The katydids are a constant reminder each night that fall is indeed here and frost at night is not too far away. I always thought when I was young that the katydids were calling back and forth to one another – they probably are.

So now it is time to do the fall chores. Put away the folding chairs that summer on the tiny patio. Drain the hose and put it away, and don’t forget to shut off the water on the outdoor faucet.

It will be a while before heavy frosts deaden the foliage in the garden. There are usually just a few fall blooms left and somehow they are more special than when the blooms first began. The year David was at boot camp down south, we had lots of roses at Thanksgiving – it was a warm autumn.

Before I got started on this column, I went out and put a piece of new suet in the hanging basket. I noticed a woodpecker fly across the yard, but it did not stop. I came inside, washed my hands and was about to sit in my living room chair when I saw a flash of black and white and Mr Woodpecker, with his bright spot on his head, was whacking away at the new suet. He and his mate and a couple of others have been feeding there almost constantly for the past month. The chickadees stop to get a bite several times a day. They all act hungrier than usual for this time of year.

More fun has kept me “birding” all week. Last March Laurie brought down from Vermont a small green feeder for thistle seeds. It is completely covered with a very fine mesh wire and only about 10 or 12 inches high. I have filled it once since March – the finches and very few times a chickadee have fished out seeds through the fine mesh.

A month ago a pair of brilliant yellow finches found this fine source of tidbits and have been there most every day since. They are now joined by about four other yellow ones and a pair of house finches who are not welcomed very cordially by the others. Nevertheless, they all do manage to find a spot to cling and dine. There are six there now; last night there were eight and they completely hid the feeder. I’ll be enjoying the yellow finches for another short while. A bright feather was nearby on the ground yesterday and soon they will wear their gray-green winter cover.

A letter today from Helen Squier, who was the secretary many years at Monroe School before she retired, tells me they’ll be leaving in a few days from their fishing camp in New York State and returning to Florida for the winter. Ralph has kept their table, and those of several friends, supplied with the delicious fresh fish he catches at the nearby lake. I miss the fish fries we used to have when they came fishing and all to our little red camp in Vermont. We had others from Monroe and Newtown and the dining was good. They brought their fryer, and I had one too, we also cooked french fries and someone made coleslaw and a salad tray. Good memories.

Daughter Wendy came down a few days ago (from Harwinton) and we had lunch after making a doctor’s visit. Going up toward Brookfield we saw a pair of very large hawks. The light was in my eyes, and I couldn’t see what kind they might be, but they soared and rode the thermals and were so graceful. In another while we saw another single hawk. Migration has started and soon we’ll be welcoming back the juncos and winter birds as we realize the hummingbirds have gone and also the swallows and others. All part of the season changes. In another three weeks or so the time will change, too, and evenings will seem longer.

We don’t know the origination of last week’s quote about our flag – “These colors don’t run,” which was on a bumper sticker.

Who said, “Loyalty must arise spontaneously from the hearts of people who love their country and respect their government?”