Monday, October 29, 2007

Allright, so fall is here.

It was 37 degrees last night and Pat and I are starting to think that we might need to turn on the furnace sooner then we wanted. I know we got loads of wood, but this ain't camp. Besides, the boys are dragging old blankets out to stay warm. So fall is here. If it wasn't the temperature, a sure fired clue are the neighbors who wake you up at the way too early, on Saturday and Sunday mornings to blow leaves. Nothing like the sound of industrial vacuum cleaners to brighten your morning. I don't get the leaf blowing. It seems to be a guy thing that I'm not part of. See, after you blow the leaves into piles which you carry out to the street, you get to mow the grass. I just mulch the leaves when I mow the lawn. Another sign of fall is the sun, or lack thereof. We are entering that time of the year when the weather pattern is overcast and wet followed by cold and rainy. You mow whenever the sun is out, because you may not see it again for a week or so. There are a few flowers still hanging on and some still blooming. It's only a matter of time till the first killing frost. Till there is snow on the patio furnature, Pat and I are going to hang out and enjoy the garden.


















Sunday, October 14, 2007

Can't stop fall

Even though the leaves are falling, there are plants that are still going strong. The turtle head, day liles, and impatiens still think its summer. The mix of color from the flowers, fall leaves and greens is wonderful. Pat planted mums today. We will cover them with leaves, after the first frost, in the hope that they winter over. The potato vines, hostas and turf grass shout out to you. It's as if they know that a killing frost is in the wind. They want their last burst of color. We took all the solar lights out of the back yard because they just don't get enough light anymore. When we see Orion out the front door at night , you know winters coming.

We are the odd house in the neighborhood every fall. What is with raking leaves? I mean you can't set fire to the piles anymore, what with kids getting hit by cars and all. The neighbors spend hours raking leaves so the city can pick them up. Maybe it's the same mindset that insists on washing your car in the driveway every couple of days. I don't know. Well, none the less, we mow our leaves. No sense paying for sweet peat if we don't mulch the leaves. The only raking we'll do is to direct the leaves where we want them.





















Monday, October 8, 2007

Way to go Sean!!!

On what started out, at least for his Ohio based fan club, as a hot, humid and very peaceful Sunday morning, Sean Flinn ran the fasted marathon ever witnessed by any Groble or hanger on. You can check with Katie Groble if you don't believe me. She has every Groble's phone number. He ran faster than 10 or 20 thousand other entrants and was seen by a gazillion or so race fans. Check the pictures if you don't believe me. Oh, and since it is Chicago, where politics is always close to eveyone's heart, we included a reelection poster for the mayor and the local alderman, who as far as we know, has never been indicted for anything.

Congratulations Sean
The above link gets you to the race results.
For all the race skinny, check the Trib












Where did the time go?

Well, it seems that only yesterday Pat and I got back from California to beautiful green Cleveland. Bet no one ever thought they would see green and Cleveland in the same sentence. Neither did I, but look at the pictures and see for yourself.

This is the last of the summer pictures. Even though it's 90 out with 80 percent humidity, fall is here. The back yard plants are showing signs that summer is over. Flowers are going to seed and the hosta is turning brown. It's the perfect time for a load or two of sweet peat. While we're at it, we might as well rearrange a section or two of the yard.

The pile of wood Pat and I split and stacked have uses we did not anticipate. The chipmunks think that we built a highrise. Fred thinks it's a puzzle with a chewy suprise to give to mom. Boy, won't that be fun to see.