221002 hello, autumn

 October 2

Ray Bradbury liked October.

It only required saying it out loud, "Let me be sad for a day or two, that summer is over." I am now at peace with fall, and ready to enjoy seeing the red and yellow among the green of the conifers, on the hills.

The trickster yellow birch, whose leaves linger all winter on the trees, and blow across the snow, then in spring, fall everywhere pale and papery, is now playing his autumn trick, dropping just a few bright leaves, for effect.

How the roads change as the seasons turn; in winter, leafless and white, in summer a green tunnel, in fall kaleidoscope.

Have not seen this squash before, but I immediately decided to try and make a viking ship of it.

First attempt not too bad; I scooped out and sweetened the inside, then scooped it back in.

It was very tasty.

Everyone in the neighbourhood is gathering in the harvest, canning, cooking and freezing for winter.

The night a frost threatened we rescued lettuce and flowers that would not survive. 

October is a good month. It is still warm, and although night falls much earlier, there are good stars, (when it isn't raining). The moon has been new and setting early.

It rained for days after we returned from Toronto.  The gauge read 44 mm. when we arrived on the 17th and we received another 178 mm over the next 12 days.

Perhaps we didn't see the trees changing, we didn't see them at all, most of the time.

The woods are streaming with water like we haven't seen since spring run-off. The camp road makes a good creek bed. (I am providing baby care some days, as Rain is working again. She works on-line, so she can be nearby if baby needs her. Except he is more of a toddler now.)

Some streams we have not seen since spring. One of the crossings, dry all summer is overflowing again.

The forest ponds have reappeared..

Mushrooms have popped up everywhere.

I found these witches' purses, dropped on the ground!

The bluebirds are at the birdhouse again; they were here last October too, and I still don't know if it is a new brood of fledglings or the family returned for a rest on their way south. Bluebirds often have two, or sometimes three broods in the season. There are other new birds calling on the hill, doubtless they are passing through on their way south. 

I am going to be a witch for Halloween. I am always a witch for Halloween.

Mumma Yaga