It is another very cool, foggy, fall morning and I mean it is cool as the temp only reached 61F, or 16.2C for those who prefer the archaic and very inaccurate method of measuring temperature, yesterday and this morning the fog was very heavy indeed making it hard to even see across the street at times but then for me it is hard to see across the street at any time since my apartment is at the back of the house so I can’t actually see the street at the best of times but when I went outside this morning I checked to see what it was like which is how I know what it was like because I wanted to see what it was like and that was the only way to see what it was like and that’s how I know but now the sun is trying hard to burn off that fog though there is still a bit and it is still very cool but it is supposed to warm up by the weekend which would be nice since the last two mornings my heater has come on because it has gotten so cold in here and it is a terrible thing that the heater is coming on already but that’s the way it goes sometimes and that is certainly the way it went this time and yes, I know, I am supposed to finish my story of dad and I on our hike through the bush in search of the elusive insulators and it was much different weather that day since it was sunny and very warm which it certainly is not going to be today but hopefully it will be warmer than the last two days and, okay, back to the story.  We were pushing our way through all that thick brush and finally we came to an area of pines with no undergrowth problems so it was easy going for a bit.  Then we came to a bit of a hill.  We were at the top. Dad looked down.  Long ways down, he said.  At least it’s downhill, I said.  Uphill on the way back, said dad.  Minor detail, I said, we’ll rest before coming back up.  Hey, I can hear a train, I said, we’re on the right path.  Path, questioned dad?  That train is not exactly close, he continued.  Minor detail, I said.  That looks like an easy way down, I said.  Right, said dad.  It really wasn’t too bad.  Sort of.  Dad wanted me to go first.  Naturally.  Down I started.  Watch that loose rock, I called back to dad.  What hawk, said dad.  Not hawk, ROCK, I yelled.  Too late.  Dad found the loose rock and AAAAAAAAAAAAAA, as he slid past me.  Slow down, I called out, or you’ll crash into those…too late.  There was a loud crunching noise as he came to a stop in a thick bunch of bushes.  AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA, he called again.  Stop, he said, my glasses fell off!  I went carefully and found them, almost stepped on them.  Poor dad.  He wasn’t having a good day so far.  I helped him out of the bushes.  Wow, you sure flattened those bushes, I commented trying hard to contain laughing.  BONEHEAD, said dad.  Amazing that he would be enjoying this.  What happened to your hat?  Down there, he said.  Not sure how it managed to get so far ahead of him.  The rest of the way down wasn’t so bad.  But we were back into thick bush again.  Naturally dad sent me first.  We came to a small creek, which was very hard to see and I almost stepped into it.  Hey, a nice log across the creek, I said.  Try it out, said dad.  Naturally.  Half way across I jumped on the log to test its strength.  No problem, I said.  Dad’s turn.  As he stepped off the log on the other side his foot slipped and he ended up sitting on the log.  However, since he was heavier than me that fall was too much for the old log and down went dad, but he did miss the water.  Not quite sure how he missed it, but he did.  Help me up, he said.  I got a stick for him to grab.  The stick broke.  And dad went backward.  Wow, what a splash!  And there wasn’t even much water in that creek.  Here, try again, I said.  BONEHEAD!  I’m better off doing it myself, he said.  Fine. He did get out.  After slipping around in the water and mud.  You’re a mess, I said. Dad just looked at me.  Odd.  Good thing it is such a warm day, I said.  Right, said dad.  Not much farther now, I said.  Right, said dad.  That’s all for now.  Muffin is gone…and I’m finished. Sigh.  It has been a hard morning.  I hope you can all enjoy the remainder of your week.  God bless.

Steve. And no Muffin.

Greetings everyone on this beautiful end of summer day even though there is one more day of summer left and I am not talking about what the calendar says about summer because that just doesn’t work around here when fall, or autumn if you prefer, starts September 1 and it really does and even now there is a noticeable difference in the weather as the nights are very cool and starting today even the days are much cooler since yesterday it was 82F and today it was only 65F and that is too sudden of a difference for someone like me but that is what happens this time of year when suddenly it is fall, or autumn if you prefer.  Sigh.  Fall is a beautiful time of year, but it is very short, and then…I don’t even like to think about it.  Sigh.  Summer came and went much too quickly.  Hardly had a chance to enjoy it.  But it was beautiful today even though cool, but on my deck where the sun hits directly in the afternoon it still gets quite warm.  So I was out there enjoying the sunshine and warmth and all my little critter friends.  There are now 5 chipmunks, Cheeky is the biggest, then R.B., Chipper, Check and Scramble.  Then there is my squirrel, Squirk, who has become very tame, and the 4 blue jays, crows and the deer, 6 of them today.  Tried getting some pictures but they were not cooperating.  Sigh.  Like the bear last week, he just would not turn around and look at me until he was far enough away that he didn’t look very big.  Actually he isn’t very big, about 250 lbs.  He started coming up on my deck but by the time I got my camera he was down under the apple tree.  Then he went over the fence into the neighbors yard to eat the apples that dropped over there so I went down to get a closer pic, but he just would not cooperate and stayed lying down behind the fence eating apples, so I was unable to get a decent pic.  Sigh.  Have started working on some projects, like my whimsical country bird houses.  These are not meant for use, just for decoration.  I like country decorating, especially primitive country.  Am going to make some country game boards next.  I enjoy making my own country items, for one thing they don’t need to be perfect, which is perfect, since I can’t do things perfect.  Plus it is cheaper.  Primitive country items can be expensive.  Though not everything.  Which is good.  Plus it is good to keep me busy.  My doctor doesn’t want me sitting too much.  But also doesn’t want me doing too much. Okay, make up my mind.  Sigh.  The birds are flocking together now, getting ready for their journey south.  Birds are smart, go south where it is warmer.  Actually some of our birds have already made the trip, such as night hawks.  Many more species will be gone over the next couple of weeks.  So sad.  There are a lot of little birds around now, different species of sparrows and warblers, but the bright colors of spring and summer are missing and though there are numerous calls and chirps, the actual songs are also mostly gone.  Even the loons and gulls don’t call as much this time of year.  Didn’t hear the loons as much this summer for some reason, don’t know why, guess they just were not spending as much time in the area this summer.  Sigh.  I really enjoy the call of the loon.  But I did get to enjoy Sir George this summer, I hope he will be back next year.  I know.  I’m just sort of rambling this week.  Like to do that sometimes.  And yes, I know I missed last week.  My apologies.  Technical difficulties again.  Me this time, not my computer.  Sigh.  Yes, I should be finishing my story I began 2 weeks ago.  Next week.  Hopefully.  Put up a new bird feeder yesterday, finally.  Birds were scared of it.  Good, said my landlord.  Not sure what was meant by that.  Okay, I’m back.  Blue jay was here for his evening snack so I had to give him a peanut.  They sure love those peanuts.  All my critters love peanuts.  It is very cool outside already and the sun hasn’t gone down yet.  Amazing.  It was very smoky in the air today, likely from forest fires out west.  The smoke gives a weird glow to the sun, a somewhat orange like color.  The smell is not as strong now as it was earlier this afternoon, but still noticeable.  We haven’t had many forest fires around here this year, too wet for most of the summer.  It is quite dry now however.  Guess I should stop rambling otherwise I will continue to ramble.  I hope you will all enjoy the remainder of your week and God bless!

Steve.