About time for a letter from home...

I took this picture last week. Autumn is upon us, the few of the softer wooded trees are losing their leaves. The oaks and hickory look dark and when the wind blows, the leaves are beginning to rattle. We don't get a lot of color here, the pretty, natural maple and those with delightful autumn color - have been harvested long ago. Those pretty trees now grow in someone's yard.

We haven't had our first frost yet, hopefully it won't happen for another three weeks to a month. When it hits, the fig tree leaves will curl up and die then fall off. I'll miss watching the birds flying in and doing what birds do in those bush-like trees. Yesterday, I watched Jill watching my bluebirds in the closest fig. I could tell by her stance that she was about to get one. I was banging and yelling, to make her lose interest. She's quite good at catching the birds, she has dog food, she needs to leave my bluebirds alone! I know, it's in her nature, but...

We had rain last night, no need to add water to the fountain. The birds love it as a birdbath. I get a lot of enjoyment out of watching them arguing over their space to take their bath. It will only hold 4 or 5 depending on the bird. It is no longer a fountain, the lawn care guy managed to cut the power cord in half. It was just plugging up from the berry poo, anyway.

DH is having his visit with the Dr. to see if he is released to work. I don't think he's ready. He says his elbow starts to hurt after talking on his i-phone for 10 minutes. Nope, I don't believe he is ready to hold his drill over his head putting in brackets and screws for a 12 hour day. Just saying... He hasn't worked for nearly 4 months though and I'm sure he is anxious to get away from me and the house. (As am I)

I don't know if I will be sorry, but I had my land line shut off. We have been here for 9 years and half (or more) of the time, the land line made so much noise, it was miserable to talk on it. "I can't hear you" was a popular phrase. The reception was like trying to talk next to the fry daddy when I've thrown in some frosty frozen food. I kept my house number, however, and when someone calls, it comes through my cell phone.

The weather is cooling off to an average high of 80F (? 26-27C?) but the humidity continues. Cool mornings now. The average year, we turn the heat on, on October 7. We will have it on at night and then the A/C will have to run in the afternoon. It usually is like that for a month. Last year was a little different - less A/C. I guess we'll see what this year brings.

The hummingbirds have been visiting, looking in the windows. I wonder if they will leave early this year. The hibiscus is done blooming already. Seems summer was shorter this year. Those wondering about the pear tree - it was dying and rotten in the core, the fruit was terrible, drew wasps and hornets, the branches kept falling. I want to park my car there - ruin the side yard rather than my back yard. It cost $125 for the man to cut it down and haul it off, I have no idea if it was a fair price or not. I just didn't want anyone to park near it for fear of falling limbs.

I'm still writing a little. It's getting more difficult for me to gather a thought to make sense. My hands are stiffer, I hope they will be better when it's not so humid. As much as I hate to say it, I want summer out of here!

Hugs to you all!
That Old Lady in Southern Middle Tennessee.