OPINION: Yep, it's autumn!

Well, did you get it done? I know, you're thinking, "What's he up to now?" Well, it's a legitimate question because there was some frost on the pumpkins in the area a few days ago. The question is, "Did you get those houseplants brought inside?" Or better still, almost, "Did you cover those late-planted green beans that had two-inch little beans almost ready for a treat on the table?"

"Yes"? That's great. But it sure didn't happen in the postage stamp garden that this year was the biggest disappointment ever! The green beans and the corn were both replanted three times last spring. Actually, it was almost the middle of May when everybody's garden should be putting things on the table. The late plantings were followed by lots of rain that required some seeds in every row which had to be added in a second planting. And, if that wasn't bad enough, it took a third planting to get full rows. And if you can say PSG, you know what that means, all three rows grew well but somehow didn't produce anything worth mentioning.

Did I write about this in an earlier 'cuff? If so, I'm sorry, my memory is getting as short as I am ... and let's not get into that. Anyway, I want to apologize. In the last 'cuff, I said this one would be about Highway 59 getting some badly needed attention. But ... and here we go again ... I lost, misplaced, or accidentally threw away the notes I had accumulated for a 'cuff. So it's safe to say the 'cuff really is ... But I'm gathering the info again and it'll show up someday. It's probably best since work is going on to good old Highway 59 and it's probably best the road project between Gravette and Decatur will be finalized or at least ... whatever.

But back to the houseplants. Yep, that collection made it in just in time, which is how it goes every year. Even the tall Norfolk pine made it into the garage and it is probably going to a better home soon. If not, ... ?

So now ... what do I write about? Of course, the beautiful fall foliage that brightens our days as the seasons speed toward cold and frost and snow. I honestly hope we have measurable snow this year. We haven't had one in three years and I'd like to make one more snowball and enjoy a bowl of snow ice cream. Maybe it's because I enjoyed that treat so often during those winters of long ago that I just shrunk, losing the growing of those summer Ozark days.

I'm just kidding, of course. I had to come up with a few more paragraphs and I think climate change now was well underway as long as I can remember. But it seemed there was always one or two good snows every winter. That long walk, uphill to school was ... well, I'll bet a few 'cuff readers remember those days.

So, it's on to another topic, or at least part of one. It's still about the weather. And about our dry summer following an above-average rainfall through May when the gauge measured 9.95 inches. And then came June, July, August and September. June brought us 23 dry days with a total of 0.88 inches of rainfall. July had 21 dry days but showed off with a whopping 6.75 inches of rain. Then along came August with 24 dry days and a miserable 0.57 inch of rain. If that wasn't bad enough September furnished just over 2 inches of rain with 22 completely dry days. Fifteen of those blankety-blank days in August were consecutive which has now been equaled this October. This is being written October 16 and there hasn't been a measurable drop of moisture since the 28th day of September.

There have been showers in almost every direction from Gravette, but the town went dry. Hopefully, it will have drizzled at least a few showers by the time you read this. What is interesting is that we're almost 8 inches above the annual average to this point and closing in on the 44.88 annual average.

What also is interesting is that you can spot brilliant foliage on trees that received plenty of moisture. Those with withered brownish leaves at the top had competition from surrounding trees and just didn't get enough to drink during these October days when the colorful hillsides are usually so brilliant. I wonder if we can partially blame it on that corona gift from China. This old Smith-Corona doesn't help any.

I hope you and I can wade through all those numbers printed above and just look forward to a mild winter and a beautiful spring, summer and autumn next year.

One nice pure white snow would refresh childhood memories. But we don't need any repeats of those two ice storms of about a decade ago.

Now I'm quitting to work on those 59 notes. Let's all keep smiling, saying those mask-covered hellos which can relay a smile if they're pronounced right. If it hasn't rained by the time you read this, could we gather, not in a protest, on Main Street, and perform a rain dance. Heaven forbid. 'Till next time.

Dodie Evans is the former owner and longtime editor of the Gravette News Herald. Opinions expressed are those of the author.