Updated predictions for Winter

A day or two ago we came across a woolly bear caterpillar that was mostly reddish-brown with brief black caps at each end. Today we noticed one that was about 1/3 black - 1/3 reddish-brown - 1/3 black. Late in August we discovered a different one that was mostly black at each end with a narrow reddish-brown band in the middle. Based on this entirely unscientific sampling, we claim that this Winter will be ... whatever it may be. We may, or may not, experience a Polar Vortex. The temperatures may, or may not, trend above or below whatever passes for average in this neck of the North Country woods. The same will be true for snowfall, or not. We just hope and pray that freezing rain stays down in Missouri where it belongs. Winter may run well into Spring, or may end early. Meanwhile, we're enjoying a beautiful, breezy Autumn day (not counting time spent this morning in the dentist chair -- no apples for a day or two!).

at Autumn's peak color, the neighborhood becomes very scenic

Photo by J. Harrington

If we've experienced a frost this Autumn, it hasn't been noticeable. We have had a hard freeze, according to the skim ice we've seen on the bird bath two different mornings. That may qualify our current spell of warmer weather as "Second Summer." Next week, closer to month's end, we'll begin preparation for Samhain / Halloween. There's jack-o-lanterns to carve and, maybe, a brush pile bonfire to torch, if rain or snow allows.

October

Helen Hunt Jackson

Bending above the spicy woods which blaze,
Arch skies so blue they flash, and hold the sun
Immeasurably far; the waters run
Too slow, so freighted are the river-ways
With gold of elms and birches from the maze
Of forests. Chestnuts, clicking one by one,
Escape from satin burs; her fringes done,
The gentian spreads them out in sunny days,
And, like late revelers at dawn, the chance
Of one sweet, mad, last hour, all things assail,
And conquering, flush and spin; while, to enhance
The spell, by sunset door, wrapped in a veil
Of red and purple mists, the summer, pale,
Steals back alone for one more song and dance.

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