And Now November....

If October is apples and colors and jack o'lanterns, November is light and shadow, the architecture of branches, and unpredictable skies of deeply faded hues. It's pie and roasts and the beginning of crock pot season, when you start your dinner early in the day and then at night when you clear the table you just put the covered pot outside because your front porch has become your walk-in fridge / freezer.

The first snows have come hard and fast this year, there was a flirtation with snow in October but it came with a vengeance this week when we had two days of canceled school due to storms. Those of us without storm tires on yet are kicking ourselves and I've been eyeing the woodpile and gauging how much we will go through month by month. Travis wonders if it's too late to walk the sugarwoods and try to lift lines so they'll be well above the snowpack when they start tapping next month.

For all that October is the most gorgeous fall month, November has an elegant austerity and is a sharp reminder that nature will kick your butt if you don't pay attention. Here comes winter.....