Buttoning up...

After a particularly hot, humid, summer, last night the air was chilly and fresh. Chris put the feather duvet on the bed, (but left the windows wide open) and it felt good to snuggle under it.  When I got up this morning to do chores I was surprised to find a light frost on the lawn.

Hot days will return, but there is no doubt that the season is changing.

The farm stands are colorful with pumpkins and Indian corn and a huge variety of squash. Crickets are singing their late summer song. 

So today we did some buttoning up.  Chris got his tools out, and we replaced the window in the  goat cozy. We take it out in the spring, leaving the space airy and open.  But if feels good to have it back in place, knowing that cold winds will soon blow. 

And we put the plexi-glass panel up on the front of the donkey room, too. 

It's amazing how much warmer that space gets when that little bit of plexi is up. The sun shines in and the little room is so cozy. The donkeys watched with great interest as we made their home snug. 

Today was also the day when we scrub out all the water tubs and refill them. Chris put a fresh bale of hay in the pigs little house, and they quickly went inside to toss the flakes and make a huge, warm, fluffy bed. They will sleep snug tonight. 

I had an idea a few weeks ago, to use a few spare boards we had and make a little bridge for the goats to play on.  Chris did that today, too. Echo and Bliss immediately discovered his handiwork and danced gleefully upon it. 

Despite the light frost, the front garden is still a riot of color. Butterflies dance there all day, and some of the plants are taller than I am. I am enjoying them extra, knowing their days are numbered.

I harvested 12 little pumpkins that grew on a volunteer plant in the pasture. I saw several orange leaves on the ground. Acorns are littering the street where I walk the dogs.  It's time to button up.