Autumnal Gratitude

One of the blessings of living where we do is that we have a very long growing season for summery vegetables (March through October). However, this also means that we don't get our true autumn color in full force until much later than a lot of you. Our best colors don't happen until after Halloween and this week has been spectacular. It has really been helpful in getting in the mood for Thanksgiving.

There is something about needing to get all cuddly and cozy that makes me reflective and draws my thoughts inward to introspection. It is quite appropriate as Thanksgiving is upon us, as I should have thoughts of thankfulness and gratitude during this time of year anyway.

As the nights have taken on a slight chill, I've enjoyed building fires in our fireplace. Our cottage is quite homey with only one main living area where the fireplace is, so when the fire is lit we are all together enjoying the warmth. Suzette, in particular, loves fireside snoozing (photo at right). The other kitties lounge around the living room just enjoying being with us as we watch television or read. Sometimes Hubby putters on the laptop from either the sofa or chair. I am grateful for my cottage living room and its fireplace for being the heart and hearth of our home.

About a week ago, Hubby went around and put full spectrum light bulbs in all the lamps in the living room as a little I-love-you surprise for me. I really struggle with the lack of sunlight as the days grow shorter. The full spectrum bulbs help prevent me from taking off to Hawaii on a wild hair (I've been sorely tempted in years past, trust me). One full spectrum bulb is in the reading lamp over the chair. I often sit there with the shade swung over my head like a levitating glowing hat. It's absolute heaven (although Hawaii would be better). The kitties all love this lamp as well and will slip up onto the chair anytime we've vacated it. Such sneaky little furry deviants. So even though we have little armchair wars with the kitties, I am very grateful for full spectrum light bulbs and a loving Hubby that remembered them.

We've had some rain this month, but our winter rains are still to come. That's why the hill up at the end of the street is still in its brown barren cloak. The cows have grazed it down to stubble and brown dirt. But as the rains come over the next few weeks, this hill will turn a beautiful shade of green. If we're lucky, it will be green by Christmas and will stay that way until late April or early May before it turns a golden yellow. We don't have white Christmases here. We have green Christmases, and I am grateful for green Christmases.

So on Saturday, as I was transplanting the winter veggies into the raised planter boxes in the back garden I was doing so in a very reflective autumnal mood. I noted how the sun was so low in the sky and how I missed the days of summer when I could garden until 8 or 9 o'clock in the evening. I miss the dragonflies buzzing overhead in a darting canopy catching mosquitoes and gnats on the fly. I miss the hum of summer activity in the garden. But I also felt a deep welling inside of gratitude that I am able to have a winter garden with spinach, lettuce, onions, broccoli, celery and parsley. I said a silent prayer with each transplant that we will soon be enjoying their bounty. And, yes, I was very grateful.

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