First Day Of Fall

This looks like an impressionist painting!

Hanging Woman Creek - Box Elders beginning to turn

In spite of the muddy water, I loved this reflection. Almost heart shaped.

The beauty of my friend's Maple hedge

daily haiku

bright full moon sinks west
ten degrees above freezing
in a silent landscape

One morning at 34' and another at 36' have shoved us into fall, and today, September 22nd, is the official start. Only a week ago we were in the 90's every day and my body is objecting to the sudden drop in temperature!

Two of my fledgling bluebirds came to check out the nest before flying south. I thought they all ready had, so I was surprised and overjoyed to see them perching on the fence one morning. One last visit and maybe goodbye as I am not sure if I will be here next spring.

I usually don't turn on the heat until October or if the house hits 60', but I am having some re-flooring done and I felt sorry for the workman - Mike (as well as my typing fingers :-) with the house at 63', so a couple of mornings I did run the furnace and take the chill off the inside air. Of course by 4.00 pm I was turning on the a/c unit.  I remember when I was working for the N C Tribe, I needed the car's heater in the morning and the a/c in the afternoon for the drive back and forth. 

Now it is cooler I must seriously start looking for a new place in town. I've had some people to look at the house and one seems serious. We'll see. In the meantime, I'll continue to enjoy my morning walks in the cooler air.

Late Summer Wearies

Wild Sunflowers

Jerusalem Cricket

 daily haiku

a great deception
cool breeze lies about daily heat
equinox laughing

Late summer is upon us and things are changing - in the landscape and in my life. The continual heat, 90's every day and sometimes hot nights, leaves me feeling tired and self critical because I don't accomplish enough each day.

Hanging Woman Creek is at a low point and is muddy and weedy, but I did see a large fish this morning working the weeds; about 20" long, and judging by the shape of it's tail it was a carp. Hardly any birds around and the bats have left for different climes.

The house invaders are here - mice, and at present Jerusalem Crickets. The crickets are ugly - often called Earth Babies or Baby Bugs because of their large head.  They compete with the mice for the peanut butter in the mousetraps! Inadvertently they spring the trap. The first one cut itself in half and I found it dead. The second one managed to get out of the trap by eating its own body - here is a close up of the poor thing.I put it in the wood pile but I doubt it will live - just become a part of the food chain.

Yesterday despite the heat, I plugged a hole in the basement wall with spray foam to stop the advance of more mice and possible snakes, which made me feel a lot safer! 

There is interest in my house - one couple "walked through" - and two others may be scheduled for this next weekend. This of course leads to being more careful about tidiness and housework.  In between all this I look at new places to live, online, and as soon as the weather cools, I will be spending time looking for a new place to live in Sheridan, WY - 60 miles away.

Life has changed also for my dear friend Bruce.  His family insisted that he move to assisted living. He hated leaving his own house but is adjusting pretty well to his new apartment and having people around all day.

His son came from Texas to help with the moving process, flew his plane to Sheridan which he built himself. He took Bruce up for a spin and despite limited vision he was able to see the town below.

Bruce and son Peter

In his new place

So  the landscape is morphing towards winter and so are we. In my depressed moments, leaving here does feel like a step towards death, but I have come to believe I am just entering a new phase of my life and it could well be exciting.

Procrastination

Tomorrow - I’ll see the lawyer about my will

Tomorrow - I’ll see the undertaker about my funeral

Tomorrow - I’ll write last letters to the children

Tomorrow - I’ll write my funeral service

Of course tomorrow never comes,

The deeds fester in the wind.

Facing death today is a hard chore,

I’d rather look out of the window

At green hills,

River valley,

Feel the cool morning air through the window,

Smell the java,

Taste this side of life today.

Hell – who cares about the vultures

That fly above my head;

Why should I give a dam about

Where I’m buried?

Keep the feeling,

It could be a poem some day.

© C. Valentine 6-20-13

 

Autumn pulling on long strings

Hill House from 1/2 mile to the east - photo by Stephen Valentine III

Hill House ...west side

Hill House - south side

View from the sun porch looking south towards the village of Birney

Last three photos by Bruce Garber - Century 21 Real Estate

http://www.century21.com/real-estate-agent/profile/bruce-garber-10643603

 

daily haiku

the start of autumn

hills turn to pink in the dawn

some things never change

--------------------------

daily haiku

temps hurtle downward

the bats have flown to the south

equinox on its way

 -------------------------- 

There are many signs occurring that fall will be early this year. First the swallows left early. On my walk I could still call up three of them at Hanging Woman Bridge, but as of this week they too have flown away. Now there is not much Bat poop on the hood of my car (it resides in an open garage where they sleep) an indication that they too have gone south.

This morning I was awake at 2.30 and the temperature was 47' and falling while I took a break from sleeplessness at the computer. I was able to go back at 5.00 a.m. and sleep three more hours so I don't know the eventual *coolth, but I would estimate around 45'. I was able to sleep without the a/c unit clunking away in the background -such a pleasure.

The summer has been good; days in the 90's and rain off and on so we can't complain.  But this house has no shelter from the sun, so I while away the days running the a/c's and doing chores when it is cool enough.    After a bout of a fatigue syndrome early this summer, I have been convinced that it is not in my best interest to stay here even though it is my joy, heart, and soul.  I shall truly miss it. I have come to realize that I am entering a new phase of my life, that it might be rewarding and fun, and that does help. The house is up for sale and as of writing maybe almost sold before listing. I am also selling my office in town. It is my goal to die without owning any real estate to make things simpler for the children in dealing with my will. (In MT if you die without owning real estate you do not have probate).

So........The View From The Hill... blog, may come to an end. However I enjoy blogging so hope to create another new one before the end of this year by finding positives and some wildlife in a new home.

* a term invented by my friend, poet Midge Farmer

 House listing
http://www.century21.com/property/8356-tongue-river-rd-birney-mt-59012-C2137998854
Office listing
http://www.century21.com/property/301-commercial-st-birney-mt-59012-C2138000560