wits in hand. If you dare read on, monsters join our twisted band. Great Pumpkin shows you Halloween Town, Ferry Blackwell bakes his bread. Loves fall, the un-telling begins, Mystrella steps into the woods. Eldrich reveals secrets, maybe bad or good. All of this merriment in the monster's hood. Beware these lines conjured in space, they feast upon the look on your face.

"Nice te see ya, If you're inta chillin' with monsters, then follow me to Halloween town. There's plenty chillin' over there. Ha! La ti da!"

Follow Great Pumpkin to Halloween Town

(If you haven't already, be sure to read the comments)

"Hungry? Come and try my toe-finger bread!"

Break bread with Ferry Blackwell

Listen to yourself and catch love falling in The Flower Monster

Step into the woods with Mystrella 

Buy Eldrich's Secret Goods

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Jess Haight & Stephanie Robinson

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday # MMGM Book Review: The Carrefour Curse by Dianne Salerni

 

Twelve-year-old Garnet and her mother, Emerald, run a small shop far away from family. Garnet wishes she could meet her relatives and see the family house where her mom grew up, but her mom won't allow it. Then one day, they get summoned to the family home. Even then, her mother tries to resist the magic, using every counterspell, alas they had no choice but to go once Garnet started spitting up frogs. When they entered the Carrefour family house, they learned that Garnet's great-grandfather would soon be passing. He's been the connection from the family magic to the house's magic for years. There are all kinds of magical rules that surround the house, and the house won't let Garnet and Emerald leave until the magic has switched hands. It’s a lot for Garnet to take in! She is learning about the house that she’s always heard so much about but has never been allowed to visit. Then there are the relatives whose names she doesn’t know and relationships she doesn't understand. She feels lucky to have cousins her age, and it helps her to have people who can fill her in on some of the family dynamics. Her knowledge about stones and magic didn't prepare her for the strange visit she has with her great-grandfather in the middle of the night. Although Garnet is told she must stay away from a dangerous section of the house where a visitor died years ago, the house seems to want her to go there. Strange occurrences keep happening, but Garnet doesn’t get the chance to talk to her mother about them due to the family drama. Is the house going to do something bad to Garnet? Will her magic be able to ward off any evil? What happened to the girl who disappeared at the house in 1998? You'll have to read this page turner to find out!

I read the Eighth Day series by Dianne Salerni years ago and loved it. I was only disappointed
that there weren’t more books in the series! So, when I saw that she had a new book, I knew I had to pick it up. I absolutely loved The Carrefour Curse. It was so interesting to learn about the different gems and earth materials at the top of each chapter, along with how to recharge them, and what they’re used for. I liked the way Garnet and her cousin Ash became friends, and I liked getting to see all the different personalities in Garnet's family. I could really picture the things that were happening to Garnet and loved that there were surprises along the way. I’d love to be friends with her- we both have experiences with houses that have a mind of their own! I recommend this book to anyone in 4th grade and up who enjoys spooky books, ghosts, and other supernatural stories. This was scary, without being too scary. Although there was danger, nothing was gory. It is perfect for the spooky season!

 
Has anyone else read The Carrefour Curse? Or have you read another book by Dianne Salerni? We'd love to hear your thoughts.

Happy Reading!
~L


For other MMGM posts, please visit Greg Pattridge's blog.

Answer to Fairday's Riddle: Force of Nature!

"Providence"

Excellent guessing, Riddlers! Feeling the force? Wind is a force of nature, just like you. Wise words to remember; nothing can force nature to do anything.  

I am that which moves it all. Invisible whether I rise or fall. I'll tug and twist, push things around; only to nature am I eternally bound.

What am I? Force 

Brink of Fall

Falling leaf, never lands, dangling by invisible strands.

Breath of wind, you’ll dance around.

Will you ever touch the ground?

Falling leaf, in mid-air, wondering if you care?

Pushed and pulled by unknown force.

Stuck in webs with no recourse.

Falling leaf, do I dare, pluck you from this spider’s snare?

Or will I leave you free to flow?

Only I shall ever know.

Stone Dream #5: Color Cornucopia

Ambient art media mix capturing the essence of whirring frequencies in the field.

Featured in this video:

Nature photography: Connecticut

Microscopic Modern Art: Morning Glory, Sunflower, Echinacea

Original artwork: "Twilight" acrylic painting

Soundscape compilation mix: "Wake"

*The poem was inspired by a dangling leaf spinning in the wind, caught mid-air by invisible threads cast from an unseen force.

Original artwork, words, photos, and vibes by Jess Haight

CottageFive.com