October 2018 was the fourth wettest month in the last nine years, according to my records, exceeded only by May and July of 2015, the year we totaled 37.78 inches, and August of last year. I emptied a total of 7.53 inches out of the rain gauge for the month, which is slightly more than our October average of 1.92. The trees better take a long, cool drink. We never know when we’ll get moisture again.
Despite Abigail’s 10 kills, her team came up short in the first round of the playoffs against an El Paso team. The game was played in Andrews and Joyce, Kari and I drove there to watch it. The way the game ended, it was a long drive home. Tascosa went up 2-0 before losing the second two. Every game was competitive except maybe the second one which Tascosa won 25-18. Tied at two games apiece, the two teams battled back and forth in the fifth game. The first team to fifteen and leading by at least two wins the fifth game and Tascosa had their opponent down 14-12. One point is all they needed but they couldn’t get it as the El Paso team went on a five point run to take the trophy. I doubt any of the Rebels thought the other team was better, which makes for a bitter loss. Thus endeth Abigail Zbinden’s volleyball career. I thank her for the years of hard work she put in to become the player she is, the entertainment she provided, the road trips for overnight out-of-town games I enjoyed with Kari and her. Fond memories.
Foxes are back. Chris took this picture of one up in the big pine south of 2005. We’ve been seeing them, or signs of them for several weeks. They’ve moved in and made themselves quite at home; don’t seem to be troubled by large bipeds other than a mild wariness. No chickens missing yet, though I don’t think it would make Joyce sad if there were.
SA was at peak color a week or so ago. Yellow, mostly, but the pistache in the southwest quadrant promises to turn red before all is said and done. The golden rain tree in our backyard we grew from a bare root is golden, fittingly, but it is mostly obscured by the big elm in the corner.
Last week I finished up the mowing for the year, except maybe for the strip along the street. Might just let that go since it isn’t really that grown up. I spend time spraying weeds trying to whack them before it gets too cold. The moisture this month has caused all the seeds accumulated through the year(s) to germinate, which is good if I can get them sprayed before cold weather sets in. Roundup will kill any I can catch in the sun over the winter. Those I miss will grow slowly but steadily through the winter and take off like a house afire in the early spring in a race to drop their seeds before I can get to them. Never a dull moment around here.
Joyce and I enjoyed our first fire of the fall Saturday evening. There is plenty of dead wood around the place to keep the home fires burning through November and December. For some reason we don’t have many fires after Christmas/New Years. We’re probably just tired of messing with it by then.