YES; WINTER HAS ARRIVED

So, here I am in the front garden of Uma's house all ready to get out on the skis for a tour of the yard and then a look at the neighborhood. This was on Sunday last and we have had snow off and on since, with a little freezing rain to make it interesting. As I write, this Tuesday morning, we have light snow flurries that look to be increasing in strength. Back in Portland, there is really serious rain with floods and road closures, including the main Interstate running between Mexico and British Columbia.

Hard to imagine now that all those Fall tasks are behind me. All the leaves and lawn clippings now slumber in three compost heaps, covered with snow.

The wood from the fir tree, it turns out, does not burn all that well. Besides, having covered most of the windorws on the inside with clear plastic wrap and researched the problems of keeping heat in the house, I have found that a fire is more likely to cool the house than heat it. This does not mean that one cannot have a fire but the hot air that goes up the chimney has to be replaced by fresh cold air from the exterior. Not such a good idea.