Folks in Kansas and MO told me they are already predicting first frost there ... a month ahead of the usual first frost date. I am not ready for frost yet so I hope it stays away from here for awhile longer!!

I'm working on getting everything I had left in pots to plant, misc. bulbs, corms and tubers and so forth in the ground as quickly as possible.

It stormed here last night bit I can't see the total in the rain gauge just yet.

Farmers Al. says not too ba a winter in the Lakes area
Annual Weather Summary: November 2011 to October 2012
Winter will be slightly milder than normal, on average, with the coldest periods in late November, mid-December, late January, and early and mid-February. Precipitation will be below normal, with near-normal snowfall. The snowiest periods will be in mid-December, mid- and late January, mid-February, and mid-March.

April and May will be cooler and drier than normal.

Summer temperatures will be below normal, on average, with below-normal rainfall. The hottest periods will be in early to mid-June and early and mid-July.

September and October will be cooler and rainier than normal.

Time to compost in this pile of rocks and clay I call a garden.

Wow, what is that stuff Jo Ann? Is that all compost???

Karen

Its composted yard clippings and leaf from the town. Its free but there is a guy who delivers for 50 bucks. This is a 100 buck compost pile. I hired a guy to clean,weed and spread. I just hit the stamina wall this year, cant do it anymore.

Wow, that sounds like a deal to me. I have about 9 cu ft finished and ready to spread, and even that is a lot of work. I also have a bin full of fresh yard waste working and more piled up to add as it shrinks. This is from fall clean-up, barely started.

How many yards do you have there?

Karen

I wouold guess about ten yards. The garden guy says he can spread it on the gardens in 3 hours. I sure hope so.

Wow, I can't even imagine having 10 yards all at once. You are one lucky (and wise) gardener.

Karen

I hope the grden guy finished Tuesday,SIL comes home from Camping trip Wed. and thats his parking space.

Won't he be surprised if it isn't finished. Leaves for this year's collection are still on the trees, except for the green ones which Irene tore off.

If gardenguy finishes and there is compost left,DD can spread it where she wants more.

Hate it in the 50s mornings. difficult to get out & work.

i dont mind it cool.the joints dont like it tho.

Yes left bicep is quite sore. I thought only the right shoulder was being a pain, literally.

Its just not faur.

Right, it's not but will have to get to the garden today before the rains come. The belt on the law mower has gone bad. John will call the station today. It is in NH which means quite a drive. I know our neighbor's station for their riding mower was local & retired. So they have their lawn done by a mowing CO. now.

So much fall clean-up to do, perennials to move. I just can't seem to get out and do it. Once I get started I can stay focused and do what needs to be done. It's overcoming that inertia that has me stuck. And of course, time.

Karen

Lucy, I hate those dilemas.When I had my own business and needed to do maintenance tasks on the house ( clean it,yard work) I asked myself which was cheaper. His hour or mine. Maintenance companies won.

Karen: I believe nature wants us to begin hibernation now. Modern life and gardening just doesnt allow for winter naps.

I have to get some things done- cutting down perennials, yanking annuals, moving perennials. And like an idiot I scheduled carpal tunnel surgery on my right hand in a few weeks. I'm not supposed to do any real work with that hand for 10 days after that, so time will run out to get my yard work done.

Sunday was the perfect day for yard work- cool and cloudy. But the Steeler game was on TV so it was no contest- football won out. Yesterday's work day turned into a 10 hour day and it rained all day so I did nothing again. It's still drizzling now, and I have to go do stuff for my elderly Mom so today's out too. Every day, something else seems to win out over gardening. Now Thursday is my target day- I don't have to work, and it's not supposed to rain...

Karen