About 3:30pm I was waiting at a stoplight before crossing the Rum River bridge into Anoka the sky ahead over the town was overcast with dark clouds and there were 2 flocks of birds(don't know what kind but the wings were pointy) flying in circles and doing aerial acrobatics. When they would turn enmass in one direction the backlight from the sun made them silvery and when they soarded in another direction they would be dak colored almost blending in with the dark sky background. The sequence kept repeating and was quite spetacular. This unusual sky condition continued and when I parked by the Ox trail and began my walk with Lily the sky was dark cobalt blue with a few smallholes in the clouds showing bright blue sky and at the horizon there was a small streak of pink/gray clouds. The buff colored old Cornelius building had the same bright backlight from the sun and glowed bright with strong cast shadows. The building stood out like it was in a spotlight against the very dark sky. There was a strong north wind and the clouds were moving very fast and the temperature was droping noticibly as the cold front moved in. The brisk air felt good and smelled so fresh. Along the walk somewhat protected from the strong winds by trees etc the rustle of a few dried red oak leaves clingling to the trees, quiiet splash of ducks landing in the river and the honking of geese flying overhead. Further on along the trail by the pine forest the tall trees were swaying in the wind and the limbs creaking and rubbing against each other. It even caught lily's attention and she stopped and her ears perked up to listen. The sudden change in the weather combined with the late sunlight created some remarkable sensory enjoyment. The temp dropped almost 40 degrees over a few hours. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. The Edmund Fitzgerald went down in November.
Lily and I were walking on the Coon Rapids marsh trail when I heard a lot of crows caw cawing overhead and when I looked up I saw a bunch ( 8 to 10) crows flying chasing a brown owl. The owl was beautiful and I was amazed to see it but saddened to see the crows after it. Owls usually are out at night right. I hope it got away.
This was a hot, dry summer with record numbers of over 90 degree heat, dry spells. Spent a lot of time watering the lawn and gardens as my water bill shows. Lily and I did our walks in late evening after sun went down. Lily even got a couple of baths just to cool her down as she be really uncomfortable and panting. Spent a lot of time at air conditioned library. One day in mid August I was walking down the sidewalk in down town Anoka when a lady passed me and said "Don't you wish it would snow" and she kept on walking and it made me smile and agree. About State Fair time the moles invaded the front lawn and gardens. Kept me busy stomping down the mole trails. During the dry spells I'd sprinkle but the west neighbor didn't so the moles moved here where the digging was easier. Jim put down traps and got a couple of them and I sprayed some grub insectide. Moles uprooted and destroyed a couple of perennials. Aug 29 Hurricaine Katrina destroyed New Orleans. In September when we went to Alexandria for the day a storm with straight line winds hit Anoka area and tornado in Andover. Lots of storm damage to roofs and houses from falling trees. There were many momes and trees damaged in just our block. Warm weather continues into this fall. Today I hand clothes outside. Temps still in 50's and 60's many days but the nights are cool and frosty sometimes. This fall when the mums started blooming I was fortunate to have several new "sports" growing amongst my establised mums. I don't know the reason for this but I have beautiful drifts of color coordinated varieties. A couple of weeks ago I was raking in the front yard when a van pulled into the driveway and comented how beautiful my yard was and how the gardens "just flowed with color" anD wanted permission to take pictures when he could come back with a camera and I of curse was delighted with his praise and agreed. At the end of Oct Jim. Lily and I did a 3 day Fall Color tour of southern Minn going to Clear Lake Iowa across N Iowa thru Mason city to Prarie d'chin, Wisc and along the Wisc River Rd to Lacross then back home. Had a fun time with nice backroad county roads, river parks, trails, antiquing and enjoying the beauty of the season.