They started putting the lawn furniture
away. The leaves fell rapidly into the
pond so they put the netting across it.
The bubbler is there to be plugged in
later so the fish will live through the
winter. The wind chimes, protected
under the eaves, sing in the fall breeze
and will sing in the dead of winter.
The couple won’t hear the chimes for
the couple, Lord willin’ and the creek
don’t rise, will be hiking in the Arizona
desert. Possible openings around the
foundation of the cottage where mice
might enter have been plugged with
steel wool. The mice will just have
to fend for themselves. Hospitality
extends only so far.