November is HERE! That means holidays, and Christmas is not too far off!
I cannot believe the stores are already putting out holiday décor and Christmas trees! Let the countdown begin!
I am not ready for this year to end….it seems to have flown by.
The hay has been cut, baled and put away, the garden needs a total makeover, the trees and hydrangeas need some pruning.
The hummingbirds did their last fly by around the 2nd week of October. I swear, every year, they buzz me to let me know it’s time for them to go, and to say thanks for putting out the feeders all season.
The blue jays are here with their raucous conversations; the squirrels are hoarding whatever they can find for the upcoming winter. The deer have changed their coats to a more camouflaged winter attire, and the bucks are coming by under cover of darkness, knowing that hunting season is upon them.
The leaves on the trees are doing their last showing – some changing colors, and others twirling in the breezes in a final dance. They cover the ground in a profusion of reds, browns, ochre, and bright orange, crunching underfoot, and giving the woolie caterpillars and other insects a place to hide through the winter.
The woolie caterpillars are everywhere! According to folklore, the width of their brown and black furry bands is an indicator of the kind of winter ahead. I think they may be unsure, because I have seen all color combos! My grandson collected a few in his bug tent but then decided keeping them fed all winter was more than he wanted to do! When he brought them outside to release, they all came out of their semi hibernation, and started crawling around, as soon as the fresh air hit the tent! They always seem to be in a hurry, and when they are not zooming along, can be found curled up for a nap, until hunger wakens them. In the spring, they will emerge from their cocoons as Isabella Tiger moths.
Another caterpillar the bug boy did keep was a tomato hornworm. Remember the book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle? Well, it could have been written about the tomato hornworm! This caterpillar was ravenous, growing by leaps and bounds in seemingly a very short time. They burrow underground, and winter over, emerging as a large brown and gray hawk moth. It burrowed in the soil filled tank, he put the tank outside, and we are hoping for the best in the spring.
I hope everyone enjoys their November- along with upcoming craft shows and other Fall festivities. Election Day is on November 4, Veteran’s Day is on November 11, and Thanksgiving on November 27. November is also National Novel Writing Month – I guess I need to buckle down and get busy finishing that!!!
All is well, here at Mountain Meadows, and thank you for reading our little paper.
