In this crazy, mxed-up year, weatherwise, we can’t count on the weather in any given month to follow it’s normal pattern. September, which is typically, a cool, rainy month, was warm and Sunday. And instead of getting October’s bright blue weather, the skies were gloomy and wet.

      I’m holding out hope that November, which usually is cold and gray, will be sunny and warm. We’re on our third day of sun and the forecast is for similar weather the rest of the week. Even if it doesn’t continue that way, I figure from now on every day that’s nice now is a gift and one less day of winter.

       Besides simply enjoying the weather, having a nice November would allow my family and I to complete some fall chores that we couldn’t get done in October. It was much too wet to clean out the garden and there were too many leaves still on the trees to clean out the gutters. I’d like to get both of those jobs done before winter.

       Removing the dead vines, debris and unripe fruit and vegetables from the garden not only would cut down on disease, it would ease the tummy troubles of Maggie, our yellow Lab. Each afternoon she snatches a watermelon or squash and downs it. By morning her stomach is rumbling and she’s whining to get outside so she can relieve herself of the pain.  Brian and I want to stop the cycle by picking everything that’s left and disposing it where Maggie can’t find it.

        As far as the gutter cleaning, my least favorite farm job, it’s a necessary evil. The gutters are clogged with leaves and if we don’t remove them, the spring rains will be cascading over the edge of the gutters and into the basement.

       So here’s hoping that November is one to remember in a good way.