Boy, this is a change...writing to you Journal BEFORE I even get to the garden! I got up before the sun this morning and have watched the sun come up and the moisture on the window dry off a bit. From the kitchen window though, I can see I have some battening down of the hatches to do before the snow comes tonite! My board and nailing of the tarp on the greenhouse will not hold, so I will gather roping to tie down the corners and sides.

We may even enclose the summer porch this weekend, it will be lovely when we get finished, but we have lots of physical strength around for a couple of days so we may do it. Robert says it will get warmer again at the end of the week, but next week we are busy, busy. Remember, this writing is BEFORE getting to the day!

We picked up our first Christmas Layaway yesterday......what ever happened to the last minute pickups of days-gone-by? When you ran to the store on Christmas Eve so the kids wouldn't have a chance to find their gifts hidden in the attic or basement or corner closet! Oh well, now you have to have them out "two weeks" ahead...and no more layaways can be started until "after" the holidays. Thank heavens there are still some stores that allow the "last minute" shopping that tintilates the spirit and makes those special feelings of giving such a wonder.

I got a wonderful email from a dear friend in response to my notes about the skunks and the spongy turf. BH passed on this insight she has received, "I've heard that skunks are digging for grubs in lawns -- this from a
neighbor who spent countless hours finding and killing Japanese beetles,
which is what grubs eventually evolve to. If nothing else, any sheep that
wander into your pastures will also feel safe!"

Boy, do I feel better! I thought I was just being paranoid about the skunks! Su.Sane reminded us in her "A Window of One's Own" about the burrowing in to reach the rich soil of our own depths! Cool, eh?

We got our fresh Christmas tree on Thursday and she has been drinking in water since then. She will go up today in the library. She is petite and very green and will make the perfect tree scents that are so endearing to the balsam. We got a wreath for the dutch door and will put some garland with it to complete the front decor.

This feels like a wonderous day...let's get to it.

Sandra

Hello Journal! Remember me?? I really haven't forgotten you :). I have tread lightly on this computer since my last entry, protecting all its internal mechanisms from a "virus"....but I feel safe and daring now, so here goes.

It has been so warm here, in the 50's most afternoons so that the plant world is blooming here and there when it really wants to go to sleep. They said on the news yesterday that it had been 122 years since Buffalo, NY had not had snow in November. So that got us to thinking.....maybe this is not so unusual for Mother Nature to shower us with sun and warmth for a little longer into the year, maybe it was her decision, not the taunts of global warming, eh?

So I have taken full advantage of this fine time and gotten last minute clean up, prune ups, and pick ups done. I moved the birdfeeder again, just to see if that rascally squirrel can still get up there, and if he can't - I left him his own feeder full of blackoiled sunflower seeds to eat to his hearts content.

The rosemarys and lemon verbenas and lemon grasses and mints are doing great in the South windows. Last week I sprayed them with a mixture of whole milk and water to ward off any flies, etc. So far it has worked. I will continue that as needed during the hibernation time to keep them safe. It stays cold enough in this room to keep any new growth from happening.

I'm getting mothballs this week to scatter around to scoot the skunks away. On the Sunday Garden Show, everyother call was about the "spongy" turf from those little kritters. They eat the turf at night, so he suggested leaving a spotlite directed at the area they are nibbling and that that should deter them. I haven't noticed that as much as her presence in the evenings :( So I will try the old mothball trick and we will all hold our noses too and see if she finds new lodgings for the winter.


We began our holiday decorating this weekend and have only the fresh tree to put up. We will venture out tomorrow to find the most perfect one for the library. The "Raven's Story" is our focus this season as she brings light into the world. The story tree in the livingroom floats on the Sea of Clarity in the coracle boat carrying Susanna and Bouton and Evening Star and all their friends to their dream. The magic is present and we will read the story aloud throughout the holiday!

Christmas-By-The-Sea was different this year with the drizzling rain and then hard rain by tree lighting time. But we thoroughly enjoyed our evening in the village with our friends and all the residents you see gathered together. That was very special. This rain has been a blessing that we will be more thankful for come spring!

The sunshine calls to me dear journal.......

Sandra