Fall Reflections

Fall is upon us. She's showing herself in so many ways...it makes me wistful. The geese have started their long journey and not a day goes by that I don't look up and wish them safe journey. Pumpkins and mums are popping up by everyone's doorsteps. Yet there's still the odd vibrant rose and shasta daisy competing for attention here and there. The "dollyhocks" are in full bloom and I am enjoying every single one as they're not perenniels thus won't be seen until the summer after next, same as my foxgloves.

The lake reflects all the hues of the golds, oranges and reds of the soon-to-fall leaves. I've filled two pumpkin-faced bags with those already fallen and moved four other bags already to the compost area. Yes, to Hell with yoga for the moment - I'm into raking big time!

I've cleaned out the garden except for the carrots and swiss chard which are still bravely growing. My tomatoes, red, green and my favourite - yellow, are gifts from my garden which we're greatly enjoying.

I've yet to take down the hummingbird feeder, but it is time. Maybe today. Chickadees and finches are begging at the feeders already and the jays have done their work on the nuts from nearby oak trees. Spencer and I still find the odd frog who hasn't yet gone underground for the winter. The snake he was so interested in is no longer; unfortunately, someone ran over it and now it's a leather S on the pavement (poor thing). But that one aside, this had to be a good year for snakes. I've never seen so many snake babies as this year (most of them on golf courses).

The sail boat is still in the lake and I must go down today and bail as we've had rain. I can't bring myself to take her out just yet and hope tomorrow will bring wind so we can have one last run across the bay. Speaking of rain, I am rain-ready having bought a brand new pair of rubber boots - red plaid! They make me feel jaunty just writing about them.

Next to store are all my garden goblins and junk. I stash all kinds of things here and there in my garden but there comes a time when it must be re-stashed in the shed. One poor item, a blue trumpet-playing frog - a gift from my friend P - has barely had time to adjust to his new digs and now he'll be mummified for another 7 or 8 months. Just saying that arouses the spectre of Winter!!!!

The days seem grimmer somehow. The sun shines here and there when the clouds manage to spare the space. The north wind prompts hat and coat attire. Yes, it's autumn, that season of winding down. It's election time here in Canada which is also rather depressing. But, it's all part of the cycle. The beauty of the trees all around certainly do arouse the spirits, particularly when spotlit with sunshine. The golf courses are at their peak as is my golf game. Pity, as that'll soon end. It's hard to believe it's October already. Truly a time to give thanks despite headlines full of doom and gloom.