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Keep a sharp eye out if you are planning a quiet fall get-away to Twain Harte. We’ve had a bumper crop of deer this year. The tiny fawns were a joy to watch as they eat and frolic about. I’ve seen some nice looking bucks around as well.

From all accounts I’ve heard, this winter is supposed to be a cold one. I haven’t been out enough to see if I can find a caterpillar. Grandma always said you could tell by the caterpillars coat whether it would be a long, cold winter. The thicker the coat, the colder the weather. Makes sense to me.

At least this year we have a wonderful futon in the livingroom to sit on. We gave away our huge sectional couch a long time ago. Oh, don’t get me wrong, we had plenty of nice office chairs to sit in, but that was all, unless you count lawn furniture of course, which I don’t.  I am kind of looking forward to a little television time with my guys.

Be sure to drive carefully. Give yourself plenty of room between you and the vehicle ahead of you. Our deer are smarter than most — believe it — the deer in Michigan were really dumb, they would stop right in front of you and just stare. We have seen an increased number of dead fawns on the road recently. Yes, we have plenty but the loss of even one in this manner is still heartbreaking.

Now, before you start calling me a bleeding-heart, understand that I don’t have any problem with hunters. I come from a long line of hunters and the higher the grocery prices go the more I’m actually considering bagging a deer myself. My guys love venison and there will be lots to be had this year.

Adopt the pace of nature:  her secret is patience.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

While you are out enjoying all that nature has to offer. Take along an extra trash bag, be sure to pack your trash out and if you are feeling especially blessed by your surroundings, take some extra with you. You might also be surprised at what you might find in these mountains.

Hope you had the chance to camp this summer. I had high hopes but it just never happened. We did spend some special days with family at Pinecrest. Grandma beat us at cards again. 🙂

I am not depressed — really I’m not. I think I’m more frustrated, no irritated really. I guess I should preface this installment with, if you are having a really good day, don’t even bother reading this post.

Anyone who knows me very well, knows that fall is my favorite time of year. At least it normally is — now I’m not so sure. Summer is so very hot and I hate the heat but even more than that, I hate the droves of people who make their way up the hill to destroy my peace and tranquility. In past years, I’ve always considered it a minor annoyance but this year was worse.

I’d be curious to see how income faired for the Twain Harte Market this year, compared to last year. People seemed to be coming out of the wood work. It was crazy this summer. Fall is the off season, a time to unwind, enjoy the wildlife and button things down, in preparation for winter.

Last year, the house across the street was sold and the new owners spent the entire fall, cutting and sawing, making repairs and upgrades to their newest project. Then came the paving trucks, it was hell dealing with that distracting relentless noise. I was really looking forward to enjoying a nice peaceful fall but I can kiss that goodbye.

Just a couple weeks ago they pulled down the house around the corner from us. This entire week I’ve had my tranquility broken by the constant buzz of the saw. There doesn’t appear to be any end in sight. I can’t help but wonder if I’ll ever be able to enjoy my delightful surroundings.

Last fall, I ended up getting the flu for the first time in many years. I was so bad off, I spent three-weeks bedridden. It took more than three months to recover from that illness. This time I’ve caught some sort of respiratory problem. I’ve been drowning for the past two months and to make matters worse, the change in elevation is intolerable, so I’ve been forced to stay home much of the time.

As if all that were  not enough, I decided it was time to get the car ready for winter. I made the obligatory list of items that needed to be checked. We were hoping to get another couple of years out of our car, only to find out that the transmission is failing.

The thought of car shopping is more than I can bare right now. I put it right up there with getting a root canal. Not my idea of a good time. Yeah, sure it’s nice to drive around after all the searching, haggling and check lists.

On the bright side, I am starting to feel better. I think I’ve decided to quit smoking. I can’t help but think all this hacking and sickness didn’t start until Philip Morris switched over to the new FSC (Fire Safe Cigarettes). I am not alone, a quick Google search shows thousands of people up in arms over the new papers.

Just one more reason to resent our over-reaching power-hungry government leaders. I hate the intrusions into my life. Gosh, am I even allowed to say that any more? We are living in treacherous times and they are not getting any better anytime soon.

I promise I’ll have something good to write about next time. How is your fall shaping up?