by Robert Fischer
This morning, I’m looking out at a dreary, overcast and chilly day as I write this. The sun is going south and a stillness has settled over the land. Father winter has arrived almost three weeks ahead of the official date of December 21st this year. As the fall season signaled its imminent arrival earlier this year so it appears has winter now.
The temperature is going down precipitously from the high 60s to the mid-20s. Tomorrow morning the forecast is for 28 degrees with temperatures in the low to mid 20s the next couple days. Our first hard freeze is coming.
Even though it will still warm up on occasions, the next few days serve as a warning that the fall season is fading. We got Potlatch winterized just in time. Still need to top off the propane tank and begin stacking firewood on the porch.
As I look out the squirrels are conspicuously absent from their daily gathering of nuts. They must have enough for now and are holed up in their nests. Meanwhile the dogs have begun to show up at the door to come in more often to lie in front of the heaters.
So it is, the seasons turn and with them another year moves along. This immutability is somehow reassuring, especially in face of the current issues facing us with the continuing pandemic and the uncertainty of our politics