Wonders of Autumn

Thanks to an abundance of clouds, for the first time in months it was cool all day. I didn't even open the windows, and tonight it may get chilly enough that I'll have to turn the furnace on. For me, the first night the furnace must go on is the true beginning of autumn, whatever the succeeding days bring. This time they are expected to bring back the warmth.

Now that they are numbered, the warm days are better— they become almost precious. With the sweltering months behind us, the sun can be my friend again. This morning, a feral cat snuggled into a pile of leaves to nap the chilly hours away, and I felt the allure of coziness again. Wednesday will begin October. There will be thick blankets, and hot cocoa, and soon there will be that blessed vehicle for sugar and sweet, warm spices, pumpkin pie. I can almost smell it now.

Late this afternoon the overcast began to break up, and sunlight streamed down, burnishing the pines where brown needles are beginning to appear, and making the still-green leaves of the walnut tree where the woodpeckers and jays and squirrels engaged in raiding parties this morning. It's been all too nice today, and I think how a day might arrive when I don't care about such things as watching the sky and anticipating the change of seasons. I'm glad it hasn't for now, but I can't help wondering what it would be like. Maybe I'll be lucky and never find out.


( Sunday Verse )