With the clocks turned back on Saturday, the days are frightfully short. Darkness descends by 5:30 p.m., coming one minute sooner each day until the winter solstice on December 21, the day I look forward to every year. That's when things start to turn around with the daylight slowly increasing until glorious springtime.

Meanwhile, fall is making way for the desolation of winter. I haven't even begun to rake up the leaves yet. But there are still surprises to be found in the garden. While cleaning out the pond and tidying up the backyard, I was amazed to still find beautiful peppers like these in November. The temperatures have remained moderate enough to keep these beauties growing. I don't think the harvest will continue much longer, though, as we are supposed to drop below freezing tonight. I may have to pick the last few and use them to make stuffed peppers this weekend.

And yes, those are the last of the Sweet 100 cherry tomatoes, brought inside green and slowly ripening up for that one last "summer salad."