It's been a busy weekend in Maine...bringing in all the outside furniture, washing all the sheets and blankets and packing them up for the winter. Cleaning and sorting. Getting the fire bin full of wood for those long winter days of reading and snuggling. It is a lot of work but as I do it, I remember all the family that shared in those bed sheets and towels. All the fun we had in the sandbox with the trucks and little boys..the story telling, snuggles, book reading and naps that took place on our hammock. The boat rides and afternoon lunches as we drifted across the lake. So many summer memories, some the same each year, and then as we all grow, new memories are made...this summer was especially good with the boys being here often with their Mom and their Dad.. now all is quiet with most of the summer people gone. We will gather wood for our fireplace for winter reading and sipping hot tea and Maker Mark. Playing indoor games and cooking. We are never closed for business here at the Maine house but we do say goodbye to summer...
It's not all sad though..because fall does it's own ballet of beauty here in our little piece of Maine. Like summer, I don't want to miss out on the changing colors of leaves, apple picking, smelling the wood fires burning and collecting my acorns..only the ones with the hats. Today I watched a chipmunk gathering his acorns also..he seemed to be able to do it much quicker than me. The air was crisp, the sun was shinning and so I felt I deserved a bit of time by myself and I took me and my Canon Girls for a ride...we loaded up the truck with our gear and a drink and we headed to the apple orchard. Along the country roads though, I found so much more than apples...but for today, I'll share my time at the orchard.
To me there is nothing more relaxing than to be on my own, in either the car or the truck...in Maine, it is always the truck. I turn the radio up loud, tune in to my Xm Radio station and I rock out. I love singing and making hand movements, tapping the steering wheel...I'm like a one woman band inside that steel machine. So off I went down Rte11 and finally I got to the apple orchard. Nothing is really close in Maine but that's the beauty of a fall ride, don't you think. Ride a little, stop a little, smile a lot. So here are a few lovely red's I got today and yes, I did eat a few on my way home. In my mind though, I was smelling apple crisp.
So each seasons brings it challenges and it's work. In the scheme of things though, we can't let the good times get by us. We have to make that effort every once in awhile to stop and enjoy and smell the apples. Before we know it these sweet days of Autumn will fall off, just as our summer days has done. At the end of the day though, I want to be able to write about this season and what it brings to my life. I hope you savor every moment of color, sunshine, crisp air, warm bulky sweater, tall boots and great kitchen smells of yes, apple crisp baking. Don't forget the vanilla ice cream...Cheers to Autumn and Cider donuts, warm sweaters and scarfs, little boys running through leaves, the moon rising and the love of life flowing...Life's a witch and then you fly...enjoy it while you can...