Frost

Twenty-six degrees at the farm this morning.  White frost on the woodshed roof, on the cabin roof, on the bench outside the door, on the green lawn.  Peak fall color is past.  The maples in the woodlot, beautiful reds and yellows last week, are now bare branches, their colorful leaves on the ground, mixing with the oak leaves and aspen leaves, creating a collage of color, and a rich stew of smells that only autumn can create.

            As I travel the trail through my woodlot, I hear a hint of the winter wind moving through the bare branches of the trees, creating a sound that takes me back to the home farm and the wind on October nights reminding me of ghosts and goblins and the fright of Halloween, as well as the fun of it as there were no trick or treats—only tricks.

            The maple tree in front of the cabin, the one my children gave me for my 60^th birthday is a special a tree of course, and it is bright red this morning, as if it was waiting for me to see it (I have been in the far north doing book talks this past week).

            Rain is predicted for this afternoon and evening, so most of my birthday tree’s brilliant red leaves will drop as well—but so good of it to wait for me to see it in all of its fall beauty before it once more begins looking like the rest of my woodlot.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Take time to “read” a block of wood before you swing the splitting maul.  Take time to “read” a person before you open your mouth.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

October 22, 3:00 p.m. Brillion Library. Rural Wit and Wisdom

October 23, 2:45-3:30, Wisconsin Library Association, Green Bay. Letters from Hillside Farm

October 26, 10:00-2:00 Grafton Book Festival, Liberty Memorial Library, Grafton. Limping Through Life.

November 2, 9:00-4:00 The Clearing, Door County. Writing From Your Life Workshop

November 2, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Book signing.  The Clearing, Door County.

November 6, 3:30 UW PLATO group, Oakwood West, Madison.  Quiet Season.

November 7, 7:00 p.m. Baraboo Public Library. Ringlingville U.S.A.

November 9, 9:30, Sheboygan County Research Center, Plymouth, Limping Through Life.

November 10: 3:30 p.m. Books and Company bookstore, Oconomowoc, The Quiet Season.

FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING “A FARM STORY WITH JERRY APPS” DVD

DVD Jerry Apps: A Farm Story List $16.95 The Patterson’s price only $15.00 ($20.00 shipped)
Special Bundle Offer exclusively by the Patterson:
Tamarack River Ghost & Jerry Apps: A Farm Story – List $43.90
The Patterson’s Price Only $35.00 ($43.00 shipped)

Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division St. PO Box 305
Wild Rose, WI 54984

(All items are sold by the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library. They will accept checks or cash, they’re sorry but they don’t have any way to accept credit or debit cards, checks should be made out to the Friends of Patterson Memorial Library.