The autumn leaves drift
by my window;
the autumn leaves of red
and gold.
Those are the lyrics of an old song, as I remember them. I’ve been humming this tune a lot recently, inspired by the colors of the leaves. Everyone agrees that this autumn has been spectacular and the beauty long lasting. I don’t remember another year when the fall colors have been as lovely.
However, along with all this beauty of the season comes a price in the form of winterizing chores. Many tasks need doing before winter sets in, and this weekend, I tackled them.
The first big chore was digging up the potato patch. This was fun. Dick spaded the soil and unearthed the white orbs while I gathered them in a bag. We placed them on a screen on top of the picnic table where they will harden for a few days.
The carrots need pulling, but I left them in the ground. They are sweeter if harvested after a frost, so I’ll wait and see.
Sadly, the hummingbird feeder no longer has any customers, so I brought it in and washed it, then stored it for next summer. Knowing the hummingbirds will be back made me feel a little better.
Encircling the lower 2/3 of arborvitae trees with plastic mesh keeps the beautiful green boughs from breaking under heavy snows and winds, so Dick and I worked as a team until that was done. Last year, we used a heavy burlap wrap that the squirrels promptly recognized as great nesting material. We didn’t use that again.
Following an entire weekend of “putting away,” I wasted no time this morning rummaging around and “taking out” my old tried and true Halloween décor. Even though my older three grandchildren don’t live nearby, and my newest grandbaby is not yet one week old, I decorated my house as if they were all here.
I strung up the orange pumpkin lights and set my ceramic Jack O Lantern in the window. I took down the spring quilt wall hanging and brought out the autumn leaf quilt. I debated whether or not to set up the purple/black lights. They weren’t very popular last year, but I like the “haunted house effect they create.
When I’ve finally taken out as many autumn decorations as possible, I’m very satisfied with the entire weekend’s tasks.
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