Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Hello Autumn




The last day of summer was celebrated with getting the garlic stored away, harvesting more tomatoes, yes, the tomatoes are still rolling in, and there are still a lot more to come, a dinner of food fresh from the garden, and a lovely after dinner family walk. It was the perfect end to what has been a pretty perfect summer.

I have said many times, here in this space, I feel very fortunate to live in a place where we have four very distinct seasons. I have a very difficult time naming one of them as my favourite, as I truly enjoy them all. Each season brings with it good things, and not so good things, and I have learned to embrace all of it over the years.

What I do really enjoy about each season, is the shift, the movement from one to the next. As each season comes I am always ready for the change, ready for something new, and for a change in our day to day rhythm. As we move from summer to fall I enjoy the movement inwards, I enjoy the shift in our meals, and I enjoy the warm comfort of our home aglow with candles and twinkle lights. Each morning I awake in darkness, and I finish my yoga long before the sun comes up, but there is a certain comfort in that, almost like the arms of Mother Earth wrapping me in a warm blanket. Throughout the day cups of tea are made more regularly, and soups, chili and stews grace our dinner table. My night time reading is done under a quilt, with a shawl wrapped around my shoulders, and we add the extra blankets to the bed to keep us warm at night. It is these seasonal rituals that I love, and as each season shifts I am reminded just how much of a role ritual and rhythm play in our life here on our little homestead.

We didn't do anything special to celebrate the equinox today, we are saving the celebration for the weekend when friends will join us for a potluck and other festivities here at our home, but we did mark the shift in seasons by changing up our nature table, decorating our home, and bringing out the autumnal books. Again, rituals that mark the changing season, and connect us to the natural cycle of the earth.

Happy Equinox my friends, may this autumn season bring many blessings to you and your loved ones.

20 comments:

  1. Look at all that garlic! So wonderful. We had a lovely day. And we are going camping this weekend where the nights are supposed to be in the 40's! I'm bringing my wool hat and scarf for sure. Hugs my dear!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks KC! We had a great garlic harvest, and will be able to actually plant our own garlic this fall. So exciting!

      Glad to hear you enjoyed your day. Have fun camping. I remember camping in Lake Placid in October years ago, every morning we woke to snow. It was cold, but oh so fun. Enjoy!

      Delete
  2. Happy Equinox to you, Kim! We had a good day; it was my son's tenth birthday. I love this time of year. I was just remarking to my husband tonight how different our son's birthday today felt compared to our daughter's birthday two and a half weeks ago. It was cooler outside, the sun went down earlier, it felt like a different season altogether.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jennifer. How wonderful, a happy birthday to your son. Ten is a big deal :)

      Enjoy the autumn season and all the goodness that comes with it.

      Delete
  3. I love autumn, and especially this year, that summer was really hot, I am appreciating the first signs of this new season: blankets on the sofa, scarves and shawls..and even socks! (me, that I love walk barefoot!!)
    Not to mention the soups...really comfort food!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Soak it up my friend, it is a wonderful time of year.

      Delete
  4. Happy Autumn to you all! Your harvest is still looking so good, and yes Autumn does bring positive points - I'm enjoying those too and feel more aware of them this year. I think a stronger connection with the garden somehow helps in accepting seasonal changes too, not quite sure how that works but it feels like it somehow does. Hope your weekend celebration is special and satisfying.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Sally! It is amazing how tending a garden can bring us closer to the rhythm of the earth and her cycles. I am glad you can feel that connection, so good for us.

      Thank you, I am sure it will be, we have so much fun planned. Will definitely share on Monday :)

      Delete
  5. I too love all 4 seasons in northern Wisconsin. Just as I start to tire of one season, another begins and I feel renewed. I will admit, winter is a favorite, but I cherish them all! Cozy evenings are beginning, pace slowing....soon, fires in the fireplace!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love the cozy evenings, they truly are wonderful, and I love sinking into them. Enjoy this season Michelle, and all the beauty it bestows.

      Delete
  6. How lovely to read your words. Altough I am in love with many aspects of every season (and like you, am thankful for having 4 seasons), I can still say fall is my favorite. It is physiological in me I think... The long days of summer have always been very tiring to me. I was born to live in the North. I find solace in darkness. I've always been a little hypersensitive to light. There is something therapeutic about taking my wool socks and sweaters out of the cedar closet. :-)

    Have a wonderful shift my friend...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Yanic. There definitely is comfort in the darkness, I feel it too. The darkness opens up the space for me to move inwards, and I look forward to that this time of year.

      Enjoy your favourite season my friend. xo

      Delete
  7. I have always loved the Autumn, not sure why but I do. We have been busy foraging wild and in the garden and preserving. My garlic is in too, it's drying at the moment it will soon be time to get next years crop in the ground won't it? I love doing that it feels like the circle of the year is so complete.

    We had a little Equinox celebration at home on our own this year. We have friends joining us next week for a small celebration and harvest blessing :). Enjoy your weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, not long now til we will planting next year's crop of garlic. I have already picked out the ones I will be planting :) Yes, I agree with you, it comes full circle.

      Enjoy your celebration with your friends, it sounds like it will be fun. Happy weekend to you!

      Delete
  8. Pretty words shared as your usual!
    I deeply love all the seasons of life, but I am particularly pleased to return in the fall to open it offers "to enter" inside ourselves ... I will write elsewhere soon on this!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Chantall. Yes, that pull to move inwards, to deepen the connection to ourselves, is one of the things I too love about this season. Looking forward to reading your thoughts soon.

      Happy weekend!

      Delete
  9. Happy Equinox to you too! We were busy celebrating my big girl on the day itself so I think we need to have a weekend celebration too - I can hear a blackberry and apple crumble calling!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Carie! Happy birthday to your big girl, I hope she had a great day!

      Oh, that sounds good, hope you enjoyed it.

      Delete
  10. Love this, you inspired me to give garlic a go and I put some in the ground last week. I love your story about the roosters too, I had no idea. At the camp the girls were at this summer, they had one - and he was such the gentlemen, always taking care of his ladies. Hoping this latest one turns out this way for you! Hope you had a great potluck and weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh that makes me so happy Carlin, and so exciting for you!!!

      Yeah, they can be a little bit of trouble, and it seems we have not had much luck. But we are hoping for better luck this time.

      We had a wonderful potluck...great weather, good friends, and lots of fun!

      Hope you guys are well, and enjoyed your weekend. xo

      Delete