I had weather whiplash Monday morning. I woke to a hard frost. There was ice on the chicken’s water. Then on Tuesday, the temperature rose into the 70s. I continue to be one of the baffled.

I am so happy now that we are finally back to Eastern Standard Time. Morning are so much easier. I don’t mind when it gets dark earlier. I can get to the sofa sooner and stop doing things. I have said countless times that Daylight Saving’s is the night people stealing from the morning people.

I’ve been on the property for 50 years. When I first came, there wasn’t even soil in the so-called yard. I started bringing in free stuff — bags of raked leaves, for example, set out for the trash people to pick up. One of those bags was full of maple leaves. I spread them around in the fall on a particularly barren area. The following spring I noticed some tiny tree seedlings struggling to survive. I watered them and put a little real soil around them. I know that I can be the queen of superlatives at times, but honestly, this actually applies this time. Those tiny seedlings are now over 75-feet tall. I think that is downright impressive in 50 years from a bag of discarded lawn rakings.

Shortly, it is time to fertilize trees and shrubs. I don’t do it too soon in the fall for fear of pushing new growth, which could be subject to winter kill. I like to do it before spring when all the other tasks take center stage.

I noticed birds are having their way with the winter berries. They were so pretty but too tempting for our feathered friends. Plus, they had already polished off all the crabapples. I do not set out bird feeders as a habit left over from years of cat ownership. I hated the idea of luring them to certain demise. Since the passing of my last barn cat, I may be ready for a new one. Guess a trip to the animal shelter is in order.

I have been busy on the job sites cutting back the perennial beds. The job has been made a bit easier with the help of deer. They have munched hostas to the ground. Now that homeowners have left along with their dogs, Bambi and extended family have been emboldened. We did put up some deer fencing on some of the vulnerable shrubs and trees. Hopefully, it will offer some protection for hollies, rhododendrons and Leyland cypress. One can only hope.

I’m forcing myself to stay awake for some of the election results. Violet and I voted in Vineyard Haven early in the morning. I like to voted on the actual Election Day — a creature of habit. Here it is, now Wednesday early morning. Today is the day for me to apply all the knowledge and experience of a long life. I hate when I have to accept the unacceptable. I do, however, have gratitude for the people of Martha’s Vineyard and fellow residents of Massachusetts.

It’s time to recreate the famous World War II poster put out by Britain’s wartime propaganda department: Keep Calm and Carry On!