We woke up this morning and found 1/2 inch of snow that is not melting. Our large maple tree has not even completed coloring yet. I have two perennial plants that I bought at sales and need planting. We have a forecast of a mild winter but so far temps have been at least 20 degrees cooler than usual. Our propane gas was just delivered and was .69 a gallon. I am so happy that we got a new refrigerator this year and got rid of the old one along with a 45 year old freezer and this has brought our electric bill way down.

I did bring in all the plants I wanted to winter over in the house, mostly some herbs and geraniums, but until now have still been picking the herbs left over in the planter in front of the house. I think I appreciate them even more when I know these may be last taste until summer.

My husband disappeared a while this morning and I found he had hung the wash out on the clothesline. He is one tough guy and does not let a little cool weather interfere with hanging out clothes. We do like the smell of the fresh clothes when they come in from the line.

We have lots and lots of apples. We are selling some but so many people have apples here this year there are not many who are buying. Many are giving them away. One friend in the Senior Housing said for us not to bring any as they were inundated with apples. We have taken sacks to the food shelf. Our carrots are huge this year. It seemed like such a poor summer for crops and it was for some but the carrots, potatoes, raspberries and apples all did very well. The squash crop was pretty good. My husband sold some pumpkins. He had to save a couple or so as he makes pumpkin pie that our granddaughter likes which is really the Libby recipe but she does not know that.

I have gathered most of the garden ornaments and need to put them in storage for next year. We leave up one bell by the front door. It has such a pleasant tone. To be honest most of the ornaments are purchased from garage sales so I do not have much money in them but we enjoy them.

I am currently reading Edwin Way Teale's book North With Spring. It details his trip from Florida to the northeast US from March through June. He tells about the animals, birds, plants as they awake in spring. I have finished his book about spring in Britain and really enjoyed that so was happy to find this one.