'Falling' into place

There is a lot going on in the world right now. Good, bad and otherwise. But the one thing about this time of year, in my opinion, is the time to look at it all, reflect and reset.

It’s no secret that Fall/Autumn is my favorite time of year. While I’m appreciative of spring, and the reprieve from winter, fall comes in a little more subtly. The nights generally get colder, the days cooler. The wind blows and there’s a constant rustling of leaves on the trees. I can literally feel the change in the air.

I love summers in Montana and the warmth they bring, along with the longer daylight hours. It’s carefree, yet busy. But fall brings the start of school, the more regimented routines. It brings shorter days and leaves me longing to get ready to hibernate at home.

Once the cooler weather sets in, I realize how much there really is to do before Old Man Winter shows up to the party and brings with him the white and the cold that covers the hills and the valleys. There’s wood to be gotten, cut, spit, stacked and covered for those upcoming bitter cold days. This is usually the top of my list because our wood stove is our sole source of heat in our little cabin in the woods.

The first sign of the change in the weather has me transplanting herbs and houseplants to bring inside, and hopefully, I can keep them alive long enough to enjoy them for a few months before returning them to the garden and the greenhouse.

Along with the feeling to hibernate comes the few extra trips to town to gather a so-called stockpile of cat food, dog food and horse grain, along with other necessities because, let’s face it, driving to town in the dead-cold of winter does absolutely nothing for me. Luckily, hay was sourced and delivered much earlier in the season, so I was able to check that off the list long before I normally do.

With fall brings more dehydrating and canning to build up a supply of our favorite foods for winter, and the start of some homemade Christmas presents. I’m a holiday decorator, and seeing our home decorated for the seasons, especially the warm golds, oranges, browns, and reds of autumn, makes me feel warm and cozy. In preparation for all the indoor time in the colder months, fall reminds me to clean, purge and get re-organized. It’s often the time I’ll rearrange furniture and locations of items throughout the house, much to my other half’s dismay.

While summer begs me to get out and be active, play in the sun, and enjoy the warm rays from the sunshine, fall calls me home. Fall wants me to reflect and slow down. Fall gives me the sense of falling back into place and getting into a slower, simpler groove.

As the days get shorter, the desire to “stay-in” and read a good book or knit by the fire, both accompanied by a cup of tea, hot cider or hot cocoa, becomes stronger. Gone are the days of barbecuing. In its wake comes the smell of hot soups and stews in the slow-cooker and warm bread baking in the oven or bread machine.

I find myself wanting to write more when the weather gets cooler. I’ve collected so many thoughts during my travels and adventures from the summer, along with all the happenings in the world. Fresh ideas for columns, books, and magazine submissions, and blogs and newsletter posts swirl and get to come into fruition in the fall and winter months.

I’ve already begun a three-part segment for this column to begin next week. It’s an interesting view on our present and our history, and I’m excited to be able to share it with you all.

Whatever season brings you the most joy or is your favorite, I hope you can see fall with a new perspective. I hope it helps you be calm, reflect, reset and, like me, fall into place with all that it is and look forward to all that will be.