The final meeting of the Joe's Pond Association was yesterday, and the minutes of that meeting are now on the website.  It was a lively meeting, as usual, and lots of business got done.  It's always a little sad when Tom brings down the gavel (imaginary) on our last meeting of the season.  Now Joe's Ponders will begin closing up here and heading home to get kids in school or to avoid the cold weather that's approaching.  We're just beginning to feel a little bite in the air, especially at night, but even in the daytime lately.  We've spotted some color in the maples, and flower beds are beginning to look a bit scraggly.  People and birds are making plans to head south.

Fred mowed some of the lawn yesterday afternoon, but there were spots that really didn't need it.  There may be one or two more mowings, but then we'll put the mower away.  We'll need to get out the snow blower soon.  It was cool enough so our resident garter snake didn't show up today on the crushed rocks by our storage shed - at least, he wasn't there when I looked late this afternoon.  Now that Bill Jones isn't working on the shed, the snake has been sunning himself there each afternoon.  I don't know if Woody, our cat, has discovered the snake, but probably not.  Woody sleeps most of every day and usually likes to head outside just as night is falling.  However, the last two nights, he's been content to hang out with us inside.  He seems to sense when the temperature drops outside - although sometimes he does ask to go out and seems surprised when a blast of cold air hits him - it's like he's saying, "Whoa!  That's cold!"  His ears go down and he ducks back inside. 

We've had a skunk digging in our lawn for grubs every night - and one day last week he was boldly investigating under our deck one morning.  I was amazed that he (or she) was able to squeeze through the openings in the lattice - those are not very big holes!  We were glad there were no surprises and no spraying involved.  We were also glad Woody was inside.  He was hit by skunk spray several years ago, so I suspect would be wary.

All signs of fall, I guess.