Fall Weather

[Janet]

Anyone else able to enjoy the fall like weather? It has been in the high 70's, but today it's suppose to be 85 degrees. Still not bad and then a cool down for the weekend. I just love this kind of weather and the beauty is amazing. Fall has always been my favorite with that crispness at night and first thing in the morning. Hearing the dried corn leaves rustling against each other just makes me smile. Right now I'm sitting in the living room with my front door open watching the breeze blowing the corn and leaves on the branches. Won't be long and there won't be any leaves to watch. :)

[DianaB]

We finally turned the AC off. The mornings have been really nice but it still gets a little warm in the afternoons. It's so nice to have the windows open and have the fresh air coming in. I enjoy fall too.....it's just a really busy time for us......with all of the hayrack rides that go on and harvest. Everything here is still so dry that the leaves are falling early......I'm afraid that it won't be a pretty fall.

[Janet]

I turned our AC off too. So nice with the breeze blowing through the windows. We don't do much of anything, but I'm hoping to get to more fall festivals.

[2tiredmom]

we haven't had the air on for a couple of weeks. I had the windows open this evening but had to close them really fast. Have a shunk in the neighborhood. That's what I get for living so close to a woods... :(

[Janet]

You sure don't have to live close to the woods for skunks. We had a family living in the culvert just off our property. They sure can ruin a nice evening can't they...lolol

It's raining today...such a fall rain. Yesterday so many of the farmers were in the fields...love it!

[DianaB]

Well.....I turned the AC back on just to turn it back off yesterday!! We have had a cold front come through and it's chilly!!! We got some rain last night.....the slow drizzly kind!! Glen's happy!! We're just hoping that it's not too late to help the soybeans.

Seems like I'm never happy......either hot or cold!!!

[Janet]

We are suppose to get near 80 degrees today, but with some drizzle. Must be what you all had Diana, then a cold front is moving in and our high for the next few days will only be in the low 60's. I really don't mind though. Tired of being so hot all the time, so this is really nice. Just something about fall....the temps, colors, sounds, smells...most everything about it makes be feel so at ease.

[gja1000]

We were back up to 84 degrees today. But it was a little cloudy so it felt much cooler than usual. We will have a few really hot days between now and November (when it will consistently be cool), so days like yesterday in the 60's feel soooooo good.

[DianaB]

We got down in the 40's on Monday night because another front came through. I brought some of my house plants in for the night because I don't want to lose them. The weather has been just beautiful!!

[Janet]

Woke up to 44 degrees this morning....brrr, but it felt good. First time I've had jeans on all summer. I did wear a pair of dress pants to church one Sunday, but other than that....I've wore shorts or capris. Felt kind of nice. I do feel bad though because I shaved Joey and Brenna really really short and now it turns cold. Joey has been wearing shirts during the day and pj's at night. My poor little guy gets cold. Brenna does just fine...shes a little huskier than Joey and the cold doesn't seem to bother her as much.

[DianaB]

There's warmer weather coming, Janet. It's been pretty warm here.

[Janet]

I hope not...I'm enjoying this cooler weather.

[gja1000]

I ate breakfast on my back porch this morning. It was so nice and cool. Gary and I had his grandparents' metal porch furniture, a chair, rocker, and glider. We had them stripped and powder coat painted. I took the furniture to Gary's sister's lake house this summer, so I didn't have any outdoor furniture. I found some on sale so YAY! I finally have outdoor furniture. I'm loving this weather, although it gets up to about 90 in the late afternoon.

[Janet]

Gayle that was so nice of you to give your SIL the table and chairs. It would be so nice to have a nice breakfast on the porch...I envy you. It's the little things that I really enjoy such as that.

It rained pretty good yesterday and a few of the nearby cities lost power. Still damp this morning and very cool, in the 40's but I love it. Farmers have been harvesting the corn so within another week the field across the road should be empty. I love looking out across the fields and watching the deer go from one woods to another.

This weekend the highs are to be only in the 60's so it will be perfect for tomorrow with my friend Diane and I will be heading out to the Atlanta Earth Festival. They have over 600 booths of everything you can think of and a lot of crafts. It will be cool enough that I will really enjoy being out and getting good exercise walking around.

[gja1000]

The Earth Festival sounds like so much fun. There's a huge antique show that goes for 10 days about 60 miles away. I doubt I'll make it this year, but maybe!

I at breakfast again this morning. You are right Janet, it's the little things I appreciate.

[gja1000]

Lol! I just saw what I wrote in the post above this one. What I meant to say is that I ate breakfast out on the porch.

It is in the 90's during the day and I'm ready for it to cool off a little more. We are supposed to cool down a little this weekend and maybe get some rain.

[Blueyes]

I'm in Seattle for a couple more days, and the weather here has been lovely! It's really Fall weather. The sun is shining and the days are cool. It hasn't even been raining, which is so unusual for here. I dread going back to the heat:rolleyes:

[Janet]

The rain is here Betsi...lol. It's rained a bit everyday the last few days. It's so wet and dreary today, but I love it. I love fall rains.

[judy]

The Earth Festival sounds wonderful, Janet!

I also took my plants inside Diana! It got down into the high 30's last week at night. I re-potted some that I think might be okay in the house during the winter. Now, it's going to be in the 40's at night for the next week or so, but I think I'll keep them inside anyway. I don't want to lose them.

I have some miniature roses I would love to keep, but I think it will be a lot of work, and I hear they usually don't make it anyway. I have a couple of fuchsia plants that I will keep dormant. I hope those re-bloom come spring. They are still flowering, so they can stay out this week.

I already ordered some new patio furniture covers, and will take the others out soon. Got to get everything done before it snows. You just never know up here when that will be!

It is, however, so incredibly beautiful up here in the mountains. I think the trees will change a lot more this coming week, and it will be heavenly!

[gja1000]

It was 72 on my back porch last evening. So nice!!!

[Janet]

I noticed this morning how much the leaves have changed since Friday. Really is beautiful. Temp was 46 degrees this morning...little chilly, but going to be even chillier this coming weekend. I love the fall.

[DianaB]

Betsi, I hope you had a good time at your son's house in Seattle!!

It's been cool here too. It won't be too much longer before we turn the heat on. Usually the beginning of October sometime. The cold hasn't been bothering me as much as it has in the past so maybe it will be awhile before I chill out!! Hormones!!!

Judy, I've been bringing some plants in too. I have most of what I want to keep either already in the house or on the porch where I can easily bring them in. It's hard to believe that it's that time of year already!!

[judy]

The stores have Christmas stuff out already! I just washed all of my bathing suits, and still have my beach towels in the car to take inside.

I need some time to catch my breath and flow from summer to fall before thinking about Christmas!

This is why I do not like Christmas! It has become a way to make money, and I resent being pushed into thinking about winter before I can enjoy the fall. What happened to the religious aspect? When Mackenzie was a little girl, she talked about the Baby Jesus, and I bought her a beautiful china nativity scene that played music. That's what Christmas should be about!

Gets me so mad!

[gja1000]

I agree Judy, I used to hate seeing Christmas stuff out before Thanksgiving. That's a given now. It's out before Halloween. Now we are lucky if they wait till after the fourth of July.

[DianaB]

All of the holidays are pushed too early. Valentine's Day cames out right after Christmas. It makes me mad too. It has all become about money.

[Janet]

I agree with all of you. It's way too early. I went into Wal Mart on Monday and they have the Christmas department all set up with decorated trees and lights. Just makes me so angry. I don't enjoy hardly any of the holidays anymore....they should just go ahead and lump them altogether and just have one. The way it's going that will be exactly what happens.

I am going to try and decorate for Christmas better this year. Last year was just too hard....we'll see.

Yesterday and today it has been lots of drizzle and cool with a slight breeze...fall weather. Can't do anything outside with it so wet. I had it in my head that I should go for a walk, but not in this weather. I'm sure we'll have some more days with sunshine before the snow flies.

[Lindsey]

I am the odd one out here - I love Christmas, and the earlier the season starts, the better lol!!! I love everything about it. I just love feeling festive and everyone seems to be happier and it's just the best time of year for me :) I am not going to lie, I am already planning for how we will decorate this year, and getting excited to listen to my favorite Christmas carols again! As soon as Halloween is over - it's full-out Christmas season for me! (my dad jokes that they should have named me Eve or Holly lol)

It has been freezing here every day. It is currently about -15 with windchill (5 degrees F). We had some snow at my mom's house on the weekend, but it was wet and didn't stay. We had snow all morning yesterday too but it melted as it hit the ground. It is supposed to warm up again this weekend, which will be good because I still need to take my parsnips and carrots out of the garden :D

My tomatoes are in planters, which is great because they are growing inside now. I just planted them too late this year! One is just starting to turn red, and over the weekend I got 4 more little tomatoes just starting! A new friend brought over a bag full of her own garden tomatos last week (in exchange for a bag of my green onions!) This freeze came out of nowhere so we had to get all of the sensitive stuff out fast, and we both had way too much to know what to do with!

[gja1000]

Lindsey, you are the winter girl, for sure!!! I just wish it would cool off here. It was cool this past weekend, but it has warmed up again. We really don't cool off consistently until November. I'm ready!!!

[Janet]

You're so use to so much snow Lindsey, but I know I would go crazy!..lol I would love a winter without snow, but it's not good for the crops or the land. The winter winds blow the topsoil away unless there is some kind of cover and they need the moisture from the snow.

It has cooled off alot here. In the 30's at night and early morning. Today it will get up to near 60 with lots of sunshine so it will be a beautiful fall day, but then this weekend is calling for rain and storms.

As long as we don't have snow....I'll be fine.

[gja1000]

We are back up in the high 80's, it's better than the 90's but I'm ready for some 70's! :D

[judy]

Texas is so hot! 80's are okay, but 90's is too much! I hope you get a cool spell soon.

Our fall foliage reached its peak about a week ago. I didn't have my camera, so I began taking it withme, but it rained a lot. Then the bridge was closed so I couldn't get on the mountain roads where I wanted to take pix the one sunny day. Too bad! There was one day when I was really dazzled by the beauty. It was as if the hills were on fire with color! I am so lucky to be able to see this every year.

Once it rains for several days the leaves fall off the trees, and now it is getting cold at night. It has hit almost freezing a couple of nights. Today is beautiful - in the 40's and sunny. I am going to meet Jessie and the kids at the school for an Octoberfest.

I still have those pool towels in the back of my car! I think it is time to bring them in!

I have a house full of plants, and I have to be sure the windows are shut tight at night so they make it through the winter! My cousin takes her fuscia in and it grows all winter on her porch. Maybe mine will too.

Linds, you are the perfect person to live in Canada, loving the snow the way you do! I bet your house will be beautiful for Christmas.

Janet, I think you should make it really festive for Christmas this year.

[DianaB]

I bet the trees have been beautiful, Judy. I would have loved to have seen some pictures. We just have a tree here and there that turns red.....not whole mountains!! It's pretty in it's own way but I'm sure not as pretty as what you get to see!!

We're raining today. We need it to fill the pond.....it's been about 5 feet low since summer. The pond by the house has a good area that drains in it and it fills easily when we get a good rain so hopefully this will help some. This afternoon the weather is suppose to be really bad. They're talking tornadoes........? All it takes is warm air and cold air so maybe.......? I guess we'll see.

[Lindsey]

Judy, I think I like the snow just because I grew up with it :) I just have so many memories of having so much fun in the winter growing up, building snow forts and sledding down the big hill in my front yard with my brother! Scott loves to snowboard and I'd say I'm still a beginner even though I've been trying for about 10 years lol. I do have my own snowboard, boots, and bindings, but it is just not so much fun for me because I normally leave with sore and twisted ankles and knees, sore wrists, and bruises on my butt! I am also terrified of the chair lifts lol.

Today is supposed to be a bit warmer so we are trying to tidy up the yard for winter. I am going to take out the rest of the garden, and Scott is currently putting away our deck furniture and our solar post cap lights and the rattan ball lights in the tree! Might as well get it all done before it's too cold.

[judy]

Diana, It's either droughts or floods! I hope those tornados don't come!

Linds, do you keep your plants growing in the winter? (inside, not in the snow!)

[Lindsey]

Nope! We just put out a few flower pots during the summer, but they all die by fall anyway because I'm not great at flowers lol. I am keeping my tomatoes inside by the back door right now and they seem to still be growing, so I'll keep them until I get all the tomatoes, and then I'll put those planters out in the shed too. I enjoy not having to worry about plants all winter lol :D Scott put a vase with bamboo on my desk at work on my birthday in June this year, and I am amazed that they are still alive lol! I am just awful at keeping things alive indoors. Bamboo is pretty easy, and I've killed them before too :(

[Lindsey]

Here is the last of my garden, fresh out of the soil! :D

I am not sure what to do with the parsnip. I've only ever used it in soup, but we just had homemade soup and still have some frozen in the freezer! Any ideas of what else I can use it in?

[gja1000]

I've never eaten parsnips so I don't have a clue what to do with them. It's funny that you say you are terrified of the ski lifts. When I went to Colorado this summer with two friends, I couldn't wait to go to the top of the mountain on the lifts. My friends went half way up with me then chickened out on going to the top. I've never known anyone but you and them who were afraid to go up the lifts.

[Lindsey]

Gayle, when I was little, there was a show on TV called Rescue 911. I watched it all the time with my parents. There was one story about a guy who was on a ski lift, and he somehow fell and was left dangling from it. Scott, and most people I know, don't put down the bar that holds you in (and I admit, it is really uncomfortable with a snowboard attached to one foot). But I always make him put it down because I am just terrified that I am going to fall. I'm on a little seat 30 feet above ground and one wrong move and I'd fall off lol. I'm just always thinking of things going wrong like that!

On the other hand, I love gondola lifts to the tops of mountains :D It feels different when I am enclosed!

[gja1000]

LOL! Lindsey that is funny. I think you were traumatized by that show. I never feel like I'm going to fall off and in Colorado you can go over some extraordinarily deep canyons.

On a weather note, we got some rain over the weekend, so it is a little cooler in the mronings and evenings, but still in the upper 80's during the day. We are supposed to have another cool front on Thursday, I think, and maybe stay in the low 80's for a few days. We should cool off into the 70's in another couple of weeks.

Judy, wish I could see the trees change color. I've only seen it once. We traveled to Boston in early October and then rented a car and drove up to New Hampshire. I have never seen such beautiful trees. It was simply amazing. I wish I could see that every fall. Someday I'm going to take a trip to the northeast in the fall, just to see the foliage. Last year we were in Colorado when the aspens changed to a brilliant gold. It was amazing. But the color palate of the north east is just so gorgeous!

[Janet]

Well, I think the fall weather is mostly over. All the leaves are gone from the trees here and it looks so bare. We've had some rain so everything looks dirty and muddy. It's been cold, but due to be in the 60's this weekend..hopefully it will be. I know colder weather will come and it usually brings some snow.

As much as I hate snow, I wish I could be out east helping in some way.

[DianaB]

Lindsey, do you only snowboard? or do you ski too? I would think that the skis would help you move easier than the snowboard. There's nothing wrong with wanting the bar down when you're riding on the lift. It can be a long way down in some places. I used to love to ski......years ago but I'm not in shape anymore and too heavy to ski easily. My knees just couldn't do it now.

There's some snow out west.....I thought that maybe we'd get some but I think it's too far north and we're just getting rain. I hope we get more than last year.

Janet, our trees still have some leaves but they're coming down quickly! They do have a little color but I'm sure it's nothing ike what Judy has. I would so love to go to the northeast in the fall!!

[highlans]

Here is the last of my garden, fresh out of the soil! :D

I am not sure what to do with the parsnip. I've only ever used it in soup, but we just had homemade soup and still have some frozen in the freezer! Any ideas of what else I can use it in?

I roast them, boil in salted water for a few minutes drain cover in oil and put in hot oven until golden.

[Lindsey]

I roast them, boil in salted water for a few minutes drain cover in oil and put in hot oven until golden.

Thank you! That sounds delicious! I still have tons in my fridge, so I'm going to try this!

Diana, I used to ski when I was little and I hated it! The skis always got crossed and I'd twist my knees and fall lol. I haven't tried again since I was about 10 years old.

We got a winter storm last night and it is still coming down. I'd say we have over a foot of snow so far. I shoveled the deck off when we got home last night because I couldn't open the door and the dogs had to go pee! By the time I got a path across the deck, down the steps, and down the sidewalk, I came back to the door and there was already about half an inch of snow where I had shoveled 10 minutes before! This morning there's no use even trying to open the door - we had to take the dogs through the garage and out that door.

[DianaB]

I bet it was so pretty!! I love seeing the snow!!!

[Janet]

It snowed like the dickens on Monday. There was a little left on the ground but by afternoon it was gone. Okay...we've had snow. Now it's time for the 70's again...lol

The cold has set in and it's been in the 20 and 30's of a morning so I have to make sure I plug the bus in. I don't mind the cold as long as the wind isn't blowing. Got a little tired of the heat of summer, but don't want the frigid cold of winter either. Now where can I move to have mild weather? :)

[DianaB]

I hear that New Zealand has temperatures that don't vary a lot.....however I saw on TV last night that they have a huge fault that could cause a huge earthquake one of these days......Hmmmm.........nice weather or earthquake?

It's cold here too. I've been cold even in the house. UGH! And.......I refuse to turn the heat up......just add a sweather. I'm ready for snow!!!

[Janet]

I won't turn the heat up either, it's on, but I don't want it too high. It's suppose to be 53 today, sun is shining, really pretty out. Wish it could stay like this through winter.

It doesn't really matter where one lives huh? Always something...tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, really cold, really hot.

[gja1000]

It's about 65 here, supposed to be 70 today. I'm loving the cool weather, but not the drought. We haven't had any rain in over a month so I'm having to water the yard today. :( it's 68 inside my house right now so me and the dogs are snuggled up under a blanket on the couch. I'm getting ready to watch some football.

.

[DianaB]

At 68 I'm cold. I have to have the heat a little higher than that or my nose is cold!! My Dad used to keep our house between 75 and 80* when I was a kid. He never worried about what it cost to heat the house. I don't like it that warm but 73-74 is where I'm comfortable.

[judy]

I'm with you, Diana. I grew up in an apartment building and they kept it nice and warm. I keep my house at about 72, but I turn it down to 52 at night. My room is upstairs and gets nice and warm from all day.

Janet, you and I have pretty much the same weather.

I cannot believe we are at the end of November, and have had almost no snow, lots of sunny days, and temps in the 40's! We have been very lucky! There's only another 4 - 5 months to get through!

It usually starts to snow in October up here.

No complaints from me! The ski places are suffering though, and it's not normal for the wildlife, so In know it's probably not such a good thing. It is global warming, and that is bad!

[gja1000]

We are hot then cool then hot then cool........ And most of all, WE NEED RAIN! It is very very dry. I sure hope this winter is not dry all season long!

[judy]

Another drought? I hope not, Gayle!

[gja1000]

It's sure feeling like we might be heading into another drought. Actually, I'm not surprised. With climate change upon us, we are projected to become more desert-like. I think that's why I've been in this house for 2 years and haven't yet done any landscape work. I want to prepare for less rain than we are used to so it makes me so hesitant. I'm going to hire a landscape designer to give me some advice because I don't want to make a mistake with my choices. There's a lady who does an organic gardening show on a Sunday radio program who does landscape consultations. I know she only advocates drought resistant plants and I trust her. It's just a matter of doing it now. We also get a rebate from the city for planting drought resistant plants. So, I need to get it done. I'm sure the neighbors think we are such slugs. We took out some bushes in front of the house two years ago and have not replaced them. Oh well, it will be pretty when I finally get it done!

[DianaB]

I read something the other day that says most of the U. S. in in drought. I know that we're low on moisture. We've been getting a little here and there but the ponds are either dried up or very low. Our pond here by the house is at least 5 feet low......it will be hard to get it dried up because it's almost 20 feet deep at it's deepest.

Glen's been harvesting our beans and finally got done. The amount that we usually harvest is way down and my son had a field that they did cut but it wasn't hardly worth doing. However in 1980 we had a much worse drought but it was only for one year.

I hope we get lots of snow!! You know that I love it and it will bring moisture to the fields!!

Planting drought resistant plants sounds like a really smart thing to do!! They look nice and yet save on water!!

[Janet]

We have a light dusting of snow on the ground...yuk! The sun is shining so I thought it would be gone by now, but it's still in the low 30's. This weekend we are suppose to get to the high 50's and on Monday....62!!! It just can't make up it's mind if it's going to be cold or warmer.

I do have to admit that while driving the bus early this morning, it was pretty, especially seeing the beautiful deer out on the snow.

[DianaB]

I'm jealous.......I would love to have snow!!

Right now we're pretty chilly too. We've had a few nice days. I went out on one of those days and washed windows on the outside. I can get the inside later when it's not so nice outside. There's a few windows that I can't reach so I just left them. We have one corner of the house where the basement shows and my bedroom is over it so it's actually two stories tall there so they don't get washed as often!!

I have found that using vinegar and newspapers will leave your windows sparkling......in case anyone's interested.

[Janet]

Yes...it's works wonders on windows. I'm fortunate that I can wash all of mine from the inside except for the big picture window in the living room.

[judy]

It's pretty chilly here - around 20 degrees, but it will be in the 40's this weekend! It's going to rain, but warm is nice!

I have to get my bird feeder hooks and screw them onto the outside of the deck. They are on the inside, and there is seed all over the deck. The dogs like it, but it is so messy looking. I also don't want bird droppings around. I'm afraid they might carry disease and the dogs will definitely eat it. I saw a cardinal on the deck this week! So beautiful!

[DianaB]

20*!!!!!! Bbbbbbrrrrrrrrr...............Definitely coat weather!!! I don't know what we're getting down to but we have frost in the mornings!! I don't have my coat out yet but I've been thinking about it!!

A cardinal!!! They are so pretty in the winter with their bright red color!! We have several that come to our feeders too. I keep binoculars and a bird book close by so I can see the different birds. Glen keeps the feeders full so we have lots of birds that come. Of course the squirrels hanging on the feeders is what we see the most!! And we have PLENTY of squirrels!!!

[2tiredmom]

It's 58 degrees here this morning as I get up. Love the warm but sure we will pay for it later. Hope we get some rain here too. We are still having a drought here too.

[DianaB]

It has been so nice here that I can hardly believe that it's December!! I got so warm yesterday that I even got a pair of shorts out and had the windows open!! The weather is so crazy!!

[gja1000]

We had a very mild cold front come through today. We had a little spit of rain, but only a tiny bit and it cooled off to the low 70's. It's supposed to be cooler at night and in the mornings and only in the 70's during the day. Yay! I don't like December 80's.