Autumn Breezes

Autumn has always been my favorite time of the year. Perhaps this came from growing up in the mountains of Pennsylvania that are so full of color in the fall. Altoona, where I was born and raised, is surrounded by mountains so in the fall we were encircled with glowing leaves. I walk with Hope, Tucker and Tanner in the mornings here in our neighborhood. As we wade through fallen leaves on the sidewalks it brings back those good feelings of playing in the leaves as a kid.

As the season changes Keith and I notice the changes around the house. The mums are in full bloom. As you can see below, some have even found their way into the house! The vegetable garden is bare with the last of the jalapeños picked and waiting to be made into hot pepper jam. Pumpkins now sit on the steps by the new railings that Keith and Tanner installed back when the weather was warmer and leaves are all around.


Today we are accomplishing some of the fall "to do" list at 368 McClain. Cooler weather puts me in the mood to bake and I've baked some of Keith's favorite cookies (oatmeal chocolate chip). We changed the bed sheets to flannel and the air conditioners will soon be stored in the closet until next Summer. The storm windows come down and the doors start staying closed to keep out the chill.
I do hate taking the porch swing down this time of year but stacking fire wood on the front porch takes some of the sting from that job as it means that soon we'll have glowing warm fires in the fireplace again! Soon we'll have a day to work on that but not today. Today we are headed to an open house for a new apprentice that has started at MMS. If the weather holds out we may even have a bonfire and some smores!

The changes of season remind me of our creative God. How beautiful He made the earth! Even in it's fallen state there are so many lovely and incredible things all around us that show us his handiwork. When I get to do some creative things like baking or sewing and I feel the reward of creating something little and pretty I think of how God must have felt after he looked at what he created on each of the six days of creation and said, "It is good." Wow! Imagine the rush of THAT creative act!