HELLO AUTUMN, GOODBYE SUNNY

 Last night was International Observe the Moon night but the big astronomical news this week was the fall equinox. The sun rose due east and is heading south fast. At one point it imitated Saturn with a ring, and then surprised everybody with a mini heat wave. 

Fall yard work is underway. The pond plants get cut back, repositioned, or hibernated in the bog. The Pond Girl becomes a rock star. The Ladder Guy was up there to fix a barn door and to then reunite with the chain saw. Later, both feasted on roast harvest veggies. 

Animal life is also active. Last night a young fox leaned on our front window ----- just curious or smelling the bbq? Despite earlier disappearance, fish and frogs are now back and multiplying! The usual furbags always show up at the morning feeder buffet. And this week's rare sighting is the red-breasted nuthatch, shuttling to the feeder from the woods.

Right on cue, the leaves have started the annual colour festival. Not 100% yet but very flashy on every bend in the road. Which of these pix are from up here on the hill?

Summer has departed and so has the Solara we called Sunny, more red than autumn maple leaves. A very wrenching decision, but it was bought sight unseen by a gobsmacked guy in Nova Scotia. We delivered Sunny to Canada's biggest shipping yard where the crew raved and pampered it. Maybe we'll visit it in Cape Breton?

PAT'S ESCAPE TO SANTA FE

 A great loss with the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Champion of equality and civility but honoured and remembered for advancing and protecting women's rights. She had a steadfast moral compass, now adrift as the compass of the States has lost its way...

The last week of summer brings clear cold skies with the moon, Venus, Orion, and the Sun showing their true colours and majesty.

Time to close down cherished seasonal growth. Oxygenators come out of the pond but somehow the fish are OK with that. The last tomatoes have to be blanketed from early frost.

Lots of comings and/or goings. Bees load up, mum's the word! A frittilaria butterfly blends right in with stained glass. A pair of cardinals head south, faithfully together. Mice want to warm up in the house but 18 were deported this week, 8 in one day. A second crop of rhubarb is ready for pies. And sunflowers just won't quit, as long as there's sun.

Something's been chewing on the railing and deck. Large chunks of softwood have been chomped away. The prime suspect is a porcupine. Bordered in Aboriginal dot painting style, the outline could be islands in the Caribbean --- recognize Jamaica? 

Pat felt it was time to let her Ford Escape go to the next caring owners. They turned out to be Brent & Sharon, not far away on a working soy bean farm. That was a comfy and reliable car!

Who says Rick gets all the nice cars? Pat new ride is a clean smooth Hyundai Santa Fe. Great service from Jai at Gem. Named after the factory colour --- "Khaki". Nice to see you up the hill, K-Car! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR?!

Early September had always felt like New Year's. As a kid, summer carnivals and parades ended and the new school year started up as usual. Later on the new season was marked by local fishing derbies, leaf colours, and the Toronto Film Festival. This year all of that is blurred as school, iconic events, and simple gatherings have been pandemic restricted or canceled...

This "new year" also brings sunrises that are either angry dark or promising pinks. Heavy rain here today contrasting with out-of-control fires in the west. 

Birds are on the wing to their new year in the south. Towhees are passing through, still scratching on the ground. And the popular spruce tree hosts many sky travelers like this red-breasted nuthatch. Which way is up anymore??

Other seasonal signs are apples red on the tree or green on the ground. Mold forms on anything damp

and organic.The Gardener thins, prunes, and looks back on many kinds of growth, botanical and personal.

Here's something new, this year or any. The plastic tablecloth on the deck has been chewed all around its lower edges. Porcupine? Squirrel? Snack or nesting material? Maybe you foodies out there should try it?

I'm told spring is yellow and fall is purple among bloomers. Here's some proof. (OK, mauve in the milkweed.)

There are at least  5 Virgos in my family celebrating this month (all males...hmmm). For all of us it IS a new beginning. So Happy New Year everybody --- and that's not a load of ****!