the last few nice days

Two days ago - Monday - was probably the last nice (read: warm) day we'll have here

until next April. I decided to take advantage of it and go for a hike in a beautiful bog area

that's just an eight-minute drive from my house. If you've never walked on a boardwalk through

a bog, it's quite interesting. The path is a little shaky and wobbly since it's resting on top of 

water, so it's a little scary at first, but you get used to it. I had practically the whole place to

myself and I felt like I was transported into another world, walking through the tall grasses

and woods. I brought my new camera (the DSLR that Tim gave me) and decided to give

it a try using the automatic setting, not the manual. I previously tried the manual setting like

Tim suggested and let me tell you - my pictures were awful. I also have no idea what all those

buttons and dials and settings are for and how to use them, so I have a lot of learning to do.

And I do want to learn, because I love photography. I guess winter will be a good time to

use on-line tutorials and look at some books that I have.

At the end of my hike in a more open area, I came upon some gorgeous oak and maple

trees that still had their leaves. Most of the trees in my area - including the beautiful red

maple across the street at my neighbors house that I've showed you pictures of - have lost

all of their leaves already. 

I laid down on the grass under a big oak and daydreamed and let any stress

and worries just melt away. I almost fell asleep! How long has it been since you

laid under a tree? I highly recommend this free therapy.

This is what I don't recommend: moving furniture.

 

That was Sunday. I had the brilliant idea of trying to rearrange my living room.

I cleaned behind all the furniture while I was at it. The worst part was that once

I rearranged things, I didn't like how it looked, so everything needed to be moved

back to its original places. Good thing Brian was home from work by then because

I was worn out and my back was very sore. 

The daytime temperatures here are now in the 40's and 50's, but it goes down into

the low 30's at night. The extended forecast shows temps going down to 28 on Friday

night (poor kids and parents who will be trick-or-treating!) so yesterday we put my

rose bush to bed for the winter.

This photo was taken just five days ago. Yesterday, there were no blooms left at all.

Brian took dirt from our compost bin and mounded it under the bush. Next step will be

to cover it with leaves and put a wire or styrofoam cover over it. We still have a couple

of big planters with some flowers in them that are still somehow hanging on, but we

really need to dump them before we get a big freeze. I somehow feel like a plant murderer

when we have to do that. 

Happy Wednesday, everyone.