![\"\"](\"https:\/\/redmeadow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/smallbunny.jpg\" "\\"smallbunny\\"")
<\/a>They're starting to turn white now, starting with their back feet. The grass next to the sidewalk is no longer so long and green, and we rarely see the rabbits grazing, mostly they are just running through the yard at high speed.<\/p><\/div>\n
The last time we had rainfall was a thunderstorm on August 11th. \u00a0 A bolt hit the ground very near us, like flash\/BANG! and then all was quiet except for a brief downpour.\u00a0 After the storm passed by, this red pickup truck belonging to one of the local government agencies that fights forest fires drove into our property, turned around by the garage, and then honked their horn as they were driving away.\u00a0 This was puzzling behavior, and the next day we found out he was alerting us to a fire about a mile from us, sparked by the thunderstorm.\u00a0 It was a teeny fire, less than an acre, and was pounced upon by the fire fighting forces in the neighborhood.\u00a0 How we were supposed to interpret the honking horn was interesting.\u00a0 It could have meant, “Don’t shoot!” or “I’m so lost.”\u00a0 or any number of things.\u00a0 He could have stopped to talk but didn’t bother.<\/p>\n
A rainfall now would be very welcome, and hopefully tomorrow we will see some without a\u00a0 thunderstorm.\u00a0 That sounds a little too exciting until the woods are all soggy again.\u00a0 The grass and trees are extremely dry and fire danger is high.<\/p>\n
<\/a>August 14th we had a full moon, and a pretty moonset as the sun was coming up.<\/p><\/div>\n
Because Dan woke me up in time to see the moon go down, I decided to make blueberry pancakes.\u00a0 Not sure why that should have followed, but it seemed like a splendid idea at the time.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Pancakes with maple syrup, and a pot of tea.<\/p><\/div>\n
We finished a project in the house during late August and early September.\u00a0 Well two projects actually.\u00a0 The most important project was to put the windowsills and casements around two new windows.\u00a0 We had suspected that flies were able to get into the house around those windows, and evidently that was how they were invading the house.\u00a0 Much nicer now!\u00a0 And our favorite project was to put an island in the kitchen.\u00a0 This is the first house we’ve ever had that has an island in the kitchen, and it is just so useful.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Standing in the doorway to the pantry, the island is right in the middle of the floor space in front of the other kitchen cabinets. On the other side of the island are two seats, and I've already gotten to try them out for working, while making breakfast on the cookstove. I'm so looking forward to winter! It's going to be a wonderful place for the computer.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>A bowl full of Josta Berries. This is our new favorite berry, a cross between Gooseberry, and Black Currant. We planted some in the garden from cuttings, and hopefully they will survive until next spring. When we looked today there was a huge pocket gopher mound almost burying the one Josta Berry plant that looks alive.<\/p><\/div>\n
I made a couple of pies from the Josta Berries we got from the same woman who gave us the plant cuttings, and two small jars of jam which we have yet to try.\u00a0 That will be a treat some day during the winter.\u00a0 I’ve been in a baking mood lately.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Brownies, with a vanilla frosting, and a dark unsweetened chocolate glaze. Yummy doesn't begin to describe this.<\/p><\/div>\n
Yesterday was the Autumnal Equinox, the start of my favorite time of year.\u00a0 Happy Fall!\u00a0 To celebrate, I used the last of the summer peaches and baked a pie.\u00a0 Today it is 86F and feels anything but fall-ish.\u00a0 Tomorrow is supposed to be 15 degrees cooler.<\/p>\n
This is what peach heaven looks like.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Two boxes of JH Hale peaches. They are supposed to be best for canning, but we love to eat them fresh or bake with them. I peeled and froze most of these two cases, so that we can have baked things all winter.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>I've been practicing with making gluten free pie crusts and have finally found one that we like. It also makes the best pinwheel cookies with cinnamon and sugar from the leftover pie crust dough. It's almost worth just making the cookies.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Ward wanted me to send him a piece of pie. So, here you go, ET! Wish you were here.<\/p><\/div>\n
This morning Dan and Mishkin had a mouse rodeo, the first mouse in the house in several months.\u00a0 Mish had been keeping the mouse occupied in the sunroom until Dan woke up.\u00a0 Teamwork!\u00a0 Mish doesn’t even get perturbed any more when Dan evicts the mouse; he just walks around the house very pleased with himself, afterwards.<\/p>\n