Even ignoring the really bad news stories of the day, I missed my much needed "outdoor time" today.

Yesterday was 85 degrees at our house. However, the high today was 40 degrees. Tonight will be 28 degrees with a 12 hour long killing freeze. Below normal temperatures are predicted for the long range forecast. Maintaining our "stay-at-home isolation" will now be more emotionally difficult than what it was during the warmer months.

I suspect the above photo (from yesterday) may be the last time I see any of the members of Mabel’s Groundhog family this year. This one moved out of the communal den about a month ago and now has his own burrow at the stream separating us from our next door neighbor.

He has been hanging out in the area of the property line where our yard, the neighbors-next-door, & the neighbors-behind-us yards all connect. The stake is the property lines marker for all 3 yards.

Meanwhile, Mabel and two of her other pups seem to be still staying close to our house. Being solitary critters, the three of them don’t seem to know that they’re supposed to be solitary critters. Right up to yesterday, all three were together. One came even right up to me on the deck. They’re soooo fat and healthy looking. So maybe I’ll see them again next year.

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Friday US COVID News

“America on Friday hit its highest daily number of coronavirus cases since the pandemic began,
recording at least 82,600 new infections."

"The rising numbers put the nation on the precipice of what could be its worst stretch to date in the pandemic with some hospitals in the West and Midwest already overwhelmed and death counts beginning to rise.” Washington Post

“A resurgent virus attacks the heartland, just before the election.”

“Hospitals on the brink of capacity as the virus continues its surge across the U.S.”

“On college campuses, virus cases keep climbing.”

“The Trump administration shut down a vaccine safety office last year. Now what?” New York Times

“Trump mocks reporter for wearing face mask” NBC

Trump holds two big rallies in Florida on Friday.
“Fresh off Thursday’s night debate with Biden, Trump blasted the former vice president for his policies the coronavirus pandemic. ‘All they talk about is COVID, COVID, COVID,' Trump said, ‘because they want to scare people.’"

"As White House task force warns Florida of possible COVID-19 uptick, state tries to keep report from public. The pandemic apparently was not on the minds of many people packed on the fields and bleachers set up on the polo grounds of The Villages retirement community, home to more than 100,000 people. Two hours before the event began, nearly every folding chair was occupied in the barricaded off a portion of the pitch. Much of the mostly older crowd sat shoulder to shoulder, and few were wearing masks.” Orlando Sentinel http://www.orlandosentinel.com/politics/2020-election/os-ne-2020-villages-trump-rally-friday-20201023-hxyuogngyfc6fiocmpzhswuufy-story.html

Win or lose the upcoming Presidential election, Trump is leaving behind him a trail of Super Spreader COVID events in his wake. He's even putting some of America's most vulnerable population at direct risk of serious consequences.

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