sleet in the weather report

and winter approaches.

i hauled in milkweed

and chopped each stick into three or four pieces so they'd fit into my big pot

 for steaming. then began the interminable stripping

 and scraping

 the next morning a few tiny bits appeared in the sunshine.

there was a lot of pulp in my big pot.

and the leftover stalks which are slick and clean and so lovely.

i've now hand beaten all that pulp 

over 3 or 4 days, 3 or 4 hours daily 

Yes the hands were sore)

 and will make glorious paper soon.

upon coming home the other day i found

evidence.

a narsty squirrel invaded my black walnut stash

ripped my screen door when pushing through a too small tear.

blacl walnuts were lined up in a row across my driveway 

and up the steps, where s/he stopped for snacks.

under the other big dyepot, 

a surprise

goldenrod

in the morning yard today

the light breaks through clouds

the old maples are shedding their varicolored leaves

pileated woodpecker, 

cock of the woods, 

called and flew over

and continued calling while scouting for a good place to feed

in the back meadow

where last week i harvested that huge bagfull of milkweed

light dances.