Wonderful description of the things I miss from Iowa right next door.

Oh even here fall does sneak up. Daytime hits upper eighties or low nineties and the roof is white, almost frost, and it is chilly. I am tempted to turn the gas furnace on to take the chill off, but say "not yet". Firewood is ordered, there is a little left from last season, but with the extreme dryness, I don't want to make a fire yet, even with the proper spark arrester one just doesn't want to take a chance.
All of us hope for some rain by October, the water-table has dropped and we are on the verge of getting none. Have purchased a tank to add to the water-system and shall buy water, 2000 gallons to supplement the well. Truly hope not to have to buy more than that.

It really does sneak up on me, and worse than ever before this year. Our summer break from school has been cut short (moreso than other years), but that wasn't it. It's just flown! We never had time to go to the pool (once), didn't attend any cookouts, and didn't go to a fireworks display, all by choice, but those things missing make it seem like summer never happened.

Further, we, without fail, go swimming on the weekend after Labor Day as our last summer hurrah. That was this past weekend. The pool closes then, and so, we do our last minute swimming to last us until May. We didn't do that. It's been so busy, we just got up when we felt, ate a luxurious late lunch, shot pool, and then headed over to the swanky Opryland Hotel for a bite of really good pizza. Not the same at all, but it was good for a change. Didn't feell like the end of summer, so I have the convertible back out from under cover this week. Had the top down this morning, and if we hadn't been wearing a suit (him), and a long sleeve sweater (me), we would've been too cold? Weird but true!

George, our winters aren't as brutal as yours and Leone's, but it runs a close second. We always say when the north wind is blowing hard here in the TX Panhandle that "there's nothing between us and the North Pole but a barbed wire fence and someone left the gate open in it". You are right about a wood fire - just really hard to beat for comfort, especially warming the feet and hands. I always loved to stand over our old floor furnace and get warm, too.

Lilo, I'm sure it is really disconcerting to you about using a wood fire since it is still so dry where you are. And, it hasn't been that long since the big fire up there close to you. Hope you don't have to buy but that one load of water and that you begin getting good autumn rains - would be even greater if you didn't have to buy that first load of water. We were very fortunate in getting 2.2" rain last Friday night. Take care and be safe.

George, your posts are like opening the doors and windows on a crisp fall morning and inviting in a cool refreshing breath of fresh air.

Fall started to sneak in last night. This morning it was 58 degr and the blue of the sky is a bit different fom yesterday with it's powderpuff clouds. Cold front moving in.

George, your winter description reminds me more of my childhood home in Germany, nickname: Bavarian Sibiria. I lived with all kinds of heating over the years, but there is nothing like woodheat. I think it has to do with the crackling noises of a woodstove. We had in one room a stove which burned sawdust, steady heat, long lasting and in the other room a set ceramic tile stove which mainly had a woodfire going. The heat was uneven, it was more work, but everybody hung out there because it was warmer, as long as you did not check the thermometer, LOL.

I TOTALLY LOVE the fact that Fall is sneaking up on us! Our early morning temp was in the upper 50s, too, and I relished the very cool air and brilliant blue sky, as I went to get the paper.

I get a kick out of anneliese_post, and I can identify with her post about heating. These are some random thoughts about my experience about heat.

Wood burning stove in the kitchen, potbelly, coal burning stove in LR. hot water radiators that "bang" when they are turned on, space heaters, hand warmers, it could be baked potatoes or jell packs held in the pocket, fire pit made of wood in a Norwegian forest, (blush) pee on your hands if you are in the woods, camp fire,Then there is central heat and AC, my favorite.

This thread has me thinking back about autumns and winters of the past. Growing up in the 50s our house was heated by a coal heater--just the living room and kitchen. When it was time for bed, we wore flannel pajamas and piled on a ton of quilts. Sister and I slept together to keep warm.

During my married life, I have experienced a fireplace where the heat all goes up the chimney, electric space heaters which were warm but clumsy and inefficient, a woodburning fireplace insert which gave great heat but wore us out cutting wood, carrying out ashes and hauling in wood, not to mention the constant need to dust and sweep. Now I have central heat and air with just a push of the button--also my favorite.

It distresses me to see autumn creeping up--I could really do without winter since it curtails my need to putter in the garden. I have always wanted to live in a zone where year- round gardening is possible and where there is no need for coats, socks and quilts. Long periods of cold and gloom affect the SAD disease that plagues me.