Life is good in the neighborhood! This fall just keeps on going and going and going—quite beautiful weather, that’s for sure.

I’m still planting in Mom’s Garden. Safeway had some mums that didn’t get watered when they needed it—who hasn’t had that happen. I begged for the plants, brought them to the store, cut them back severely and will get them in the ground today or tomorrow. They are putting out great new growth.

When and if you buy mums in the spring, try and cut them back right away. One of the articles I have read said to cut them back until the beginning of July. Mums are in their glory this time of year so cutting them back early promotes more root growth, which then means bushier plants, resulting in more blooms overall. Thank you Safeway for the mums!

I also need to transplant three clematis vines this weekend. These vines have been severely neglected, and are hidden amongst some bindweed, so I will probably take them down to the bare root and try and leave the bindweed behind. They will be planted in memory of Marilyn Oberrick!

Speaking of Marilyn, her baby grand piano has been moved to Society Hall—what a fabulous addition to that already great facility. The piano has had its initial tuning, with 2-3 more sessions scheduled. Scott Russell gave us a really tiny recital last weekend and all I can say is….. Thank you to the Jack and Marilyn Oberrick family! This piano is going to be awesome, and we already have one piano teacher wanting to do student recitals there. How exciting is that?

Our “Burn the Mortgage” celebration at the Hall last weekend was just superb. We had a smaller crowd than we were hoping for, but it was a great, generous crowd who got treated to some above and beyond music! I mean….the best we have ever had! And that is saying a LOT! Thank you to everyone!

As I do the soil preparation for the north end of Mom’s Garden, I would still accept donations for the soil conditioner I am using. I am hoping to only improve the soil in the beginning, because the worms are starting to move in and they will do the rest, so I am applying and rototilling more bales of soil conditioner in than originally planned. The soil just feels and looks so rich after applying this amendment. Even though some of the shrubs I planted the past two weeks have lost their leaves, I can almost feel the roots growing—you just have to listen real close. And I know it is because of the soil amendment. $20 bucks will really help!

I, and Larry, have planted three trees in Mom’s Garden, so far. We put in a maple on the south end that has turned red. It’s a beautiful tree. In the center of the garden, we planted a Sunburst Locust. And on the north end we planted a smaller tree, a Hawthorn. They will make such a great addition to the garden.

By the time you read this, I will have taken a tour of the new jail addition. I’m not sure if the building is still a ‘Jail’ or if it is a ‘Detention Center.’’ I guess I will find out. If you see me out working on Sunday, you will know that I behaved, and they had no reason to keep me. I have to admit that I do sometimes wonder what three meals a day would be like, and time to read a book is unheard of for the past few years. And now I wonder, how many jobs will be created with the new facility—well-paying jobs. Time will tell.

I’m hearing things about the airport and the loss of Ron and Vicki Ecord. Can anyone enlighten me on what happened in this situation? Del Norte is lucky to have them, that’s for sure! I talked with some pilots who no longer buy their fuel in Alamosa, but fill up their tanks BEFORE they come to town—what’s up with that?

If anyone has some geraniums they need to get rid of, please call me at 580-7838. I love geraniums and would put them in my front store window, so that I have some color the middle of January. Thanks!