October 2025 Island Trip – Day 1

The very most important thing about today was arriving to no mice or signs of mice in the trailer! Compulsiveness pays off! I’ve put the kitchen back together, and deployed 6 of the 8 pint mason jars I brought up. Mice can’t nibble through glass or metal (or well placed steel wool 😏).

This trip is mostly about winterizing. I’ve pulled in the temporary electric fence from around the plum tree and removed the valve/timer from the drip irrigation in the big garden. Tomorrow I’ll start with the new style jacks for under Stella’s axels. Finish the job I’m most concerned about first. I’ve added picking apples to my list! What we left in late August, have grown and ripened. I had one today. They’re incredible.

I took preserves to our neighbor to the north this afternoon. This is the first time I’ve seen her since her husband passed. She seems herself with a layer of quiet grief and introspection. She talked, I listened and agreed with her outlook. It was good to see her.

As I wrap up this post, after a few starts and stops, the thermometer is telling me it’s 50º outside and 58º inside… Another task for tomorrow is to deploy at least one of Stella’s heaters. 😏 It’s going to be chilly in here in the morning.

The full Harvest Super moon is stunning and huge here. I wish my phone would take a descent picture of it, but alas it doesn’t have that capability. This moon will be big and impressive for the next couple of nights. If you have the chance, check it out.