In the entire circle of the year, there is no time so delightful as the first afternoon in autumn. – Anonymous
I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers – L.M. Montgomery aka Lucy Maud Montgomery, Canadian author (1874-1942)
Summer seems to linger with temperatures reaching into the 90’s by midday. Wilhemina is twisting and turning at my feet while we sit on the porch as we do most mornings. Leaves are falling but I don’t think it is because of the advent of Fall. I think they are lacking moisture; we’ve had so little. Last week I dragged out the water hose and sprinkler trying to help out the grass and flowerbeds. Back inside I prepared supper, we ate, and I got involved in another project. Dark came and I did my usual tracking down to the bridge to find Wilhelmina and bring her inside. Critters roam the Prairie at night. Put her inside and came out on the front porch. Opps, I had left the sprinkler going and now the front yard was soaked. By the next morning all the water had gone, the grounds were dry as were the flowerbeds.
While out the next morning obviously critters came during the night. A flowerpot was tipped over and for the fourth time one of the homemade birdbaths was turned over as well. Looks like it was party time at the Bardwells. Wilhelmina left the porch easing down to the front yard. She started creeping around sniffing like a dog. She knows well we had night visitors.
Reports say the hummingbird migration is in full movement, however not here where it’s still hot by late afternoon. Flowers are still blooming, and the hummingbird feeders are full. Sitting on the porch a hummingbird feeds not a few feet away. Then he pops right in front of me hovering not too far away. Maybe he was saying “thank you for the nourishment or good morning before he returned to the feeder.”
By that time Wilhelmina had disappeared from the porch and gone wandering. I was ready for another cup of coffee, listening to the birds sing, butterflies flitting by, and some quiet time.
By the time you see this column you’ve already slipped into fall having started on yesterday’s Monday, the 22nd. Enjoy the coming of cool days and trees full of autumn colors. It will go by quickly as life does. Winter will arrive on Sunday, December 21 just in time for Christmas, and for us the shortest day of the year is called the winter solstice. May all your days be good days.
Shannon Bardwell is a writer living quietly in the Prairie. Email reaches her at [email protected].
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 46 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
