Feeling of Fall

The date on the calendar is not always what indicates the arrival of fall. The summer held on this year producing rose blooms, red tomatoes, and morning glory blossoms last week. Another sure sign of fall is the first time I smell leaves burning. When I left school the other day the pungent smell took me back to 516 W. Cameron in Kellogg when dad would rake the yellow and brown leaves into the street by the sidewalk and burn the pile in the darkened twilight.

 It feels more like the fall when the temperature drops. When you have to warm up the car and pull out a heavier coat it signals real fall. When middle school boys don't want to play basketball in their shorts and sweatshirts before school, but would rather stay inside, it has to be fall.

Today JEJ prepared all the grapes into juice for jam making. That smell along with the aroma of the apples simmering for applesauce, the pears awaiting canning, and squash and pumpkin cooking in the oven all signal fall. Growing up I have such a vivid memory of baked apples cooking in the oven. When they came out we sprinkled them with brown sugar and waited eagerly for them to cool enough to sample. Now we might splurge and add a bit of cream or ice cream in the middle of the apple.

I look forward to preparing jam, making applesauce, raking leaves, building a fire, putting on a fleece vest, and basking in the October sun. That is what fall is all about. 

The Sketchbook Project

I can't even remember how I first learned of The Sketchbook Project. I am now for 2011and my moleskin sketchbook arrived today. There are only two rules. The book must be used in some way - no sending back an empty book or a completely different book! Second, the sketchbook must stay within its original dimensions. A barcode is already attached and in January it will become part of the Brooklyn Library system and will travel around on a tour. My theme is "In five minutes..." I have lots of ideas bouncing around in my head of what I will do the the sketchbook. I am eager to begin. If you are interested in this project you can find more information here. The dealine for signing up is October 31st. I will post periodically what I am creating in my own sketchbook.

The Family of Things

Whether it is jubilation over miners rescued in Chile, a prayer passed around for a accident victim, the kindness of a man offering help to one in need, or wild geese returning home.  We all have a place in the family of things. One of my favorite poets Mary Oliver said it best:

Wild Geese 

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting--
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

-Mary Oliver

Ten Ways to Tell Cold Weather is Just Around the Corner

1. The tomatoes are doing what we wanted them to do in August.
2. One word: defrost.
3. ALL the cats are beginning their pilgrimage from the outside to the inside.
4. Two words:stink bugs.
5. Shelby has found her favorite spot in front of the wood stove.
6. Three words: red flannel sleepwear.
7.Checking the outside thermometer becomes a habit.
8, Four words: Greenhouse is now full!
9. Cravings begin for pumpkin pie, apple crisp, and hot cider.
10. There is a need to carve out time to organize the wool socks, scarfs, and mittens.

Our Fall Ritual

Each October when the word frost is even whispered on the weather report we begin hauling in the plants to winter over. Every year we struggle deciding which ones to save and which ones to leave outside. I have some unique coleus this year that I hope I can save until I root them in water. The greenhouse air is filled with the fragrance of scented geraniums. The kittens would love to make the greenhouse their winter home, but they can only visit until they figure out that soft dirt is different than their kitty litter box.

The Roses of October

The weather this fall has created a micro climate just perfect for roses. As a light drizzle fell today I snapped some images of roses that came back alive in the garden after our very strange summer.

The question is do I pick them for a bouquet or enjoy them in the garden?