The start of rainy season is a perfect time to discover a leak, yes? Just checking. Deeper into autumn, now, I am also seeing just how many leaves our various trees hold; they hold a lot of leaves! There’s so much raking to do. It’s a brisk, windy and grey morning.

This week’s soup: Potato-forward, topped with roast chicken and chile crisp. Solid.

I didn’t capture a lot for notes, this week. I’m tired, working on focus and calm. I’m dismayed that a campaign run on meanness, anger and fear could win the way it did; I’m furious at the centrist reaction that this just shows how polarized we are as a nation. We’re not polarized when a candidate can demagogue against kids who need gender-affirming care; we’re broken.

gaming

I bounced off of Ashen a few years ago, but picked it up again this week when it re-appeared on Game Pass. I’m terrible at it, still, but am kind of grateful for its vibe of hopeful, slow progress. It’s a very good pastime to recline in a big chair with the Steam Deck.

work

I appreciate this post by Michael Lopp on using Monday to set the tone for the week. I’ve been practicing many of these and think his reminder to consider metrics is really useful. I’m not as good at this in particular – should spend some time on that one.

weekend

I’m hoping today to get out for a good walk and find some photos. We’ll see how that goes.

Low clouds over the reservoir made for a moody late-autumn scene, this morning.

The first cold days of autumn, plus some rainy overnights, left a small bit of snow just barely visible on the ramp of ridges that lead up to Ben Lomond Peak.

Back in the flickr era, this was referred to as “autumny nature crap season,” and we loved it.

Fall colors are spreading across this little valley.

I love these beautiful, big seed pods showing their autumn style.

Oh yeah, it’s autumny nature stuff photo season!

A few sunflowers are hanging on while autumn approaches.

In just a couple of days these leaves have turned even more brilliantly to autumn. This row of trees used to be my barometer for autumn, but I don’t drive past them every day like I used to. Now I catch them on my walks with the dog a little less frequently. I’m happy to see them changing with the season, and more than a little wistful at the time that has passed this year.

Leaves starting to turn here.