Robbo says we in New England live at the end of a weather funnel.  Weather from the southern US and from the west converges on our region, like water going down a drain. At the Montshire Museum in Norwich Vermont I saw a map with the tracks of countless storms over a century, and it really is true–the Exit sign is over New England and they all leave their trash at the door.

The moist summer nourished my garden.  Then Irene took our bridge. This week we got our first dusting of snow, very early, and last night our first winter storm!

View across my cottage garden--dahlias and morning glories on the trellis

The Bartonsville covered bridge is gone.

We don't usually get snow until we have shut off the color and moved to black and white.

The oaks and beeches are in full color for our first snow fly.

In preparation for the storm I put my garden to bed--dug up dahlias and took down the trellis.

The day after the storm. Just yesterday it was autumn!