The First Days of Autumn

~ rabbitpatchdiary.com

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With school closed , this past Monday-and me having had a four day holiday in Wilmington, time defied gravity and flew, this week.  Mornings were golden , making even,  a tattered cornfield  lovely at dawn.  Most every day, a blanket of fog hangs just over the soil, giving ordinary fields a hallowed look.  Soybeans are yellow  and could be mistaken for flowers if looked at hurriedly.  Leaves are starting to be strewn in the road and the grass does not grow as quickly as it did in midsummer.  Today, is the first day of autumn, after all.

I have come to love every season, but autumn is my favorite right now. Being fickle, I will declare my favorite is winter when it snows-and when it is spring-well I proclaim it is surely the most beautiful time in the world-until it is summer.  I think in some way, seasons prepare us for next one.  The wicked heat of  late summer makes me yearn for a chilly day and so I look forward to the time of soft blankets and small fires.  Suppers will feature chowders and hearty soups and I am more likely to bake breads once autumn  makes it presence known.  

The warm weather is still lingering for now.   The horses that graze in quiet pastures are still sleek and the shade of the sycamores is only slightly less dense than it was in July.  Just the lightest and daintiest sweaters are worn now, and only in the first hours of day.  Seldom does any dramatic change herald a new season, but one thing I have noted is that the days are remarkably shorter.

I left right after school, on Friday for Elizabeth City.  Will and Jenny, being young, have all sorts of social functions and so I would stay with Lyla.   I had planned on a evening walk with Lyla, but darkness  fell and so suddenly it seemed.

Saturday Morning

I missed the early service.   The sun had claimed its’ space boldly, by the time I got up.  Lyla, is an early riser and is ready for her day, the minute she wakes.  I had told her the night before we would have pancakes for breakfast and she  brought that up as I was having my first coffee.

Not long after pancakes and honey, Will took Lyla to the little park just a short walk away.   It is the same park where Lyla and I fed the wild geese in summer. I waved good bye to Lyla from the kitchen window, where a dogwood grows.  I noticed that the once jade green leaves of the young tree, were now an apricot color in spots.  The tree now has an abundance of bright red berries, too.  Cardinals love the berries.

 The coolness of the morning was fleeting and by the time they got back, it was hot.  The “laughing river” was very blue today and in no hurry to go anywhere.  There wasn’t a bit of breeze to change its’ mind, either.  Will and Lyla left again and went to a little league baseball game, a fruit stand and then visited with his mom, Miss Claudia.  Jenny worked on school assignments while I did some light housekeeping.  The morning, like the laughing river, hadn’t a bit of rush about it . . and  I liked that.

The afternoon was hot and still.  Lyla and I did not stroll til the evening because of that.  When we did, there was a slight cool, breeze. . .but it was not enough to disturb the peace of the river.  The mighty Pasquotank  looked like glass  and liable to shatter if anyone dared to toss a stone -or sneeze.  We walked to where we first saw the bats, in late spring.  In June, we watched hundreds of bats swoop and dive in unison.  It was a spectacular aerial  expression that was mezmorizing.  We did not see a single bat this night.  I wondered if they, like many songbirds had migrated south where fruit is still ripening.    When the moon came up, Lyla found it first and said “look Honey Bee, it’s a little moon!”-and she was right as only a slice of moon hung in the vast dark sky. . .and it did look small-and reminded me of a lantern.

The village was quiet as we walked.  Not even a dog barked in the distance.  The only sign of life was the lamps burning bright in the windows of both cottages and manor homes, alike.  It always makes me happy to think that folks are safely gathered in.

 We may wander about on bright days and see all sorts of people and do all sorts of things. . .but when night falls, we remember where we belong, and those that belong to us.  We come home to where things are familiar and predictable  . . where supper is cooking while a cat sleeps in a corner-and a light shines bright in the window.

Dear Diary, I am glad for still water and little moons.  I am glad for new seasons and sweet memories of those passed.  I am glad for dogwoods and red berries in clusters of autumn -colored leaves. 

 

55 thoughts on “The First Days of Autumn”

  8. I, too, think of cozy comforters, warm soups, and homemade bread when fall makes its presence known. Again, I found a favorite thought in your blog. It was tucked away quietly, but I found it and treasure it because I have the same feeling: “…a blanket of fog hangs just over the soil, giving ordinary fields a hallowed look.” Beautiful.

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    1. I am blessed to encounter such things as “hallowed fields”. I want to shout to the world-“Look around you-love is everywhere!” For that is how it feels. It thrills me that you appreciate my account of a simple but beautiful life. Thank you to a kindred spirit. love Michele

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  10. I’m glad you had a 4-day weekend and went to Elizabeth City. The heat is lingering in southern CA also. I came home and was happy to do some gardening. Lyla must be so happy to have the pancake and honey. The colors in Portland OR are changing. When I stay for 3 weeks, I’ll have a chance to see the real autumn that we don’t see in CA. Yes, each season gives us something to remember and welcome the next season!

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  16. Ma’am,
    I am glad you had the visit with Will, Jenny and Lyla. I am thankful that you her “HoneyBee” are there in Lyla’s life. I am glad for the little walks you have together, the son- in- law who loves his mum so much and also his mum- in – law. I am thankful for peaceful times, times without drama, the slow moving river, “in no hurry to go anywhere”. I am thankful for the ” in betweens”- the times between summer and fall. I am thankful that you have the time to take off from work and have some time for play.
    God bless you, Ma’am.
    Also I think the beauty of all that is around is seen by those who have those special eyes that God has given to his special people- one of who is you.
    Susie

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    1. oh-you and I love the same things. Thank you my precious one for all the kindness in this comment-you make me feel so cared for. I am very blessed and grateful. When I see beauty, I feel loved by the Father-like He is is giving gifts to me. I feel that He loves me through you too-and you are a gift. Thank you so very much. love Michele

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  20. I must admit that I try to cling on to summer as long as I can…so I am enjoying this hot spell that we are having as I know it will probably be the last one for a while. Yes I saw that sliver of a moon the other night too…in fact she’s been out in the mornings too when I bring out the bird feeders. I also noticed less birds so I wonder if they too have flown south. I must also admit that Autumn is a beautiful time of year…the trees get so colorful with golds and oranges and burgundy hues…but alas then they drop to the ground and are bare far too long! The smells of Fall are intoxicating too…burning leaves, pumpkin pies, apple pies, and I do love me a cozy sweater…let’s see if you can talk me into liking Winter!! That will be a tough one…but if anyone can do it with words…you can! Enjoy your Autumn Michele xo

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      1. We are heading towards summer and I am dreading it. I hate summer. With all my medical dramas that I endured that is one of the worst side effects. lacking the Thyroid glands I feel the heat a tad too much and react very badly. my body overheats and some days I even would start to vomit.

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  22. G’morning Michele, I was reading a book a little earlier and it said “Your soul is like a battery. It discharges every time you give life away and must be recharged regularly… That doesn’t happen overnight. It takes a slow, gradual recharge.” …. Immediately upon reading that I thought to myself, I’ve got to check in on the rabbit patch for my visits there are always ‘recharging’ … I love the attention you pay to the natural. You’re not just waving goodbye to Lyla from the kitchen window”, but “…from the kitchen window where the dogwood grows.” You’re a special kind of writer!
    😉

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