Here in my little corner of Virginia, it rained yesterday for the first official day of fall, and I spent most of it inside, reading. Today, I’m volunteering with a fifth-grade book club. We’ll be discussing Because of Winn-Dixie, which is one of the sweetest and most adorable books I’ve ever read. And after that, who knows? Perhaps Graham and I will get out and about and run some errands, or maybe I’ll sit and write. I do have a short story to post by the end of the month, after all. 😉
Whatever you do with this first autumn Friday, I hope it’s something worth doing, and that it makes you happy.
I’m always a little melancholy when one season ends, but also happy and excited to see a new season start. I wonder what this autumn will bring. Good things, I hope.
Rain, rain – big fat drops on the roof in pings and plops, gathered on the spider’s web and pooling in the garden pots. Monday comes. Time never stops.
Autumn is a time for ghosts. When the days turn, when the world comes to rest, there’s space and time for those who’ve stayed behind. In the changing of the leaves and the chilling in the air, the smoky breeze and the golden sky, they join us, just there. As close as a breath, and far as they’ve always been, as fall to winter and winter to spring, they wait for us in that place between.
I feel it in the cool morning air. I see it in the subtle turning of the leaves. I am ready.
*Also a quick note: If you commented on my last post, I wanted to say a very heartfelt thank you. I have been overwhelmed and so appreciative of the outpouring of love, support, and kindness, and once again at the number of women who have shared their own stories with me. Thank you, thank you. Your sweet words and caring thoughts have made this dark and painful time a little brighter. I am grateful for you.*
It’s beginning to feel a little wintry around here! (If you’re new or just stumbled across this blog: Hi! My name is Katie, and winter is my favorite season.)
Not quite cold enough for snow, but most of the leaves have fallen off the trees, and yesterday the sky was cloudy and silvery gray. I know some of y’all have already seen your first snowfall, and I am super jealous. But I think we have reason here in Virginia to hope for some white stuff in the coming months.
In the meantime, I’m just enjoying the cooler weather and trying to decide how early is too early to put up Christmas decorations. This week’s fine, right? RIGHT?! (I don’t know why I’m asking. I’m just going to do it anyway…)
*Well, here I am, posting on a Sunday, which isn’t something I normally do. That is, until now! I’ve been thinking for a while that I wanted to add a day to my posting schedule, so here’s a new feature – Sunday Supper. A quick post (maybe) every Sunday, just talking about what’s going on, what’s on my mind, (sometimes) what’s for dinner, what’s on tap for the week ahead, etc. Hopefully you guys will enjoy it!*
It’s been a lazy day around here, which is probably appropriate, considering that we’ve fallen back an hour and so it’s now getting dark early. I always love this time of year. I know that for lots of people, the extra hours of darkness and the colder weather can be really hard and depressing, but I enjoy slowing down and taking it all in. It feels like the natural order of things. And with the cold comes the cozy, and I like to be cozy.
So does Gatsby.
It’s been chilly for the last week or so, and I’ve been waiting for the right opportunity to build our first fire of the season. Today was that day.
And so now I’m sitting here with a cup of Earl Grey tea, typing away by the fire, enjoying the warmth and the yellow lamplight, and pondering what to actually make for supper. I think pasta – easy and quick, and I’ve got some good cheddar cheese and bacon, so I should be able whip up a pretty tasty sauce. As for what next week will bring, well, I’ll think about that tomorrow.
Happy Sunday, y’all, and cheers to a good week to come!
What’s left when the leaves have fallen and the grass has gone fallow? Once the air’s grown cold and the night sky’s shifted, once the frost has come and covered the hills and meadows, what’s left to us in this new season of darkness? To rest, to sleep, to build a hearth fire, to watch it snow. To breathe deep and release a sigh out among the coming winter winds. These belong to us, are made for us and left to us by the maiden and the mother and the crone. Just as it begins when new things grow in a world made bright, the old year ends quiet and star light, with a gentle and a loving letting go.
Graham randomly snapped this photo sitting by the fire pit at a friend’s house a couple of weekends ago, and was surprised at how nice it turned out. He says that if I were ever to make a country music album, which is so unlikely as to be ridiculous but still fun to ponder, this should be the album cover.
I agree. Nothing like a good pair of boots, is there?
We had a really nice mini-vacation. We mostly stayed home – we hung out and watched movies, spent time with friends, and generally just relaxed – but we also decided to head down to Charlottesville for a couple of days. Graham had picked out some cideries for us to try, and he booked a really cute inn for a night. And then, on Monday, we took Skyline Drive home.
What is Skyline Drive? Glad you (maybe) asked! It’s part of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and of Shenandoah National Park. It snakes through some of Virginia’s beautiful mountain terrain, and it boasts some of the very best views in the state. Like this one:
And this one:
And this one, too:
We took it slow and just enjoyed driving and chatting. We don’t often get the privilege of uninterrupted, distraction-free time together.
And then, at the highest point on the route, we ran into some fog.
Some very dense fog.
But you know, it was fine. The fog actually made the fall colors pop, and it’s kind of magical, feeling like you’re up in the clouds.
All in all, Skyline Drive was a really lovely experience, and I think we’re planning to do it again in the spring. It’ll be fun to see how the vistas change with the seasons.
