Yeah, I know but they are two different things. In summer it means be careful and aware of wild fire. In winter it means heat when the morning temp is 29 degrees! And the snow level is around 35oo’ this morning and there are snow flakes in the forecast for the next week! Whether it happens or not remains to be seems but it was enough for him to crank up the chain saw again. The wood shed is pretty full but we don’t usually need to watch for snow this time of year so just in case, he’s working on the pile of madrone logs. These were fire killed trees from a few years ago that he was asked to remove. He says it leaves a lot of ash but it is a good hardwood and does produce heat. We are ready for winter, I think.

This time of year is full of pretty mundane chores. Today it’s laundry and I am baking a pie from dried apples. We dried these for snacks but neither of us much cares for them in this condition so I am rehydrating them for this pie. I did make a new bowl of snack mix. I eat a little of it but it is mostly his. I get the big bags of nuts from Costco and I bought a jug of pretzel ‘pillows’ to add to it this time. I discovered when I got it home that they are filled with peanut butter. That’s okay, I guess, but not what I was after. I guess I’m going to have to learn to read labels a little better! This batch of snacks has walnuts (he requested fewer), pecans, and almonds. I added some white chocolate which he likes but I am offended by them even calling it chocolate! And the sweet part is dried cranberries. Last time it was cherries so I’m not sure what his response to that is going to be. They taste sweet enough to me but he really has a sweet tooth so may not see it that way. I can guarantee it’ll disappear anyway, tho!

But exciting new appliances! Well, yes, a housewifely thing, I suppose, but I really needed a new stove. I am still learning this one but so far I am delighted with it! It has an air fry and air bake setting on the oven which I have not tried yet. And a broiler which had died in my old one so that’s a good thing, too! And while we were there I also bought a new microwave as the number settings on the old one were quitting. For one, I could not set anything at 30 seconds, it had to be 31! That made for some interesting mental math for me. And the 5 had also quit. It was time!

I got several pair of jeans from my sister’s things and I took them up as they were too long for me, she having been a tall woman. However, they are all still too long for me. I know I’ve shrunk but didn’t think it was that much. It’s not fair, really, as I only seem to shrink in height, not width! Ah, well… That’s life, I suppose.

We’ve had rain for the last week and it was pretty heavy at times, bringing down the pretty autumn leaves.  I am sorry to see them go but if we’re going to get early snow, it’s good as trees with leaves still on tend to get broken or worse, they’ll fall which is hardly ever good for anything around them. But the drives to town these last couple weeks have been lovely. I tried to get pictures but haven’t gotten many good ones. There are enough deciduous trees to light up the forest of deep green with their yellow and gold and orange and reds. Sometimes the gullies running down the mountain sides look like water falls of gold! We’re not the Ozarks but just as beautiful. I think the contrast of the pines and firs show up the color better. This one is our driveway.

Randy cooked dinner this week. He does that every few years! Made his World Famous Beef Stew. We invited company for this momentous occasion and had a lovely time. The stew was good, too, and we had home baked (by me) bread to go with. And for the next two days! lol But it’s gone now and I’m back to doing the cooking. He’s taking about making lasagna but I am not holding my breath.

As for yarn… Well, I have not done any weaving lately but have gotten out my knitting needles and made a dress for one of my mini AG’s and am working on a project for another. The idea is to make them all new Xmas outfits but they are not all likely for that. It’s been a couple years since I did much knitting, tho and am enjoying it. She’ll need some shoes for this season I think! And maybe a shawl. She’s young but my arms  get cold these days. And like most Mom’s, if we’re cold, our kids need jackets!

But I think that’s probably more than enough for this posting! I hope you are having a lovely fall where you are, not too much rain or wind or snow. Thanksgiving in a week and then time to put up your tree if you have one of those. I think I’ll get out Momma’s Ceramic tree. It sets on the dining table. There’s not much room for a real tree in this small house and it’s just us two old people. I think the last time we had a real tree was when my oldest grandson was a toddler. Oh gosh, nearly 30 years ago!  But I hope you are looking forward to having family or friends around this season.

 Hazel