Musings

We had another gorgeous morning here in the North Woods, or maybe the North Woods and Fields and Lakes.

I set my goal with prepping a new bed for two rhubarb crowns that are being smothered and otherwise slowly snuffed out in their current location. I hope this will work, otherwise I’ll be transplanting them again.

In my recollection, I spent the most time and energy on moving soil and combing through it to remove roots and rootlets, so as to reduce competition by quack grass and other floral familiars.

Tomorrow, weather permitting, I’ll attempt an actual transplant.

To finish up the narrative of the day, the afternoon weather became dicier, with overcast and some raindrops, so I made a large pot’o’chili, which we greatly appreciated as we watched the sun fail to warm the sunporch sufficiently to allow opening the doors to let warm air enter our main living space. If that makes any sense.

Posted at 8:26 PM | Comments Off on Onward, phased

Enjoyed a glorious sunny, lovely morning, as if it hasn’t been raining off and on for days.

Even the playhouse looked inviting.

However, overcast had returned by the time I walked in mid-afternoon. I took a detour along the back edge of the pine plantation, and discovered the tree guys have been busy.

Here’s the detail on how the rootballs are wrapped and prepped for shipping. They used to use burlap for the wrapping, and this fabric does look like burlap, but I’m guessing it may have some artificial fiber incorporated (polyester?). Ages ago when I worked in the plant nursery world, trees prepared this way were called B&B, for balled and burlapped. [Nobody even cracked a smile.] I never saw the metal frame way back when; seems like a smart improvement.

Posted at 6:21 PM | Comments Off on Pretty + trees ready for shipping

Today was gloomy throughout, with on-going mist and drizzle. The swamp endures.

Even this mullein is tolerating the near-continuous moisture. Rain is better than a hard frost, I suppose.

Overall, we’ve had a warmer-than-average fall.

Posted at 9:19 PM | Comments Off on Enduring, tolerating

Most everywhere I looked today outdoors I saw the mark of autumn. Leaves on the picnic table we feasted around on warmer, sunnier, summer days..

Tomatoes with that late season look from anthracnose and I don’t know what else.

And wind bringing down the leaves from the Uncle Dave Maple, and the brown, withering fern leaves by the back door. I haven’t cut them because I’m still trying to figure out where I’m going to put them…I think I’ll transplant a rhubarb crown and put the leaves atop it for winter protection. We plan to return early enough in the spring to remove them before they inhibit growth.

So, it’s not enough to see signs of autumn, I find I’m looking toward winter and spring…already.

Posted at 6:45 PM | Comments Off on Seasonal timelines

Pretty sure this a stand of young basswoods leaning toward the light. Like the silver-grey bark and that the trunks are mostly parallel. Bummed that a glimpse of blue tarp nudged into the shot…covering crap at an empty new hunting camp…

Yes, it’s milkweed pod-and-seed season. Note that the sunshine lasted perhaps two hours before retreating to leave us basking in overcast again. We enjoyed ye when ye were here, MrSun.

Posted at 9:25 PM | Comments Off on Autumn no-leaves

We had rain during the dark hours, then today was just plain damp and overcast. After all, it is autumn. Warmer than normal, including overnight, seems to me. I am NOT complaining. [Photo just as dusk is approaching.]

Posted at 9:08 PM | Comments Off on Placid lake

Today had a foggy morn, and I walked earlier than usual, so I got to see it change and spread and contract in different places than just from the cottage. Here’s a somewhat over-browsed pasture, with fog obscuring the distant treeline. Also, it was very quiet except for the odd crow.

A side benefit is that the spiderwebs sported glorious droplet-gem jewelry.

Posted at 6:39 PM | Comments Off on Fog variations

There’s no mincing words, today was all overcast and mostly rainy. I thought there was a break in the precip and headed out on foot just before mid-day, enjoying the yellows and oranges in the maple leaves along the road.

By my return, however, the rain closed in, soft and relatively warm, and without lightning, so fine for a return to shelter, and the opportunity for dry clothing.

Can you tell it’s raining? View from back door. Playhouse and I swear the clothes line poles are actually more upright than that.

Posted at 8:46 PM | Comments Off on All overcast, all day

It was sunny late morning to late afternoon, then the rain came in, just as we were assembling our potluck at the neighbors’. Lucky us, we got to see and hug and congratulate the newlyweds, up from below the bridge. By the time we left, clearing sky, I suspect portending temps dropping into the 40s. Weather rather sets the tone for our lives in this fall chore season.

Posted at 9:32 PM | Comments Off on A railing and its reflection

Rainy evening cleared overnight, so we have a full barrel, yet no dry plants, and darned little growth this time of the year. The downspout was still dripping, hence the active distortion.

Our big event was that we drove to the nearest county library, which has a true, lovely reading room. Note the air cleaner tower, right, by the newspaper desk. I picked up a Louise Penny and an Anne Hillerman (daughter of…) for relaxation, while the Guru was getting us some moving picture entertainment using their sorta fast connection.

Taking advantage of the gorgeous day, I walked late, including along the edge of this christmas tree forest (lots of quiet shade away from the road). The orange flags are new, and I assume they indicate that these generously sized spruces are going on a trip this year.

Posted at 7:31 PM | Comments Off on Sunny sun sun