It’s almost over around here. The local roadside vendors are mostly scrapping the few dank tomatoes and okras that didn’t sell and are restocking with the gourd class. Pumpkin pyramids 10 feet high and organized by size, shape, and color. And dried corn shocks.

The season is turning. Daily, my newest chore is to blow the torrent of yellow-orange-red-brown leaves off the decks. So far this has been done with my small battery powered Ryobi blower but in the next couple of weeks the load will increase to where I have to break out the big ICE Stihl. Last week I filled a 5 gal can of gas to take on the autumn chores.

Gutters will need blowed out several times, same with the driveway and everywhere else. The un-benefit os having a massive amount of trees everywhere is the year end dealing with their offcasts. I’ve often considered getting a shredder but never have. The trees are so dense here, burning the leaves is not an option.

I welcome the change of seasons with a smile backed by a little bit of sadness. Front porches are ancient tools to cause one to reflect on what was, what is, and what may be – moments of inflection, sort of like a session with a built-in life counselor and a recalibration of the internal compass.

Always do pretty well with the peppers; current plants were grown in pots last year & survived & flourished this year, along with cukes & tomatoes.
I’m going to see how long I can keep the pepper plants going.
Can’t brag about the squash, though.
Some kind of bug ate them from the roots.