Arrival of Autumn

Well, the temperature finally got down to 32°F night before last, hurrying the fall colors along in the trees that had not yet turned. The sun shone brightly yesterday and it was like autumn all over again, only this time more gold and less red.


With the temperatures steadily creeping downward, the time had come to bring in the pots of rosemary, geraniums, and ferns for the winter. Same goes for the water hyacinths in Stone Lake where Sam Walton, 28 Cents, Plain Jane and Forrest Gump are already hunkering down for the winter.

The fallen leaves are collecting in their usual spots on the leeward side of the house, including the pond and gutters. I'll make a leaf guard for Stone Lake today and wait out the gutters until all the leaves are down.

So far I've been able to heat the house exclusively with wood, mostly using the stove in the basement. The ventilation system is working better than expected and now it is just a matter of learning to properly tend the fire for maximum efficiency. Unlike setting the thermostat to a temperature and forgetting it, heating with wood does require both attention and forethought. But with crude oil bumping $100 a barrel ....