Saturday

"I'm writing a book. I've got the page numbers done."
- Steven Wright -

Since we've got more than one toe into November already, I'll post the above quote in honour of National Novel Writing Month. I'm not a participant (contestant?) this time -nor likely to be for some years, but EMN has about four chapters done already, and he's written a cat into the story.

On Tuesday the 1st, I made my personal Observance of Leslie's Birthday. When I reached Mumsy by phone later that evening, she was in the process of making macaroni & cheese for dinner, which is exactly what I had done to commemorate my sister's life. (In trying times, Leslie would say, "Better make up some Consoling Macaroni & Cheese!" Whenever there was good news, she'd say, "Time for some Celebratory Macaroni & Cheese!" Even though she had given up most dairy products in recent years, a proper batch of homemade mac & cheese seems a fitting way to pay homage to her dear, goofy, frolicsome spirit).

With the recent time change (from "God's Time to Gummint Time" as Da would put it), I took the opportunity to re-set my various clocks in a manner that makes the current time less a matter of opinion and more in accordance with the outside world. Somewhat.

Generally it's much quieter around the village now, in this Lull Time between Foliage Season and Holiday Season. The visitor count is more like around 20 people during weekdays at the shop, and weekends are more like 80 or so (as opposed to 80s and 120s, respectively, during busy season).

It seems we finally got the weather that was ordered for mid-October, delivery of which seems to have been delayed by the hurricanes. In the past week or so, the weather has been unusually (for November) warm and mild during the day, though quite cold until the sun comes up and again once it goes down. Last weekend PNC & I went for a paddle at Wilder Dam, which was really lovely - a dry, mild day, perfect for enjoying the last of the fall colours and the golden afternoon light. I don't really remember when it happened-some weeks ago, certainly-but I can now see through to the road behind my house. During summer, the leaves fill in to where I see only headlights at night, but now I can see shape and colour of the cars that pass. First Dusting of Snow was Sunday morning 23 Oct, and on Tuesday the 25th we had some big wet, floppy flakes. I gave a little inward sigh this time, because AGAIN I don't really feel ready for winter as a concept. Does this mean I'm becoming a Vermonter, rather than just a guest? More likely it's just a measure of my Administrative Progress-or, to be more accurate, lack thereof. Within the next couple weeks I ought to be able to get the summer stuff out of the car and the winter stuff in, so I'll be prepared for when the snow comes to stay. Then I'll be able to enjoy that little giggle of delight I've always gotten whenever I look out the window of a winter morning to behold new snowfall.

The other day on my way back from the post office (any excuse to get out in the lovely weather for a few minutes!) I was delighted to watch a Golden Retriever puppy, chasing leaves as they swirled about in the wind.

In the "Things To Be Grateful For Category," Mr. Laptop seems none the worse for having taking a four-bounce trip down my front stairs a few weeks ago. Also, PNC put the coffee grinder from the Gold Run house up on my kitchen wall. I don't drink a lot of coffee, but I have enjoyed being able to grind a very small quantity of fresh beans to brew myself a cuppa Joe, and that particular sound, while loud, has for me a congenial sentimental association.

On the topic of agreeable sounds, the church bells are back, but apparently not much attention is paid to the selection of the hymns which follow the initial chime: more than a few Christmas carols have gone wafting into the autumn air since the bells returned in late September.

Here comes PNC to take me to dinner after work...