Well, it has been a quiet week in mine. The neighbors are visible more, doing their various lawn tending chores and waving from their work with rakes, and brooms. Our neighbor to the north has been out at new hours raking up the "squirrel empties" - nutshells and bad nuts discarded by scrambling squirrels - under his tree that looms over our lawn as well. He's a good guy and I wouldn't mind if he didn't do it, as he cares for us in his own neighborly way.
Despite the sudden drop in temperature the garden holds a few surprises and family and friends seem to as well. Last night I arrived home from work completely tuckered out to a rejuvenatingly (is that a word? It should be.) clean house and a hand blown vase jam-packed with those same sweet peas. Their scent was only part and parcel, though...meatloaf was in the oven and potatoes were on the stove, cookie dough was ready for a quick bake in time for dessert, and best of all the first fire of the season was bright and warm in the fireplace. We hosted a friend for dinner and I felt almost ready to take on the days with less light.
The dogs are more excitable and energetic. I think they're fueled on those wily, cold air winds and their deep wish to hunt. Since they're not country dogs we don't hit the fields for hours armed with guns and coffee, but even in the city limits we seem to run across even more raccoons on our walks. So far our top count is six in an hour. I have to wonder if those raccoons are astonished by the number of dogs and runners they see. This morning featured a clear sky and I caught the season's first sight of Orion.
Has it been a quiet week in your hometown?
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Julia Schrenkler
American Public Media Interactive Producer
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Comments: 24
Never mind.
I send condolences on the raking. Have you considered the ... ummm... outcome if your dogs ate the walnuts? Where are your squirrels?!
You spotted the inspiration, auntie. And you can't make us never mind you. Has it been a quiet week in your hometown, whatever that may mean to you?
Lloyd, I'm of the firm belief people don't use the word "lovely" enough anymore. Who could ask for anything better in life? Fling those windows open!
Have your dogs gone all willynilly from the cool wind?
As to fall color drives, there are the usual suspects like the North Shore or along Hwy 61... I think Summit is pretty. Do you watch the fall color reports available online? I'm partial the Minnesota DNR reference which points to the regional pages with even more specific info, like the latest for the Arrowhead.
It is the equivalent of a human carrying too many grocery bags, isn't it!
My 500 dollar cat moves from window to window to sleep in late summer/autumn sunshine and sleeps pressed against me at night.
I've never been a summer person. All that sunlight hurts my eyes. Now autumn falls on my hometown, and the weeks are quieter, but not as quiet as I would like.
Will you share a picture Steve? He sounds like some kinda sweetness. He buries dog biscuits? It boggles the mind.
I'm so sorry, mollie, but I busted out laughing at ,"I'm not sure who was more surprised, the team or us." Whew. Doubly sorry if they don't get that Gazebo up, they're surprisingly nice structures in winter. Keep your high-cash cat close...