Autumn Is In The Air

Well, Autumn is here w/ its cooler weather. The leaves will be falling from the trees and as soon as most people rake em up, bag em and take em to the curb I'll be coming along to fetch em home. A couple early bags in each of my raised bed garden, worm bed, compost bins and Quack Pack yard then I can dump a few into the Swamp to break down. I'm thinking about building 2 more raised beds for a total of 3 and come Spring border 2 "regular" slightly larger garden ares on either side of my back yard for "The Three Sisters": corn, beans and squash. I do love me some yellow crookneck squash; fried, baked, grilled, boiled, Hey! I could go "Bubba Gump" on that! 

This is my 1st Autumn in this neighborhood so I don't yet know how many people go to what degree of Halloween & Thanksgiving decorating. I'm hoping there are at least a few that go whole hog so after the holiday is done I can fetch up some free for the hauling bales of straw (just not pine straw). My yard in the trailerhood had 3 ridiculously large pine trees so if I got it all roke up, 24 hours later nobody knew except for me and my back. But regular grass straw I'm seeing the use of at least 6 or 7. Without trying I can see ways to put another half dozen to use. A little imagination, effort and what I read in a magazine could use any and all up to 100 bales or more. As good as God has been to me I just don't see 100 bales though! Lol

Anyway I have a few insulating tricks up my sleeve to be put into play before Winter arrives. My electric bill over the Summer has been around $100 per month and my gas bill nonexistent. When Old Man Winter comes knocking I'll be burning some gas to keep my nose, toes and all parts in between warm. The only reason I don't hunt is because I simply cannot handle the cold. Maybe when deer season arrives I'll be able to barter for at least some offal to make sausage or dog food and perhaps even a hide or 3. We'll see what comes my way.