Hunkering down

If I had to use one word to describe the weekend, it would be hunkering down, which is technically two words, but there it is. It had nothing to do with Sandy, seeing as we are far enough inland that it will be likely reduced to a severe wind-and-rain event with limited flooding on Halloween, but I think the hype has triggered a deeper need to prepare for winter a tad early.

Saturday was a blitz of baking followed by a few hours in the yard pulling leaves out from my side yard. Only one more corner to go now, and they will all be at the curb. I do think I’ve run out of nice days to get them there, though. I’ve been picking away at tucking my yard in for the winter for almost six weeks, but finally the view out my window is green and earthy black, and the cement and metal decorations of summer are tucked in the basement. Storm windows went up yesterday on the few original windows left on the house, and I planted a few last crocus in the new landscape island I put in this fall. Hunkering down is easier when you’ve got a pattern, almost a pleasure when it’s tied to memories of being warm and close to the ones you love when the storm shakes the windows and moves on to check the latch of the next house on the street.

Now I’m in my toasty office, starting out at a bleak landscape pared down to the bones, with the trees bare and little numbs of green hugging the ground to weather the coming winter. The birds are active at the feeders, which makes me happy, and I’m imagining my yard in snow and liking what I see, even it it’s in my mind’s eye.

And wow, I think we’re going to get an early taste of winter this year. For those of you in Sandy’s path, hunker down and ride it out, be it at home or the emergency shelters. NY has been on the news the most, and I’m imagining it with open streets and empty sidewalks.  I can see it very easily, though it’s got to be creepy as all get-out.  I’ve got a notion that these freak storms on the edges of the season shifts are going to become the norm, so find your pattern to make it easier. And do as I tell Thing Two before he goes off to school, “Smart decisions.”

I‘ve got one thing for you that came in late Friday for all you Trick-or-Treaters! INTO THE WOODS made Houston Press’s list of the top six Halloween reads.  6 New Books We Like Check it out! KRAMPUS and DEVIL SAID BANG also made it.  Whoo-hoo! I am delighted that INTO THE WOODS made this list. Spider Web, especially, feels kind of Halloween creepy to me.

And tomorrow is the release day for BLOOD CRIME, book two in the graphic novel saga of how Ivy met Rachel.  :-) See Blood Crime for more info and where to find it.