Today marked the 44th anniversary of the sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald in a November storm on Lake Superior with the loss of all 29 men aboard. The Fitzgerald passed by Split Rock Lighthouse as it left Superior harbor on that final voyage, and so this evening a ceremony was held at the lighthouse honoring the men lost by tolling a bell for each as their name was read and lighting the beacon (which is normally not lit since the lighthouse’s retirement).
Remembering the Sinking
This afternoon I was trying to mulch up some of the leaves which were piling up too deep, but I didn’t get all the leaves, especially the recent falling oak leaves, before the snow moved in this evening.
Falling Oak Leaves and Snow
A month ago, this river was sweeping away the colorful maple leaves. And while it is still flowing today and isn’t frozen over like my pond is, there are not too many maple leaves for it to carry downstream anymore.
Red Leaf Floating Away
With the string of cold nights, the water in my pond is already “stiff” and the fallen leaves are frozen into the ice. And with a predicted low of 3 degrees tonight, it doesn’t appear the leaves will become free in the next few days and may be trapped until spring.
Pond is Stiff
The white color was on the ground instead of the sky this morning but at least it was only a trace of snow so that field work and corn harvesting can continue.
Corn Waiting for Harvest
I hope this is the white I see flying tomorrow and not snowflakes. The release of the seeds from the milkweed pods is another sign that winter is coming as it will be a while before the milkweed blossoms and green pods return (as well as the monarch butterflies).
Flying White
This cat reminds me of the woolly bear caterpillars which I have seen crossing the road the last few days, but neither of them can predict the up coming winter even if the folklore of the woolly bear says they can. Instead the woolly bear caterpillars tell about the previous year so maybe the thicker fur on the cat is more of a predictor of winter.
Winter Cat
The gray days of November, with the rain and snow, makes it hard to see the sun or a pretty sunset.
Missing Sunsets
Finally the few dry days plus the ground freezing overnight has allowed for some field work and farmers were busy combining soybeans today.
Harvesting Soybeans
November started out with a chilly, gray day and dark enough which I needed to turn on the light inside during the day. And at least power wasn’t out so I could turn on a light bulb but before the electrical era, lanterns like this one provided the light source for the dark winter days.
An Old Beacon Lantern
