Musings

Sometimes oft-repeated sayings are a bit off the mark. Around here, you often hear a version of “if you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes.” Or an hour, or a few hours. This is a valid observation, including the variable time-frame.

Those white striations on the lake-surface above? Ice bits. Likely from a quiet bay to the west—berg-lets coasting by. And in this photo, two hours later and from our beach, all cool, but not frozen—no mini-bergs. [We didn’t even have a frost, on land, at our place. The threat of winter is real. And pending.]

Posted at 8:40 PM | Comments Off on Just wait

This density of apples under the apple tree suggests they’re not tasty, as in: the deer are not eating this tree’s product. [Yet.]

Because the deer are sure eating apples with abandon. And browsing grass. They are piling on calories as the weather turns cool, then cooler.

Hypothesis: this tree was planted to be a pollinator. No one left to ask about this, meaning mostly The Botanist, I suppose.

Posted at 7:30 PM | Comments Off on Clue apples

Overall update: the maple still has green and yet has dropped many leaves.

Found these rowan berries when I was out for a stroll, assessing the outdoor chore situation for before we leave (currently looking at next Wednesday, although the weather prognosticators often change their tune).

Speaking of chores, I pruned back this woody honeysuckle earlier. Now that most of the leaves (they’re small) have fallen, I can see that the branches are populated by many interesting flora. [How many species here? My guess is at least five….]

Posted at 5:04 PM | 1 Comment »

Most of the day was windy and overcast, with spitting rain. Then, a miracle—sunshine as I was beginning to fix dinner. No, it didn’t last, yet it brought a glow to the evening.

When I walk or drive through this alley, I enjoy it every time. The yellow-golds are now (mostly) ascendant.

Posted at 9:20 PM | Comments Off on Autumn alley

Today was the second down-and-back trip of the summer. Usually, we go years without any. By down, I mean crossing the bridge and returning in a single day.

Our trek began with fogginess here and there. Then we got to a Great Lake (this time: Michigan), and pfft, no more fog. The blues were especially clear.

All objectives accomplished. Grade: superlative.

Posted at 7:51 PM | Comments Off on A fine day

That’s how the phrase goes, no? And it was…crisp and lovely. Note that there’s still plenty of green in the tree leaves.

Posted at 8:15 PM | Comments Off on Crisp fall day

Definitely not a beach day. Temps began about 34°F, and got up to all of perhaps 51°F when the sun was out mid- to late-afternoon…complete with clouds and breezes. Still, we celebrated mint-choc chip ice cream and low-carb choc-chip cookies (with no wheat flour), the latter courtesy of our fine baker-neighbor.

Posted at 7:56 PM | Comments Off on No beach day

Despite recent windy phases, the maples are doing a great job of hanging onto their leaves.

The birches, on the other hand, are dropping theirs and making a carpet atop the grass.

Somehow I manage to forget that many pine needles also come down at this time. Don’t fret; the tree’ll look solid green come spring.

Posted at 8:57 PM | Comments Off on Different species, different patterns

Foreground: I can almost make windrows with The Beast. Especially good to have the glaringly yellowy milkweeds down, although the grass looks surprisingly dull brown. Therefore, enjoy that spectacular sky.

Posted at 7:06 PM | Comments Off on Chin up

The dawn came with cloudiness that persisted. By afternoon, the clouds became thin and dispersed. And the lake was still. Those are mini-wake waves, not wind riffles.

Posted at 8:47 PM | Comments Off on Sun sparkles