"I can feel it in the water. I feel it in the Earth. . ."

I was north of here last month, and while in the north, the oaks and pines whispered to me. . ."snow." They knew the snow was coming, and they kindly passed it on. This was before the wild fires exploded in the PNW and California.

Now I am home, and the maples and hemlock still whisper to me "snow." I think they are telling me that it's coming early. Last year I knew the first snowfall would be early November, despite locals assuring me I had weeks yet to finish closing down the outside world. And it snowed in early November. (And I was ready.)

Now I think the first snowfall will be in October. I hope late October--I never like to rush the beauty and change of autumn--but all they are whispering is "soon" as trees judge time.

So--North Americans--may I suggest that you consider having anything outside for storage and prep (that takes effort) done before October takes hold, we in the north? Because this year, I think there will be early snow. And all that particulate matter in the sky will probably guarantee that the trees are right.

Hot cider weather is coming.