HALLOWEEN
Actually windy and warm, but also gray and foreboding, the leaves swirling down at a November pace. The sailboats are mostly pulled from the harbor - wrapped and stored for the winter, or far away in warmer waters. The lobster boats are far fewer in number. I guess only the toughest tough it out in the colder months ahead.
I ordered some more replacement windows, and wait for the insulation guys to show up to foam spray my rim joists, seal the chimney shaft, and blow in a lot more cellulose. My little Jotul is crackling in the kitchen. It was actually close to 60 degrees today.....hardly threatening, but it still feels cozier with a little glow and the scent of wood. Plus my bother-in-law bought me a nice axe while visiting recently, and I felt woodsy splitting up some more kindling today. The trick-or-treaters arrived, but not nearly in as many numbers as my neighbors had predicted, and now I am stuck with a big bag of awful candy sitting at the front door. I wasn't brave enough to follow the Obama lead and hand out dried fruit. Maybe I've become a chocolate snob, but Butterfingers and Kit Kats are disgusting these days!
I'm beginning to think that maybe Maine isn't a whole lot different than Virginia. After all, it is now November, and I miraculously still have flowers blooming in my little courtyard and in my window boxes. Daisies, lobelia, petunias, ageratum, sweet potato vine, nemesia, sidalcea, guara. The basil and tomatoes are frosted, but not the tarragon, savory, parlsey, rosemary, lavendar, arugula, hearty lettuces, or sage. The pineapple sage, a late blooming pendulous red favorite is full of buds, and yet to bloom. I promise I'll share unaltered pictures if and when it does. I have yet to mulch in my weeping cherry, pee gee hydrangea, and assorted shrubs planted this year. A chore I guess I should put on the today list. My mud room is full of potted plants I've pulled in to extend their season as long as they can tolerate my neglect. I'm not much of a houseplant person. And the new energy efficient windows I've had installed actually block out ultraviolet rays and make it hard to raise houseplants - except for African violets. Maybe I'll try those, as I've never been successful at keeping them alive and blooming, tho I have fond memories of my grandmother's many pots in different colors. 
Just in case you think I have delusions of the tropics here, I have scraped frost off of my windshield three or so times in October. I do have a big shovel handy, and a fair amount of wood stacked near the kitchen door. I imagine myself devouring novels under one of my ready fleece and woven throws tossed onto my sofa and chairs. Or taking up knitting. Tho I remain a devoted coffee drinker - with my bottle of Jamison's for an occasional embellishment, I also now have a favorite couple of large teacups, and my trusty box of P&G tea. Is it proper to add Irish whiskey to British tea? My brother, a veteran of long cold winters in Wisconsin, sent me an early Christmas present - a warm pair of Merrell boots. Luxurious! A sucker for jackets and coats, I am embarassed to tell you how many down, wool, and windbreaker options I have hanging in my mudroom. The Goodwill store here is unbelievable. So, I think I'm almost ready. The time change last night offered up a welcome earlier sunrise. No doubt the earlier sunset will be tougher.......but in another 7 weeks the days start to get longer again. I've been collecting Christmas yard art, and starting to imagine the house full of candles and Pavorotti and scent of Maine balsam. OK.......so I'm also excited about getting on a plane this week and heading to Virginia for a long weekend of extended fall, old friends, and film festival. Also cruising the travel networks plotting my deep winter getaway in February or early March. Getting on the seed catalog mailing lists. Seasons change. Life is good.
