Bob:
I succumbed to the sirens' song and took some of my sucker leaf and strung and hung 120 leaves. I only picked what I perceived as the best, and left the rest. I thought it might be a good comparison to my regular leaf. In spite of the nice size, and advanced state of development, these suckers just don't have the same kind of weight or heft as regular leaf. It will be a while before I know anything, so we'll see. Might have been a waste of time and effort, but you never know 'till you try.
There is more out there to pick, but nature might decide for me. The weather man is predicting snow above 3,000 feet, and lows of 36 locally tomorrow night. This would be the earliest snow the ski area has ever seen. And the Elk hunters wouldn't like it at all. (Elk season = late Oct. thru first week of Nov.) Although the Elk themselves might be pleased with the lack of flying lead.
One of the old timers I used to know, told a story about the Elk hunting season of 1957. It seems they got 2 to 3 feet of the white stuff mid-season and many a hunter was stranded. An enterprising local who owned an Army-surplus 1/2 track went up to the mountains and was pulling stranded hunters out at $75 each. A lot of money in 1957. A few refused to pay. The next spring, (probably June) those who refuse to pay returned to the mountains to find snow-crushed vehicles. Those guys were wishing they had shelled out the $75. Annualized snow fall around here is highly unpredictable. Some years 10-15 feet. Other years, very little. Most years the high elevation country (5-6,000 feet) doesn't thaw out till the end of June or early July.
Again, we'll see. If mother nature makes it all go away, no big deal. Interesting, Starbuck Wa., which is 26 miles away and 1,000 feet lower in elevation has already frosted out. I can't figure that one out. Maybe it is because their skies are much clearer and dryer making night-time heat loss greater. My lowest has been 37 degrees. If I were betting on it, I'd say that we will skate on the freeze here locally. At least for another week or two.
I like your Medusa comparison. The only thing that will kill those stalks is for them to look at their own reflection...in the snow!
All in all it's been a good year and I am pleased. I have squeezed pretty much everything out of my little patch that I can. And I have learned a lot of useful stuff. "Learn by Doing."
Speaking of tobacco, (was I? sometimes I meander) I'd better go check on my kiln.
Have a good one!
Wes H.