October

Anne reveled in the world of color about her.

 "Oh, Marilla," she exclaimed one Saturday morning, coming dancing in with her arms full of gorgeous boughs, "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn't it? Look at these maple branches. Don't they give you a thrill--several thrills? I'm going to decorate my room with them."
                                                     ~ L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

I love October.

It starts in beautiful weather and the hint of gold around the edges, passes through a riot of flame color, and ends with one of my two favorite holidays. It's full of apples and cinnamon, bonfires and farm days, cool crisp nights and sunny days. 

It seems at these times that God has a special place in their heart for Wisconsin. I won't claim that we're his favorite. Because, well, February. But with the amber light, the bent-double apple trees, and that perfect autumn smell in the air, we are deeply blessed.


For October, for crimson, for crisp, smoke tanged air, good Lord, we give thanks.
It's a new season, and a new month, and that also brings the perfect time for reflection and planning. I'm not the greatest fan of New Year's resolutions, but I like new month's resolutions. Not so much life-changing plans (that will be jettisoned by the second week) but tiny course corrections. 

And some bigger life plans, too, but that's another entry.

So today I am making lists of what still needs to be canned or processed, looking at day trips to take before the winter closes in, and taking a look at (gulp) Christmas planning.

Where will autumn take you?