Autumn is officially here on Saturday but there are hints of the soon and welcomed arrival with the proof being cooler temps, lovely fall leaves and the fragrance of the fireplaces intermixed with the fragrance of fresh cut hay. Fall is my favorite season of the year. In Houston, we might have a fallish type day along with winter and summer, all showing up on the same day. You have to make fall in Houston with decor and lots of gourds, squash and pumpkins scattered about on those little concrete front porches that are no more than an attractive overhand from the roof. While our hints of fall become more numerous as the days go by, the consciousness of winter not being too far behind gets pushed to the back of our brain and we enjoy the countryside awash with those orange, reds and yellows. Hay waiting to be loaded dots the landscape and the maple trees are turning more autumnal as the days go by. Across and down the road a bit, a neighbor with maple trees lining the long driveway to the house begins what I have come to regularly count on for seasonal hints. The two trees closest to the road begin the change and slowly the changing creeps up till all those trees are ablaze with color.
There is a lot of change happening in the season of fall besides leaves turning, grass growth slowing down and the like. Schedules change from lazy summer days or at least busy summer days but without the pressure of school, if one so chooses. Spring always feels hopeful to me. At the end of winter days the tulips and daffodils bloom. Seeing the color with the background of drab lets us know, spring will arrive. Of course, after spring days the warmth turns to hot arrives and it is summer. But autumn, crisp air and beautiful vivid color is soothing to the eye and to the soul.
Just because of the beauty doesn't mean that there isn't work to be done. After the first frost the flowerbeds are cleared and the beginning of prep for spring begins. Roy said it is sad because the tomato plants finally yield to the elements after giving so much. Our plants this year have given much and organically on top of that. For this we give thanks. The zinnias this year started slowly but have bloomed and grown filling the raised beds with color.
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We woke up to a fallish Saturday since Friday was the last day of summer. Today, Sunday, it is a little warmer but very pleasant. We had a Sunday School lite today, with autumn questions and fun and Galatians 6:9 as a devotion, kind of a devotion, not a very good devotion but we will get back to regular type Sundays, this coming week. I knew this past week would not give me a chance to study how I like to. On top of everything happening, Mr Mo got sick so a vet trip later with meds he refuses to take and here we are. He is doing better, much better.
Going to TN on Saturday one could detect that the leaves higher up are starting to turn quite a bit. The scenic view stop trees are very colorful and probably about one of the best places to take pictures for fall color.
I'll close this post with a quote from Sarah Bessey. There are just so many good autumn quotes but this is a new one and I liked it.
To me, autumn feels like a woman who knows her age and rests comfortable in that knowledge, like the woman I want to be someday. Bearing her years like a crown, beautiful but in her own beauty not the borrowed or clinging to beauty of past seasons, wise and patient, crisp and alive, a bit sharp but restful. Autumn feels kind and strong in equal measure. And I'm enjoying my daily walks with her. Sarah Bessey
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