The Answer, My Friend...

...is blowing in the wind. Unfortunately, it is so far south of here that there's no retrieving it. So windy today (NNE) that it has blown all the sap out of the sarsaparilla, and most of the bark off the balsams. Yet we endure, though thankful to have all boats on dry land.

Slowly, but steadily the withdrawal and retraction continues. In the spring it is open up, set it out; in the fall it is bring it in, close it down. The days are numbered; just two more before we clear out and head south.