LONG RANDOM THOUGHTS ON A SHORT AUTUMN AFTERNOON

 

 

 I sometimes try to use catchy post titles to attract readers to my blog. It doesn't work. My infantile efforts inevitably nosedive like the Hindenburg.

I took the above photo today. You might remember Mr. Bones from last year. He's one of my annual Halloween props.

Mid-October already. My favorite month is passing more quickly than the showers of falling leaves. Last weekend (the long holiday weekend) was rainy, dreary, and immersed in haunting hillside mists.

Two photos of my misty front "yard". The above was taken with my old El Cheapo camera. The one below was taken with my new cell phone. I don't really see any difference at all. It wasn't a very good day for taking photos because it was bleak, misty, and dark.

The foliage is turning colors rather early this year. Usually they don't peak here in the Tennessee boonies until near Halloween.

I drove to town last Tuesday. Couldn't go on Monday because the bank was closed (Columbus Day). The rain vanished, the sunlight was glorious. I took a few pictures of the front "yard" before embarking on my journey.
 

I always put "yard" in quotes, because it isn't exactly a yard -- it's a monstrosity of nature.

I stocked up on lots of groceries  and got a few more pumpkins. Pumpkins always enhance my autumnal mood.

I also (finally) bought a slow cooker and a toaster oven.

Toaster ovens sound archaic - but I don't like microwaves. I only use my microwave to reheat things (like a cold cup of coffee). I make a lot of toasted sandwiches, and it's ridiculous to put them in the stove oven. I figured a toater oven would be preferable.

The slow cooker will probably come in handy to make winter meals and soup. The price was right, and there were only a few left.

I'm presently in the process of making apple wine. The fermentation won't be complete for another week or so, and I'm anxious to try it.

So far, I've made concord grape wine (really good)
cranberry wine (really good)
and white grape wine (really crappy, but at least it got me drunk).
Apple wine should be interesting. Life always looks a helluva lot better when in the custody of inebriation.

Apples and pumpkins - among the many delights of the autumn season.

This is undoubtedly one of my most uninteresting blog posts. Lately, I blog just to convince myself I'm still alive.

I try to refrain from writing about my problems , which - during this past year - have become so overwhelming and multitudinous that I'm presently only hanging on by a very thin thread.

Without going into tedious details, I'll only say that my health is deteriorating and life here in the wilderness looks beautiful, but can be alarmingly daunting and surprisingly complicated.

If things don't improve by the end of this year, I'm going to permanently close my blog. I have too many other things to contend with.

I'm not saying this to get sympathy or advice - I'm merely stating brutal facts (facts that can be difficult to face....).

But - on the bright side - I'm really loving autumn and savoring every day. And I'm always keeping busy. There are lots of things I want to do around here.....

.....if only I had the energy and stamina....