It’s hard to believe how quickly this year has slipped through our fingers. One minute we were planting seeds, and the next we’re preparing the gardens for winter. High desert mornings have taken on an unmistakable crispness, carrying with them the scents of damp earth as the leaves begin to fall.
Autumn is here, as October is peeking around the corner. We’ve traded t-shirts, shorts, and ice water for cozy sweaters and steaming cups of coffee. As September ends, whispers of the first snow of the season loom. It’s another reminder of how quickly one season gives way to the next.
After just putting away last winter’s mousetraps, it’s time to start the process of mouse extermination again. As God’s creatures, we all need food and shelter. However, Winterpast is full, and disease-ridden furballs need to move along or meet their end.
As for the birds, the hummingbirds have left on their migration south. Thank goodness we can still enjoy the quail and dove. We’re doing our part to feed the winged wildlife as the days are shorter and the nights colder. As soon as we put seed out, it’s gone, and so it goes in the gardens of Winterpast.
Yesterday, the arborist arrived to remove three more trees. Since 2020, an apple tree has been more work than it’s worth. That first year, I had high hopes for wonderful pies and applesauce. Unfortunately, these apples weren’t a variety suitable for cooking. Attracting disease and worms, hundreds of rotten apples littered the ground. To add to the unpleasantness, they became Oliver’s favorite “under-the-dining-room-table” snack. Work on top of work, with no benefit to the humans of the house.
Yesterday, that tree was removed to make way for a new pond. All that remained were remnants of the 2025 crop, which are now gone. Along with that tree, a scrawny ornamental plum and the JuJube tree are now history. Sometimes, you need to clear the slate, and yesterday was the day. So long and farewell.
With the yard demanding so many hours of love and care, “spring cleaning” has quietly been renamed “fall cleaning”. It’s time to tackle a long list of projects put off for “later” as we prepare our home for the season of gathering, slowing down, and tucking in. With cooler weather, the garage needs attention, while the man cave needs a good cleaning. Inside, dust bunnies will meet their end. As we keep up with the falling leaves, we’ll keep moving forward as we keep pace with the changing seasons. But, we’ll also take time to enjoy the quiet show of falling leaves and changing skies.
Autumn teaches us to notice the swiftness of time, not with regret, but with gratitude. Each season has its own beauty, rhythm, chores, and joys to savor. As this year winds down, there’s still a season of rain-soaked mornings, colorful leaves, and autumn light to enjoy. Take time to pause and be thankful.
Have a wonderful weekend. I’ll be back on Monday.
