The weather has cooled, thankfully. Seasons are now changing. The local birds have moved on, and sweet, flitting finches are visiting. The horse's and dog's coats are getting thicker. Yes, the winterizing has begun. Most of the garden beds are cleared, and a layer of compost is added for the winter rains to help the nutrients percolate into the soil. Trees are trimmed up, and branches are carted to the burn pile on the far end of the property. The horse's favorite snack is the green leaves off the branches when they are out in the yard.

photos by Michelle Schlegel

I have heard the geese and their faint honking for a few weeks now as they are flying south. They're flying well over a thousand feet high, and surely there must have been hundreds flying in that telltale “V” pattern. The local geese have also been restless and fly daily from one pond/lake to another. I've noticed that they also signify the coming change in the weather. A welcome change it will be!

With temperatures cooling and the rains imminent, it's a perfect time to put in new trees and other landscaping plants. We had to remove some largeEuphorbias by the pool for repairs. We will be getting those planted in the next few days as well. The most difficult thing is to dig holes in the concrete-like ground! The compost bins are billowing with all the new leaves falling. This lizard was waiting for me to leave so that he could grab some of the bugs in the compost. I think the cats were watching and waiting to grab him!

I went to the back garden and picked some vegetables for dinner. I can't believe we are a few days from November and this is still happily growing. But pretty soon, I will be hearing the sound of the rain on the barn roof—such a nice sound, too!

Enjoy the season, everyone.