We Bid Adieu to Vermont.

9-1-07 VERMONT: I think TSE was wrong. September is the cruelest month—we go back to NJ tomorrow. I have been doing end of summer stuff, including watering, for the last few days. I got all the fallen wood sawed up and moved to the back of the garage for splitting, cleaned the septic filter, repaired the culvert ditch, pulled the ivy vines off the chimney, set mouse traps, locked the windows, adjusted the water heaters, closed the flues, mended the fence and a dozen other things. We probably won’t be back until October.

Today was fallish, windy and cool even if sunny. We bring home lots of tomatoes and leave the pumpkins to ripen on the vine. The pond is down about eight inches now and the pasture pond is dry. Rain is needed. I’m putting in an order.

Yesterday Chloe was out in the pasture eating something and Nick saw her and went out to see what the deal was. He stuck his nose into what she was working on and precipitated a monster fight that went on for five minutes of barking, posturing and air biting. What was the prize? Fresh horse poop. They are not humans in fur coats, people. The turtle has reappeared again after no sightings for weeks.

On to SHORT HILLS.


As the sun sets, we leave glorious and exotic Vermont...