The aerating, lime, seed, and fertilizer all paid off. The yard looks great. I’m most proud of getting a thick stand of grass to come in under the southeast Bradford Pear. The leaves are off almost all of the trees. The Bradford Pears and the Willow have yet to change color. I guess the Magnolia stays green year round.

An invasion of dandelion weeds has crossed the border between the up-hill neighboring yard. The results of the surgical counter strikes with salt spray will not be known for a couple of weeks.

Bob E. and I worked up the latest plan to attack the gutters. Three approaches have failed thus far. The latest idea is to place two screw eyes into the joists of the roof. Tie a rope between them, and then hold onto a rope that will slide along that one as I go down the length of the gutter.

Later I realized I don’t have joists, so that could make placing the screw eyes tricky. The 32 foot ladder I could buy would be $189. I’m not sure where I would store a ladder this high, though.

Our first “normal” Halloween was worth the wait through the town house years. Although there was no Mr. Johnson to give each kid two pounds of candy, they still got plenty by combing the entire neighborhood. Nicole (a devil) brought in 106 pieces of candy. I’m sure Danny (a bat) did just the same.

They toured Hunters Station with Haden and Lindsey (both devils!) and their father. Then they made the rounds in Rae Woods with Kathy and Kelly.

I stayed at home greeting 75 or so trick-o-treaters. Kathy had bought 5 bags of Peanut Butter cups, Snickers, Sweet Tarts, and suckers. As the candy got low, I went through the cabinets and got granola bars and hot apple spider mix for emergency backup. Fortunately everything died down by about 8 pm with 2 or 3 pieces of candy left.

At one point, I was walking with Kelly out on the street. A little pumpkin and a little Peter Pan crossed our yard, climbed over the monkey grass, and made the long climb up the front steps. I had hooked the PowerBook to the boom box playing the After Dark sounds from “Nocturnes.” The cricket chirps did not sound unusual, but as the two got almost to the porch, they heard a long howl. They both stopped on the same step obviously concerned.

“What was that?” asked their father out on the street with me. The howl had sounded like it came from the river. I explained as we watched the frozen pair.

Candy will overcome the darkest fears of children. Both decided to risk the howl, and go on up to the door where they promptly rewarded for their bravery by Kathy.

And so the season of calories begins. Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.