Time for fall foliage and fall colors, leaf piles and pine straw rains. I’m a sucker for tools that make life easier like a sturdy light-weight rake, a wagon that tilts making dumping all the leaves easier, and my favorite red rake. A neighbor introduced the Manure Muck Rake. Ok, I do not have a farm, stable, or anything larger than a fox on 4 legs but after seeing how quickly it handles picking up pinecones, I knew I needed one! This handy little rake makes scooping up pinecones and moving pine straw easier. I spent a few hours clearing the driveway from the day’s pine straw rains, but of course, by the time I made it back to the front steps the driveway is covered in pine straw again. I keep reminding myself little piles are easier to move than larger ones, and to watch for tiny nature in all the leaves and debris.
Once the work is finally done fall is a wonderful time to enjoy the view and wildlife. Waking up to dew-covered grass watching the mist dissipate as the sun comes up. A few cormorants have returned. They always remind me of the Loch Ness monster with their long necks breaking through the surface. Squirrels are harvesting across the yard, nails clicking racing up and down pine trees tossing pinecones, leaves, and tree bark in their wake. I have a new favorite squirrel, need to think of a name for this guy. Poor fella has a botfly, but I know he’s doing well even with half his tail missing as he’s hiding treasure in the flower boxes on the deck. Around 4 pm we serve an early dinner nightly, for a kingfisher bird. He sweeps in, clicking over the cove as he comes in for a landing. Fall really is a gorgeous time, the river appears a sheet of glass and sunsets radiate in beautiful vibrant colors.
