It's Here.

Fall.

I used to really hate fall. It heralds the arrival of winter, and in WI, where I grew up, the winter was long, cold and hard. I remember piles of snow so high that they lingered long into the 70 degree spring days. It seemed so incongruous to be wearing shorts while stepping over snow piles.

Now, however, it's the peaceful waning of a busy summer. Not just in my life, but in life in general. Of course, in my life, with the kids back to school, no more vacation days from work (just to hang out with those summer guests), no more days packed to the gills with work outside, it really is getting more peaceful. I was thinking about Thanksgiving and Christmas the other day, not with a dread, but with a quiet anticipation. I love the holidays, and I am determined that this year they will be peaceful and meaningful. No commercialism!! My kids are getting clothes and tools. L will love a tool set, and M can have more riding equipment. I already bought them a chef's hat and apron, and a subscription to Young Rider magazine. I think this will be the year it will happen!

As I went out to feed the horses tonight, I noticed that I heard NOTHING. Nothing at all. No crickets, locusts, coyotes, birds, NOTHING. There was no moon, and the stars were so bright and numerous. Again, such a change from the summer's evening bustle. I stopped a while, once again reminded by the stars that I am insignificant and fleeting, and just enjoyed the nothingness. Tomorrow I will turn off the radio in the barn, at least for a little while, so I can really hear the nothing. Tonight a plane flew over just to interrupt the nothing-- maybe tomorrow there will be true quiet. Maybe I needed tonight's "almost" quiet to ease into the real nothing I will hear tomorrow!

I saw three kittens tonight-- I wonder what happened to the 4th? I am so doting on them, but they hate me. The are kind of like children-- they just tolerate me because I feed them. : ) They are absolutely adorable, though. All kittens are sweet (aren't all babies?) but these have gray and white markings that just make them extra cute. It's all I can do to keep the distance they require.