It’s that time again in Willow Lake—the bittersweet stretch where summer is technically still hanging on, but you can already hear autumn clearing its throat in the background. The lake is losing its warmth and the mornings are cooler, the days a little shorter, and the scent of pumpkin spice is creeping into the Treetop Restaurant way earlier than any sane person needs.
I’ve been soaking in these last lazy afternoons, stretched out on the deck with Ian, a tall glass of iced tea, and Mo sprawled in the shade like a furry throw rug. Of course, “lazy afternoons” in my world usually means keeping one eye out for suspicious activity. (You never know when bank robbers, rogue raccoons, or my mom’s “quick” visits might strike.)
The Madison Garden Center is shifting into “fall mode,” which means Danny is in his element and I’m up to my elbows in mums and ornamental kale. Yesterday’s Treasures has a new window display of repurposed wicker furniture that makes me think I should probably repaint my porch chairs—though that would cut into my hammock time, so it’s a tough call.
If you ask me, this is the best part of the season: warm enough for outdoor dinners at Treetop Restaurant, cool enough for evening walks past Main Street’s twinkling lights, and just the right mix of “hold on to summer” and “bring on the fall.”
So, here’s to squeezing out the last drops of summer while keeping a prepper’s eye on what’s ahead. Because once those crisp autumn nights settle in, you’ll be glad you stocked the hot cocoa, extra blankets, and maybe a few mystery novels from the Barn Book Store for good measure.
And I can’t let you go without some prepper advice. Here’s my end of summer prepper check list. it’s the perfect time to check your supplies, make swaps, and prep for the cooler, unpredictable months ahead. Here’s my go-to list for wrapping up summer in true prepper style:
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Rotate Stored Water & Food
Replace anything nearing expiration. Summer heat can shorten shelf life, so check those dates. -
Inspect Emergency Kits
Swap out summer items (like sunscreen and electrolyte packets) for fall ones (like hand warmers, rain ponchos, and extra socks). -
Test Your Gear
Flashlights, lanterns, camp stoves—make sure they still work before you need them. Replace batteries now. -
Garden Harvest & Preservation
Pick what’s ready, dry herbs, freeze vegetables, and get those jars ready for canning. -
Clear Out the Freezer
Use summer’s bounty before it gets buried under chili and stew season. -
Review Home Heating Systems
Change filters, schedule maintenance, and stockpile firewood if you use it. No one wants their heater to quit in October. -
Check Clothing & Bedding
Make sure warm layers, blankets, and gloves are clean and accessible—not hiding in the back of a closet under a camping chair. -
Replenish Medical Supplies
Replace expired meds, restock first-aid kits, and keep a stash of cold-weather remedies like herbal teas and honey. -
Fuel & Power Readiness
Top off propane, refill gas cans, and consider adding a few extra power banks to your stash. -
Plan Your Fall Drills
Practice a power outage evening, a “no heat” night, or a quick evacuation. It’s better to discover your weak spots now than mid-crisis.
Summer is slipping away, but your readiness doesn’t have to. A little end-of-season prep now means you’ll roll into autumn cozy, confident, and crisis-ready.
Until next time… stay prepped and prepared.
Pepper, Mo & Roxie
