Delightful Yard Friends

I had no idea if I'd have the energy to write to you this week, Reader. On Wednesday evening I had a bit of a scratchy throat that I thought may be allergies. By Thursday, I felt like someone had sucked all the life out of me. Turns out after two and a half years of dodging the virus, COVID finally found me. I likely picked it up at a family birthday party last weekend. Fortunately, I am vaccinated and boosted. Lucky for me, the worst of the symptoms subsided by Saturday and I've felt a little better each day. Though my most recent rapid test still says I am positive for COVID, I am feeling much, much better.

Being homebound this weekend gave me a chance to take care of a chore I've been putting off. Each spring, I delight in displaying my whimsical and silly yard friends on and around my patio. That means that each fall, I need to put them away for the winter. Putting away my yard ornaments always makes me a little sad. That's why I think I delay the task as long as possible.

It's become kind a ritual of sorts, though, to clean each one, then wrap the fragile ones in newspaper like the best fine china on moving day. Taking this time helps me pause and reflect on the spring and summer that have passed. It also makes it so much more fun when spring comes around again. Each creature is clean, shiny and ready to put on display without delay.

I've helped to create some of my yard friends. For example, I have a stepping stone in the shape of a turtle that I created from a mold and adorned with bits of colored glass and stones.

Another turtle, pictured here, I painted at the art shop, Color Me Mine, along with family and friends.

I just love his cute little purple face.

I also have a band of turtles my husband and I bought together the first year after he built the patio. One plays the saxophone, another drums, and the third a harmonica.

In case you haven't figured it out already, I have a fondness for decorative turtles. The sillier the better.

I'm sure you won't be surprised that many bunnies also decorate my yard - a bunny welcome flag and a cute bunny statue.

There are also frogs, a crab, snails, a gekko, birds, and butterflies. Many were gifts from loved ones who know how much I love cute little creatures. In fact, now that I think of it, there are very few I've actually purchased myself. Yet, they all have one thing in common. Each one makes me smile when I see it. Each makes my outdoor patio more enjoyable to hang out in each season.

I will miss them all as they retire to their storage boxes for the winter. But I'll be delighted all over again when I pull them out of their boxes next spring.

I still have a few more things to put away. The lights, the chair cushions, the tiki torches. But my yard friends are all safe and sound inside the shed, ready for their winter's nap. This feels like a big accomplishment considering the limited energy I've had this week.

I hope you're enjoying fall as it unfolds. Are there any rituals that mark your fall season? Do you have yard friends that grace your outdoor space? I'd love to know I'm not the only one. :)