I unplug the fan that sits on top of the wood stove in the dining room and bring it up to the attic.
Firewood left over from the spring is piled up near the stove. I get a few sticks of kindling, some of the newspaper I’ve been saving all summer, and start a fire in the stove.
I’ll take the air conditioner out of Jon’s office window before the weekend is over. It’s on the north side of the house, where the wind blows the coldest. A pot of butternut soup is simmering on the stove.
I forget to close the gate to the pasture so the sheep and donkeys are grazing throughout the day. The grass is greener than usual for this time of year, but it’s low and still has less nutrition than in the spring and summer.
While I was peeling and cutting up the squash, I could see them grazing from the kitchen window.
Our flowers survived the frost and a couple of the vegetable farmers I spoke to at the Farmers Market said they didn’t have any losses. I still have some peppers in my garden and for the first time, I’m growing sweet potatoes.
I’ve read the potatoes can be harvested in early October or when the leaves turn yellow. Then they have to be cured for at least ten days. I was surprised to learn they have very delicate skin when they are in the ground so it’s important to be careful digging them up and not damaging them.
I’ll do a little more reading about sweet potatoes before I harvest them. It seems like there is a lot that can go wrong.
All of this and how cozy it is sitting by the fire while I write this helps me adjust to the reality that Autumn is actually here and I’m ready for it.
I can feel the Fall season in your writing. I love butternut squash. I bake them in the oven. I cut them down the middle and add a big pat of butter, maybe some brown sugar or not, and eat them whole for a meal. So good. Beautiful writing, Maria. It’s a gift when you can feel someone’s writing.
Yummy Janet, even easier than soup and really only different in the form. Thank you for your good words about my writing. And I’m glad you’re back to blogging. Janet is an introspective and thought provoking writer and lovely photographer lots of nature and animal. You can see her blog here.
Oh Thank you Maria, unexpected but much appreciated:)
My pleasure Janet.
It was so cool this morning I dug out the thermal underwear. But I’m a fragile little blossom (hah!) so I may have been over reacting. But the dogs are loving the cooler weather.
Yes, time for layers Jill.
Oh, what a great walk! Thanks for taking us along. The mushroom pictures were mind-blowing; what great colors and shapes. And you were almost camouflaged in that picture. What fun!
I felt a little like the toad when I saw that picture of me Barbara. Glad you could come along.