Sock Weather

[Riley Smith]

I heard the sound of winter as I came back in from delivering the garbage cans to the road for pick-up. A robin that I didn't see, but that call is unmistakable. They only come here when it gets cold; huge flocks of them scouring the lawns and underbrush for a meal. I knew winter was come knocking with that rain we had the other day.  And yes, it was brisk at daylight this morning, in the high 30s.

There is a cycle we get into this time of year. Rain, blow from the north 3 days, get cold, and then  warm . It is hot by the time another front is coming over the horizon. Rinse. Repeat. The Jubilee of October is over. (After looking it up, that word has an entirely different meaning related to fishing here) and the leaves are coming down in earnest.  Acorns cover the base of the oaks. The cold isn't as welcome as the lower humidity because of the socks. You can actually not sweat, though! And in between rains, often very fine weather.

And so the temps are coming down and the sun is beginning to actually feel good instead of being a nuisance. The days are much shorter and in less than a month the sun will almost reach the saltwater off the point on the beach. The October drought is gone and hopefully the hurricane season. A fish on the rod will become scarce and make me wonder what I was thinking when I passed on an expedition when everything was biting. A jaunt in the catboat during a window is not unheard of, fitted between chores and events too. The beachfront becomes less active and more introspective and a fine couple of feasts are just around the corner.

 And a new year coming, along with a rare event, a Smith granddaughter! Yes, life is good.

[Brian N.]

With over an inch of rain our dry spell (since August) is over. However, with it comes much cooler weather (a few snow flakes expected) and the normal late fall temperatures. Pool is covered and the boat is buttoned up for winter. Since, converting my back and side yard to a "Native" landscape I don't have to rake the leaves, a real plus!

Waxed and sharpened the skis for the season, nearly a foot of snow in the Catskill Mountain area. Days of sailing are a few months beyond. No winter projects on the boat planned (except to brush the snow off the winter cover)

Lastly, late fall and winter mean indoor projects, such as yesterday when I painted the hallway and dining area ceiling. It also is time for brewing beer (yummy), indoor target archery, ham radio, fly tying and more practice on the guitar and harmonica (my wife says I have too many hobbies!). My best Thanksgiving wishes to everyone; we are blessed with a good life. Please remember those less fortunate.

[Riley Smith]

PS...in reference to jubilee. The online word was it meant a 25 or 50 year celebration. However, in this part of the world during the summer, when the wind is from the correct direction and heat at certain levels, a jubilee occurs (mostly on Mobile Bay) where the fish actually swim out of the water onto shore. So it has come to mean a bountiful occurrence, not totally expected, in the local lexicon.

[Norm L.]

Yes, to what Riley said in the first posting.
No fish. Tonight, family and a dozen and a half of boiled crabs.

[Riley Smith]

Surely you included beer. It is almost unpatriotic to not have beer with crabs!

[Norm L.]

We hairy chested muscular men had beer. The ladies wine. Starting with a bottle of prosecco.
Everyone agreed that these crabs were the best they have had. They were large/extra-large and the heaviest ever.
Perfectly boiled so the opening and eating was amazing. So many large hunks coming out of bodies and claws. 

[Doug SC]

That reminds me of summer vacations on the Eastern Shore of Maryland on the Choptank River. Nearly plate sized Blue Crabs my uncles caught they were plump and sweet. Fried Softshell is my favorite. I had older girl cousins that work in the crab houses. They could pick a bowl full in no time. Late at night sitting at Grandma's table picking crab meat into a bowel with vinegar and salt and pepper. It has me licking my lips as I type.