Cold Snap...

…snapped. Nice day with mostly sun, in the mid-fifties. Here are a few shots by friend Barry of the 10/30 schools field trip.

Ice On The Ponds…

…and squash soup for dinner. Who could ask for anything more?

Something Wicked This Way Comes…

…in the form of snow and wind. Have to be brave to be out and about on a night like this.

Thirty-four degrees, And Mimi spent four hours outside welcoming all and sundry.

Field Trip

Fifty-five students from high and middle school over to the Arboretum for a little phenology and then an arborized treasure hunt. Very cold, but with little wind and lots of sun, not too bad. Seemingly, everyone had fun and possibly learned something too.

Very Cold Spring Water…

…from the flowing well (the foundation of great coffee), and then a little walk in the state forest amidst a few flakes (of snow).

Winterizing…

…even here in southern Wisconsin. Mulch leaves, drain hoses, fill the bird feeder, and, of course, clear the gutters.

If memory serves, my first blog post had gutter cleaning as its subject, eleven years ago. And now, just as then, clearing, for some reason, only occurs when the sodden mess is nearly frozen, and therefore rather hard on the hands.

Cold Front…

…after another warm and damp day.

Could there be snow in the forecast?

Damp, With Downpours

Nice bit of moisture. Good for the land.

Seventeen Syllables…

…on a cooler, cloudy, damp day.

All the leaves cling tight
As the raging storm subsides.
Tomorrow, yellow rain.
—jbn

Raining Leaves

Hot. Windy. About three quarters of the leaves down from the big birch out front. Too dense and thick a mat to just mow. So today a first pass—mow, rake, compost. And tomorrow, there’ll be little trace of the effort.

Warm Front…

…on the way. Twisty wind, with the occasional clump of rain cloud racing by.

A couple dozen tree cookies made up from pruned oak branch—in prep for next week’s school field trip.

A Little Volleyball?

Beautiful day outdoors, although the volleyball was indoors. Pretty exciting.

Beautiful Morning…

…giving way to leaden skies and a blustery, cold north wind.

Morning perfect for fly tying and dog trimming.

Prairie Walk…

…with Ab and Eric. And, later, amazing fish tacos.

Autumn In The Arb

After the frost, conditions are changing fast. Cool, with light rain this afternoon.

Afternoon Rain…

…after a day of strong south wind. Back to warm temps.

First Frost

But a sunny and warm afternoon.

Mostly Appointments and Errands…

…but a fine day nonetheless.

Late Afternoon Ride…

…on a damp forest trail.

Cloudy, quiet, calm and cool. Puddles in many fields and in dips and hollows.

Lots of Fun Little Chores….

…and that was just before dinner.

Windy and chilly.