Today is the fall equinox. 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark. The next equinox will be in March. The winter solstice will be on December 21 – the shortest day of the year. The summer solstice will be on June 21. This is the longest day of the year.

I like the word equinox. It has a nice ring to it. I would like to name a horse equinox. I’d call him Nox for short. I very much enjoy naming animals. Yesterday the two high schoolers who were doing volunteer work remarked that my animals had unusual names. This is because I have put thought into it.

Another up and down day. I again found my lost cellphone. It was in the pocket of my TOTE vest. When I decide that I’m never going to lose it, I lose it again. That is, the cell phone. I wish that we did not have to carry them. The reason why we have to carry them is because everyone has one on hand.

I decided last night that I’d have to tell Eleanor, my sister, that she needs to cancel her Tuesday plane flight. This was is mainly because Pete is coming down with a cold. His colds turn to bronchitis unless he rests up. He never rests up. Therefore, he gets post cold bronchitis. Just as importantly, we are joined at the hip, so I usually get his colds. Right now I feel really good, but I could, when Eleanor is here, come down with a cold, and then pass it on to her.

I am disappointed, as is Eleanor. But there is a part of me that is relieved. It’s just not a good time for her to visit. Pete’s teaching, and I have a lot of project work to do. I am also feeling very overwhelmed, to the extent that I am finding it hard to make and then act upon decisions.

There is also the matter of accommodations. El has to sleep in a bed – no memory foam pad for her. We don’t have a spare bed, and in fact, Pete and I sleep on a futon. Therefore, El would have to stay in a hotel while she’s here. If we stayed put, which isn’t an option, she would have to spend six or seven nights in the Eagle Hotel.

Our way of life here IS very involving. We spent the day harvesting and preparing food. Pete went to a neighbor’s place with his honey extractor and extracted their honey. In his absence, I harvested tomatoes and peas. We have more of both this year than any other year.

Tonight, Pete made tomato basil soup, using a recipe from Martha Stewart’s cookbook. The best tomato soup that I previously had was at Sheep Mountain – it was so good that I remember it. The soup tonight was just as good if not better.

The raspberry crop is done. I picked some this evening and there are no more.

And today I cleaned the goat shed. I always feel good after, and I am not sure why. Maybe it’s because I know the animals appreciate being in clean environs.

Next: 255. 9/22/25:Darkness Descends