Early fall in Alabama

Cool nights hint that fall is finally coming here to Alabama, but the leaves aren't showing their usual display of color. My husband, Tim and I, live high on a hill in a copper beech forest and so enjoy the changing panorama of the leaves. Not much happening there this year. So far they are still a dark green. The few dogwoods we have have changed a dull red, not the usual brilliant crimson. The hickory tree is shedding its black shelled nuts all over the driveway, but the leaves are staying green instead of the usual gold. We have had a drought here all summer and some very hot days. The corn and tomatoes grown by the local farmers have really suffered. I've noticed that the cotton is hanging in there and looks ready to harvest. I do love to see the white fields of cotton right before it is picked. It looks as close to snow as we generally get this far down South.

I am dog sitting our granddog, Sasha for the duration of the college football season. Thank the Lord, only three more games to go. Number two son Josh, 26, coaching football in Birmingham, adopted her from the animal shelter against our advice right before the season started. Guess who keeps the lovely Sacha, American bulldog mix, for the away games? Our children have inherited our love of animals and we are the proud parents of 4 dogs and 12 cats. Because we live down a dirt road in the woods the neighbors don't complain. I adopted three of these animals intentionally. All the others are strays brought home by the kids or children of those strays. Everyone (pets) is neutered or spayed so I'm hoping for grandchildren rather than more pets.

Married son Matt and wife Martie, age thirty, are the most likely prospects. Single daughter Kate is still in school . Coach Josh, single, is too busy to date.

I am a collector of animals, interesting vintage items, and friends. This blog will be devoted to my experiences as I and my husband Tim adjust to our empty nest in this house on the hill surrounded by furkids and beech trees.