" 'Neath the cover of October skies..."

Perfect weather for the hot tub last night. Fall has definitely fallen on us here in the high desert. Not easy to tell sometimes, as we're known for erratic weather throughout the summer. (Typical: 85 degree days and 25 degree nights. Perfect!)  But the leaves are changing, the geese are leaving and the flannel sheet sets have arrived at Costco.

At work, the badgers are packing on their winter weight as they head into torpor (semi-hibernation). I'm right there with them. (By the way, you've got to check out our badger-cam here.)

As a mountain town, there's a feeling of anticipation and excitement around here waiting for the snow to start. I hardly ski anymore and I still feel it. It's not far off - I recall a few Halloweens of zero degrees and snowy sidewalks. Pretty soon we'll put on the snow tires and start our seasonal ritual of tracking down lost snowboard gloves. Last year I gave in and bought a bunch of pairs at Costco. All that remain are two left hands.

Eventually I need to prepare the gardens and deck for winter.  My sister once remarked that she enjoyed hacking the perennial beds down in the fall - it was sort of a relief after a summer of continuous gardening. Not yet though, as the asters, autumn joy, and hollyhocks are in their glory right now. It's about time for my annual bulb-buying spree. I've planted hundreds of bulbs in my garden for the last eleven years -- where the hell are they all?