I spoke with a friend in Arizona yesterday - she will be visiting for a few weeks after the new year, but the oldest daughter she usually stays with has a houseful these days. The youngest son/brother moved to town and is with her, and both of her children are at home. This family needs a boost, so I'm going to see if we can get them out of the house and over here for one of our famous pot luck dinners. And if my friend comes to town, she can stay here. I'll work on finishing up straightening my son's room (now the main guest room) in anticipation of this. It does remind me that my nest is empty when I work in there, but I'll get over it, and one day there may be grandkids, a whole new phase to look forward to. Guests will do for now.

I'm so ready for that stove, but I need to do some outside work first. Mow the front, bring in the soaker hoses for the season. I'm still watering the veggie garden occasionally, but the rest of it can fend for itself now that it is cool. I also need to get some heavy-duty plastic plant platters to put under three pots I'm going to bring in for the winter. The lemon grass, the lemon verbena, and a pot of mint. Not sure if the mint will be happy in the house, but I think the others will be okay. I could put them in the greenhouse, but I forget to go out and water things out there.

Linn, the dark earlier aspect of fall, especially in northern states, was something to deal with when I lived in the Pacific Northwest. I also deal with it now because I work every day in a basement with no windows in view. Have you thought about putting in a few daylight lamps to help with the SAD aspect of the season? Maybe a reading lamp with a daylight LED that will hit your forehead when you read? I'll use this as a reminder to myself to position the Ott lamp on my desk at work so it shines down on me.

My favorite radio gardening program is over, now out to the garden to prepare for winter. I don't think this is the last mow, the weather is predicted to be mild for another week at least, but it is time to prepare for the cold.

SRS