I was extremely whiny on Monday working in the cold wind. Maybe it’s just me, but haven’t we had an inordinate amount of wind this fall? Wind is my least favorite of weather events. Granted, hot and humid runs a close second. We’ve been busy on the job sites with the fall pruning. I’ve missed my calling in the world of advertising. Last year I bought a Stihl mini chainsaw. It’s battery powered, light weight and saves hours of pesky hand sawing. I think it was a couple hundred bucks and worth every penny.

I’m ruthless about cutting Pee Gee hydrangeas, they spend the winter looking like characters in a Dr. Seuss book. Since they bloom on new growth they produce tons of blooms the following spring. Much of the new growth is over three feet in length.

I grew some large Sweet Spanish and Ailsa Craig onions. Some were nearly softball size. The drawback is that they rarely last until Christmas in storage. I went through the basket and tossed a few into the chicken bucket. They were soft and clearly past their sell-by date. A week or so later, I noticed one in the chicken yard. It had rooted and was sprouting over a foot of green growth. Too bad I didn’t toss it into a pot in the greenhouse as those greens would be usable without chickens wandering around on top.

I’m ashamed to admit that I have yet to get the garlic planted. I did pick through last year’s harvest and saved the largest to replant. It’s always wise to save seed from the best for the following year. It’s tempting to eat them first, but thinking long term is the best policy. That philosophy might serve a person in all aspects of life.

While traveling from the Roundabout to Vineyard Haven on the Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road — right before Carl Lairs Road — I saw an enormous wasp nest hangs over the road. Now that the leaves are gone, it hangs there all alone for all to see.

Remarkably, I still have some impatiens blooming in my garden. I cannot believe I’ve escaped a freeze so far.

I heard on NPR that for the first time in 22 years, Webster’s is putting out a new hardcover Collegiate Dictionary. I still use the copy I received for high school graduation in 1964. Violet sat on it as a toddler to reach and pound on the piano. The first one was published in 1828.

I have no reason for the previous few paragraphs except I find it oddly comforting to hear news not related to AI, Bitcoin or presidential scandals.

Speaking of presidents, DJT has canceled $679 million in federal subsidies for offshore wind projects. Solar energy tax incentives are also on the chopping block. In all we’re talking more than $7 billion that was funding clean energy projects. He is then increasing funds to gas and oil companies because , of course, he did.

The irony is that China, his nemesis, has jumped to the top in the world with their solar projects. Their economy is taking off with sales of the products. I admit I’m old and would like many things from the past to remain the same, but I would also like my grandchildren and their grandchildren to live in a clean and, dare I say it, a decent world.