Autumn . . .

Autumn, the word itself exudes wonder as it rolls off the tongue.  I adore the crisp clear morning sunrises and the cool nights that have you reaching for the comfort of a soft blanket.  The goldenrod is in its glory and the chirping of the song birds has been replaced by the cawing of the crows alerting everyone that autumn is coming in and ushering summer on her way.  

The corn crop rattles in the field and blackbirds gather on the telephone lines.  Woolly worms risk the long trek across country roads and combines whirl as miniature dust storms encompass the bean fields as they are harvested.  Pumpkins lay golden and ready for the plucking in the punkin' fields and the long lines of farmers with their wagons brimming with the harvest wait for their turn to unload their bounty at the elevator.  The whirrrrrrrrrrr of the elevator continues into the night as it attempts to take in all of nature's bounty in a few short weeks. 

The gardener is busy digging up their carrots and potatoes to put them away in the wooden bins in the root cellar for winter store.  Rows on rows of fruit jars brimming with tomatoes, beets, pickles, relishes, peaches, plums, berries, and grape juice set side by side in a patchwork of color on the cellar shelves ready to be plucked up at a moment's notice when winter winds howl and all is snowed and silent in the garden.  Favorite bulbs have been dug and snuggly stored in the cellar until they are reawakened next year.  Amaryllis sit dormant in the darkness until they are brought from the cellar into the warmth of the house after Christmas to awaken and bring us a display of color in the bleakness of winter.    Bags of onions hang from the open rafters ready to be placed in a warm stew at a moment's notice. 

Fall is a time of preparation.  Preparation against the cold, harsh reality of winter.  Windows caulked, flower beds mulched, snow fences strung, storm windows hung and gardens plowed.  

To everything there is a season . . . and autumn is a glorious richly colored bountiful one.