We Won!

Big DNR grant (none larger) awarded to The Arboretum At Starin Park. That, along with strong community support means that big things will be happening over the next few years.

Oak Tree Planting

Six sprouted white oak acorns planted in home-made squirrel-proof cages by a few of us Urban Forestry Commission folks and one high school student! We consider one student a good beginning, with the hope that a year from now we will have dozens.

Forgot to bring phone/camera to the planting, so actual photos will have to wait until tomorrow.
Mighty oaks from little acorns grow.

We’ve enjoyed watching the Australian “soapy” TV series, Royal Flying Doctor Service, which we found on PBS of all places.

Nature Writing Workshop…

…session two. Fun to be a teacher again. Very interesting participants, and some excellent writing. (We won’t mention the one really awful piece.)

Below Freezing…

…almost all day.

But, kayak work continued, outside, though I had to come in to warm up every so often. Today’s project consisted of sanding down the epoxy and (minimal) glass repair completed a few days ago in the basement, where conditions are warm enough for epoxy to cure. Can’t sand down there, though. Tomorrow, the remaining outdoor work, and then it’s back down the basement for varnish.

Windy and Wet

Mostly snow showers. Still, a walk in the woods, some leaf mowing, Aerophone playing, and squash soup.

International Dinner…

…at the Habes kitchen. Another memorable haute cuisine event, one in a long series going back many years.

This year’s menu exceptionally tasty, and just the right amount. Conversation almost as good as the desert. Snowy drive home.

Flow Snurries

It’s that time of year, if not a little late.

But earlier, to Ellie’s Veterans Day concert.

The bird feeder has been discovered. Already crowded with many species.

Garden…

…spread with chopped leaves, forked, and tilled.

Fall is the time for tilling.
Bird feeder up and stocked, but mostly unrecognized. By my observation, only one chickadee so far.

Tensegrity…

…also known as lighter-than-air and levitation.

Took more than a few attempts to get it right, but a fun challenge.
Lentil soup and turkey burgers for dinner.
The weather is on the verge of change.

Environmental Lit/ Nature Writing…

…workshop at the library. Nine incredibly interesting participants, and my lesson plan worked perfectly. Great conversation, great fun.

Breakfast With The Leftwing Breakfast Club

Almost three hours of discussion, leading somewhere? Later, a walk to the post office and library through a dream of autumn.

Big Un-Thanksgiving Celebration…

…which included lots of bike riding, park play, music, and delicious eats.

Matchless Soccer Match…

…as a result of which Will’s team clinched the devision championship.

Out Exploring…

…with the boys while Becca, Maddie, and Ellie got Covid vaccinated. Will and Katy got the shot today, too.

And after inspecting this tree, we tore a big, old, rotten stump quite in half. looking for grubs, beetles, and ants.

Lunch on the grounds of Holy Hill after a tour of the basilica. James and Ben whispered softly while inside, but seemed more interested in the green marble pathway around the nave than the barrel-vaulted ceiling immensely high overhead.

After Holy Hill we explored Glacier Hills County Park, nearby, and found many things of interest.

Six Robins…

…in the locust tree. Taking turns dropping down to Vi’s crab apple to pluck a few of the small hard, but apparently very tasty and nourishing, fruit; to then flit back up to a perch high in the locust. The number of apples on Vi’s tree is rapidly diminishing, but still counts to many thousands. All will be gone before the end of this month, since squirrels are helping, too. Then again, I’m thinking that these robins might want to be contemplating all the protein waiting for them a little farther south.
BTW, did you know that the American robins’s scientific name is Turdus migratorius? Maybe that’s because of eating too many crab apples?

Messy farmer

And Down They Come

After a night of hard frost, many trees, though not all, let their leaves drop by means of batch processing.

Letting Loose

For three wild days they clung to twig and branch
As the November gale ripped limbs from trunks
And toppled ancient boles.

Then morning broke, clear, and calm, and cold,
And one by one, then many at a time,
The golden leaves let loose, and rattled to the forest floor.

It might have been the frost that bid them go,
Or, it might have been some rhythm eons old.
—JBN

Avoid Caulking Leaking Gutters…

…if at all possible. It’s a messy, sticky business. Most of today’s other chores were less bothersome.

Garden now frosted

Presentation Followed By…

…a walk in the woods.
Presentation at the Senior Center, with an audience of maybe 15. Everyone seemed engaged—got some nice compliments, and sold about a dozen books.

Boo

Chilly trick or treating, and first frost of the season expected tonight. About 80 tricksters, and most of the candy gone (which is a good thing).

Harvested the last of the tomatoes. Maybe some will ripen; the others might be fried. Hate to waste them.

Also finished the first sanding of the kayak. The boat has now been moved to the basement for epoxy and varnish.

Katy’s Halloween Party

Impromptu event planned and coordinated by Katy. Good turnout, and lots of fun. This will, no doubt, become an annual event.