Fall 2026

Our late summer and early autumn have provided beautiful weather. After our return from Hornby Island I took one more kayak day trip and then both kayaks entered hibernation. Currently the lake's water level has been drawn down to 2055 feet, not quite to its winter level.

Our Rowan tree is typically the last to shed its leaves, but holds on to its "Vogelbeeren" until the waxwings and/or robins arrive in spring. The raw berries contain parasorbic acid, inedible. But winter's freeze converts that into sorbic acid, which is benign; yet the berries still taste bitter, not good on their own. The Austrians are clever enough to turn those berries into schnaps, harvested after the freeze.

I just planted some acorns in our yard. They fell from a group of splendid red oaks growing in front of the renovated former school building at the junction of Euclid Ave. and Pine Street.  Unlike the white oak family, these germinate after stratification over the winter. I've covered them with chicken wire and leaves. Will any survive until next summer? Will I?

Over the winter, I hope to do some classic Nordic skiing at Schweitzer. Eli may join me if we drive to the Hanna Flats trail system, just north of the Priest Lake village. At this point, we have no plans for an extended Nordic ski trip, but that is a possibility.

Eli does have a trip planned to NM, December 26 through January 9. As usual, she will stay at Nik's and visit his family. Talbot and Barrett are growing up, but still have some time for Farmor.