Autumn Days

We had a warmer than average September this year. We desperately needed it. Winter lasted through the spring and farmers and homesteaders in North Idaho and Washington were planting in cold, wet mud. Crops suffered and harvest was far less than bountiful. Many of us were using our extended fall time to extend our harvest and growing season. That is now coming to an end. The summer high pressure ridges that tend to drift over the Northwest has moved and a series of low pressure systems from the Gulf Of Alaska has begun to push through. High temperatures has dropped from the 70'sF to the 50'sF. Cooler highs into the 40'sF are forecasted.
The Autumn rains have begun. Low, misty clouds in shades of gray and white drift across the Hoodoo Mountains across the river to my southwest. They hide the peaks and passes leaving only the bases visible. The forest is once again wrapped in mist and dripping wet. The mist clings to everything condensing water on all surfaces and sending droplets falling to the ground. The Hawthorne, Serviceberries, Huckleberries, and Wild Roses were the first to turn their leaves from green to yellow and red. Cottonwood trees were next, their leaves are becoming a brilliant yellow. The Aspens are sure to be next, their leaves will become a brilliant gold which will shimmer in the breeze. Tamaracks are actually a conifer tree, but their needles will also turn brilliant yellow and gold. They, too, will fall turning the trees bare for the winter.

Though my gardens are covered, protecting them from the cold, they will soon fall victim to the freeze. Temperatures will soon be too cold overnight even for the greenhouses. Growing season and harvest is coming to an end. From the weather forecasts, looks like that will be by the end of next week for me. It has already come for those who do not have greenhouses.

All that is left for outdoor work on the homestead is to prepare the gardens for next year and prepare one new patch by lifting sod and covering. Wood also needs to be split and stacked. Shorter days also means less time for work. The cool, wet weather does bring some comfort. A time for good, hot food and weather watching. As the first bank of clouds was seen above the Hoodoos, it was time to make the first falltime meal of the year. There's nothing like hot venison stew on a dreary fall day. I cube the venison from the haunch and shoulders. Season with seasoned salt and brown. The rest of the stew is from the garden. Chopped onions, sliced cloves of garlic, diced tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, parsnips and some cayenne pepper are added without any thought to proportions. They are added til the stew "looks right". Boil on the stove til the meat is tender. Weather watching with something hot in your stomach is an Autumn experience that boosts the moral. It's the simple things folks.

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