The porch smelled like death.

The first cool wind was blowing in from the north, but that’s not what made it chilling.

Once we stepped out the front door, the hair on the back of our necks stood up.

Then that sound  – was that a mournful wail or a shriek of triumph?

Ground advice. (image R.Lemmon’s Gardenline)

Jeeze, neighborhood owl, glad you are deliriously happy about your full tummy, but could we ask two things? Please quiet down and maybe try to avoid dropping late night snack leftovers in the flowerbed?

Stinks to high heavens. Something’s dead.

And now I feel really guilty blaming the occasionally visiting possum for that stench.

Come on Hank, let’s walk on quickly while Sir Owl enjoys his early morning reverie. We can hold our breaths just so long…(“What? Yes, we can count your squirrels just to make sure.”)

As the leaves turn, days shorten, and shadows stalk, time to warm up your mental defenses against the spooky times ahead.

Former WP blogger and doctor turned author, Carrie Rubin’s new book, Fatal Rounds, is a slice straight into the season of mystery and terror.  

Overheard: “Stalker? Or is it her imagination…you know about her mother…in the mental institution…and you’ve heard about her…how did she even get into medical school? You’d think being diagnosed with Schizoid personality disorder….”

“Shhh. Careful. There she is. Have you seen her pounding that boxing bag in the gym?”

Well, you can watch the trailer or find out more about the book here. Might be intrigued (I was) by a short prequel bit introducing the main character.  (Free peak: introducing Liza Larkin, here.)

But I gotta do something about that horrendous foul smell coming from somewhere in the front flowerbed….

Or Amazon won’t be delivering anything.

We’ll get that notice: “Your shipment is late…uh…because…we…uh…couldn’t find the house.”

(Will they mention their call to the cops saying, “I’d like to report something suspicious – it smells like something died in there…”?)

I mean, owls are cool and valuable. Only an innocent assumption about them being sloppy eaters. 

Obviously prefer not to be known as the “Let’s meat for happy hour” outdoor patio for owls.

Prepare for landscape defoliation.

Along with lots of soapy water in the pump-up sprayer.

And praying for strong sunlight sanitizing.

(Now where are those leftover masks and gloves?)

Sinking feeling: No stink like an old stink.

Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge

I don’t know what’s going on, but we’ve got fall color much too early. (© image)

Gold and red: spooky as a hungry owl. (© image)

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