They say tomorrow there will be a government shutdown. The seven GOP contenders said they are calling him Donald Duck. Beyoncé is making magic, still, shimmering in silver. Dumbledore died this time for real. Swifties are lining up to register to vote. Unions are on a winning roll. Books are banned by our own citizens like they can actually harm someone while gun purchases continue to break records. Fact checkers can’t keep up with the lies being spilled over the airwaves and sadly we live in a world of non-facts. Biden impeachment over what exactly? Yet, apples are ready to be picked in Vermont. Trees are getting their pretty red and yellow and orange on too. The last Super moon of the year is illuminating our night sky, bringing a slice of crazy too if you believe that sort of stuff. Take a breath, get outside, gaze upward to find the big blue before it fades into black, bite into a tart yet sweet Honey-crisp apple, and perhaps you’ll be fine.

My routine, super full moon or not, is to get outside before day’s end, and this week has provided plenty of warm temps to do just that. Cow corn is just about ready for the harvester to swipe row after row, creating the perfect silage for all the dairy cows still dotting our countryside. Those of us who enjoy the landscapes in Vermont can thank the farmers, endlessly, for the view they afford us. Without these broad and open vistas, how would we catch the spine of the Green Mountains from multiple vantages on bike?

As I am a devotee of open water swimming, I find myself still diving in, as these warm fall days invite such an activity with ample sunshine. I can’t get enough of watching the shining shafts through the water which bubble up from my every stroke, even though I am chilled through and through after a short foray into the cooling lake. What it is to have a passion and drive is a lot, and I don’t plan to squander such joy by stopping this activity before frosty days makes it impossible. Me and the loons mostly, but still, this week is a welcome gift to rinse away all the lunacy of the GOP suits bent on our ruin.

Anyone who has children of a certain age might understand the next image. That of the soccer field and those who run back and forth for 80 minutes worth of game time. What a treat to catch these student athletes, pushing themselves past their own comfort levels, working as one mind, at least that is the goal, on such a glorious Autumn afternoon.

Yes, we are still eating local tomatoes, another fabulous treat! Topping a crustless quiche as a wonderful staple in our house: a dish high in protein and taste but light on calories. Although this meal could be on own menu year round, it tends to be skipped during the summer months and reappear once the temperatures start to drop. Lucky luck for us.

However you plan to enjoy the harvest moon and all the gifts of the season, I hope they involve more laughter than not, more looking up with hope, more adventure into this beautiful earth, just more bounty. As I often suggest, try less “news” and more sky time.