Organizing Chaos and Pushing on a Rope

Well, the aspen and birch are starting to change colors at the higher elevations of the Black Hills, the understory at the lower elevations (poison ivy, wild grapes, gooseberry bushes) are at the peak of color this week. The nights are getting down into the mid 40's and the sun is setting earlier every day.

The wildlife feel the changes coming, the deer and elk are chowing down putting on that last bit of fat for the winter. The bighorn sheep are moving down the mountain sides in search of green grass. Coyotes are letting loose the pups born this last spring and the mountain lions, well they're just being cranky as usual.

Around the house, I've been cleaning up dead fall - cutting it up for the neighbor to burn in their wood stove, getting the road graded, making sure the 4-wheeler will start and the snow plow is ready to hitch up. I even drained and put away the weed sprayer. Next week I'll put new tires on the truck, and rework the brakes. Maybe by that time the new boiler and water heater will be in and I can work on getting them installed.

Yup, Summer's on the way out , the wheel is turning to winter, but first I'll enjoy a bit of Autumn. It may only be five minutes worth (there was snow at 6000ft last Wednesday), but I will make it last as long as I can before winter closes in.