Most will tell you that Autumn is a season of change. True. But mostly the crunchy leaves, cool morning and sunshiney days means one thing to this Gippslander: preparation.
Getting prepared for the long Winter ahead is what we do in March and April. Wood piles are stocked, pine cones gathered, soon I’ll have a barrow of firewood at my back door, a constant fire in our farmhouse to keep us warm. In the garden too Autumn is preparation time: feeding our lemon and plum trees, planting bulbs and cutting back flowering perennials. The key to a blooming Spring is the work done now, that I know. Pumpkins are plumping up on their vines, ready to be made into lots of soup on my stove through dark Winter. Our big old chestnut tree is slowly turning it’s leaves and dropping it’s nuts, our lawn is scattered with its prickly cases.
My very favourite time of the year, the turning season, usually bringing welcome relief after a hot Summer, but not this year as the heat decided not to arrive at all. Thank goodness. The heat of the South Australian January the year previous was enough for me. This time last year especially was a time of preparedness – getting ready to welcome our babe into the world and step into parenthood. Now, that babe, our Eleanor, shoves all manner of crunchy ‘delicious’ Autumn leaves in her chubby little face as we play under our tree. Next year she’ll be running around under the big old chestnut.
Time, pesky inevitable, time…
Hoping you are getting prepared too for the cold months ahead, squirreling away firewood and pumpkins, planting bulbs and enjoying the beautiful Autumn light.
Ali says
Reading this post makes me think of going wood cutting as a family when I was younger – taking up some snags and bread and making a little fire for a quick sausage in bread BBQ lunch!!
Love that photo up on the hill with the wood stacked. hmmmm memories. 🙂
Reannon @shewhorambles says
Gorgeous pics Emma x
Jo @Countrylifeexperiment says
I love Autumn too. This year though, it has been so hot and dry that Autumn that we haven’t really been doing anything Autumny (totally a word) yet.
Anne@Grit and Giggles says
Instead of squirreling away pumpkins and fire wood, I’ve been hording summer clothes. As the seasons change in the shops they forget that most of those wooly wintery things aren’t needed up here. We are waiting for the weather to cool enough to hide the air con remote for a couple of months and hopefully to cool enough for the fans to go off, that didn’t happen last winter. Despite our wish for cooler weather we are also hoping that there is still a bit of wet season left to come because this one has been a non event. We are also planting veges hoping the sun and humidity doesn’t get them, so far so good. I love seeing your crunchy, orange Autumn.