“Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.”
The morning is breezy and chilly, and the sun, in its fall course, has drifted away from the deck so I read my papers inside this morning. I missed the deck and all its comings and goings, but from my perch here by the window, I can still watch the birds at one of the feeders. The sun is bright but not warm. It peeks in and out from behind a couple of clouds. The rest of the sky is a deep blue. It is an autumn day, no denying it.
The end of summer brings a sameness to my life. It’s happens every year. It’s just a fact, an unlamented fact. Life quiets down and loses some spontaneity. The weather gets colder, and the deck becomes a desolate place in winter. I venture outside only to fill the feeders. Chairs and tables are covered. The candles are stored away in bins. The aroma of basil from the deck planters is no longer borne on the breeze.
With the change in season, the house becomes my refuge from the cold. I stay by myself more. I plan trips I may never take. It’s the planning I enjoy. I read, sometimes all day. Nothing is better than a book you just can’t put down. Some days I stay in flannel cozies and slippers. I nap on the couch under a warm, comfy afghan. I feel content with my lot. It’s far different than summer but no less satisfying.
I’m sorry to see the summer go as it was a grand one, but I’m just fine with the coming of fall, and I don’t really mind winter all that much. It’s that sameness I mentioned. It’s comfortable in the cold.
Explore posts in the same categories: MusingsTags: cold, contentedness, end of summer, fall, sameness
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keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
September 10, 2010 at 11:30 am
Very interesting quotation at the top of this post. Where is it from?
September 10, 2010 at 12:13 pm
Greg,
The quote is from Stanley Horowitz.
A while back someone asked me to give the sources for my quotes so I always add the author of the day’s quote as a comment under the picture. It’s been so long I should remind people.
September 10, 2010 at 12:41 pm
The raw colors of New England fall foliage against blue sky seem like an attempt by nature to make it look warm even if the temperatures are not. It’s the time of year when the blue jays look their best. They take their color from the sky and autumn blue sky is the most intense.
September 11, 2010 at 9:45 am
Hi Caryn,
I lament the loss of summer, all the deck time, the dinners outside, movie night, but I do love fall here in New England. You are so right about nature’s ploy!
Soon it will be time to play my Cheryl Wheeler When Fall Comes to New England song.
September 10, 2010 at 1:39 pm
It´s dark when I get up in the morning now and the sun goes down earlier and earlier every day. But when the sun does show itself it still heats up the air.
I hate when mornings goes from cool to cold, but since most mosquitoes and flies are calm then I still enjoy it 🙂
Have a great day now!
Christer.
September 11, 2010 at 9:47 am
Christer,
I am amazed at how quickly the days have been getting shorter. Night comes so early now. My cats follow the sun all over the house and Gracie sleeps on the lounge in the late afternoon sun.
September 10, 2010 at 6:29 pm
perhaps as Caryn says, it’s the colors of autumn that have made this time of year my favorite — i agree that those of us fortunate enough to live in New England share skies so blue you can taste ’em — i was even one of those weird kids who loved going back to school — now, even after nearly 40 years heating with wood, i still look forward to that first crisp evening when i can fire up the stove, sip tea, and read a good book
w
September 11, 2010 at 9:48 am
wolf,
I’m with you in being one of those weird kids and like you I love a crisp evening with my hot coffee, a good book and a crackling fire.
I love that, “skies so blue you can taste ‘em…”
September 10, 2010 at 8:07 pm
Winter is the season we love here in Florida. I’m out all day because it’s similar to Fall up north. Fall was always my favorite time of the year. I seemed to get up to speed in the Fall and got cozy like a bear in winter, then sprung alive again when Cherry Blossoms hit the tidal basin. I miss living up north but wouldn’t trade it for Florida at my age. . . that old, old age of 62. Right?
September 11, 2010 at 9:51 am
Z&Me,
I’m thinking old, old age is somewhere in the high 80’s.
Now that I don’t have to go out and scrape the windshield on a dark, freezing winter morning, I don’t mind winter near as much. I always figure spring is my reward for winter and fall is my reward for surviving the heat of summer. I don’t think I’d really want to live anywhere else.
November 3, 2010 at 3:55 pm
we have several oil paintings at home. some are even vintage old paintings that dates back several decades ago ‘
November 3, 2010 at 8:56 pm
Led Spots,
I think it’s neat that you have vintage oil paintings. I have only a couple of oils. Mostly I have watercolor.