I underestimate the power of the seasons. Well, I take that back, I fully respect the healing power of Spring and Summer, the warmth, the growth, the smell of  the warmer seasons. Especially after the cold winters that we get up here near the Great Lakes. 

All Winter long, sometimes through part of April, the lake effect snows hit us and winter feels like such a relative that you only somewhat like who has over stayed their welcome.

Then Spring hits and the promise of growth, long sunny days and warm weather. Days spent outside and weekend getaways.

I forget about Autumn (and Winter for that matter).  The rare sunnydays that the temperatures climb to the mid-50's and the sound of the leaves falling around you. 

I just took the dog out and watched from the warmth of my kitchen as he went out and stood in the sunny part of the yard facing the wind with his nose up and eyes shut.  i had to join him, wouldn't you? I mean, it's a beautiful day, there's a nice breeze that doesn't feel like frost is nipping at it's heels, the sun is beaming brightly between billowy clouds. If the ground wasn't so damp I would put a blanket down and lay there for a time. But the mud this time of year is another battle.

A nice deep breath reminded me of the wonderful smell this time of year brings. All the smells of the leaves and the plants as they begin to turn inside of themselves and hybernate. The smell of the black walnuts as the outer cover is slowly rotting away, revealing the protective casing that is hard to break open. 

We are fortunate to have a grove of black walnut trees on our property. The squirrels are so much fun to watch as they bounce through our yard, ever vigilent of the dog or the stray cat that may go chasing them. Once they grab their walnut it's a race to get into the woods and up a tree before seen. I'm always amazed at how many different squirrel species we have here as they rarely come into our yard in the Spring and Summer months. 

One Autumn we were up at the fire pit enjoying a nice warm bonfire when we heard the walnuts drop from a nearby tree. So we decided to try one roasted. I had not tasted something so heavenly (well, I have but each time something tastes so good, I just figure it's better than the last) as a walnut roasted over a bonfire. 

Soon Old Man Winter will be covering everything in his blanket of white and pushing us, too, to turn inward and rest. These few days of Autumn when the sun is shining brightly are days to take advantage of soaking up the last bits of warmth and the healing powers of the sun's rays. Let your hair be blown by the breeze that is blowing the crisp air full of falling leaves, late-blooming wild flowers, fermenting apples that the deer didn't finish, mums and sunflowers all mixed into a smell that not even the best candle makers can replicate.

Blessed Be