Bright sunny days, cold nights with temperatures in the teens. The ground is frozen solid out in the garden. A couple times a day I go out and replace the chickens’ hard water with liquid water. There was healthy kale, but I didn’t harvest any before the temperatures dropped. Amazingly, the garden sage still has soft fragrant leaves. It’s time to be thinking about using it to flavor squash and Thanksgiving stuffing.

Other things to do: leave the snow shovel by the front door, put sandbags in the back of the truck for weight, prep and paint window casing for the studio. Keep a box of hats and gloves on the porch. Go for walks in the afternoon sunshine. Light a candle in the dark mornings, watch the flame while sipping hot green tea. Fill the bird feeder with sunflower seeds. Provide a lap for the cat who suddenly is very friendly and affectionate.

When December comes, there will be field work again.