A nice, if windy, day!

8:52 a.m. here at the Lodge.

Temperature is 57 degrees F.
Barometric Pressure is 29.09" of Hg and steady.
3" in the brook.
Fire Danger Class is LOW.

The weekend rains have recharged the brook, and the cooler temperatures and the rain have put the leaf drop into fast forward.

We still have a good mix of yellows and some reds along with the browns here at the Cascades (I was noting that the Bovenzi Conservation Park which received the ALB 'buzz cut' is largely, but not exclusively, a palette of browns.)

The ground is a little soft but muddy, so hike with a light foot!

A couple of reflections:

We are having a low level dumping problem at the trailhead to the Cascades Trail. Broken rakes, broken shovels, carpet chunks, and most lately a medicine cabinet dropped off by a passing motorist intent on dumping on public open space. Not precisely sure how to nab or nip in the bud this one. Hikers, particularly early morning hikers, are encouraged to keep an eye out on our behalf if you could please!

And on a more positive note, we are celebrating our having been blessed with spending the last three years here at the foot of the Cascades and one of her many trailheads. Three times now we have been able to watch the seasons unfold, the flood waters rise and fall, the hikers, bikers, snow shoers cycle through. It has been a fabulous time. When we first arrived there was no trailhead, no parking area, no signs, and no stone cairns. We had no idea that the brook could and would run under the house if given half the chance. There was no way to imagine that there would be a night of ice storm snapping and cracking to keep every living thing wide wake and quite aware for miles around. The giant snapping turtle that visited the house, the coyotes (one with a broken leg, one hunting a baby raccoon unsuccesfully), the wild turkey, the possum, the multitudinous skunks, the racoons (big and small), the elderly porcupine, the rabbits, the ground hogs, the mice the voles, the hawks (including one eating the unlucky bird at the bird feeder), the owls, the deer drinking in the brook, the squirrels grey and red (my personal favorites), the chipmunks, have all immeasurably added to the experience of living here in the wilder north-west section of Worcester.

The funny part is that you get the feeling you have only just begun to scratch the surface of what is going on in the natural arena, and you hope to share it all with others as it gives living a richer texture.

It is unknowable how long we will be here serving as caretakers, but we have enjoyed every bit so far and we can only hope to be able to enjoy any more that come along our way.

Happy Anniversary Cascades!!!