

It’s fall on the Patch, and the weather goes between stormy and sunny, cooling off day by day.
I plastered Abby’s truck with mud at the family reunion two weeks ago, on the improvised road between Aunt Judy’s and her son Donald’s place. I personally think four-wheel-drive trucks are happiest covered in mud, but Abby wanted it clean again, so I fired up the power washer Tuesday and got both our cars clean.

The last few evenings have included amazing skies I photographed while walking Hawken the Irish Wolfhound.
Tonight while walking Hawken, I came across the Nipps, Mike and Joyce, the next door neighbors who bought Abby’s first mother-in-law Dorothy’s house, and their granddaughters Hope and Harmoni. I confuse their names because the next next-door-neighbors dogs’ are named are Hope and Harley. The girls were super-excited to play with Hawken, who is getting more comfortable with people.


As darkness arrived, the Nipps built a fire and girls roasted sticks. It was a nice time.
Finally, the LL Bean hiking shoes I’ve had since 2005, which I’ve been holding together with glue all summer, were finally completely used up, and I sadly threw them away.

I’m truly sorry to hear about your shoes.
Sounds very “fall” and relaxing. The shoes added a melancholy note. Couldn’t you have saved a sole?!